Well, we enjoyed another typical terrific Texas summer this year… extremely hot and extremely dry!
“How hot and dry?” Glad you asked:
● The chickens laying hard-boiled eggs.
● The fire ants were really on fire.
● The ducks forgot how to swim.
● The cows produced powdered milk.
● The catfish were already fried when you caught them.
● People were eating Habañero peppers just to cool themselves off.
Of course, Grace and I prayed for the physical rain we neededso badly… now we’re praying for a different kind of rain… that sweet rain from heaven, a massive outpouring of God’s Spirit upon His people.
TIMES OF REFRESHING ARE COMING
Just a few days after the glorious entrance of the Holy Spirit into the Upper Room on the Day of Pentecost, Peter healed the lame man who sat daily at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple.
Then Peter preached to the curious crowd who had gathered to see the formerly lame man who was now walking, leaping, and praising God.
Speaking by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Peter declared that there would be outpouring after outpouring of God’s glory into the earth through the Church, the Body of Christ. He called these supernatural outpourings “times of refreshing”.
“And now you must repent and turn back to God so that your sins will be removed, and so that times of refreshing will stream from the Lord’s presence.”
(Acts 3:19, The Passion Translation)
There are two important things to notice in this verse. First, the word “times” is plural, so we know that there will be ongoing and repeated outpourings of the Holy Spirit during the Church age.
The second thing to notice is that the word translated as “times” in this verse is the Greek word “kairos” which means “an opportune, strategic, and decisive moment of significance.” It is a time when conditions are ideal for a particular action to achieve its maximum effect.”
ESPECIALLY IN TIMES OF DARKNESS
What qualifies as “ideal” conditions for God’s strategic moves, may not always line up with our idea of “ideal” conditions.
God often releases His greatest displays of power in times of apathy and apostasy, as those sharing His heart for revival are moved to pray fervently for the rain of His Spirit.
¹ “Rise up in splendor and be radiant, for your light has dawned, and Yahweh’s glory now streams from you! ² Look carefully! Darkness blankets the earth, and thick clouds covers the nations, but Yahweh arises upon you and the brightness of his glory appears over you! ³ Nations will be attracted to your radiant light and kings to the sunrise-glory of your new day. ⁴ Lift up your eyes higher! Look all around you and believe, for your sons are returning from far away and your daughters are being tenderly carried home. Watch as they all gather together, eager to come back to you!”
(Isaiah 60:1-4, The Passion Translation)
WATERED BY THE RAIN OF HEAVEN
These supernatural outpourings of heaven’s rain upon the Church were foreshadowed by the pattern of the seasonal rains that would come to the children of Israel as part of their inheritance in the Promised Land.
¹⁰ “For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; ¹¹but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven…”
(Deuteronomy 11:10-11, NKJV)
This “rain of heaven” came to the land at exactly the right time of the year to coincide with the growing season, and produce an abundance of grain, oil, and fruit.
It is described in Joel 2:23-24:
²³ “Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem! Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain He sends demonstrates His faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring.The threshing floors will again be piled high with grain, and the presses will overflow with new wine and olive oil.”
(New Living Translation)
The autumn rains (also known as the former rains) watered the land from late October through Decenber, softening the soil to prepare it for the spring planting.
The spring rains (also known as the latter rains) fell in March and April, and matured the crops in preparation for the harvest.
The former and latter rains of the Promised Land are the perfect symbols of the spiritual “times of refreshing”, the outpourings of God’s Spirit, throughout the history of Israel and the Church.
THE FORMER AND LATTER RAINS
The “former rains” fell during the Old Covenant, as priests, kings, and prophets were anointed and empowered by Holy Spirit for specific miraculous tasks. These former rains even included the ministry of Jesus.
The “latter rains” began with the ratification of the New Covenant. Peter explained it this way as he responded to the mockery of the crowd on the Day of Pentecost:
¹⁶ “…this is the beginning of what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ¹⁷ ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out my Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see divinely prompted visions, And your old men shall dream divinely prompted dreams; ¹⁸ even on my bond-servants, both men and women, I will in those days pour out my Spirit and they shall prophesy.” (Acts 2:16-18, Amplified Bible)
WOW! This tells me that if Pentecost was only the “beginning”, God isn’t through yet. We haven’t seen it all yet, no matter how dark and bleak things may appear in our day. There is more rain coming!
WAVE AFTER WAVE OF GLORY IS COMING
Time for another question… Has God kept His promise to pour out His Spirit? Again, the answer is YES, YES, and YES some more!
Chet and Phyllis Swearingen of Beautiful Feet Ministries have extensively cataloged and chronicled almost 3,000 (2,514 up until the year 2010) major awakenings, revivals, and outpourings of God’s Spirit throughout history.
For example did you know that powerful revivals have taken place in nations all over the globe, including: Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Cuba, Mexico, Congo, South Africa, Uganda, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Norway, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, North Korea, South Korea, Australia, Hawaii, New Zealand, Solomon Islands, and again and again in the USA.
THE SOURCE OF REVIVAL IS HERE TODAY!
Here’s something exciting to consider: When we reflect on historical events, such as the great awakenings and revivals of the past, we often think of those involved as mere historical figures, and they were with one powerful exception… HOLY SPIRIT!
Holy Spirit was dispatched from heaven to empower the Church on the Day of Pentecost, and He has never once retreated to heaven since that day.
He is always active, the Author, Designer, Architect, and Builder of every spiritual awakening and revival in history.
He is the Root, the Source, and the Fountain of God’s glorious presence in every outpouring that has ever swept over the nations.
And He is here… right now… living water… ready to flood our hearts and to flow through us to cover the earth with God’s glory as the waters cover the sea!
³⁷ Then on the most important day of the feast, the last day, Jesus stood and shouted out to the crowds -“All you thirsty ones, come to me! Come to me and drink! ³⁸ Believe in me so that rivers of living water will burst out from within you, flowing from your innermost being!”
(John 7:37-38, The Passion Translation)
**********************************************
**********************************************
Ours is a labor of love. We have never asked anyone to support this ministry financially. We don’t sell merchandise. We don’t host advertising. We don’t solicit donations. We have never received any income through this site.
Christ is, and will always be, our sufficiency, meeting all of our needs.
But we have humbly asked, and do ask again, that our readers would generously support our ministry Partners in the Philippines, Student Life Organization, Inc.
God has given Co-Founders Ian Rustia and Anne Ruiz a clear vision and an open door to reach many in their nation, and beyond, with the love of Christ. They powerfully and faithfully demonstrate His love through outreaches to the needy, the marginalized, and the often forgotten… children and young people with disabilities and special needs, and their families.
SLOI has only been incorporated as a non-profit ministry for slightly more than a year, yet they have already produced much fruit for the kingdom of God. Grace and I consider it a privilege to share in their work, and we earnestly ask that you would join us in supporting their ministry through your prayers and giving.
PLEASE DO THESE THREE THINGS:
Pray for the continued success of this ministry and that God would supply every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Check out and subscribe to the SLOI website to learn more about their latest outreaches and ministry events. You may do this by clicking on this link:
NEWS FLASH! The SLOI Newsletter is now featured on our site! Just click on the button found on the homepage!
Please give generously to support this ministry. You may do so through the Paypal link to their newly opened ministry account:
⁶ “Remember this: he who sows sparingly and grudgingly will also reap sparingly and grudgingly, and he who sows generously, that blessings may come to someone will also reap generously and with blessings.
⁷ Let each one give as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver whose heart is in his giving.
⁸ And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].
⁹ As it is written, he [the benevolent person] scatters abroad; he gives to the poor; his deeds of justice and goodness and kindness and benevolence will go on and endure forever!”
(2 CORINTHIANS 9:6-9, AMPC)
Thank you! We pray that you will experience God’s richest blessings as you give freely and cheerfully in Jesus’ name!
Joe and Grace
Leave a Reply