HERE WE GO AGAIN

HERE WE GO AGAIN

Acts 3:19-21 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

The Lord promised that there would be seasons of renewal in preparation for His coming. It seems clear that the season just before His return could be characterized as “the best of times and the worst of times”. It is the worst of times because of the birth pangs of creation itself and the increase of demonic activity as the end of this age comes upon us. Of course it is the best of times because The Lord has saved His best wine for last. The days just before the Lord’s return promise to be filled with a great move of the Holy Spirit. Of all the times of refreshing throughout church history these times will be the best. Here is some commentary from the Life in Spirit Commentary.

“…Peter mentions two additional benefits. “Times of refreshing [will] come from the Lord.” For years the Jews have been expecting the messianic age, the golden age of blessings. The prophets themselves spoke about the coming of spiritual strength and blessings. This new age has dawned with the coming of Christ. Peter’s “times of refreshing” is one way of speaking about the baptism in the Spirit. The people can now experience the renewal or “refreshing” of their souls through the joys and the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result of their repentance, not only will their sin be forgiven and they will receive relief from their guilt, but they will also experience spiritual renewal through the Holy Spirit.
The second benefit of turning from sin to Christ is the return of Jesus from heaven. God appointed Jesus beforehand to be the Messiah of the Jews. Peter reminds his hearers that as Jesus taught, his second coming will not take place immediately. A period of time must lapse before his return to this earth. Until that day Jesus makes his home in heaven. But when he comes again, God will “restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” Then will take place the fullness of renewal—the restoration of all things.”

The baptism in the Spirit evidenced by the heavenly language has fallen out of popularity in our new version of 21st Century modernism. Slick programs, short services, and cute cliches have replaced altar calls, speaking in other tongues, healing, and casting out of demons. I think that is about to come to an abrupt end. Another generation is coming forward that has never seen a true time of refreshing from The Lord. The spiritual storm clouds have gathered on the horizon, the wind from another world has begun to blow, times of refreshing from the presence of The Lord are upon us.