Acts 3:19 – Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
Something that has always caught my attention is the apparent happy conflict that we see in lives that have been changed by the outpouring of God’s Spirit. Most everyone spent their lives before Christ in the pursuit of their version of happiness in the foolish pleasures of sin found in this world. When Christ moves into their lives by His Spirit there is an immediate change. The thing that once brought supposed happiness has been forsaken and replaced by fullness of joy found in the presence of the Lord. Jonathan Edwards saw that in the outpouring in his church some 300 years ago, happiness filled the people flowing from the presence of the Lord. Here is how Edwards describes this contrast.
“Such a time is a time wherein there is an happy alteration in many persons to the appearance of the world. Many that used to be vicious persons, profane persons, or sinful persons, or contentious persons; that used to behave themselves very unbecomingly, and do a great deal of mischief, and were a nuisance where they lived; they become virtuous, religious, and pious persons, and become blessing persons. That is an happy time, when “the wolf dwells with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid.” Such a time is a time, wherein a spirit of love and peace prevails amongst a people, which renders an happy time. An end is put in a great measure to a spirit of contention and strife, whispering, backbiting, and revenge. Such a time is a time, wherein salvation comes into many houses; and there is great cause given for the voice of joy and praise in many families. Such a time is a time, wherein are the tokens of God’s presence and blessing with ordinances.”
Edwards saw a move of the Spirit sweep his town in 1734 that effected every household in Northampton. Many lives were dramatically changed and their testimonies added fuel to the fires of revival. As a matter of fact he wrote a book entitled “A Faithful Narrative” that spread all over America and Europe in those days that became a huge catalyst for the Great Awakening on both continents. Many miserable people were suddenly changed and found happiness in Christ. This is the only hope for our world today, we need another outpouring of His Spirit.
