Nearly
2000 years ago in the year of our Lord's passion, the Holy Spirit fell
on the 120 gathered in the upper room. Right there in Jerusalem, the
city of God's peace, the Holy Spirit came down in a glorious flooding
wave. On the very calendar day of the Jewish feast, (fifty days after
the Feast of First fruits), the Day of Pentecost had fully arrived. The
momentous events came right on schedule At nine o'clock in the morning,
the Feast of Pentecost came into it's New Covenant fulfillment. When
Peter preached that day 3,000 were saved. The disciples of Jesus
empowered by the Holy Spirit brought the witness of Jesus Christ to the
whole city of Jerusalem. It was a magnificent revival. And in this power
the Church would be launched as a global company. The Body of Christ
would go beyond Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria. And the Good News of
the Gospel of salvation would overflow the rivers of Israel to reap a
global harvest. Empowered by the Holy Spirit the Congregation/Church
that came out of Israel would take the Gospel message to lost Israel and
out into the gentile nations in the uttermost parts of the world. That
international Gospel mission that began in Israel continues to this
present day. And when the fullness of the Gentiles is brought in that
mission will end, even as the scales come off the eyes of Israel. The
global mission of the Congregation of Israel, the Church, will climax in
a blaze of glory. And where? Holy history will come back home to
Israel, at Zion, the very place it began. Isaiah gives us a glimpse of
this magnificent conclusion to the epic saga of God's Elect.
10 "And the redeemed/ransomed of the Lord shall return,
And come with singing unto Zion, And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.
They shall obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isa. 35:10)
THE PROMISED LATTER RAIN. SO MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS.
WHEN WILL WE SEE JOEL'S PROMISED OUTPOURING?
We
are now in the 21st century. We have heard much talk and much preaching
concerning an End-Time Revival or 'Latter Rain Revival' also known as
'Joel's Outpouring' or 'Hosea's Revival'. While we have seen some
showers of true Holy Spirit revival in the past century they have not
come anywhere near the glory we see prophesied for the genuine End-Time
Revival as we see it outlined for us in the Holy Scriptures. (Joel
2:28-32, Isa.60, Isa.63 etc.) The Pentecostal movement itself, which
began early in the 20th century, has faded. It is now just another
denomination. And here in the rich nations the once glorious Charismatic
Renewal is now compromised by mammon, and in serious decline. It has
been 'bought out' in part by the 'self' movement and turned into a
multi-billion dollar a year motivational religion-business. Pop psychology
mixed in with quasi-religious hype is now the main church business. And
their bazaars have been set up inside the western church. This is to
our shame.
Jesus
said, "Take up your cross and follow me." Christian believers have all
been personally charged by Jesus Himself to be His agent for His
Kingdom. Our papers are sitting their waiting for our action. Our
commission is nothing less than The Great Commission.
This
message concerning self sacrifice and the Way of the cross has been has
been considered "negative" by the religious salesmen of our time. And
blood covenant Christianity has been quietly and gradually taken out of
their baskets of religious wares. What we now see being served up to us
is a lukewarm mess of ecumenical pottage. This is far less than our
'high calling in Christ'. The charismatic revival was wonderful fresh
breeze in its time. But now the once great revival has been repackaged
for sale to the masses in the religious markets of mammon. Holiness and
has gone out the window. And faithfulness to the Holy Scriptures is now
considered dispensable in lieu of the 'prophetic revelations' coming to
us through our special new "five fold" anointed "apostles" and
"prophets".
We
have come part way out of the medieval church, but not completely. Many
Christians still look to men and for some human being to be our king
and champion in this world and our priestly mediator between ourselves
and God. Jesus was that man and He came in the dual anointing of
Melchizedek. No one else qualifies.
The
Holy Spirit has been given to us, and He began overflowing out of
Israel into the nations in a big way on the Day of Pentecost 2,000 years
ago. He is the Paraclete of whom Jesus spoke. Jesus said that the Holy
Spirit would be sent to come alongside us, (John 15:26). But alas, He
has been grieved. The One who is sent to us to be our Comforter and
Guide, even the Spirit if Truth. But His Presence is not as evident in
our charismatic services as He once was. (1Cor.14:26)
This
is truly unfortunate. Many of us were mightily blessed in the early
years of the charismatic renewal. During those early years the Holy
Spirit flowed in a much greater purity than we see today. Both of these
once great Holy Spirit revivals are now either spent or winding down. So
where is the promise of the final epic blockbuster Holy Spirit
outpouring? And why aren't we seeing this outpouring now?
But we thank God that outpouring is come!!
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