Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing ( rest, repose, place to rest) : yet they would not hear.
"Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing (a cooling) may come from the presence of the Lord" Acts 3,19
Ps 102:13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour (mercy, merciful, to be gracious, show favour, pity, to direct favour to, have mercy on, to be shown favour, be shown consideration) her, yea, the set time, is come, (a time of feast, season appointed for her solemnity praise and fame. Solemn days set apart for a sign and a wonder. An appointed time, a sacred season. Her set feast, her appointed season and appointed place and signal is now! Also used of the tent of meeting
Ps 102:13, 16 You will again get up and have mercy on Zion: for the time has come for her to be comforted. When the Lord will put up the walls of Zion, and be his glory; So that they may give out the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem.
But God remembered Noah..." God turned his attention from destruction to the work of restoring. He had poured out his wrath in the flood waters by opening the floodgates of heaven. Every living thing that moved on the earth perished. Only Noah was left and those with him in the ark, and the waters flooded the earth for 150 days. But hidden in God's judgment was a redemptive purpose. God had judged the earth so that he could salvage a spiritual remnant. Noah was that remnant, and God did not forget him.
God who judges is also God who provides a way of salvation. All the people of those times lived in sin and grieved God. But there was one man, Noah,who walked with God. For the sake of this one righteous man God had given the command and instructions concerning the ark, and Noah had obeyed. When God destroyed the world by the flood, he made a covenant with Noah and his family to preserve their lives. He made a covenant of salvation (6:18). Now, the world was covered with water and had almost returned to its pre-creation state. But Noah and his family, and the animals in the ark, a remnant of life, were floating on the surface of the deep.
God remembered Noah and sent a wind over the earth and the waters receded. This reminds us of God's beginning of creation when his Spirit
hovered over the waters in chapter 1:2. Gradually, the waters receded, and the ark came to rest on the top of Mount Ararat. 40 days after the tops of the mountains became visible, Noah sent out a raven. Then, he sent out a dove. The dove could find no dry place to set its feet, so it came back. A week later, when he sent the dove out a second time, it returned with the sign of a new beginning, a sign of hope--a freshly plucked green olive leaf. How overjoyed Noah must have been to seen a fresh green leaf for the first time in a year. It meant that God was restoring the vegetation. Noah and his family could again live on the earth. In the midst of unspeakable death and destruction, God planted hope in the heart of his servant.
Noah and his family waited until God told them to come out of the ark. Then, a year and ten days after they had entered the ark, they came out on dry land. Noah's first act after coming out of the ark was to build an altar and worship God. Verse 20 says, Then Noah built an altar to the Lord and, taking some of all the clean animals and clean birds, he sacrificed burnt offerings on it. The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart:'Never again will I curse the ground because of man..." Noah offered an animal sacrifice, a blood offering, for he knew that he was a sinful man, undeserving of God's grace and salvation. God was pleased with Noah's burnt offering. God also realized that man's fundamental sin problem had not been solved by the flood. The root of sin was still in his heart. But God made a
decision. "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood..."
Perhaps God was looking forward to the perfect sacrifice, the Lamb of God, whom he would send to take away the sin of the world. He continued
by making a promise. "Never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done..." Verse 22 continues, "As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." God promised to preserve the order of the seasons and days as long as the earth remains. When the final judgment comes it will not be by means of another flood; it will be by means of fire.
(2Pe 3:5-7,10)
2. The new beginning (9:1-28)
God's command in 8:17 ["Bring out every kind of living creature that is with you--the birds, the animals, and all the creatures that move along the ground--so they can multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number upon it."] reminds us of Genesis 1:22,28. ["God blessed them and said,'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water..."] He commanded Noah to bring out all the living creatures so that they might multiply on the earth and be fruitful and increase in number on it. This command for a new beginning is repeated in 9:1,7:
"Then God blessed Noah and his sons, saying to them, 'Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the earth. ...As for you, be fruitful and increase in number; multiply on the earth and increase upon it." God is a God of new beginnings. Man can also pick up the pieces of a broken life, and with God's direction and help, make a new beginning.
For the sake of mankind, God established a new kind of creation order. There was no new command to "subdue and rule over the earth." Perhaps mankind was not able to do this in the chaotic jungle that the world without creation order had become. Man cannot live in chaos. But because of man's rebellion, spiritual order had been broken, and if something were not done, chaos would come. 9:2 says: "The fear and dread of you will fall upon all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air, upon every creature that moves along the ground, and
upon all the fish of the sea; they are given into your hands." So God put fear and dread of mankind in all the animals. Now man must rule the earth by fear and not by love. God told man and animals to eat flesh--to cease being vegetarians and become carnivorous. Now only the strongest and most able would survive, and the peaceful earth would became a jungle. This was the price of man's sin, and it was how God made a way for mankind to survive in a hostile world.
But there was an urgent and important lesson which mankind must learn. The carnage of the flood had dulled man's respect for human life. Today, as well, many people do not know why human life is valuable, and those who attach a pragmatic value to human life easily condone abortion, euthanasia, and eventually, genocide and murder. 9:6 says: "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Man must be taught and continually reminded that man's life is valuable in and of itself--because man bears the image of God. God taught the value of life in several ways. First, he prohibited the eating of meat with life blood in it. (4) Blood represents life. God was laying the foundation for the sacrificial system. This would teach man the nature of and value of spiritual life, for this was God's provision of a way to atone for sin. Sin demands lifeblood. Leviticus 17:11-12a says, "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life. Therefore I say to the Israelites, 'None of you may eat blood..." Forgiveness is necessary for spiritual life.
Second, the shedding of innocent blood by either man or animal is a capital offence, to be punished by death. Verse 5 says, "And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man." Verse 6 continues, "Whoever
sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed;" Third, God made a covenant of life with mankind and with every living creature. He promised never again to destroy the earth by a flood, and he put his rainbow in the sky to remind himself and mankind of this promise. (15)
The rainbow is a beautiful reminder of God's love for mankind, even sinful mankind. God also regards the lives of all living creatures as precious. Although God gave animals to man for food, he is displeased by the wanton killing of animals. With the rainbow, God made a commitment to make it possible for mankind, to pioneer a new world and a new life. It is important that people respect the lives of other people; it is important that each person respect his own life. Breath life upon those that have been placed under your power for it is creation; of new beginning. As as breathed into man and gave him and her life and breath (spoke) creation into being, this is the season to speak creation into being in the mighty name of Jesus!
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God Richly Bless You
Prophetess Dayana Adu Biney
13-10-2011
TIMES OF REFRESHING - PART 2
The Wind of God
Genesis 8 Key Verse: 8:5a
" And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that [was] with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters asswaged;And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month: in the tenth [month], on the first [day] of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen." Ge 8:5
Isa 28:12 To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing ( rest, repose, place to rest) : yet they would not hear.
"Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing (a cooling) may come from the presence of the Lord" Acts 3,19
TO REFRESH: from the Oxford dictionary is to give new strength or vigour to somebody or something; To restore or revive; Refreshment (of food and drink, snacks).
TO RESTORE: Give back something lost to its owner. bring back someody or something to a former condition. such as restoration of health, beauty, sight, confidence, etc. It also means to to bring something back into use, eg after it has lapsed or been withdrawn. And finally it means to to rebuild or repair (of a ruined building, work of art, etc so that it is like the original.
TO RENEW: Is to replace something with something new of the same kind. It is to put new life and vigour into somebody or something. It is to restore. It means to take up or begin again, eg after a break or a pause t o resume. It is to make or form something again; re-establish something. It means to arrange for something to be valid without a break, that is to extend.
Fifty and a hundred days. These, and the forty days of rain, make one hundred and ninety days: about six lunar months and thirteen days. If to this we add the month and seventeen days before the commencement of the rain, we have eight months completed, and are therefore brought to the first day of the ninth month. The waters may be said to prevail as long as the ark had its full draught of water. It is probable they were still rising during the first half of the hundred and fifty days, and then gradually sinking during the other half.
The waters were abated. Ëkæv“stoop, assuage” “want, fail, be abated,” “Ararat,” a land forming part of Armenia. It is mentioned in #2Ki 19:37, and #Isa 37:38, as the retreat of Adrammelek and Sharezer after the murder of their father; and in #Jer 51:27 as a kingdom, ARARA means “be light, lightened, lightly esteemed, swift,” “twist, turn, dance, writhe, tremble, be strong, wait” “remain, wait, hope,” “be drained, desolated, amazed.”
#Ge 8:1-3 The waters commence their retreat. “And God remembered Noah.” He is said to remember him when he takes any step to deliver him from the waters. The several steps to this end are enumerated.
A wind. This would promote evaporation, and otherwise aid the retreat of the waters. “The fountains of the deep and the windows of the skies were shut.” The incessant and violent showers had continued for six weeks. It is probable the weather remained turbid and moist for some time longer. In the sixth month, however, the rain probably ceased altogether. Some time before this, the depressing of the ground had reached its lowest point, and the upheaving had set in. This is the main cause of the reflux of the waters. All this is described, as we perceive, according to appearance. It is probable that the former configuration of the surface was not exactly restored. At all events it is not necessary, as the ark may have drifted a considerable space in a hundred and fifty days. Some of the old ground on which primeval man had trodden may have become a permanent water bed, and a like amount of new land may have risen to the light in another place. Hence, it is vain to seek for a spot retaining the precise conditions of the primitive Eden. The Euphrates and Tigris may substantially remain, but the Pishon and Gihon may have considerably changed. The Black Sea, the Caspian, the lakes Van and Urumiah may cover portions of the Adamic land. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the prevalence of the waters begins to turn into a positive retreat.
The ark rested. It is stranded on some hill in Ararat. This country forms part of Armenia. In the seventh month i.e. October (Ararat 2, Armenia 2); The meaning of Ararat is "the curse reversed: precipitation of curse". [Marg] (Ararat) Lit. holy ground #Eph 2:4-6 for the Church, and to the "new heavens and new earth" for Israel. #Isa 65:17-19 66:22 Re 21:1.
As the drying wind most probably came from the east or north, it is likely that the ark was drifted toward Asia Minor, and caught land on some hill in the reaches of the Euphrates. It cannot be supposed that it rested on either of the peaks now called Ararat, as Ararat was a country, not a mountain, and these peaks do not seem suitable for the purpose. The seventh month began usually with the new moon nearest the vernal equinox, or the 21st of March. “The tenth month.” The waters ceased to prevail on the first of the ninth month. The ark, though grounded six weeks before, was still deep in the waters. The tops of the hills began to appear a month after. The subsiding of the waters seems to have been very slow.
8:5 And the waters decreased continually until the {d } tenth monthwhich was the month of December/January: in the tenth [month], on the first [day] of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. (because God had sent a WIND).
God's Treasure House: One of God's wonders of nature is the wind. All who live upon the earth have witnessed the wind: from the gentle breeze, to the gale, to the whirlwind, to the most violent typhoon. God speaks much about the wind in His Word. The prophet Jeremiah gave us insight into the wind: "When He uttereth His voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth: He maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of His treasures." Jeremiah 51:16
When God speaks of His treasures, they are the things of value that are stored until the time they are needed. He speaks of His treasures of the wind. The wind is not the only thing God has in His treasury. Job also spoke of God's treasures: "Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail?" Job 38:22
God also has snow and hail in His treasures. God will use all His treasures, as it becomes necessary, to demonstrate His great power, authority, and majesty to those who inhabit the earth. The Psalmist wrote: "Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling His Word." Psalm 148:8
God has His treasure house full, and is using this stored treasure to fulfill His Word. The day has come when God is releasing all His treasures in all their fury upon the earth.
The prophet Isaiah spoke of another treasure: "And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel." Isaiah 45:3
The word darkness means "the place of obscurity", the secret place in God". The Psalmist declared the secret place in God: "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
The secret place of the Most High God is His place of protection, the place of His hidden riches. This is God's treasure house for the people who love and serve Him. He has stored up His treasures for His use in the day of His wrath. And among the treasure (armoury) stored up, or reserved, is the WIND.
The Four Winds
In the book of Ezekiel, God tells the prophet to prophesy to the found winds to breath on the dry bones. The four mighty winds is also mention by Jesus in John's revealation on the Isle of Patmos: "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree." Revelation 7:1
knowing the two aspects of the wind will help us understand how God uses the wind.
The Natural and the Spiritual
First, there is the natural or physical characteristics of the wind. Secondly, there is the Spiritual characteristics of the wind. One Spiritual characteristic of the wind is that it represents God's judgment. These Spiritual winds of judgment are being held back from blowing on the earth until God has sealed the one hundred and forty-four thousand.
Matthew speaks of God using the wind in the gathering His people :"And He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31
When God releases the four winds upon the earth at the time of His judgment, and gathers His people from these four winds. The four winds released in judgement brings a time of violence and turbulence never before seen by man.
The Bible speaks of the North Wind, the South Wind, the East Wind, and the West Wind. The four directions have a Spiritual significance for the end of this age.
North is the direction of God's throne. It is the symbol of power, majesty, and authority. South is the direction of comfort, refreshment, and quietness. The East Wind is the wind of judgment that will blow before the New Day. The West Wind blows from the setting of the sun. The West Wind reveals the end of the day, or the end of the age, and the restoration of all things.
The East Wind
God's Word speaks of the East Wind more than any of the other winds. The East Wind is referred to twenty-one times. When God was going to bring judgment upon Egypt to deliver His people, He used the East Wind twice. The first time..."...Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the East Wind brought the locusts." Exodus 10:13
Locusts are always a sign of destruction. Nothing lives in the path of the locust. God used the East Wind to bring judgment upon all vegetation Egypt depended on to sustain life. God's judgment is always swift and complete.
The second time God used the East Wind to bring judgment upon Egypt..."...Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided." Exodus 14:21
The East Wind divided the Red Sea and this brought deliverance to God's people. The East Wind allowed God's people to cross over on dry ground, but to the Egyptian Army, the East Wind meant total annihilation. God's people were completely delivered from any threat of Pharaoh's army. Inlike manner, God caused "a wind", an east wind to blow on the flood and the land was dried. I kept on decreasing till Noah and his family could come out on the dry land.
The East Wind always blows from the New Day. For Egypt it was the end. For the sinful angel and their men that had allowed themselves to be corrupted so much as to corrupt all creation, it was the end. All their vegetation was gone, their crops, their livestock, all trees. All in whom there was the breath of life died. Death by the flood had taken away eevery house excerpt that of Noah. Their army and all their young and strong and wise men were destroyed.
But like it was to Israel, after the east wind had blown, so was it for Noah and his family.It was the beginning of a New Day - A new beginning. They were released from the bondage of corruption and of slavery. To the Israelites in Egypt, whom God saved by the east wind, governmental taskmasters no longer had dominion in their lives. They were set free to worship their God, and to plan their own future. So also, Noah respected God for his deliverance and offered worship on stepping into dry ground. Israel and Noah were free to act upon the promises of God, free to enter the land flowing with milk and honey. We, too, shall experience this mighty deliverance in this season of refreshing in the mighty name of Jesus! and tast of our freedom from all the bondage of the governmental and satanic taskmasters. God in this season has pronounced to lead His people into His New Day, a fresh season, a new beginning! For God, "has broken the ships of Tarshish with an east wind." Psalm 48:7
The word Tarshish means "she will bring poverty, or she will scatter". Poverty has been broken from your shoulders in the name of Jesus! Tarshish always means "a time of testing, or a place of heat".Many are they who have gone through an incessant season of trail of their faith or hell from the kingdom of darkness. But for whatever purpose that it was, whether for judgment so as to break your pride and (humbled) you, now, now in his mercy, he shall remember you!
Ephraim Feedeth on the Wind: God foretold the wind of judgment He would bring upon the tribes of Ephraim and Dan. Jereboam had set up his golden calves in these two tribes. Because of this, God totally destroyed the tribes of Ephraim and Dan. They do not appear in the Spiritual tribes of Revelation 7. Neither of these tribes will be part of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. God did not reveal what happened to Dan, but the prophet Hosea foretold the fate of Ephraim: "Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: He daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt." Hosea 12:1
The East Wind is the wind of the Lord. The wind of the Lord came upon Ephraim because he daily increased lying. Ephraim not only lied to others, he lied to himself. Many today, like Ephraim, tell themselves they are the chosen of God, and all they have to do is offer an innocent animal (ask forgiveness) and they will be restored in the grace of God. Many today, like Ephraim, have overlooked the Scriptures that state,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me". Exodus 20:3
When we have made gods unto ourselves, we invoke the East Wind of God's wrath in our lives. Ephraim also increased desolation in his life. The word desolation means "havoc, destruction, ruin, and violence". Many wonder why there are so many problems in their lives. It is because, like Ephraim, they have allowed false gods to be set up in their lives. Because of this, God's judgment winds are blowing, not to destroy them, but to bring them to true repentance.
Ephraim made a covenant with Assyria. The word Assyria means "to step up in society". Those who have made a covenant with Assyria have come into agreement with the world. They desire the things of the world more than the things of God. There is no separation in their life. They are in agreement with the heathen. These have been taught they have a right to demand from God all the things the heathen possess and trust in.
Not only did Ephraim come into agreement with Assyria, they carried their oil into Egypt. They have taken their anointing back into the world. The fruits of the Spirit they possess are only for show, displayed before the world to show how great their anointing is before God. The fruits of the Spirit in their lives have become almost non-existent. There is no evidence of love. Joy is displayed as happiness only when they have acquired some new toy. Their peace is only evident when there is no adversity. This peace is easily lost with the slightest problem. Longsuffering is not even considered in their walk with God. These have taken their fruits and their anointing to the world and they are feeding on the wind. Hosea continued his revelation of God's judgment upon Ephraim:"Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the Lord shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels." Hosea 13:15
Ephraim's springs have dried up. The springs of water in our life is the anointed Word of God. When our springs dry up, the Word becomes meaningless, just a dry morsel. This is when God spoils or robs the treasures He has hidden in His Word, and they fall away. Hosea continued: "For Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer: now the Lord will feed them as a lamb in a large place. Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone." Hosea 4:16-17
God called Israel a backsliding heifer, and Ephraim had joined himself to idols. God directed, "Let him alone". Many today, like Ephraim, are following after the East Wind, but their way of life demands the judgment of God. There will be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth when the wind of the Lord blows upon their earth. The angels are holding back the East Wind. When God releases the East Wind upon the earth, His judgement will be released in all its fury upon all things that are unclean and defiled in the sight of God.
The Vehement East Wind in Nineveh
The prophet Jonah was sent to Nineveh to prophesy that if they did not repent, God was going to totally destroy Nineveh and all that was in it. The King of Nineveh declared a fast and the whole city repented, and God's hand of judgment was stayed. The prophet Jonah became distraught because he felt God had not kept His word. So Jonah went out of the city and was angry with the Lord...
"And it came to pass, when the sun did arise, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat upon the head of Jonah, that he fainted, and wished in himself to die, and said, It is better for me to die than to live." Jonah 4:8
The wind of judgment blew upon Jonah's rebellion, and he desired to die. Jonah thought it would be better to be dead, than to face the people who would consider him a false prophet. The Bible speaks of another time when man will desire death, but death will not be available to him:
"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them." Revelation 9:3, 5 & 6
When God releases the East Wind, His judgment will be released upon all the earth in the form of locusts, and they will torment man five months. This torment will be such that man, as Jonah, will want to die, but death will flee from them.
The East Wind is for those who will not hear God's voice, nor heed His words while it is yet day. For when the night comes they will be in the midst of the East Wind with no place of escape.
Job's East Wind
When Job's three friends came to him in his time of testing, Eliphaz related to Job: "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?" Job 15:2
The word translated vain is the Hebrew word RUWACH and means "breath or spirit". Eliaphas was asking Job if a man should utter Spiritual knowledge with only physical understanding. Many today are aware of the judgment of God that is about to be released upon all God's creation, yet they refuse to prepare their lives for the inevitable. God desires for them to see with Spiritual understanding, yet they continue to apply His Word physically to their life instead of making the Spiritual adjustments needed to be delivered from the East Wind. They are only filling their bellies with the East Wind of God's judgment when the four angels release the four winds of heaven.
EAST WIND AGAINST PAUL
"But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon." Acts 27:14
The Euroclydon
Paul encountered a severe storm called Euroclydon. The word Euroclydon comes from the Greek word EUROS and means "East Wind". It means "a violent agitation". Those who have settled back on their lees, being refreshed by the South Wind have not prepared their lives for the days ahead when the East Wind will be released from the throne of God in all its fury. The East Wind will bring judgment on all unrighteousness that exists not only on the earth, but also in the earth. All God's people, as Paul, will stand before the King of the whole earth. The East Wind will blow upon every one, but God has promised the refreshing South Wind that will blow upon His people. Paul was refreshed the second time by the South Wind on his trip to Rome:
The South Wind
When Job's three friends finished their discourse to Job, the Spirit-filled young man, Elihu, began to point out the things in Job's life that were displeasing before God. Elihu informed Job: "How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?" Job 37:17
When the South Wind blows, it will bring quietness to God's people. When man's spirit is quiet before God, God will minister Spiritual truths unto His people. The South Wind brings a time of refreshing in our lives. After Job's three religious friends were finished with their criticism of Job, Elihu, by the Spirit, brought the refreshing South Wind into Job's life.
After the East Wind of God's judgment has blown upon the earth, the refreshing South Wind will blow upon those whom he had kept through the floods and have now brought into a large place. Ps 78
Of such times for the tested Believer also, was mentioned by the Apostle Peter: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" Acts 3:19
Peter spoke of the times of refreshing. The times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord will come when the South Wind blows upon the earth. Thus prophet and Psalmist Asaph wrote: "He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven: and by His power He brought in the south wind." Psalm 78:26
After the East Wind has blown upon the earth, God is going to bring forth the South Wind. It will be a time of refreshing and release for God's people. The South Wind will bring the peace of God that passeth all understanding, Philippians 4:7.
When Paul was to stand before Caesar, the King of the known world, the South Wind became an important part of Paul's journey. Paul was falsely accused by the religious system of his day, and was sent to Porcius Festus, the governor of Judah. Being a Roman citizen, Paul demanded to be tried before Caesar. Paul was then sent by ship from Caesarea to Rome to stand before Caesar. On this journey... "...the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete." Acts 27:13
Paul had a time when the South Wind blew in his life. Everything seemed to be going well on his trip. Paul had been assured by God, he would stand before Caesar. Many today, like Paul, are not expecting any adversity. Their bellies are full, their bills are paid, the tank is full of gas, and there is money in the bank. How much better could it be? The South Wind is blowing gently in their lives, and they are enjoying their complacency. But what happened on Paul's trip?
"But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon." Acts 27:14
The Euroclydon
Paul encountered a severe storm called Euroclydon. The word Euroclydon comes from the Greek word EUROS and means "East Wind". It means "a violent agitation". Those who have settled back on their lees, being refreshed by the South Wind have not prepared their lives for the days ahead when the East Wind will be released from the throne of God in all its fury. The East Wind will bring judgment on all unrighteousness that exists not only on the earth, but also in the earth. All God's people, as Paul, will stand before the King of the whole earth. The East Wind will blow upon every one, but God has promised the refreshing South Wind that will blow upon His people. Paul was refreshed the second time by the South Wind on his trip to Rome:
"And from thence we fetched a compass, and came to Rhegium: and after one day the south wind blew, and we came the next day to Puteoli:" Acts 28:13
The South Wind was to blow again upon Paul's journey. The South Wind blew after one day. When we are finished with the Day of the Lord, the Day of Judgment in the earth, God's gentle South Wind will again blow upon His people. When Spiritual understanding is given, we realize how beautiful God's promises are to us. We are in His hand, and nothing can hurt us, and no one can pluck us out of his nail-scarred hands.
The North Wind
Elihu, the Spirit-filled young man, told Job: "Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty." Job 37:22
The word terrible means "to stand in awe and reverential fear". When God's fair weather returns to the earth, we are going to stand in awe and reverence of the majesty God is going to display in His people.
Solomon declared the North Wind:
"The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits." Ecclesiastes 1:6
The North Wind blows from the throne of God bringing deliverance. Solomon wrote that it whirleth about continually. God's deliverance and refreshment are in the earth continually. As judgment comes from God, so does deliverance. God's judgment wind will blow, but the South Wind will bring the time of refreshment, and God will send deliverance by the North Wind. It is only because of our wickedness and our carnal mind we do not partake of the North and South wind in our lives. God has made it continually available to us, only we have not come into a place to receive it. Solomon spoke again of the continual whirling of the North and South Winds: "Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into His garden, and eat His pleasant fruits." Song of Solomon 4:16
Solomon was speaking of those who would make up God's Holy City, the Bride of Christ. He wrote, "Awake, O North Wind, come thou south, blow upon my garden." We are the garden of the Lord. In fact He calls us His "garden of nuts". "I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, and to see whether the vine flourished, and the pomegranates budded." Song of Solomon 6:11
This, truly, is not a derogatory statement. Nuts are the fruit or seed of trees. We are His trees of righteousness. God was speaking of checking the fruit we have produced in our lives. These are the fruits of the Spirit, and His North Wind blows upon us so the spices may flow out of our lives. Spices, in the Bible, are used as sweet-smelling fragrances and also as healing balms. Paul spoke of these: "For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish." II Corinthians 2:15
When the wind from the North blows upon God's people, they will partake of His pleasant fruits, the fruits of the Spirit. These fruits will be manifest in the flesh, by and through the Spirit. This will not be the firstfruit anointing, but the Double Portion Anointing that comes from the throne of God.
The West Wind
There is one more wind that must blow upon the earth, and that is the West Wind. The West Wind displays the times of Restoration. When the West Wind blows, God will restore the earth as it was in the day of His creation. The West Wind only appears once in the Bible. The West Wind blows from the setting of the sun. This represents the end of the age. When God sent the plague of locusts, every green thing was destroyed in Egypt. Moses recorded: "For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left: and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt." Exodus 10:15
The locusts brought total destruction upon Egypt. But God has promised to send deliverance and restoration upon Egypt. Moses revealed: "And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast them into the Red Sea; there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt." Exodus 10:19
When the locust were removed, God's plan of restoration began to take place and the earth was restored. Jesus revealed another plague like the locusts that He would send upon the earth in the time of His judgment.
"And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them." Revelation 9:3-6
These stinging locusts would torment men five months. Men will desire to die, but death will not be available to them. Man's only relief will come from God. Those who apply God's promises to their lives will be spared. Those who reject God's Word will perish. Israel was given to us as an example. We need to view Israel as to what God will accomplish in the earth at the end of the age.
Those who know their God and walk in His ways can expect the West Wind to blow in their lives. The West Wind brings the Restoration of all things after the judgment of God. All the things that have brought devastation to our lives will be removed. Only those things that bring glory to the Father will remain. The mighty wind of the Spirit, alone, will bring salvation to God's people.
Thus God's East wind is called to divine the waters and cause it to decrease so he will settle his people on dry grounds. The end of the east wind annouces the commencement of a new day, a new beginning.
God's south wind will the blow winds of refreshing upon them
God's north wind which comes from his throne, God the Holy Spirit, will cause them to bear fruit and
God west wind wrought God's deliverance and will complete their restoration making sure that all locust of destruction are taken away.
Jesus says that as no one can find out the working of the wind, from where it comes and goes, so are those that are born of the spirit. They are carried by the winds of God which according to Job, moves round like seasons, working out for the deliverance, refreshing, restoration and renewal of God's people.
The Wind in the Tops of the Mulberry Trees
God used the wind many times in His Word to demonstrate His saving grace. There was a time when the Philistine army came against Israel. This was soon after David was anointed King. The Philistines thought they could unseat the newly crowned king and be in control of all Israel. Although David was victorious, the Philistines would try again: "Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.
And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines." I Chronicles 14:14-15
God gave David specific instructions. He was to circle around and come up behind the enemy. He was to encamp next to the mulberry trees. There were probably other kinds of trees there. But God did not speak to David to go to just any tree. He gave David direct orders. If the wind of the Lord is going to blow in our lives we need to:
1 Know His voice
2 Listen for His voice
3 Be obedient to His voice.
David was told, "When thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees...", then he was to attack, not before, nor after. We need to ask, "What was moving in the tops of the mulberry trees?" It was the wind of the Lord. The word wind is RUWACH and means "breath or Spirit". It was the Spirit that was moving in the tops of the mulberry trees. It did not blow in any of the other trees, only the mulberry. God is wanting us to recognize the move of His Spirit. When David went up, he was successful because he followed the move of the Spirit of God, the wind of the Lord.
Contrary Winds
There came a time when Jesus had to deal with the wind in His disciples' lives. After Jesus fed the five thousand..."...straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while He sent away the people." Mark 6:45
"And He saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night He cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them." Mark 6:48
The disciples were toiling in rowing, trying to get to where they wanted to go. But the wind was contrary unto them. Many today who think they are walking in the Spirit find the wind of the Lord is contrary to them. They are trying to get to where they want to go, or do what they want to do. Jesus is always near by, walking upon the sea, but He will continue to pass them by until they call out to Him.
"For they all saw Him, and were troubled. And immediately He talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And He went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered." Mark 6:50-51
The disciples were troubled when they saw Jesus. They thought they were all alone in their tribulation. They did everything humanly possible to solve their dilemma. It only took a word from the Lord, and their troubled sea was calm. There was another instance when Jesus' disciples were on the troubled sea,
"And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but He was asleep. And His disciples came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And He saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him!" Matthew 8:24-27
When we are going through the storms of life, we may think many times God is asleep, or just simply not concerned about what we are going through. When our ship is covered with water, and we think we are going to sink, this is when we desire to get God's attention. When everything is going well, and we have smooth sailing, sometimes God gets in our way, and we would not care if He took a nap, and left us alone. We are our own helmsmen, and we do not need any help. But let the storm arise, and our need for God arises very quickly, and we begin to seek His presence.
The disciples got Jesus' attention, and He arose and rebuked the contrary wind in their lives, and there was a great calm. The peace that passeth all understanding returned to their lives. When we are going through a difficult storm in our life, all we need is a word from the Lord and our storms become a great calm. We marvel, saying, "What manner of man is this, that the wind and the sea obey Him". If the disciples had known the Word of God, they would not have been surprised, because the Psalmist wrote:
"He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still." Psalm 107:29
When the wind of the Lord is contrary in our lives, then we are not going with the wind, but contrary to the wind. We are desiring to go our own way. When the wind is contrary the Lord is attempting to change our direction to walk with Him. When we change directions, then the wind will be at our backs and our sails will be full, and our journey easy. When we are going against the wind, our toiling becomes impossible. When we call Christ into our ship and make Him our helmsman, we will reach His destination in our life. The continual whirling North Wind and South Wind will calm our seas and bring the deliverance the Lord has promised. Praise will return to our lips, and joy will return to our heart.
God's Spiritual Wind
Another time Jesus addressed the wind was when Nicodemus came to Him in the night...
". . .and said unto Him, "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him." John 3:2
Jesus' answer to Nicodemus was,
". . .Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3
The word see is the Greek word EIDO. It is derived from the Latin word VIDEO and means "to perceive with the eyes". Another meaning is "to know". Nicodemus' reply was: ". . .How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:4-5
Jesus' answer was, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God". There is a big difference in seeing the Kingdom of God, and entering into the kingdom. Many who can see the Kingdom will never enter because they have not been born of water, nor the Spirit. When we have been truly born of water, the old man has been dealt with. In his letter to the Romans, Paul explained the purpose of water baptism:
"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." Romans 6:6
When we are born of water, the old man is crucified, the body of sin is destroyed, and we are no longer a servant of sin, or the old sin nature. This is a continuing process in our life. The act of baptism is only a commitment to allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to change our lives. The Apostle Peter informed us: ". . .Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38
The verb phrase "shall receive" does not mean that it is automatic. Jesus gave us further insight into receiving the Holy Spirit operation in our lives:
"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 11:13
If we are to receive the Holy Spirit, we must ask. It must be in our heart to allow God to change us into His image and likeness. When the Holy Spirit comes into our life, change must take place. Many today are desiring what they call the finished work of the cross in their lives. The finished work of the cross is the forgiveness of sin. And if that is all that is needed there would have been no reason for the Day of Pentecost. But Pentecost did come, and the Holy Spirit was given to bring us into a place in God to be born of the Spirit.
There is a difference between being baptized in the Holy Spirit and being born of the Spirit. It is only when the work of the Holy Spirit is complete, and the old man is totally destroyed, with his old nature and his old way of thinking, that we will be born of the Spirit. When we are born of the Spirit, the Spirit will have complete and total control of our life. Then we, as Jesus, will say, "I only do what I see the Father doing, and I only speak what I hear the Father, saying." If we are to enter into the Kingdom of God, we must be born of water and the Spirit.
Many today, like Nicodemus, only have a carnal understanding of the words of Jesus. Jesus went on to explain to Nicodemus: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:6
Many today who are claiming to be born again have not yet been born of water. They have failed to deal with the old, Adamic nature and are still servants of sin. Jesus proclaimed, "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Jesus explains what happens to those who are born of the Spirit:
"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8
When we are born of the Spirit, we become like the wind because we become part of the wind. God can move us by His Spirit. The people will not know where we come from, nor where we are going because man will have lost all hold on our life. We will have become part of Joel's army. God gave Joel a vision of a people who have become like the wind:
Joel's Army
"They shall run like mighty men, they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" Joel 2:7-11
Joel spoke of the Day of the Lord, the Day of God's judgment. Then he asked, "Who can abide it?" Only those who have been born of water and of the Spirit, those who have become like the wind will be able to abide the Day of God's Judgment. The prophet Isaiah witnessed this great company of God's army, and asked...
"Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?" Isaiah 60:8
These are those who are no longer flesh, but have become Spirit. These are changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. These have put off the mortal, and have put on immortality. These have put off the corrupt body, and have put on the incorruptible body. These are those who, truly, have been born again. These have become the wind of the Lord upon the earth. These will walk into the New Day and inhabit the Kingdom for all eternity. These will be the inheritors of the earth who will rule and reign with Christ for one thousand years. These will be joint heirs with Christ.
The winds of the Lord will have completed their work. The East Wind will have no effect on Joel's army. God's army will be refreshed by the South Wind and empowered by the North Wind bringing deliverance to all God's creation. And the West Wind of Restoration will have come to restore the earth to its original condition. The earth will be renewed, and God's original plan for man will be fulfilled even as your life and everything God has placed under your power received new life in the mighty name of Jesus!
The prophecies for the month of October which is the Month of Refreshing has unveiled that the wind (s) of the Lord are beginning to blow upon the earth. For "in the tenth month, God remembered Noah and sent A WIND upon the earth; and the waters continued to decreased continually. Pollutions, testing and trial which came because of God's judgement through the floods have ended. No shall he curse the earth BY THE FLOOD. As it was in the beginning, and as it was in the third dispensation of recreation so shall it be even in our time... Now, God has have mercy on us and now is the time of favour. Noah found grace before the sight of God and in due season, he remembered to complete what he have promise to him. Your time of favour has come in the mighty name of Jesus.
Bible says that it was in the tenth month that queen Esther was taken to the king's palace. This is the season that whatever held Esther destiny was loosed for God to oblige her into the destiny. I see God thrusting some people into the paths of destiny in the mighty name of Jesus!! Ezra the priest with all his good reasonings as to why you cannot enter into that prepared place of destiny cant stop you!
God has called A WIND and they shall obey his commands and cause ALL THINGS to work out for your good in the name of Jesus! The angels of God have receive the order to release the four winds upon the dry bones! and they shall rise like a mighty army in the name of Jesus!
Peter says Repent so that God will release times of refreshing to you. You can partake of the prophetic blessings laid in store for the church for this month. We need not ask ourselves which of the Lord's winds will blow upon you; the East, the North, the South or the West Wind? Repent!. Make an adjustment in your course? That the contrary winds may be turned back. Change directions if you are walking the wrong way for "Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until He have done it, and until He have performed the intents of His heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it." Jeremiah 30:23-24
Ps 102:13 Thou shalt arise, [and] have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour (mercy, merciful, to be gracious, show favour, pity, to direct favour to, have mercy on, to be shown favour, be shown consideration) her, yea, the set time, is come, (a time of feast, season appointed for her solemnity praise and fame. Solemn days set apart for a sign and a wonder. An appointed time, a sacred season. Her set feast, her appointed season and appointed place and signal is now! Also used of the tent of meeting
Ps 102:13, 16 You will again get up and have mercy on Zion: for the time has come for her to be comforted. When the Lord will put up the walls of Zion, and be his glory; So that they may give out the name of the Lord in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem.
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God Richly Bless You
Prophetess Dayana Adu Biney
13-10-2011
TIMES OF REFRESHING - Part Three
Symbols of the Holy Spirit
And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. (Mark 1:10)
The manifestation of the Holy Spirit in Scriptures comes in seven ways. This is what is called, symbols of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit Comes as Rain
Rain has a dual implication. First as refreshing where there has been dryness and barrenness (Joel 2:23-29). Second, as restoration where there has been loss (Isa. 28:11-12).
The Holy Spirit Comes as Wind
The Holy Spirit, coming as wind, depicts His power and His guidance. When Jesus tells Nicodemus about the new birth experience (John 3:8), He tells him that it is not like a tangible birth where you can see the baby is born and check the clock for its time of arrival. The work of the Spirit breathes into a life, and something transpires that people cannot recognize. There’s a dynamism but also a gentleness, like the wisp of a breeze. You can’t necessarily see where it came from or where it goes, but all of us can attest to times when God has come and dealt with us, and no human being knew how it happened.
At Pentecost (Acts 2:3), it wasn’t a wind that blew in; it was the sound of a rushing wind—like a hurricane. That sound, not the sound of the people speaking in tongues, is what drew the crowd in. The Holy Spirit as sovereign God is dynamic, irresistible, and unstoppable.
The Holy Spirit Comes as Oil:
The Holy Spirit Comes as Wine
The Holy Spirit Comes as Fire
The Holy Spirit Comes as a Dove
The Holy Spirit Comes as Rivers
The Holy Spirit is the Breath of God
The Holy Spirit: Breath of God
By Gordon Robertson, The 700 Club, CBN.com –
Who is the Holy Spirit? How should we approach Him? What are His attributes? What does the Bible say about Him?
Let’s start off with the introduction of the Holy Spirit. It’s found right in the first chapter of Genesis in the second verse: "The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'Let there be light;' and there was light." At the very beginning of Genesis, you have God’s Word, Jesus; you have God the Father; and you have the Holy Spirit: the Trinity all represented in creation.
The interesting part of this is the Hebrew word for spirit. We almost get a little spooky talking about the Holy Ghost, but the Hebrew word behind spirit is ruach, and it means "air in motion." It is the same word for "breath." It also means "life." By resemblance to breath and air in motion, it means "spirit." That’s where we get the translation, and the Hebrew word contains all those different meanings. If we just leave it with our English word "spirit," we’re not getting the full attributes of what the Bible is trying to describe. It’s trying to describe that there’s a breath involved.
Going back to that first chapter in Genesis, if the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the deep, and then God said, "Let there be light," when you speak, it’s through your breath that the words take form. Just imagine that: God speaking, His breath comes out, and there you have the Word of God, "Let there be light." That is where the Gospel of John says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." They are all separate, but at the same time, they are all one, just as when you breathe and you speak, your words can be one with you.
Gordon RobertsonLet’s take this into the New Testament because we have almost the same thing where Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit. He says, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:608, NKJV).
Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit, and He’s saying it is like wind. When you get into the Greek behind that, the Greek word is pneuma, which again means "a current of air," "breath," or a "breeze, " and again by analogy, "a spirit." So both the Hebrew and the Greek word are talking about breath. It’s talking about wind.
Back in Creation, back in Genesis, you’ve got how we were made. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:6-7, NKJV). Some translations call that "a living soul." It’s from the breath of God that we actually get our life. And so now you get the linkage of how we were created. How we were created in the image of God is because of our breath, and it is because of the breath of God coming into us.
The same thing happens when we are born of the Spirit. When we are re-born, it is from the breath of God. In the Gospel of John, where He is giving to His disciples the Holy Spirit, just as God breathed on Adam and gave him the breath of life, Jesus breathed on His disciples in John chapter 20: "'Peace to you! As the Father sent me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit'" (John 20:21-22, NKJV).
The Holy Spirit, the breath of God. When you get into that kind of analogy, you now understand better what the attributes are. It’s no longer something spooky, but it’s something very close to you. It’s as close to you as your very breath. The Bible says, "In Him we live and move and have our being." I love the current praise song that says "You are the air I breathe, Your holy Presence in me." We can literally breathe in the Presence of God and be filled with the Holy Spirit with our breath.
Jesus didn’t just breathe on the disciples 2,000 years ago. Every time we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, it is God’s breath on us. Just imagine that. It is not a one-time thing. I think Christians today have gotten into the baptism of the Holy Spirit as some kind of one event. We have got that in Acts chapter 2, but we fail to look forward to Acts chapter 4 where they get baptized in the Holy Spirit again. It says very clearly in Acts chapter 4 they were all filled with the Holy Spirit as they were in a prayer meeting: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly." So it is not just in Acts chapter 2; it is also in Acts chapter 4. This means we can be filled with the Spirit continually.
I was at a tremendous meeting in February with John and Carol Arnot from the Toronto Fellowship. They asked me to speak. I started speaking at 8:00. I was tired going into it, but I just got energized, filled with the Holy Spirit during that. At that time, it went from 8:00 until midnight. If you can imagine that: four hours. At the end of it I was absolutely energized. I was so filled with the Holy Spirit it seemed like anything was possible. The next day, I was driving into the studio, and I was praying on my way in. I was kind of grumbling and complaining and saying, "Lord God, why can’t that sort of go with me all the time?" And God spoke to me very clearly, "Why do you get out of the river?" I thought about that. I said, "Well, why do I?"
We don’t have to. We don’t have to walk around as if there are some moments when we’re filled with the Spirit and other moments when we’re not. We can be continually filled with His Presence. It all has to do with how we think about it. If we actually think that in Him we live and move and have our being, that our very breath as we breathe in, we can be filled with God Almighty. Just imagine how that will transform your life! The baptism in the Holy Spirit is not a one-time event. It can be a continuous thing for all who believe.
I want you to take that thought with you through the day, through the month, through the year. I think Christians now more than ever need to be filled with the Holy Spirit, need to be filled with His authority, really need to have the power of God working in their lives. We live in perilous times. It is not a time for us to take off the Armor of God and go relax. We need to be fully armed, fully prepared with the Holy Spirit.
Let me conclude with this. It’s the conclusion that is found in the 150th Psalm. It’s the very last word in Psalms. It’s the very last Psalm. There are a 150 of them, and here’s the very end of it. It says, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!"
Let your breath praise the Lord today!
