Scripture: Joel 2 v 28 - 32: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."
Charles Finney wrote in His book "Most Powerful Revivals":
"The cry of my heart was, "I want to pour my whole soul out to God." The intensity was so great that I rushed into the room behind the front office, to pray... As I went in and shut the door, it seemed like I met the Lord Jesus Christ face to face. It seemed
to me that I saw Him as I would see any other man. He said nothing, but looked at me in a way that broke me right down at His feet. I poured out my soul to Him. I wept aloud like a child, and made whatever confessions I could. It seemed to me that I bathed His feet with my tears; and yet I had no distinct impression that I touched Him.
I must have continued this way for quite some time, but I was too absorbed to remember anything I said. I know that as soon as my mind became calm enough, I returned to the front office, and found that the fire was nearly burned out. But as I turned and was about to take a seat by the fire, I received a mighty baptism of the Holy Spirit. Without any expectation of it, without any thought in my mind that there was any such thing for me, the Holy Spirit descended upon me in a way that seemed to go through me, body and soul. It was like a wave of electricity, going through and through me. Indeed it seemed to come in
waves and waves of liquid love. It seemed like the very breath of God. I remember distinctly that it seemed to fan me, like immense wings.
No words can express the wonderful love that filled my heart. I wept aloud with joy and love; I literally bellowed out the inexpressible floods of my heart. These waves came over me and over me, one after the other, until I cried out, "I will die if these waves continue." I said, "Lord, I cannot bear any more."
Yet I had no fear of death... How long I continued in this state, with this baptism continuing to roll over me and go through me, I do not know...
When I awoke in the morning the sun had risen, and was pouring a clear light into my room. Words cannot express the impression that this sunlight made on me. Instantly the baptism that I had received the night before returned in much the same way. I went
onto my knees and wept aloud with joy. For some time I was so overwhelmed with the baptism of the Spirit that I could not do anything but pour out my soul to God. It seemed as if this morning's baptism was accompanied by a gentle rebuke, and the Spirit seemed to say to me, "Will you doubt? Will you doubt?"
I cried, "No! I will not doubt, I cannot doubt." ...
In this state I was taught about 'justification by faith' as an actualexperience. I had never realized that justification was a basic doctrine of the Gospel before. In fact I didn't really know what it
meant. But I could now see and understand what was meant by the passage, "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." ... I could not feel a sense of guilt or condemnation by any effort that I could make. My sense of guilt was gone, my sins were gone, and I don't think I felt any more sense of guilt than if I never had sinned.
This was just the revelation I needed. I felt myself justified by faith and, as far as I could see, I was in a state in which I did not sin. Instead of feeling that I was sinning all the time, my heart was so full of love that it overflowed. My cup ran over with blessing and love, and I could not feel that I was sinning against
God. Nor could I recover the least sense of guilt for my past sins. However, I didn't say anything to anyone about this experience of justification at that time."
When we pray for revival we are acknowledging that we are missing something huge in our experience of the power of God. Charles Finney explains it well, and Joel prophesied it well. We desperately need the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit to come upon us and lift us into heavenly realms.
Like the Apostle Peter in Acts, when he walked down those dusty streets people brought their sick relatives and friends and laid them along the roadside.
Acts 5 v 15 - 16: "Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one."
This happens when the anointing of the Holy Spirit is at its strongest as in times of revival. The greatest revival ever seen on Earth will one day soon be a reality. Everybody will receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and prophesy and speak with tongues of men and angels. Mighty miracles will occur of healing in hospitals, even on operating tables. Horrible afflictions will go and the oppressed will be made whole.
Instant deliverance of people from drug addiction and alcoholism, with great rejoicing. Every form of sexual and related bondage will be overturned. Bars and brothels will close down from lack of interest. Internet porn sites will hold no thrall. Everyone will be seeking God with all their hearts.
Yes there will be some who reject it and disregard this final chance to turn their lives around. God will send His holy angels to sort the wheat from the chaff, the sheep from the goats, the clean from the unclean.
Worldly amusements will vanish, sports, shows, cinemas, etc will lose their importance as the love of Jesus Christ is poured out on all the world. That love will be poured out in insane asylums, prisons, and on drug lords, slave owners, criminals, the Mafia, hard gangs and despots. A revival like no other.
All religions will be revealed as false, and millions will come out and be separated unto God. Cults and covens, voodoo and sorcery will all be turned upside down by our King Jesus. Truth will replace lies and those who continue in the truth will find life everlasting.
This does not mean that we can rest on our laurels now as we must keep sharing Jesus with the world as so many die daily without knowing Him and never having a chance to feel His awesome forgiveness and love.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we long for the outpouring of the latter rain from Heaven, the showers of Holy Ghost refreshing You promised to send before the end comes. Every day the news of the world gets worse. Only You can turn them to Your righteousness and truth. Help us to reach those who are lost and be ready for that great time of revival which is sorely needed. In Jesus' name. Amen.
