Number 13. Times of Refreshing Ahead?
Much has been said in recent years about Revival. This is what we
call the wonderful times of blessing that come when the Holy Spirit
of God comes to individuals, possibly in great numbers over a short
time such as in the Wesleyan Revival or the Welsh Revivals. At such
times, people are convicted of sin, brought to repentance and
refreshed through the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit through
the power of the shed blood of Jesus. Of course, Christians long
for such times of refreshing, but what can we expect as the days go
by and as nations of the world move towards the end times
picture?
Key scriptures come from Acts 3 18-21:
18 But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of
all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so
fulfilled.
19 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;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto
you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of
all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy
prophets since the world began.
This is a progress of three things, one past, one present and one
in the future. Verse 18 speaks of what Jesus fulfilled when He came
2000 years ago. Verses 20 and 21 speak of what He will fulfil when
He returns. Verse 19 speaks of what we can ask the Lord for during
the present time. Indeed, we will need such times of refreshing in
the future. However, it seems appropriate to speak of the context
of this. In the past it is true that times of refreshing have
influenced whole nations (such as Wales in 1904), but we are moving
into the times of the falling away of the gentile nations. This
means that it is realistic to expect times of refreshment to come
to the believing community through these times of trial ahead,
rather than to whole nations. Undoubtedly the door is open for
repentance and conversion to all who call upon the name of Jesus
for salvation and times of refreshment in the Church can result in
numerical growth. In general, however, the times ahead will be
tense in the world and it is in this context that our prayers
should be for times of refreshment among believers rather than to
expect national revival (though at the end Israel will be the sole
exception to this).
Many of us have had growing expectation of revival over recent
years but most of us have not discerned the true context. Two such
expectations are given below, illustrating the point. The first
expectation came several years ago when the author of this paper
would have had a vague idea about the meaning of revival in our
day, hoping for national revival. The second was more recent and
reported by a friend of the author. It is very important that we
become discerning in our understanding and expectations, as there
is false expectation as well as true in the Church today. Whether
we like to accept it or not, false spirits are abroad seeking to
seduce even believers into a false sense of refreshment that will
steal away from what is true and valid for the days ahead. While
there is a valid hope for the Lords strengthening and blessing in
times of need, there is also a false hope.