The Lord foretold through the prophets that He would pour out His Spirit ‘on all mankind (Joel 2:28); ‘on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem (Zechariah 12:10),’ and that the promise of this would be to all the future generations ( ‘to the Jews and Gentiles;’ Rom. 1:16) – “your children and for all who are far off (Acts 2:39).” Yet His Spirit is reserved with restriction for “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord {(Jesus Christ) Acts 2:21)}.” And more specifically, it is Father God’s “Promise of the HOLY SPIRIT (Acts 2:33);” to those who “Repent and “Believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38).”
All believers and followers of Christ – true Christians – are given a measure of the Spirit of God and have that Holy Spirit living or dwelling inside of them (John 14:16). The apostle Paul said to the Christians in Ephesians and those that would hear his letter, “after you heard the word of truth, the gospel (good news) of your salvation, and believed in Him (Jesus Christ – Yeshua Ha’Mashiach; ‘the Lord our Savior – the Anointed One’); you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13).”
Jesus as recorded by John said, “the Advocate, the Holy Spirit and Comforter – the Spirit of Truth who goes out from the Father; I will send you from the Father (the Father sends in My name), will teach you… and remind you of what I have said to you (John 14:26; John 15:26).”
However, most do not believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. And many ‘fall away’ from believing the truth of Christ Jesus, or they are deceived and or enticed into willful sin (Heb. 10:26) and do not ‘walk in the Spirit’ but ‘fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16). And most of these struggle with the depressions and weight of the world.
And because many do not know how to ‘cast their cares on the Lord (Psa. 55:22), the ‘present and temporary troubles (2 Cor. 4:17)’ in their lives often bring upon them pains, losses, depression and great stress. But “they that wait upon the Lord (seek and welcome His presence – Spirit), they shall renew their strength… they shall not faint (Isa. 40:31).”
The Needed Spirit
The song, ‘Fresh Outpouring’ by Jesus Culture (Kim Walker-Smith) speaks of the promises of God and souls calling to the Lord Jesus for that which we all need: “Renew us in this day… (with a) Fresh outpouring… Come, Jesus come… we need a fresh outpouring. …Your power on display, our eyes looking heavenward… Come and fill our hearts… unleash a fresh outpouring… make a way where I see none; let the waters rise in the desert…” And the song is sung with deliberate directional worship to God; as well as explicit and implicit notices of extemporaneous spiritually groans or ‘fermata (holds/pauses in music where the note.
Many of the words and phrases are and seem simply; but to the trained Christian – they recognize the source – the Word and Spirit of God. Both the Word and Spirit of the Lord seeks to tell us of the need for this ‘renewal;’ and how we should go about it.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (Rom 12:2).” “Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me; but restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit (Psa. 51:10-12).”
“I cry out to the Lord and He answers me (Psa. 3:4);” “He makes a way … in the wilderness and streams in the desert (Isa. 43:19).”
God has made the way to renewal and “His mercies are new every morning (Lam. 3:23);” however, we must ‘seek the Lord (Matt. 7:7)’ and ‘His kingdom and righteousness (Matt. 6:33);’ for “God does not listen to sinners (without their repentance), but if anyone is a worshipper of God and does His will, God listens to them (John 9:31).”
The TRUTH SOURCE 