- By David White Mobile School of the Spirit Email: msos@zebra.net

"And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that

I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh:" Acts 2:17

This generation is one of only six previous generations of which it will be said, crossed over from one year to the next year, from one decade into the next decade, from one century into the next century and from one millennium into the next millennium at the same time.

As the world enters the 21st century and a new millennium, many challenges and unknowns lie ahead. Yet for the church, there is the sense that we are now entering into the time of which the prophets of old prophesied and they themselves longed to see.

SOMETHING IS ABOUT TO CHANGE

Over just the last couple of decades alone, the Spirit of God has been moving mightily all over the earth. A number of nations, cities, and churches have experienced outpourings of the Holy Spirit and multitudes of conversions to Christ have been reported and documented from many different parts of the world. The Holy Spirit is being poured out just as Joel prophesied and later Peter proclaimed in his preaching. However, there still are many places around the world that have yet to experience any significant outpouring of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. This is about to change.

God announced through the prophet Joel, that there would be a pouring out of the Spirit upon all flesh. This means that no one has to miss out. Everyone will have the opportunity to experience the presence and power of God in their lives. Therefore there is much ahead for the church to anticipate and much to prepare for. While some in the church are preparing to vacate the earth, God is still calling upon the church to invade the earth. Jesus really has saved the best wine until now! (John 2:1-10)

PLACES WHERE GOD IS ABOUT TO MOVE

There are at least four places where we can expect God to move in the coming days. First, God is going to be moving in some very Dry Places.

Philip in Acts 8 is in the midst of revival. The Spirit of God was being poured out and multitudes of both men and women were being converted and baptized. Signs and miracles were occurring causing great amazement. Philip was having the time of his life. Suddenly, God spoke to Philip through an angel and said, "Arise, and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." "This is desert. So he arose and went." (Acts 8:26-27a) Philip was moved to leave the place where the Spirit was being poured out upon the multitudes to go to Gaza, where there was nothing but desert. He went from the refreshing of revival to the dryness of the desert. Yet Philip immediately obeyed, and discovered that God was waiting for Him in the desert. He had a divine appointment with one man who was ready to receive Jesus. Philip left the outpouring of God's Spirit in the city to see an outpouring of the Spirit in the desert.

THE EMPHASIS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS NOW CHANGING

The tendency over the last few years in the church has been to run to where the river flows. The emphasis of the Holy Spirit is now changing. The Holy Spirit will lead many to leave from where the river has been flowing to go to where the river has not flowed for years and in some cases, for centuries. This is so the river of living waters that is within them will flow out to a dry and thirsty land.

COME UNTO ME--AND GO INTO ALL THE WORLD

Jesus gave two commands to His disciples. First, he said to come unto Me! But He also said, go into the world! The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the gift of prophecy, the dreams and the visions prophesied in Joel were never intended to be solely enjoyed by the church, but were intended to launch the church into a participation of what Joel also prophesied in Acts 2:21. "And it shall come to pass that whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved".

Jesus told His disciples, "freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:8) In the days immediately ahead, "waters shall burst forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:7) The Holy Spirit will be poured out on all flesh.

DARK PLACES

Second, we are going to see God moving mightily in very Dark Places.

God is going to start showing up in places where there has been little or no evidence of any degree of light for generations. We are reminded in Scripture "For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people." (Isaiah 60:2) Likewise we are also reminded, "But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles (the world) shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Isaiah 60:2-3)

GOD'S WAY TO HANDLE THE DARKNESS

Isaiah prophesied that darkness would both increase and intensify at the end of the age. Yet along with the gross darkness, God's glory will also be magnificently displayed in and on His people. The light and the brightness that will be seen upon God's people will dispel and destroy even the greatest darkness. The church has not been called to criticize darkness, but to cast it out. We're not called to protest it or picket it, but as Frank Peretti in his best-selling book reminded us, we are called to pierce it with God's love.

"So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the think darkness where God was." (Exodus 20:21) Moses wanted to be where God was. While most were in fear, Moses drew near and discovered that God was there. There will be no city, no nation and no situation to dark for God. He is going to pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh.

DEAD PLACES

Third, in the days immediately in front of the church, God will move in Dead Places.

When the Lord brought Ezekiel into the midst of the valley, all he saw was dry, lifeless bones. God then asked Ezekiel a question. "And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?" (Ezekiel 37:3) Ezekiel then answered by saying, "Oh Lord God, You know." Ezekiel looked at these dead dry bones and knew there was nothing he could do, but at the same time he also was very confident in what God could do. God then commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, "Thus says the Lord God to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live." (Ezekiel 37:5)

When God breathes upon a city, when He breathes upon a nation, when He breathes upon a family, when He breathes upon a church, the scene begins to change. When God raises up someone to speak His word, even the deadest places on earth will begin to come alive. This is exactly what will occur all over the world as the Holy Spirit is poured out upon all flesh.

THE DEVIL'S PLACES

Fourth, God is going to begin to move right in the middle of the Devil's Places.

Jesus was revealed on the earth to destroy the works of the devil. (I John 3:8) To destroy literally means, 'to loosen'. Jesus came to loosen men and women out from the grip of the devil. Yet multitudes are still enslaved, still caught in the power of sin. Jesus told His disciples then and now, that just as the Father had sent Him, He was now sending them. In the coming days it will become obvious that God, through various means, will be sending many of His people into the enemy's camp to release those held captive to sin.

Esther was given the opportunity to loosen a nation out of the grip of the enemy who had targeted them for destruction. Instead of staying out of the situation, she went into a place that was suppose to be off limits for her without an invitation. No invitation was going to be given. Therefore regardless of the risk, she was willing to sacrifice her life for the salvation of others. She was in the right place at the right time. (Esther 4) Esther represents all of those who are not, 'at ease', nor have they chosen to 'retreat'. They believe that what was prophesied in Joel is true and that God will pour out of His Spirit upon all flesh. The cry of their heart is to 'charge'.

ENTERING THE NEXT MILLENIUM

One respected church leader has said that people all over the world will be doing one of three things at 11:59 PM on December 31st 1999, as the world enters the next millennium. First, many people will be partying. This New Year's Eve parties will be among the biggest of all time. Second, many people will be panicking. Many will be bound in fear of what the future holds. Third, others will be praising. Believers will have much to praise and thank Him for, as the clock strikes midnight and the church enters a new millennium. I want to add that many as well, will be poised, positioned, and prepared to enter in to the churches finest hour and into the days of the greatest outpouring of His Spirit in all of history. You and I are in the kingdom for such a time as NOW! David White 1999