Let me briefly refresh your memory one part (I), and please refer back to your newsletter and review it again if you can.

We said there are four elements in the process of being conformed to the image of Christ. Although these appear in Chronological order, they are not.

(1).The Winds (2).The Rains (3). Pressure (4). Time

As a "refresher" let me remind you that the first element ..The Winds..This is BOOT CAMP, THE VERY ELEMENTARY STAGES OF OUR JOURNEY ... The winds are the things which come and go through our lives, and your reason and human logic CANNOT understand them. They are the dealings of the Holy Spirit, the workings of His wisdom that defy your FINITE thinking. At times they even perplex you, but the Spirit knows all things.

Some of the workings of the WINDS in our lives are:

(1) TESTINGS & TRIALS, I PET: 2:4-5

(2) PLACEMENT, ACTS 8:26-29,39

(3) SUBMISSION, GOD'S WILL NOT MINE, ROM 8:14.

Now as we submit to the dealings of the "WINDS", the dealings of the Holy Spirit in our lives, God does not leave us with out the strengthening of the "RAINS" in our walk with him,to "REFRESH US". You see the "RAINS" are not only times of refreshing, but of cleansing and washing from any of the attitudes that were surfaced by the WINDS. The RAINS are also a time of "COHESION", the beginning of it. It's a time of STRENGTHENING, of HOPE, and of JOY, HOLD FAST TO IT!!! THIS IS THE WORKING OF GOD'S GRACE IN IT'S VARIOUS FORMS!! IT IS THE VERY PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPRIT HIMSELF! '

The "RAINS" come as God's mercy and grace in the midst of the testings and fires, to wash and cleanse and encourage us. To strengthen us and lift the burdens that belong, not to us, but to the Lord. The "RAINS" are the "visitations" of, and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives "continually" pouring out God's grace(WHICH IS HIS ENABLING POWER), His strength to stand, to endure. The "rains" are the Holy Spirit working the "LOVE OF GOD AND THE LOVE FOR GOD", into our hearts and wooing us to continue on not only individually, but also "Corporately" as well. Bringing the whole body together in the unity of the Spirit of God, and the bonds of his love. This is a major "refreshing", a major-collective visitation of the Holy Spirit!

You see beloved, as the "WINDS" bring to surface and "EXPOSE" those things that are unpleasing to God in our hearts, and begin to "UNCOVER" these areas that hinder our growth and relationship with the Lord .... Then as we turn and receive brokeness and repent of these things, God's mercy and grace (the rains), fall on us and bring help in time of need..

Look with me for example at (acts 3:19). Peter is preaching and declares.. REPENT, THEN, (THIS IS THE KEY), AND, TURN TO GOD, SO THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE WIPED OUT, (FORGIVEN), THAT TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE LORD.

How precious to know that through my repentance and turning to the Lord in all things that the "WINDS" have revealed in and to me, that the.Lord himself will send "refreshing" to my soul!

Although this portion of scripture is primarily used here to bring the sinner to Christ, this principle must not be over looked in the life of the believer! God still brings forgiveness, renewal and "Refreshing" to the saint who has sinned! Again, the "WINDS" will reveal where we are at in our walk with the Lord, IF we do not resist him, and when these things in our hearts "SURFACE" (in other words we see them), we turn to God in repentance, and time of healing and REFRESHING will come!

BELOVED THE BODY OF CHRIST NEEDS THIS REFRESHING, WE NEED THIS TRUE REVIVAL, (NOT A CHEAP IMITATION FILLED WITH EXCESSIVE EMOTIONALISM), BUT A TRUE GENUINE MOVE OF GOD TO COME TO OUR HEARTS, OUR CHURCHES, OUR NATION!

( I peter 4:17) Says, For it is time for judgment (PART OF THE MINISTRY OF THE WINDS IN MY LIFE TO "UNCOVER"), to begin in the house of God, (the church), and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who DO NOT OBEY THE GOSPEL OF GOD?

Do not let the word "judgment" confuse you. As we go through these "boot camp" experiences, these fires and trials and test, God is after something in you and me, He wants at our hearts! And as the Holy Spirit "reveals" these things to us, and we submit through obedience... WE ARE BEING WASHED! CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF JESUS! (Hosea 6:1-3) tells us...

COME LET US RETURN TO THE LORD (YOU SEE IT ALL CENTERS AROUND COMING TO GOD CONTINUALLY WITH ALL YOUR HEART), HE HAS TORN US TO PIECES (DISCIPLINE), BUT HE WILL HEAL US (THROUGH REPENTANCE), HE HAS INJURED US, (HEBREWS SAYS NO DISCIPLINE IS PLEASANT), BUT HE WILL BIND UP OUR WOUNDS. AFTER TWO DAYS HE WILL REVIVE US: ON THE THIRD DAY HE WILL RESTORE US, THAT WE MAY LIVE IN HIS PRESENCE, (THIS IS TRUE RESURRECTION LIFE), LET US ACKNOWLEDGE THE LORD, LET US PRESS ON TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM. AS SURELY AS THE SUN RISES, HE WILL APPEAR, (WHAT A PROMISE OF GOD'S VISITATION TO HIS PEOPLE), HE WILL COME TO US LIKE THE WINTER RAINS, LIKE THE SPRING RAINS THAT WATER THE EARTH.(HERE IS THE REFRESHING!)

What a wonderful promise from God to his church to come when they turn to him with all all all their heart. Not only an individual cleansing, but a corporate unity that Paul so often encourages the churches to walk in, that is being in one mind and one accord in the Spirit of God.

Look at (Jeremiah 17:7-8) "BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUST IN THE LORD, WHOSE CONFIDENCE IS IN HIM, (THROUGH THE TEST FIRES AND TRIALS), HE WILL BE LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY THE WATER THAT SENDS OUT IT'S ROOTS BY THE STREAM. IT DOES NOT FEAR WHEN HEAT COMES, (AGAIN THE DEALINGS OF THE WINDS ALLOWING US TO BE TESTED), IT'S LEAVES ARE ALWAYS GREEN, (BEARING THE FRUIT OF LOVE NOT BITTERNESS). IT HAS NO WORRIES IN A YEAR OF DROUGHT, (BECAUSE HE IS RECEIVING REFRESHING FROM THE LORD), AND NEVER FAILS TO BEAR FRUIT (OF THE HOLY SPIRIT).

Beloved, although we will deal more about the fires and trials in (part III) "PRESSURES", we have covered some of this in this message as well.The elements that form "the rock" (image of Christ in us), are the same as those that formed the boulders in the mountains, or the stones in your flower garden.

WIND, RAIN, PRESSURE, TIME. So what ever the Holy Spirit is doing in your life right now, what ever he is after in you, let it "SURFACE", then trust God even in the midst of it to bring times of "Refreshing", to give you HOPE, STRENGTH, AND A SPIRITUAL "COHESION", with himself and with those around you who are also seeking the things of God! LET THE RAIN FALL ON YOU, CRY OUT TO THE LORD NOW AND ASK HIM FOR THE REFRESHING OF HIS PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT TO COMFORT YOU AND HELP YOU!!!  LET IT RAIN!