Second Wind

Acts 4 NLT

As soon as they were freed, Peter and John returned to the other believers and told them what the leading priests and elders had said. 24 When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

We’ve all heard the phrase “second wind” when used in sports as an athlete runs the race, begins to weary, begins to slow down but then receives a “second wind” to continue the race with power.

1.a person's ability to breathe freely during exercise, after having been out of breath: "he seemed to falter halfway through the race before finding his second wind" Powered by Oxford Dictionaries

Wikipedia: Second wind is a phenomenon in distance running, such as marathons or road running (as well as other sports), whereby an athlete who is out of breath and too tired to continue suddenly finds the strength to press on at top performance with less exertion. The feeling may be similar to that of a "runner's high", the most obvious difference being that the runner's high occurs after the race is over.[1] Some scientists believe the second wind to be a result of the body finding the proper balance of oxygen to counteract the buildup of lactic acid in the muscles.

As followers of Jesus, the Lord knew that we would get tired, weary and discouraged because of the onslaught of the enemy. The Lord knew that we would need a fresh touch of the Holy Spirit’s wind on an ongoing basis.

The early followers of Jesus were under severe persecution. They had seen their Lord persecuted and crucified. They had all forsaken the Lord. Jesus then rose from the grave and He showed Himself alive to them for 40 days. He told them to wait in Jerusalem to receive power from on high and in fact the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them and they received power to become His witnesses and receive power to die for Him. They saw thousands of people repent of their sins and receive salvation. Salvation, water baptisms, miracles and baptisms in the Holy Spirit were the norm but persecution continued to intensify as the enemy was endeavoring to quieten the church.

When they were discouraged the early church met together to pray and the Lord filled them (re-filled them) with the power of the Holy Spirit. This was the second wind. The first wind blew through their lives on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) and the second wind took place a few days later (Acts 4). The Lord knew that we would get discouraged and we would need a re-filling of the Holy Spirit to give us the strength and courage to continue on - no matter what we are facing. It might be time for you to receive a second wind so you can move forward with life and ministry. Be filled with the Holy Spirit! Be re-filled with the Holy Spirit!

Paul refers to this as “Stirring up the gift”. Let the coals of the gift within you be stirred into a flame once again.

2 Timothy 1:6 & 7 NLT This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

How do we receive a second wind? How do we stir up the gift into a flame once again?

*Meet together with other believers

*Pray

*Worship

*Spend time in the Word and with the Word

*Ask the Lord for boldness to continue on!

*Be careful who you listen to!

*Repeat

He will re-fill you! He will turn your darkness to light! He will fill you with courage to stand against the enemy and will give you boldness to stand for Him. Receive your second wind! You are loved and appreciated!

Your Fellow Servant, Pastor Don