Signs of the Season - Part Two

Jesus’ anointing for ministry marked the early Days of God’s prophetic great Week from the last Days. Jesus’ death and resurrection marked the shift from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. Just before His death, Jesus spoke these words to His disciples (John 14:1-4).
 
“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
 
Notice He tells His disciples—then and now—not to let our hearts be troubled. How is that possible when we see the accumulated effect of darkness from the Fall and the falling away? He tells us in verses 16, 17, and 26 of the same chapter.
And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
 
This is the outpouring of the Spirit that began on the feast of Pentecost and continues through the Church Age. The Bible calls this the former rains (Joel 2:23). It is the baptism of the Spirit that empowers us to not only resist the darkness of these last Days, but to be witnessesto the love and power of Christ. It is this anointing that enables us to continue Jesus’ work of teaching, preaching, casting out unclean spirits, and releasing healing.
 
This is our job description known as the Great Commission. Mark’s Gospel ends with these words:
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
 
These signs and wonders show people God’s goodness, and it is this goodness that draws people to repentance (Romans 2:4). Hopeless, anxiety-ridden, fearful, and hurting people need the touch of God and the peace that comes from receiving the Prince of Peace—Jesus Christ—as their Lord. This is the most important sign we should be seeing as this age comes to a close. 

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