"Then they will look on me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for him" (Zechariah 12:10, NKJV).
This verse originally refers to the Jewish people, but I also see in Zechariah's prophecy an application that has to do with the church. There is soon coming a very personal dealing by the Holy Spirit. The church of Jesus Christ has so blunted sin, whitewashing and overlooking it, that when the Holy Spirit comes down, he will bring a purging as well. There will be weeping, mourning and brokenness, a reckoning with the reality of how our sins grieve the heart of God.
The Holy Spirit is going to move in this way not only in congregations but also in families and individuals. “And the land shall mourn, every family by itself; the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves” (Zechariah 12:12).
What greater gift could God give his church just before he comes than a powerful, convicting message against sin? He will bring such piercing conviction that we will not be able to tolerate any unholy or unclean thing in ourselves.
In summary, here are the qualifications and marks of the latter-day outpouring of the Spirit:
1. A focus on the final harvest of souls.
2. A spirit of grace, leading to repentance and godliness.
3. A spirit of supplication, resulting in surrender and an urgency to pray in the Spirit.
4. A yearning for Jesus, a brokenness and weeping with godly sorrow for sin.
Only after such dealings of the Spirit will the true blessing of joy come! I do not want to miss out on God's last outpouring. I have been praying for him to include me, and I urge you to do the same.
Pray with me now, “Lord, I don't have the discipline needed for your holy work. You have to give it to me. Give me your burden for lost souls; place your weeping Spirit within me. You are my only hope, so I surrender and turn totally to you. I'll do anything you tell me, and I will depend upon you for everything.”