A SECOND WIND

 TITLE: A SECOND WIND

The Summer Olympics began two days ago. As the world comes together 
in the spirit of Competition, we will be routing our nation on. 
There are many events that I enjoy watching. I watched swimming and 
boxing yesterday, but I am looking forward to the track & field 
events. I am always amazed while watching the long distance 
events. Cross country runners and other long distance runners have 
all relied on what is commonly referred to as a second wind in an 
effort to gather enough strength and energy to finish their race; 
the longer the race the more "second winds" will be required. Many 
of us that are not long distance runners have oftentimes experienced 
something that is called a second wind. When we have been engaged 
in activities and feel like we have burned out, all of a sudden, we 
receive a burst of energy, can't really explain it, but we say we 
caught our second wind. This physiological wind source is a timely 
aid in propelling an exhausted runner onward to the finish line. The 
phenomenon of a second wind has a spiritual principle as well. When 
the purposes of God seem too distant to continue, God provides a 
second wind to propel his people onward to finish the cause in which 
they are engaged. 

If ever there was a time that we need a second wind. If ever there 
was a time that we need a word from the Lord, now is that time. We 
don't have to look very hard or very far to realize that we are 
living in some perilous times. Bro and Sis we are living in a land 
that seems to be draining on the efforts of every believer. I 
believe today that we desperately need a fresh outpouring of the 
Holy Spirit. Our communities have become havens for the adversaries 
work. Our District Attorney reported in the local paper last week 
that 80-90% of his cases are drug related. It gets to the point 
where we begin to feel as though all is lost. Things don't look too 
good. In fact, it seems to be growing worse as time goes on. When I 
consider our Churches today, it appears to me that we don't do as 
much within the church as we did when I was coming up. We have a 
whole lot going on within the walls of the Church, much of it 
appears to be motivational speaking instead of Preaching the Word of God.