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THE LATTER RAIN |
Just as in the Midwest, the early rains prepare the soil for the seed sowing we see the farmers doing each and every year in the early Spring. Then, later in the year we see the latter rains ripen their crop for the coming harvest in the Fall. In nature we find many parallels in truth. Here is just one more. 2000 years ago we saw the early rain fall on Pentecost to ready the Apostles with the task at hand which allowed for a sowing of the truth we as Christians embrace today. Now that we are in the last days, we understand the latter rain is promised to fall so as to equip God's obedient workers with the necessary skills to proclaim the present truth far and wide so as to assure a bountiful harvest for the Lord when He returns seeking His bride. So, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain." -James 5:7
One thing many miss is, in order to receive the latter rain we must find out what caused the Apostles to receive it.
Acts 2:1-4 "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
As we know the Apostles worked for the Lord in a tireless fashion so as to cause the church of Jesus Christ to grow. So, actively doing the work, or at least helping those that do, is a major part of why they were blessed with the early rain on Pentecost. The other reason is recorded in the passage above. They were "in one accord." They were in agreement doctrinally speaking! When the Lord's obedient people that are actively employed in doing the work come together as one, the latter rain will fall!
For those of you who understand who Ellen White is...
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" I saw that none could
share the "refreshing" unless they obtain
the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness,
love of the world, and over every wrong word and action.
We should therefore be drawing nearer and nearer to
the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary
to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the
Lord. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost There is nothing that Satan fears so much as that the people of God shall clear the way by removing every hindrance, so that the Lord can pour out His Spirit upon a languishing church. . . . Every temptation, every opposing influence, whether open or secret, may be successfully resisted, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah 4:6). The latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement. It is our work today to yield our souls to Christ, that we may be fitted for the time of refreshing from the presence of the Lord--fitted for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. When the churches become living, working churches, the Holy Spirit will be given in answer to their sincere request. . . . Then the windows of heaven will be open for the showers of the latter rain. The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with His glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God. When the reproach of indolence and slothfulness shall have been wiped away from the church, the Spirit of the Lord will be graciously manifested. Divine power will be revealed. The church will see the providential working of the Lord of hosts." -Last Day Events page 192, 193 |