Sabbath, April 03, 2010 - "Time for the Latter Rain"|
NOTES: |
Sabbath, April 03, 2010 - "Time for the Latter Rain"
WHAT IS LATTER
RAIN?
Near the close of earth's harvest, a
special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the
coming of the Son of man. This outpouring
of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain. – Last Day
Events 186
The outpouring
of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was "the former rain,"
and glorious was the result. But the latter rain will be more abundant. – Last
Day Events 185
“Today you are to have your vessel
purified that it may be ready for the heavenly
dew, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for 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.” 1SM
190
The latter rain, ripening earth's
harvest, represents the spiritual grace
that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man. Testimonies to Ministers
506
PURPOSE
Near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain. – Last Day Events 186
At that time the "latter rain," or refreshing from the presence of the Lord, will come, to give power to the loud voice of the third angel, and prepare the saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out. -- Last Day Events 186
I
saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to
the time of "refreshing" and the "latter rain" to fit them
to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in
the time of trouble without a shelter!
They had neglected the needful preparation;” Early Writings 71
“It is the latter rain, which revives and strengthens the people of God to pass through the time of Jacob's trouble referred to by the prophets. The glory of that light which attends the third angel will be reflected upon them. God will preserve his people through that time of peril.” Signs of the Times , NOVEMBER 27, 1879
The latter rain, falling near the close of the
season, ripens the grain and prepares it
for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent
the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause
the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is
given to carry forward, from one stage
to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain
represents the completion of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power
of the Holy Spirit the moral image of God is to be perfected in the character.
We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ.” Testimonies to
Ministers 506
At no point in our
experience can we dispense with the assistance of that which enables us to make
the first start. The blessings received under the former rain are needful to us
to the end. . . . As we seek God for the Holy Spirit, it will work in us meekness, humbleness of mind, a conscious
dependence upon God for the perfecting latter rain. -- Last Day Events 187
The Holy Spirit seeks to abide in each soul. If it is welcomed as an honored guest, those who receive it will be made complete in Christ. The good work begun will be finished; the holy thoughts, heavenly affections, and Christlike actions will take the place of impure thoughts, perverse sentiments, and rebellious acts. -- Last Day Events 187
WHO WILL RECEIVE and HOW TO RECEIVE
When the
way is prepared for the Spirit of God, the blessing will come. Satan can no
more hinder a shower of blessing from descending upon God's people than he can
close the windows of heaven that rain cannot come upon the earth. – Last Day
Event188
If we would receive the light of the
glorious angel that shall lighten the earth with his glory, let us see to it
that our hearts are cleansed, emptied of
self, and turned toward heaven, that they may be ready for the latter
rain..., Now is the time for us to let self
die, to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts, to deny the
cravings of appetite and passion. Signs
of the Times AUGUST 1, 1892
The Holy Spirit will come to all who are begging for the bread of life to give to their neighbors. -- Christian
Services 252
When we bring our hearts into
unity with Christ, and our lives
into harmony with His work, the Spirit that fell on the disciples on the
day of Pentecost will fall on us. -- Christian Services 252
“Only those who are living up to
the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily
advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not
recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be
falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.” The
Faith I Live By 333
If the fulfillment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is
because the promise is not appreciated
as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. –
Christian Services 252
Let Christians put away all
dissension, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them
ask in faith for the promised blessing, and it will come. -- Christian Services
252
If worldliness is
allowed to come in, if we have no desire to pray, no desire to commune with Him
who is the source of strength and wisdom, the Spirit will not abide with us.Our
High Calling 154
The disciples did not ask for a blessing for themselves. They were
weighted with the burden of souls. The gospel was to be carried to the ends of
the earth, and they claimed the
endowment of power that Christ had promised. Then it was that the Holy
Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day. – Christian
Services 252
Only to those who wait humbly
upon God, who watch for His guidance
and grace, is the Spirit given. The power of God awaits their demand and
reception. This promised blessing, claimed by faith, brings all other blessings
in its train. It is given according to the riches of the grace of Christ, and
He is ready to supply every soul according
to the capacity to receive.—Christian Services 253
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.—Christian
Services 253
So from the holy
ones that stand in God's presence, His Spirit is imparted to human
instrumentalities that are consecrated to His service. Testimonies to Ministers
509
The measure of the Holy Spirit we receive will be proportioned to the measure of our desire and the faith exercised
for it, and the use we shall make of the light and knowledge that shall be
given to us. – Last Day Events 188
The convocations of the church, as in camp meetings, the assemblies of
the home church, and all occasions where there is personal labor for souls, are
God's appointed opportunities for giving the early and the latter rain. -- Last
Day Events 188
But let none think that in attending these
gatherings, their duty is done. A mere attendance upon all the
meetings that are held will
not in itself bring a blessing to the soul. It is not an immutable law that all
who attend general gatherings or local meetings shall receive large supplies
from heaven. TM 509
Zechariah
10:1 Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; [so] the LORD shall make
bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not
hunger and thirst for the gift of the Spirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and
preach concerning it? -- Christian Services 252
We
are not willing enough to trouble the Lord with our petitions, and to ask Him
for the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord wants us to trouble Him in this matter. He wants us to press our petitions
to the throne. -- Last Day Events 188
WHEN IT’S GOING TO
BE POURED OUT
The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the
church is looked forward to as in the future, but it is the privilege of the
church to have it now. Seek for it,
pray for it, believe for it. We must have it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow
it. – Last Day Events 188
It is
the time of the latter rain, when the Lord will give largely of His Spirit. Be
fervent in prayer, and watch in the Spirit. Testimonies to Ministers 511
“
I have no specific time of
which to speak when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will take place--when the
mighty angel will come down from heaven, and unite with the third angel in
closing up the work for this world; my message is that our only safety is in
being ready for the heavenly refreshing, having our lamps trimmed and burning.”
1 Selected Messages 192
RESULT OF RECEIVING
THE LATTER RAIN
I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect. . . . I asked what had made this great change. An angel
answered, "It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the
Lord, the loud cry of the third angel." -- Last Day Events 186
The Spirit of the Almighty is moving upon men's hearts, and those who
respond to its influence become witnesses
for God and His truth. In many places consecrated men and women may be seen
communicating to others the light
that has made plain to them the way of salvation through Christ. And as they
continue to let their light shine, as did those who were baptized with the
Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they receive more and still more of the
Spirit's power. Acts of the Apostles 53
Deuteronomy 11:14 That I will give [you] the rain of your land in his due season,
the first rain
and the latter
rain, that
thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy
wine, and thine oil.
Before the final visitation of God's
judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has
not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be
poured out upon His children. – Last Day Events 186
WHAT IS THE LATTER
RAIN
a.
Outpouring of the
spirit of God
b.
Heavenly dew
c.
Refreshing presence
of the Lord
d.
Spiritual Grace
PURPOSE
-
To prepare the
church for the coming of the Son of man
-
To give power to
the loud voice of the third angel
-
To prepare the
saints to stand in the period when the seven last plagues shall be poured out
-
To give shelter to
the people of God in the time of trouble
-
To ripen the grains
and prepares it for the sickle
-
To carry forward
from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth
-
To produce Christ like
character
WHO WILL
RECEIVE and HOW TO RECEIVE
-
Those who have
prepared their hearts, emptied self and crucify the flesh
-
Those who are
begging for the bread of life to give to their neighbors
-
Those whose hearts
and in unity with Christ and live according to the light they receive
-
Those whose lives
are into harmony with His word
-
Those who
appreciate the Spirit
-
Those who put away
dissensions and give themselves to God
-
Those who are not
worldly
-
Those who claim the
promise
-
Those who wait
humbly upon God and watch for His guidance and grace
-
Those who are
laborers together with God
-
Given according to
the measure of capacity to receive it
-
Where there is
personal labor for souls (Camp meetings, church assemblies/gatherings)
-
Demand and
reception
-
Talk of it, pray
for it and preach concerning it
WHEN IT’S GOING TO
BE POURED OUT
-
Anytime, Now
RESULT OF RECEIVING
THE LATTER RAIN
-
Loud cry produced
-
Harvest ripened
-
Produced revival of
primitive godliness (christlikeness)