The Showers of Blessing !
“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.” Zechariah 10:1
There must be no neglect of the Grace (G5485 – Divine Influence upon the heart, Spirit) represented by the Former Rain. Only those who are living up to the Light they have . . . Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path . . . . will receive greater Light.
“Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet, and a Light unto my path ! . . . . And the Words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are Life !” Psalm 119:105 & John 6:63
Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues (the character of Christ), 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. In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing showers, the tender shoot springs up.
The latter rain, falling near the close of the season . . . . the harvest is the end of the world . . . . ripens the grain, and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit . . . . ref: Matthew 13:39 While we cherish the blessing of the Early Rain, we must not, on the other hand, lose sight of the fact that without the Latter Rain, to fill out the ears and ripen the grain, the harvest will not be ready for the sickle, and the labor of the sower will have been in vain.
Divine Grace (Influence upon the heart) is needed at the beginning, Divine grace at every step of advance, and Divine grace alone can complete the work. . . . The Faith I Live By p.334
As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” ref: Jeremiah 30:7, they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His Spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attends the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory.
It is the Latter Rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that Light which attends the third angel. {4bSG 112.5} “And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, shall shine as the stars for ever and ever !” Daniel 12:1-3
I saw that God would in a wonderful manner preserve his people through the time of trouble. We must pray that God will unseal the Fountain of the Water of Life. And we must ourselves receive of the Living Water. *ref: John 4:7-14 & John 7:37-39.
Let us, with contrite hearts, pray most earnestly that now, in the time of the Latter Rain, the showers of Grace may fall upon us. At every meeting we attend our prayers should ascend, that at this very time God will impart warmth and moisture to our souls. 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.
If we pray for the Blessing in faith, we shall receive It as God has Promised. ref: Galatians 3:14.
—(Testimonies to Ministers, 508.) {Pr 119.6}
Let the Light of the glorious angel (message, messenger) which unites with the third angel (ref: Revelation 14:9-15), shine upon me; give me a part in the work; let me sound the proclamation; let me be co-laborer with Jesus Christ.” Thus seeking God, let me tell you, He is fitting you up all the time giving you His grace. You need not be worried.
You need not be thinking that there is a special time coming when you are to be crucified; the time to be crucified is just now ! ref: Galatians 2:20 & Romans 6:1-6 Every day, every hour, self is to die; self is to be crucified, and then, when the time comes that the test shall come to God’s people in earnest, the everlasting arms are around you.
The angels of God make a wall of fire around about and deliver you. All your self-crucifixion will not do any good then. It must come before the destiny of souls is decided. It is now that self is to be crucified, when there is work to do; when there is some use to be made of every entrusted capability. It is now that we are to empty and thoroughly cleanse the vessel of its impurity.
It is now that we are to be made holy unto God. This is our work, this very moment. You are not to wait for any special period for a wonderful work to be done; it is today. I give myself to God today. Ms 35, 1891, pp. 16, 17. (“Work and Baptism of Holy Spirit Needed,” September 26, 1891.) {1MR 179.2}
The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the Former Rain (Acts 2:1-36) at the opening of the gospel, are again to be fulfilled in the Latter Rain at its close !
Here are “the times of refreshing” to which the apostle Peter referred to when he said, “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the Presence of the LORD; and He shall send Jesus.”
Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from Heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers.
“And these signs shall follow them that believe, In My name, shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new languages . . . they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover !” Mark 16:15-18.
“And faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD !” Romans 10:17 Satan also works with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. [Revelation 13:13.] Thus the inhabitants of the earth will be brought to take their stand. {GC88 612.1}
The message will be carried not so much by argument as by the deep conviction of the Spirit of God. The arguments have been presented. The Seed (The Word) has been sown, and now it will spring up and bear fruit. The publications distributed by missionary workers have exerted their influence, yet many whose minds were impressed have been prevented from fully comprehending the truth or from yielding obedience. Now the rays of Light penetrate everywhere, the Truth is seen in its clearness . . . Thy Word is Truth . . . . and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them (Isaiah 52:1-3).
Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Notwithstanding the agencies combined against the truth, a large number take their stand upon the Lord’s side. GC 1888 Edition p.611-612 “Sanctify them through Thy Thy Truth, Thy Word is Truth (Verily So) !” John 17:17
We must not wait for the Latter Rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate (claim by faith as their own) the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us.
“Give ear O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the Words of My mouth. My doctrine (teachings) shall drop (fall) as the rain, and My speach shall distil as the dew . . . !” Deuteronomy 32:1-2
When we gather up the fragments of Light, when we appreciate the sure mercies of God, Who loves to have us trust Him, then every Promise will be fulfilled. “For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations” [Isaiah 61:11]. The whole earth is to be filled with the glory of God.
The Word of God in His law (instructions in righteousness) is binding upon every intelligent mind. The Truth for this time, the third angel’s message, is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, meaning with increasing power, as we approach the great final test. . . . {2MR 18.2} Letter 151, 1897, pp. 1-2.
May the LORD (Jehovah, Yehuwah) bless and keep you this week,
and may we each seek His Face and Presence as never before !
your brother and sister,
Eric & Sarah Wilson and family – Isaiah Ministries
(423) 477-7836
EWilson7th@gmail.com