The Latter Rain
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SCRIPTURE Q & A What is the Latter Rain? Why do we need the Latter Rain? What are some promises of the Holy Spirit? How to receive the Holy Spirit? What are the results of the Latter Rain? Acts 3:19-20 |
SUMMARY The Latter Rain outpouring of the Spirit of God...
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THOUGHTS
"Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God's church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church."
- Acts of the Apostles, p. 54-55
"The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the 'former rain' was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the 'latter rain' will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest."
- The Great Controversy, p. 611
Why Do We Need the Latter Rain?
"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."
- Early Writings, p. 86
"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."
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 984
"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."
- Gospel Workers, p. 285
"Christ promised that the Holy Spirit should abide with those who wrestle for victory over sin, to demonstrate the power of divine might by endowing the human agent with supernatural strength and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God."
- Gospel Workers, p. 286
"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."
- Testimonies to Ministers, p. 507-508
"A connection with the divine agency every moment is essential to our progress. We may have had a measure of the Spirit of God, but by prayer and faith we are continually to seek more of the Spirit."
- Testimonies to Ministers, p. 508
The Promises of The Spirit of God
"It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. 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."
- Acts of the Apostles, p. 50
"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."
- Evangelism, p. 701
"At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word."
- Testimonies to the Church, Volume 8, p. 20
How Can I Receive the Holy Spirit?
"Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions.
- Desire of Ages, p. 672
"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."
- Desire of Ages, p. 672
"The Spirit works upon man's heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature."
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 411
"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."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 507
Feel Your Need for God & Pray for His Presence
"The Holy Spirit will come to all who are begging for the bread of life to give to their neighbors."
- Testimonies to the Church, Volume 6, p. 90
"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 Service, p. 253
"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."
- Testimonies To The Church, vol. 8, p. 21
"It is not an immutable law that all who attend general gatherings or local meetings shall receive large supplies from heaven. The circumstances may seem to be favorable for a rich outpouring of the showers of grace. But God Himself must command the rain to fall. Therefore we should not be remiss in supplication. We are not to trust to the ordinary working of providence. We must pray that God will unseal the fountain of the water of
life."
-Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 509
"As you pray, believe, trust in God. 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 & Gospel Workers, p. 512
First, Experience The Early Rain
"The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 507
"But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 507
"The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin; it means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit."
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 419-420
"We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out those who did not receive and appreciate the early rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 399
"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. "
- Evangelism, p. 702
"We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us."
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, p. 984
Be Willing To Be Used and Guided By the Spirit
"We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people 'to will and to do of His good pleasure.' Phil. 2:13...Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given."
- Desire of Ages, p. 672
Eliminate Dissensions and Misunderstandings
"Before the day of Pentecost they met together, and put away all differences. They were of one accord."
- Desire of Ages, p. 827
"Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them in faith ask for the blessing, and it will come."
- Desire of Ages, p. 827
Surrender Yourself To Christ's Love
"When one is fully emptied of self, when every false god is cast out of the soul, the vacuum is filled by the inflowing of the Spirit of Christ."
- Gospel Workers, p. 287
"But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee."
- Christ Object Lessons, 159
"It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed."
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 159-160
"There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable. "
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 154
"There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God."
- Christian Service, p. 254
"The minister for God should in an eminent degree possess humility."
- Gospel Workers, p. 142
The Results of the Latter Rain
"As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, 'the time of Jacob's trouble,' they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His Spirit....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."
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 984
"The opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work. When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble."
- The Great Controversy, p. 610
"The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening."
- The Great Controversy, p. 610-612
"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. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13."
- The Great Controversy, p. 612
"The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the "former rain," and glorious was the result. But the "latter rain" will be more abundant."
- The Desire of Ages, p. 827
FURTHER STUDY:
The Great Controversy, p. 611-612
Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 506-513
The Desire of Ages, p. 818-828
"Under the figure of the early and the latter rain, that falls in Eastern lands at seedtime and harvest, the Hebrew prophets foretold the bestowal of spiritual grace in extraordinary measure upon God's church. The outpouring of the Spirit in the days of the apostles was the beginning of the early, or former, rain, and glorious was the result. To the end of time the presence of the Spirit is to abide with the true church."
- Acts of the Apostles, p. 54-55
"The work will be similar to that of the Day of Pentecost. As the 'former rain' was given, in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the opening of the gospel, to cause the upspringing of the precious seed, so the 'latter rain' will be given at its close for the ripening of the harvest."
- The Great Controversy, p. 611
Why Do We Need the Latter Rain?
"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."
- Early Writings, p. 86
"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."
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 984
"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."
- Gospel Workers, p. 285
"Christ promised that the Holy Spirit should abide with those who wrestle for victory over sin, to demonstrate the power of divine might by endowing the human agent with supernatural strength and instructing the ignorant in the mysteries of the kingdom of God."
- Gospel Workers, p. 286
"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."
- Testimonies to Ministers, p. 507-508
"A connection with the divine agency every moment is essential to our progress. We may have had a measure of the Spirit of God, but by prayer and faith we are continually to seek more of the Spirit."
- Testimonies to Ministers, p. 508
The Promises of The Spirit of God
"It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. 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."
- Acts of the Apostles, p. 50
"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."
- Evangelism, p. 701
"At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word."
- Testimonies to the Church, Volume 8, p. 20
How Can I Receive the Holy Spirit?
"Christ has promised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church, and the promise belongs to us as much as to the first disciples. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions.
- Desire of Ages, p. 672
"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."
- Desire of Ages, p. 672
"The Spirit works upon man's heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature."
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 411
"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."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 507
Feel Your Need for God & Pray for His Presence
"The Holy Spirit will come to all who are begging for the bread of life to give to their neighbors."
- Testimonies to the Church, Volume 6, p. 90
"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 Service, p. 253
"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."
- Testimonies To The Church, vol. 8, p. 21
"It is not an immutable law that all who attend general gatherings or local meetings shall receive large supplies from heaven. The circumstances may seem to be favorable for a rich outpouring of the showers of grace. But God Himself must command the rain to fall. Therefore we should not be remiss in supplication. We are not to trust to the ordinary working of providence. We must pray that God will unseal the fountain of the water of
life."
-Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 509
"As you pray, believe, trust in God. 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 & Gospel Workers, p. 512
First, Experience The Early Rain
"The heart must be emptied of every defilement and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit. It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 507
"But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 507
"The religion of Christ means more than the forgiveness of sin; it means taking away our sins, and filling the vacuum with the graces of the Holy Spirit."
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 419-420
"We may be sure that when the Holy Spirit is poured out those who did not receive and appreciate the early rain will not see or understand the value of the latter rain."
- Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 399
"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. "
- Evangelism, p. 702
"We must not wait for the latter rain. It is coming upon all who will recognize and appropriate the dew and showers of grace that fall upon us."
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, p. 984
Be Willing To Be Used and Guided By the Spirit
"We cannot use the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is to use us. Through the Spirit God works in His people 'to will and to do of His good pleasure.' Phil. 2:13...Only to those who wait humbly upon God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is the Spirit given."
- Desire of Ages, p. 672
Eliminate Dissensions and Misunderstandings
"Before the day of Pentecost they met together, and put away all differences. They were of one accord."
- Desire of Ages, p. 827
"Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them in faith ask for the blessing, and it will come."
- Desire of Ages, p. 827
Surrender Yourself To Christ's Love
"When one is fully emptied of self, when every false god is cast out of the soul, the vacuum is filled by the inflowing of the Spirit of Christ."
- Gospel Workers, p. 287
"But no man can empty himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish the work. Then the language of the soul will be, Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee."
- Christ Object Lessons, 159
"It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed."
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 159-160
"There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable. "
- Christ Object Lessons, p. 154
"There is no limit to the usefulness of the one who, putting self aside, makes room for the working of the Holy Spirit upon his heart, and lives a life wholly consecrated to God."
- Christian Service, p. 254
"The minister for God should in an eminent degree possess humility."
- Gospel Workers, p. 142
The Results of the Latter Rain
"As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, 'the time of Jacob's trouble,' they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His Spirit....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."
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 984
"The opposition of the enemies of truth will be restrained that the third angel's message may do its work. When the final warning shall be given, it will arrest the attention of these leading men through whom the Lord is now working, and some of them will accept it, and will stand with the people of God through the time of trouble."
- The Great Controversy, p. 610
"The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening."
- The Great Controversy, p. 610-612
"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. Satan also works, with lying wonders, even bringing down fire from heaven in the sight of men. Revelation 13:13."
- The Great Controversy, p. 612
"The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the "former rain," and glorious was the result. But the "latter rain" will be more abundant."
- The Desire of Ages, p. 827
FURTHER STUDY:
The Great Controversy, p. 611-612
Testimonies to Ministers & Gospel Workers, p. 506-513
The Desire of Ages, p. 818-828