RECEIVING THE FORMER RAIN

Jesus gave us a promise, the constant company of the Holy Spirit. The later rain image in the Bible points to that powerful presence just before Jesus’ Second Coming – the most prevalent promise in the Bible.

Jesus’ followers would become “…perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:4) in the days preceding the glorious appearance of Jesus. For that, God would send a special rain, the early and the latter rain – a language taken from farmers. The early rain prepares the seeds to grow and the former rain gets the crop ready for the harvest.

Read these two quotes with lots of attention,

“The former rain, being filled with the Holy Spirit, brings us the necessary spiritual maturity, which is essential so that we can benefit from the latter rain.” Dennis Smith, 40 Days — Prayer and Devotions to Revive Your Experience with God, book 2 (Vienna, 2013), p.175

“The latter rain, ripening earth’s harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of man. But unless the former rain has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the latter rain can bring no seed to perfection.” Ellen G. White, The Faith I Live By (1958), p.333

RECEIVING THE BIBLICAL SANCTIFICATION

Sanctification is growing spiritually. Paul explained that to the Thessalonians,

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14

The presence of the Holy Spirit helps us to grow in the knowledge of the Word of God, as Ellen White explained,

“This work (biblical sanctification) can be accomplished only through faith in Christ, by the power of the indwelling Spirit of God.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy (1911), p.469

RECEIVING POWER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Could great institutions, successful evangelistic programs and powerful mission strategies have been developed without the Holy Spirit? Andrew Murray, the great missionary to South Africa, knew that this scenario was very possible and, indeed, reality in most of Christendom when he wrote,

“I may preach or write or think or meditate, and delight in being occupied with things in God’s Book and in God’s Kingdom; and yet the power of the Holy Spirit may be markedly absent. I fear that if you take the preaching throughout the Church of Christ and ask why there is, alas! so little converting power in the preaching of the Word, why there is so much work and often so little success for eternity, why the Word has so little power to build up believers in holiness and in consecration — the answer will come: It is the absence of the power of the Holy Spirit. And why is this? There can be no other reason but that the flesh [see Gal 3:3] and human energy have taken the place that the Holy Spirit ought to have.” Randy Maxwell , If My People Pray (Pacific Press 1995), p.145

We all have so much to receive when the Holy Spirit is present and a lot to lose when the Holy Spirit is absent. Pray again, to receive His presence today!

QUESTIONS FOR MEDITATION & DEVOTION

1. Why do you think Jesus links the parable where the neighbor asks for bread with asking for the Holy Spirit?