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The Early Rain of God’s Spirit, November 23
Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your
God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he
will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the
latter rain in the first month.
Joel 2:23
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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.... But 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.
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....
There must be a constant development of Christian virtue, a constant
advancement in Christian experience....
Every individual must realize his own necessity. 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. The same
work, only in greater degree, must be done now....
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. 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.
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