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Get Ready for the Latter Rain, September 30
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
.
The Spirit of God is a convincing power. When this is breathed upon the
church, there will be a decided change in their spiritual efficiency. The Lord
God is ready to give, but many do not realize their necessity of receiving. They
are weak, when they might be strong; powerless, when they might be powerful
through receiving the efficiency of the Holy Spirit....
From those who see the light and truth the message must go forth with a power
that they do not have, and do not feel it essential that they should have. When
they do take hold upon the Mighty One by living faith; when the truth is to them a
living reality, then they will see a work done that at the present they do not dream
of. There is a sleepy indifference upon the people who are right upon the borders
of the eternal world. They have missionary work to do, decided testimonies to
bear. The trumpet is to give a certain sound in warnings, in reproofs, in entreaties.
All should put forth earnest labor in seeking to save perishing souls.
What means this deadness? What means this spirit of being self-centered?
Time is passing! The end is near! Whom are you trying to save from the pit of
destruction? O that God would breathe in these worldly-minded souls; O that they
might feel to the very depths of their being that they must watch unto prayer, that
they have entrusted talents to be used now, just now, whenever God calls for their
gifts to advance His work in our world. Do they hear the voice of God saying, “Ye
are the light of the world”? Imaginations and dreams and a knowledge of the truth
are not enough. Every believer is to kindle his taper from the divine altar. All are
to shine, because the light of the truth has come upon them, and they cannot help
shining amid the moral darkness of the world....
There are souls to be revived; many to receive the joy of salvation into their
own souls. They have erred, they have not been building a right character, but
God has joy to restore to them, even the joy of His anointed. This will give
efficiency and happiness and sanctified assurance—a living testimony. Tell the
poor desponding ones who have gone astray from straight paths...[that] they need
not despair. There is healing, cleansing for every soul who will come to Christ.
There is a balm in Gilead; there is a Physician there.—
Letter 93, September 30,
1896
, to A. T. Robinson, a pioneer missionary and organizer in South Africa.
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