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A Special Bestowal of Spiritual Grace, November 4
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same
day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they
continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in
breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:41, 42
.
It is true that in the time of the end, when God’s work in the earth is clos-
ing, the earnest efforts put forth by consecrated believers under the guidance
of the Holy Spirit are to be accompanied by special tokens of divine favor.
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.
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; and it is
for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord
of the harvest “in the time of the latter rain.” In response, “the Lord shall
make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain” (
Zechariah 10:1
). “He
will cause to come down ... the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain”
(
Joel 2:23
).
But unless the members of God’s church today have a living connection
with the Source of all spiritual growth, they will not be ready for the time of
reaping. Unless they keep their lamps trimmed and burning, they will fail of
receiving added grace in times of special need.—
The Acts of the Apostles,
54, 55
.
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