It is obvious, even to the casual observer, that we are now living in those turbulent last days of which Christ and the bible prophets spoke so much of, for it seems as if every evil trait of character in man is being pushed to the extreme. But at the same time there is to be an outpouring of latter rain, to bring every noble characteristic in believing Christians to maturity.
Thus, good and evil, truth and error are to be fully developed in those who subscribe to either Christ or satan. To put it plainly, the latter rain is given to bring God’s work of salvation in the hearts of men to a close. Therefore, as we approach the final hour in which the destiny of all people will be decided, it will be seen that extremes in everything are going to be the order of the day, from extreme evil to extreme righteousness. And the same extremes will be observed in nature too. Let’s read:
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?
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.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.
Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people.
Thus, in preparation for that which is just upon the horizon, it will become necessary for us to study the outpouring of the early rain which took place on the day of Pentecost, and the events, the preaching and the rapid conversions to the truth which occurred under the auspices of the Holy Spirit. Much of that which then transpired is to be repeated, but with a much greater intensity than many anticipate.
As the followers of Christ waited in expectation, the minds of all who were willing were refocused from prioritizing the temporal pursuits of life, to ministry, and through prayer, fasting, and unity, a singleness of purpose was developed, by which The Holy Spirit was able to use the believers for the spread of the gospel in all the world. And as a result, the scripture record shows that the salvation through Christ was taken to every inhabitable place on the planet.
Similarly, through prayer, fasting and unity, the very same singleness of heart and purpose should be the goal of those who are really interested in the saving of souls, for whom Christ died. However, as it’s now the case, large portions of our time, and resources are devoted to temporal pursuits, and therefore, we will need to be refocused on the mission Christ gave
to us.
In addition to being refocused, there is a whole lot of bickering, and infighting that must be put away. The seeking for the highest place, and the back and forth between those who may not agree on certain truths, must be ironed out, so as to pave the way for working of The Holy Spirit, for as the scripture says, two cannot walk together, unless they agree. Let’s read:
Acts 1:13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication.
Acts 2: 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
But there are some essential truths we should keep in mind, as preparation for the latter rain is being made. The conversion of persons to Christ and the truth is never accomplished by mere preaching, or teaching only, although these are necessary. The work of The Holy Spirit on the heart is of very much greater importance, than any scriptural argument we may present.
There are those who are not presently familiar with the specific truths for our time, but who are sincere in heart. Thus, when the latter rain is given, many of those who now sit in darkness will arise and shine in the darkest hour of human history. But at the same time, we should be aware of the fact that there are many persons who will never ever choose to obey God.
Evidence upon evidence may be given and line upon line, and precept upon precept, yet, if persons are disposed to doubt, and cavil, nothing that God can do in heaven, or in earth will convince them to turn their lives over to Christ, that they may be saved. It is of critical importance that we understand that the outworking of the latter rain, will result primarily in leading the honest in heart to Jesus.
It is against this very backdrop that we’ll study the issue of Divine appointments, in the context of the latter rain. Even though God desires that all persons come to a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, it isn’t realistic to expect that everyone who hears will acquiesce, a fact that is reflected in the intelligent prayer of Christ, as He prayed for the disciples who would be sent out as laborers in His vineyard. Let’s read:
John 17:1 These words spake Jesus, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee.
Cornelius was such a person, who feared God, who prayed regularly, who gave alms, who manifested much Christ-like traits of character, but who sat in darkness, as it pertains to the essential truth of the gospel. The work of character-building took place in his heart steadily, as he acted upon those truths he became aware of. And bit by bit, over a period of time, Cornelius came to be born of The Spirit, with only one essential element missing, that of being born of water.
Thus, under the outpouring of the early rain, those whose hearts were open to the promptings of God’s Spirit, and who were willing to obey, were led to the foot of the cross and were baptized. There was no need for argument, for no soul was ever won by an argument. There was no need for long Bible studies on doctrinal beliefs with Cornelius, all that was missing was that one piece of the puzzle, that of baptism.
Therefore, as we study the experience of Peter and Cornelius, great light will be shed on our pathway as it pertains to the work that will take place under the outpouring of the latter rain. As we study the Bible, several important pointers will be highlighted, as it pertains to divine appointments, to the end that we may pray, and act in accordance with God’s will, as Jesus did. Let’s read:
Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and
prayed to God always.
3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.
6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.
Point # [1] Specific instructions are given to link the one who is being saved to one who knows the truth. This is not a hit or miss job, where scatter-shots are fired at random from the Bible in a generic fashion, to multitudes who couldn’t care less about obeying God, for the Bible specifically states that The Lord added to the church, “Such as should be saved”. So, here again is the instruction on divine appointment, for the sake of line upon line. Let’s read:
Acts 8:26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.
27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.
Acts 10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:
10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,
11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.
15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.
19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.
20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.
Point # [2] Under the latter rain, very many persons will be cleansed already, who only need one piece of the jigsaw puzzle to be put into place. They have already accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, and they have already been cleansed through obedience to all the truths they have known. Yet, the issue of the 7th day Sabbath was dark to their understanding. To such, who did not have clarity on the matter in their experience previously, the light of present truth will shine radiantly.
Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,
31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.
32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter;
33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.
[3] God’s last message of mercy to the world in our generation will not be carried by argument or back and forth on controversial points. The Spirit of God is not into argument, but into submission. Thus, it is to those who are willing to obey God, that His Spirit will be given. When the prophet Joel says that God will pour out His Holy Spirit upon all flesh, it never meant that all flesh will accept God’s offer of grace.
Some will only allow The Holy Ghost externally, but not internally, where He seeks to reside, and in this the true children of God will be made manifest. It is of critical importance that religious prejudices, and biases be now put away, for God has many persons in different religious organizations who are willing to obey Him but are currently in darkness. Thus, the Holy Ghost will be given to bring to maturity, souls who are willing to obey God. Let’s read:
Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
[4] It’s God who will give the increase. The seed has been sown, the work of The Holy Spirit in the heart has been going on silently and protractedly, all the arguments in favor of Bible truth have been made, and now, as the latter rain is being given the honest in heart will respond in the positive. Let’s all keep in mind, that the human agent must never take credit for any soul that is converted to Christ, for we are just instruments in His hands, doing what He gives us power to do. Let’s read:
1st Corinthians 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
7 So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
It is worthy of notice, that on the issues of Divine appointment, we’ve read over and over again that “The Spirit said”: To Peter, to Cornelius, to Paul, to Ananias, to Phillip, and to so many others. The voice of God was obviously distinguishable to those who were active partakers of the early rain, because it was specific instructions, and directions that were being given out by The Holy Ghost.
The same will be true under the latter rain, because in our day, God will speak to those who are willing to listen and obey. This fact about the latter rain is clearly stated by the prophet Joel. Let’s read:
Joel 2:11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word.
There are many in the church who do not have the salvation of souls as their primary objective in life, who may be witnesses for Jesus only when it may be convenient, or when it does not involve personal loss. Unless such persons become fully surrendered to God they will be shaken out and left by the way.
Then again, there are many other voices we allow in our minds, which obscure, and confuse the voice of God, so that very often when He speaks, we end up going to Eli, instead of to Christ. Numerous projects, inventions and aspirations, originated by the enemy of souls have been allowed by us to occupy valuable space and time which should have been devoted to God, and to a humble, prayerful study of His word.
The Lord is now calling the soldiers of the cross to take up the mantle of service in earnest. Let quality time be set aside each day for communion with God in the stillness of the night, or morning. Then, as we go forth to our labors, to interact with others, our lives will be a savor of life unto life and The Lord will add to the church daily, such as should be saved.
With these objectives in mind, let the preparation for the latter rain continue undisturbed, because it is high time for us to awake out of slumber, and the time is at hand. We will end with an exhortation to help us in achieving these goals. Let’s read:
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
God Bless!