In the middle East, the farmers look for two types of rains i.e. the early and latter rain. The early rain falls on newly planted seeds causing the seeds to sprout and to grow and the latter rain prepares the grain for harvest. Farming was very important in ancient Israel as the whole economy and life itself depended on good rain seasons It is therefore not surprising that in the Bible, God uses the symbolism of rain to represent the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on his people. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us in everything we do as Christians from repentance to growth in Christ.
For instance one of the passages that talk of rain to represent God is Joel 2:23 "Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given the early rain for your vindication; he has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before." Another one is Hosea 6:3 "Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." Both of these passages are talking about the Holy Spirit. This is confirmed by the apostle Peter who in a sermon during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost pointed out that this outpouring was the fulfillment of Joel chapter 2:28-32 prophecy.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was a 'curtain raiser' for the big outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the very end of time. God promises to pour His Spirit on His people before the final harvest of the earth. But just as the latter rain is useless if the early rain has not been sufficient enough to sprout the seed and to grow the plants, in the same way we need to receive the Holy Spirit now if we are to receive this great outpouring of the Holy Spirit at the end of the world.
In the following video, G Edward Reid talks about this important topic of receiving the early rain baptism of the Holy Spirit.
No comments:
Post a Comment