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).
In the Scripture there are many symbols for the Holy Spirit: fire, which burns out uncleanness; water, which washes the soul; breath, which gives life; oil, which anoints for service; and others. Here the Holy Spirit is represented as gentle rain, which prepares the soil for planting; and latter rain, which ripens the harvest.
Not long ago I visited the western state where I grew up as a boy. There had been a great drought, and the wheat harvest had failed. So it is in our lives and in the world harvest field. Without the showers from heaven the blessed presence and power of the Holy Spirit, there can be no harvest, and our lives will be as dry as the hills of Gilboa without dew and rain (2 Sam. 1:21). Jesus said that the heavenly Father would "give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him" (Luke 11:13). Why, then, don't we ask for this blessed gift?
When the early disciples put away all differences and sought God in prayer, the day of Pentecost came and thousands were converted. The gospel was then carried to the very ends of the earth. The apostles claimed the power that Christ had promised. "Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day. So it may be now. Instead of man's speculations, let the word of God be preached. Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them in faith ask for the blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the 'former rain,' and glorious was the results. But the 'latter rain' will be more abundant" (Desire of Ages, p. 872).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation (Ps. 106:4).
In the Scripture there are many symbols for the Holy Spirit: fire, which burns out uncleanness; water, which washes the soul; breath, which gives life; oil, which anoints for service; and others. Here the Holy Spirit is represented as gentle rain, which prepares the soil for planting; and latter rain, which ripens the harvest.
Not long ago I visited the western state where I grew up as a boy. There had been a great drought, and the wheat harvest had failed. So it is in our lives and in the world harvest field. Without the showers from heaven the blessed presence and power of the Holy Spirit, there can be no harvest, and our lives will be as dry as the hills of Gilboa without dew and rain (2 Sam. 1:21). Jesus said that the heavenly Father would "give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him" (Luke 11:13). Why, then, don't we ask for this blessed gift?
When the early disciples put away all differences and sought God in prayer, the day of Pentecost came and thousands were converted. The gospel was then carried to the very ends of the earth. The apostles claimed the power that Christ had promised. "Then it was that the Holy Spirit was poured out, and thousands were converted in a day. So it may be now. Instead of man's speculations, let the word of God be preached. Let Christians put away their dissensions, and give themselves to God for the saving of the lost. Let them in faith ask for the blessing, and it will come. The outpouring of the Spirit in apostolic days was the 'former rain,' and glorious was the results. But the 'latter rain' will be more abundant" (Desire of Ages, p. 872).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "Remember me, O Lord, with the favor that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation (Ps. 106:4).
RSS Feed
