Are You Careful Who And What You Are Listening To?

The scriptures compare the winning of souls to Christ with the physical planting of seed and the harvesting of the grain or fruit. For example, Jesus gave us the parable of the sower going forth to sow seeds on all kinds of soil. The harvest is the reaping of the fruit or grain. In order for the crops to flourish, there is a need for rain both when the seed is planted and also abundant rain just prior to the harvest. Scripturally, these rains were called the early rain and the latter rain.

Spiritually speaking, there was an early rain of God's Spirit recorded in the book of Acts. The Bible promises a great latter rain just prior to the last harvest of souls and immediately precluding the second coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Joel speaks of this rain in Joel 2:23. The context of these verses reveals that he is speaking both of the Pentecostal outpouring recorded in Acts 2 and the last outpouring just before the Great Tribulation. Compare Joel 2:30-31 with Matthew 24:29 and Revelation 6:12-14. James, the half brother of Jesus also speaks of a latter rain in connection with the second coming. (James 5:7-8).

It is understood by the greatest majority of the body of Christ today that we are now experiencing the last outpouring of God's Spirit upon the earth in preparation of the last great harvest of souls. WE ARE LIVING IN THE DAY OF THE LATTER RAIN. HALLELUJAH!

Two great opposite forces are experiencing growth as a result of this latter rain. The true Christian church is flourishing and maturing into a glorious church that shall be without spot or wrinkle in accordance to the word of God. (Ephesians 5:27.) However, the rain is also falling on the tares, weeds and thorns - and they are growing rapidly. Any farmer knows that the same rain that makes crops grow and mature also brings an abundance of weeds and tares in the midst of the wheat. When there is no rain the weeds wither, but so does the wheat. When the rain comes again, the wheat springs forth but the rain calls for harder work on the part of the farmer to keep the weeds out.

In parallel, this latter rain of the Holy Spirit is causing believers to rejoice in the truth and bring forth abundant fruit unto God. It is also causing error to flourish in the midst of this move. It is not up to us to root up the tares. We cannot do this, but we are commanded by God to point out the difference between truth and error as the early believers did. 

It is also important that we not become so afraid of the tares that we desire barren lands rather than exercising discipline in studying the word of God so we may discern right from wrong. Let us prove all things and hold fast to that which is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:21.) We are commanded by God to ask for rain in the time of the latter rain. (Zechariah 10:1.)

But those teachers who are taking advantage of this latter rain hunger in order to teach error must be marked and pointed out according to the Word of God, for surely they shall reap the fruit of their falsehood and false hopes. For God, who will have the last word has said, "For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessings from God, but if it bears thorns and briars, it is near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned." (Hebrews 6:7-8.) For the Spirit expressly speaks about the latter rain in 1 Timothy 4:1. Also the Spirit warns the believers in 1 Timothy 6:3-10, and an absolute word of caution is given by the Spirit of God in 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

Thank you, Jesus, for the truthfulness and faithfulness of your word. Take heed to yourself and to your doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you, for the devil would deceive even the elect if that were possible.

YOU HAVE GOD'S WORD ON IT!

Provided by:
Into the Light Ministries
www.intothelight.org