THE LATTER RAIN AND THE FORMER RAIN
                                              SOME IMPORTANT CONCEPTS
To understand this concept of the Former Rain and the Latter Rain, it is helpful to realize that the Jews for the most part lived with agriculture, worked in the fields, and for the most part depended on an agrarian way of life. Israel had predictable weather patterns, including heavy rains in both the spring and the fall. When a Jew planted crops in the fall (Oct-Nov), the spring rain in Feb-March (the Former Rain) was expected and necessary to germinate their seeds. Without this spring rain -- they simply would have nothing.

A seed needs water to germinate and after it germinates it patiently grows until harvest. This early spring rain causes this germination and growth and illustrates the work of the Holy Spirit in our souls and lives. There would be no hope of harvesting a crop in the fall (April/May for Barley or in June/July – for Wheat) without it.
A little before the harvest (March and May) a healthy rain will make all the difference between a mediocre crop and a vibrant, healthy and mature crop - swelled with goodness. The Holy Spirit, if not grieved, causes the believer to bear fruit for the harvest. This waiting requires patience and dependance on the Lord through the precious work of the Holy Spirit. This pre-harvest rain is called the Latter Rain.

What happens to the seeds in the ground who/which failed to germinate (the lost)? Will the Latter Rain benefit them? Could this seed that did not germinate in the spring suddenly germinate in the fall? What chance does that seed/plant have of surviving the winter! These are sobering questions with obvious answers.

THE BELIEVER and the CHURCH
The Former rain represents the grace from heaven and the work of the Holy Spirit that a believer in Jesus Christ receives causing the seed to germinate and then grow – “but, holding the truth in love, we may grow up to him in all things, who is the head, the Christ” Ephesians 4:15 JND.
It also refers to the same work of the Holy Spirit forming and nourishing the Church on the Day of Pentecost. The former rain nourishes it also causing it to grow in obedience and grace.
“And when the day of Pentecost was now accomplishing, they were all together in one place … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave to them to speak forth… but this is that which was spoken through the prophet Joel”. Acts 2:1, 4a, 16 JND
“… in whom all the building fitted together increases (groweth) to a holy temple in the Lord” Ephesians 2:21.

In the book of James these rains are used to teach us important truths about patience (endurance). “Have patience, therefore, brethren, till the coming of the Lord. Behold, the labourer awaits the precious fruit of the earth, having patience for it until it receive the early and the latter rain. *Ye* also have patience: stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is drawn nigh.” James 5:7-8 JND
Here the “early” or Former Rain refers to the souls saved (germinated) of the 12 tribes scattered amongst the nations who are experiencing trials from the rich who were not the Lord’s. It also applies to the believer and Church in the midst of professing Christendom and the world. The rich amassed wealth but it was corrupted and cankered (the seed had not germinated). Utter misery was waiting for them. As for the tried saints they were exhorted to wait with patience (endurance) for the coming of their Lord; when their glad harvest of blessing would be reaped. This patience is magnified to our hearts as we think of how long the Lord has waited for the harvest. Waiting for Him keeps the heart from the love of riches. We must wait in patience, and live in peace. They were to wait for the Lord Who will set all things right when He returns - The Latter Rain.
ISRAEL and the NATIONS
In the OT those that had faith in God were nourished by the Holy Spirit and in the near future those of faith are sustained during the tribulation as they wait for their Lord to come to deliver them from the enemy - “Come and let us return unto Jehovah: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before his face; and we shall know, --we shall follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is assured as the morning dawn; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain which watereth the earth” Hosea 6:1-3 JND.

This Latter Rain is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh on the earth that is promised for the last days and will be manifested by the restoration of apostolic and prophetic gifts.
This does NOT refer to the Church which is in heaven but rather as stated above to the Jewish remnant and later to all Israel and the nations.
“then I will give your rain in the season thereof, and the land shall yield its produce, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit” Leviticus 26:4 JND.
“that I will give rain to your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain; and thou shalt gather in thy corn, and thy new wine, and thine oil; and I will give grass in thy field for thy cattle; and thou shalt eat and be full” Deuteronomy 11:14, 15 JND.
“And they waited for me as for the rain, and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain” Job 29:23 JND.
This concept also is expounded upon in the Psalms – “He shall come down like rain on the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon be no more” Psalm 72:6, 7 JND.
Again this rain will surely come again just after the 7-years tribulation, before the Harvest, and will bring forth fruit for God from Israel and the nations.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you” Hosea 10:12 JND.
“And ye, children of Zion, be glad and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the early rain in due measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the early rain, and the latter rain at the beginning of the season … And it shall come to pass afterwards 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. Yea, even upon the bondmen and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit” Joel 2:23, 28, 29 JND.
“Ask of Jehovah rain in the time of the latter rain; Jehovah will make lightnings, and he will give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field” Zech. 10:1.
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you” Hos 10:12 JND.

HIS HARVEST
Yes, blessed Lord, the harvest shall be Thine,
The seed is scattered, sown indeed with tears:
Thy God for Thee works out Love's whole design,
One day with Him is as a thousand years.
We bless Thee for the patience and the pain
That school our hearts to fellowship with Thee:
The toilsome treading o'er earth's barren plain,
Before Thy harvest our glad eyes shall see.
How beautiful, O Saviour, are Thy feet
Upon the mountains, ere the break of day:
One Spirit are we now with Thee. 'T is meet
Thy Death should mark, for us in Life, Thy way.
Behold the Sower who went forth to sow;
Whose path began, and issued too, in prayer.
The Heaven of heavens - opened through His woe -
Pours forth His glory, tells it everywhere.
The Husbandman hath patience long, till He
Receive the early and the latter rain.
White, wondrous, golden, shall the harvest be,
When Christ appears, when God's own Son shall reign.
Now may the God of Hope, thus still we pray,
Fill us, believing, with all joy and peace;
Thine, Lord, by right, is universal sway,
No end shall be to Thy blest rule's increase.
For God, Thy God, builds by supreme design,
His wisdom's "day" is as earth's thousand years:
Well is it said "The harvest shall be mine,"
They reap, with joyful song, who sow in tears.
In yonder heavens, ever at Thy side,
With Thee, Lord, in Thy glory, on Thy throne,
Shall be Thy own companion meet, Thy bride,
Won when Thou wert on earth indeed "alone."
Thine is the patience, Thine the power, the peace
Whereby we taste of fellowship with Thee,
A little while, and labour here shall cease
And evermore Thy harvest we shall see.
                             
                                              The Day of the Latter Rain

What is the “former rain” and the “latter rain” in Scripture? What does it mean for us today, living in this wayward, gross, perverted generation of the “end times”? Are you praying continually, and increasingly, for the outpouring of the “latter rain”?
William F. Dankenbring

In Daniel 11:32 we read, “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he [the antichrist] will corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits”.

Our present generation is becoming the most polluted generation in history, like in the days of Noah before the flood when the earth was filled with violence and men did evil only continually.
But how about God’s Church? How about the people who know their God? Will we be among those who do “exploits” for God during this end-time age? Where do you stand?
Find Faith on the Earth?
Jesus Christ declared, “Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8).

How much faith in God do you have? Yeshua also declared, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but BELIEVES that those things which he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, BELIEVE that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:22-24).
In fact, this lesson is so poignant and puissant, Christ declared, “Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and GREATER WORKS than these he will do, because I go to the Father” (John 14:12). He went on, “If you ask anything in My name [that is, by His authority, according to His will], I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:14-15).

The Commandments of God
This spiritual POWER, this amazing faith and forcefulness, must be based and keyed on KEEPING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS! Spiritual power comes through obedience to God, and then He grants us power to do great works and spiritual “exploits”!
Let’s understand!

God says, all His commandments are righteousness and His law endures forever.. “The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness” (Psalm 111:7-8). God commands us, “Become you therefore perfect as your father in heaven is perfect” (Matt.5:48).
How can we be perfect? David declares, “THE LAW of of the Lord is PERFECT converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7). . GOD is perfect and his law is also perfect. “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (v.7-9).
How are we going to be strong and carry out great works? What is the key to spiritual obedience and power with God?
Romans 10: 14-17gives us the key to really knowing God. “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach except they be sent (by God)? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”
The key is to believe Christ, accept Him as Savior and believe His word (Matthew 19:17). The purpose of the law is to teach us to live like Christ lived and let Christ live in us, the hope of glory. Christ obeyed God’s law perfectly. If He is living in us, we are going to obey the laws of God and do the works of Christ. He is doing the works in us and this is the will of God.
How can we do this? Notice!

The Spirit of God
We read in Romans 8:9, “But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of Christ wells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.” It is so simple. We are led by God’s Spirit, if it dwells in us. If Christ is not living in us, we will not have His Holy Spirit and that person is not Christ’s – does not belong to Christ.
In other words, no matter who the person is, that person has nothing of Christ despite their words, actions or claims if the Spirit of Christ is not dwelling in them. That person does not belong to Christ, but is a phony.
The apostle Paul tells us, “Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into MINISTERS of righteousness; whose end will be according to their works” (II Cor.11:13-15).

So to do the works of Christ, we have to have the Spirit of Christ—and then we will do the works of Christ as He did, or “great exploits.”
And how the world needs such exploits, today! It is a faithless generation! Who is going to give them an example of true, living faith? The world is approaching a climax that everyone fears and no one can prevent. Scientists, theologians, the press, even high diplomats are uttering desperate warnings related to doomsday and world survival. Yet gloom and doom are everywhere, as the Depression deepens and more jobs are lost and world peril increases. What is the solution? What is the answer? World leaders have no remedy that is more than a vague hope.
But the answer is in the Word of GOD!

The LATTER Rain
Notice God’s commandment! This little known and often overlooked commandment should be our touchstone every day of our lives! We read in the prophecy of Zechariah a direct command of God. God thunders to you and to me: “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.” (Zech.10:1).
As God’s church we need to ASK the Lord to pour out His Spirit of the “latter rain” upon us, so we can DO the works of Christ and complete the work of God, which He has called us to do at this very time upon the earth!
Ask God to pour out, “showers of the Holy Spirit” upon His people!
The prophet Hosea declares, “Let us pursue the knowledge of the LORD [Yahveh]. His going forth is established as the morning; He will COME TO US LIKE THE RAIN, LIKE THE LATTER AND FORMER RAIN to the earth” (Hosea 6:3).
The key to our being part of Christ’s great end time work is TO PRAY for God to send the LATTER RAIN of His Spirit. The Scriptures speak of the former rain and the latter rain of God’s Spirit. In Israel the former rain is in the fall of the year when the civil year ended in the fall. God’s people would pray for rain on the eighth day, Shemini Azeret, after the seven days of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Why pray for rain? The growth of the spring crops that were planted for the coming year depended on the rain. The farmer sowed in faith and prayed that the first rains of the season in the fall would come in due season to provide an abundant harvest to sustain their nation’s economy.
The significance of the latter rain in the spring s plainly exhibited in Scripture; it is withheld due to national sins and disobedience to God’s laws. It’s coming is a great blessing, and means prosperity and joy and abundance.
If we are really going to be a part of God’s end time work when the world is literally being taken over by the devil in the hearts and minds of men, under the rule of

the beast and false prophet, then we need to focus upon the power of the latter rain of God’s Spirit.
God has a people and a work that he is doing, and that work is going to bear good fruit. There will be 144,000 come out of the twelve tribes of Israel as the end time fruit of God’s labor plus a great multitude from among the Gentiles who will turn to God during the Great Tribulation and the Day of the Lord (see Revelation 7:1-15). These thousands will come to true repentance and be safe-guarded during the days of the wrath of God. But for them to come to God, they must first be WARNED – preached to – witnessed to – and hear the Word of God going out to the world! How can they be converted unless they first hear the true message from God?
We need to be praying for the outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit. The former and latter rains are a type. RAIN is a type of God’s Holy Spirit! It is time that we begin praying for God’s Holy Spirit to be poured out on His people.
Notice! The prophet Joel declares, “Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you—the former rain, AND THE LATTER RAIN in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil” (Joel 2:23-24).
Joel goes on to prophesy, “And it shall come to pass afterward (during this “end time” generation!), that I will pour out my Spirit (latter rain) on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions. And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out my Spirit in those days” (Joel 2:28-29).
What is the time frame of this prophecy? Joel goes on, quoting God as saying, “I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved (delivered). For in Mt. Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance [salvation], as the Lord has said, among the remnant whom the Lord calls” (Joel 2:30-32)..
We need to be drenched with God’s Holy Spirit. Sampson smote the Philistines when the Spirit of God came upon him. Let God’s Spirit fall upon us and let us smite the errors of the wicked false teachers and preachers and proclaim the gospel of the kingdom of God.

The Former Rain
In the book of Acts, we read that after Christ was resurrected, he showed himself alive after his suffering with many infallible proofs during 40 days to his disciples as eye witnesses. He spoke to them of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Being assembled together with the disciples, He commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, “which you have heard from Me.

For John truly baptized (you) with water; but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:4-5).
The disciples asked, “Will you at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Yeshua answered, “It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father has put in his own authority. But you shall receive power, when the Holy Spirit has come upon you: and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:6-8).
These were His final words to the church. While the disciples watched Him, He was taken up into the heavens and a cloud received Him out of their sight. While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel who said to them, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here gazing up into heaven? This same Yeshua who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven” (verse 11).
The disciples returned to Jerusalem. They then prayed and the Lord himself showed them by the lots cast that Matthias was to be the apostle to replace Judas. Christ was crucified on a Thursday that year in 30 AD which was the 14th of Nisan. Friday, Nisan 15 was the first holy day of Unleavened Bread. Nisan 16th which happened to be the weekly Sabbath that year, was the first day of counting the Omer. They counted 50 days to Pentecost. Christ was resurrected early Sunday morning the first day of the week. He was taken up into heaven out of their sight on what would have been day 41 of the Omer count. Christ had to stay in heaven for 8 days to be processed to become our high priest because God said to Aaron and his sons that they would have to be set apart and remain alone for eight days before they could become the High Priests of Israe (compare Lev.8:33-35; 9:1, 23-24). Similarly, Christ was with the Father for eight days from the 42nd to the 49th day of the Omer Count.
Then on the 50 day, Pentecost Day was fully come, the disciples were all with one accord in one place. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled (immersed) with the Holy Spirit [the baptism of the Holy Spirit] and began to speak with other tongues [languages], as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven” (Acts 2:1-5).
When this noise was heard, the multitude came and were gathered together. They were disturbed (amazed at such a miracle) because every man heard them speak in his own language (the witness of the gospel went forth in every nation’s language). The multitude was amazed and marveled, puzzled, wondering how the disciples who were Galileans were fluently speaking in the individual native languages of these foreign born countrymen. Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya about Cyrene and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians! How was this possible?
Obviously this was a great miracle. Some people said that they were drunk but it was just 9 o’clock in the morning (3rd hour of the day). But no matter how much someone
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drinks, their language ability will still be in their mother tongue, not another one or several other foreign ones.
Peter stood up saying, “Men of Judea and all others who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. For these are NOT drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel . . .” (vs.14-16).
Peter quoted the very words of Joel 2:28-32 – the prophecy of the pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit upon his people!
What did Joel 2:28 prophecy? This prophecy applied in type to what happened here with the apostles when God poured out His Holy Spirit. This was “the former rain.”
A Prophecy for TODAY!
This pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit – the latter rain – is going to occur again in a climatic fulfillment in our day, TODAY! It is going to occur during the time of the Great Tribulation and before the great and awesome Day of the Lord. Christ is returning very soon in great power and glory to intervene, deliver his people and establish his kingdom of justice, righteousness and peace (Joel 2:21).
The apostle Peter makes it pretty plain as to what we are to be doing. “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us leaving us an EXAMPLE, that you should FOLLOW HIS STEPS; who committed no sin [transgression, disobedience], nor was deceit found in his mouth” (I Pet.2:21-22). Christ left us an example that we should follow in His steps. The apostle John goes further, saying, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him” (I John 2:3-5). John goes on, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked” (v.6).
The person who says he is connected to Christ, ought himself to walk just as Christ walked. John specifically says, “Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning” (I John 2:7). John is referring to the commandments of God spelled out in the Scriptures – the LAW of God! Keeping and observing this Law – the Torah – is the essence of the “love of \God” written in our hearts and minds. John explains, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (I John 5:3).
If we have God’s Holy Spirit abiding within us, then we will manifest the fruits of that Spirit. They are “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal.5:22-23).
How, then, can we do the works of God and of Christ? How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit of God? Christ Himself said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it [the door] will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).

The True Vine
But another key is to “abide” in Christ.
The Messiah tells us plainly, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does snot abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch, and is withered, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:1-8).
Christ is the true vine and we are the branches. His Father is the vinedresser and does the pruning so that each branch will bear fruit. How can we abide in Him? As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine; no more can we, except we abide in Christ – by living as He lived, keeping His word, obeying God’s commandments.
For instance, if I go out to our grapevines and lop off a branch or two from the main vine that is rooted in the soil, and wait for them to keep growing and bear fruit, it isn’t going to happen. The root and vine provide nourishment. When cut off from the main vine, the branches wither, dry up, and die. Cut off from Christ we would die just like the cut off branches from our grapevine! They are useless and are put on the burn pile and burned up.
Staying connected to Christ and abiding in his commandments brings forth much fruit, but without Him we can do nothing. By abiding in Him and his words abiding in us, we shall ask what we will, and it shall be done for us. It glorifies God the Father that you bear much fruit.
Yeshua declared, “So shall you be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, I loved you: continue you in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken to you that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment that you love one another, as I have loved you.
“Greater love has no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known (explained) to you. You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you that you should go and bring forth fruit; and that your fruit should remain; that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
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God has chosen each one of us to be part of His end time work to bear witness and to bear much fruit to glorify Him. We are to abide in Him and fulfill His purpose bearing much fruit so that it will remain. Christ went on, “I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own: but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:17-19).
We have to be connected to Christ, and then he pours out His Spirit upon and into us. As long as we are connected the Spirit is flowing. If we become disconnected, we will wither and die unless grafted back into the vine.
Do not allow anything to cause you to be severed from Christ. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. . . . The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God, and if children, then hairs—heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Rom.8:14-2i7).
Paul goes on, “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
“We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom.8:28-29).
“More over, whom he did predestinate, them he also called and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he will glorify. What shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? God did not spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God that justifies. Who is going to condemn? It is Christ that died, and furthermore He is risen from the dead and is the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Rom.8:31-34).
Filled with faith and wonder, Paul exults, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ—tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril or war? It is written, for thy sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet in all of these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him that loved us. I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor death, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom.8:35-39).
We can be “MORE THAN CONQUERORS” through Jesus Christ, Yeshua our Messiah! We can achieve victory through Him, working in us, for us, and through us!
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in

the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (I Cor.15:57-58).

The Latter Rain
Let’s take this command of God to pray for the outpouring of the “latter rain” of His Holy Spirit seriously. Urgently! Dynamically!
God thunders to you and to me: “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.” (Zech.10:1).
As God’s church we need to ASK the Lord to pour out His Spirit of the “latter rain” upon us, so we can DO the works of Christ and complete the work of God, which He has called us to do at this very time upon the earth!
We are blessed if we ask Him and pray intensively for the pouring out of His Spirit for the latter rain upon the church, His work, his servants and each other so that we will be ready for the days yet to come. The Christian era opened up with great power in the days of the disciples. God’s work is also to be completed in a like manner with great power.

“The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
Or, as Moffatt translates it, “the prayers of the righteous have a powerful effect”. The Living Bible has it, “The earnest prayer of a righteous man has great power and wonderful results.” The Amplified Parallel Bible declares, “The earnest (heart-ffelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (dynamic in its working).” Such prayer has great spiritual IMPACT!
God declares, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).
It’s time we take these matters seriously, and begin to do as God says. There is neason on this earth or in heaven above that we cannot be filled with God’s miraculous power and His Holy Spirit, to do the works and the end-time Work of God! Failure is not a viable option. God never fails!

“Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!] [Josh.1:5.] So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me? [Psa.27:1; 118:6.]