Revelation 3 and the Latter Rain

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By Eugene Prewitt

Honored with the Latter Rain

And Receiving a Larger Measure of the Spirit until Then

 

 

SECTION ONE — Causes and Reasons for Spiritual Renewal

 

Our tendency is to undervalue spiritual events and blessings. Consequently ceremonies are often used to solemnize moods and to focus participants on the value of the unseen. Baptism, communion and marriage are all familiar scenes of ritual intended to deepen a sense of significance.

 

The Bible gives abundant attention to a fourth ritual event—anointing. The head of the recipient is anointed with oil or with touch (the laying on of hands). These rites represent investiture, the granting of both responsibility and power to carry out the responsibility.

 

So Samuel anointed David “and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.” 1 Sa 16:13.  So, more than a thousand years later, the newly converted Saul was filled with the Spirit after waiting for the anointing from a church representative.

 

And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Ac 9:17 

 

We all need more efficiency in our work for the Savior. This is why the Spirit is given, so every man can profit more efficiently in God’s work. 1Co 12:7

 

The Spirit supplies the deficiency in the church between talent possessed and talent needed. The Spirit’s gifts range from ‘prophecy’ to ‘helps.’ The Spirit aids kings in their rule, as David above even before he took the throne. And the Spirit aids seamstresses (Ex 28:3, “I have filled with the Spirit of Wisdom”) and metal workers (“filled with the Spirit of God in wisdom . . . and in all manner of workmanship”) in their trade when the work of the church requires their skill.

 

Jesus anointed His chosen apostles at the Great Commission by the singular act of blowing on them. He communicated to them, by this gesture, that in the fact of their being sent rested the guarantee of the Spirit’s power. Jesus had been sent by the Father and this was why He received the Spirit.

 

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: John 20:21-22 

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. Joh 3:34 

 

The early church could not be satisfied to have believing converts if they were not gifted and ready for service. When Samaria “received the Word of God” amidst “signs and great miracles” two apostles were dispatched from Jerusalem that they might “receive the Holy Ghost.” They “prayed for them” and laid “their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.” Ac 8:5-17.

 

Though the Samarian believers differed individually from each other in their knowledge of truth and beauty of character, the Holy Spirit fell on “none of them” prior to the ritual hand-laying.  As if to emphasize the hollow character of membership without the Spirit’s power, the scripture says of the not-yet-gifted Samaritans “only they were baptized.” Ac 8:16.

 

Even the converted Saul, in becoming the Apostle Paul, had to wait (See Ac 9:17 above) for the laying on of hands before being filled with the Spirit.

 

The earnest disciples of John the Baptist, having forgotten (Ac 19:2) John’s testimony to the Spirit’s descent on Jesus, possessed a sincere love for truth. Yet they had not been filled with the power of that Spirit of whom they were ignorant. They were rebaptized and, in the same service, anointed with hands.

 

And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. Ac 19:6 

 

So when the Holy Spirit came upon missionaries in multi-lingual areas, they spoke with tongues. When the Spirit filled seamstresses they made Aaron’s garments. When the Spirit filled Bezaleel he became supremely skillful in metallurgy. When the Spirit filled boy David he became a gifted poet and king. When the Spirit came upon Samson he was able to escape impending destruction by super strength. The Spirit gives the very gifts needed by an individual to execute his responsibility.

 

Having the Spirit working inside us is not evidence that we have no need to be “filled.” Already-spiritual men are anointed to be granted an even greater measure of the Spirit as required by their greater responsibilities. Joshua was chosen for anointing because he was “a man in whom in the Spirit.” Nu 27:18. Then Moses “laid his hands” on him and he was filled with “the Spirit of Wisdom.” De 34:9.

 

The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew name “Joshua” is “Jesus.” In other words, the angel directed the virgin Mary to name her child Joshua. The Joshua under Moses represented Him in many ways. Not the least of these was the pattern of being full of the Spirit and then being anointed by the Spirit for greater gifts at the commencement of greater responsibilities. This happened to Jesus at His baptism.

 

Why was the Spirit poured out in rich currents into the life of Jesus at his baptism? He was being sent to preach the gospel and to do the sensitive work of winning souls. He was being called to preach to the meek and to bind up broken hearts. He was to set people free from their sins and from their ignorance.

 

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; Isa 61:1

 

More than this, He was to teach about the fulfillment of prophecy and about the future judgment. He was to comfort those that were mourning over their own spiritual declension (symbolized by ashes under them) and mourning over the sins around them. He was to teach the connection between such heart-searching and receiving more of the Spirit, the “oil of joy.” The blessed fruits of the Spirit outpoured would turn the heaviness of self-searching into a covering of praise.

 

To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; Isa 61:2-3.

 

Jesus applied this passage to himself at the commencement of his ministry. Lu 4:18. As it came to be with Joshua and Jesus, so it can be with us generally. The Spirit is poured out in larger measure on those that already have the Spirit in smaller measure.

 

In other words, spiritual life must be cultivated if we expect to have the Spirit poured out on us in a special service.

 

Those that submit to adopt the Spirit’s values as their own are rewarded with power to live and spread those values. The Bible attributes the largeness of Jesus’ filling to the purity of his value system.

 

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Heb 1:9  (Quoted from Ps 45:7)

 

Activities that tend to write scriptural values into the mind are helping do the very work the Spirit is appointed to do for us. Sensibly, they are connected in Scripture with the reception of the Spirit. Whether singing scripture and spiritual songs, whether giving thanks to God, or whether denying our desires and passions, our spiritual exercises bring spiritual maturity. And this means more of the Spirit.

 

When a man is reproved he faces an opportunity to welcome an outpouring of the Spirit. His part is to repent. In other words, when we are shown our sins we obey God by turning from them. You might say that the pattern is: be reproved; obey by repentance; receive the Holy Spirit as a gift from Jesus. The Spirit is given to those that obey Him. Ac 5:32.

 

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Pr 1:23 

 

Conversion involves cooperation between humanity and Divinity. You could say, accurately, that God’s part is to give us a new heart, a new mind. Then again, you could say that our part is to cast away our sins and thereby “make a new heart.” God said it both ways through Ezekiel to express the reality of cooperation. Eze 11:19; 18:31. We could say “work out your own salvation” and we could say “it is God that works in you both to will and to do.”

 

Living in the Spirit and walking in the Spirit are not precisely the same thing. We are living in the Spirit when we are gifted with moral power at conversion. (Compare Eph 3:16-17 with Rom 8:1-4.) But the gift of conversion does not enslave our wills. It sets us free to start walking in the Spirit, to start denying our appetites and desires in favor of obedience to the Spirit. “Living” is the possession of power; “walking” is our use of the will.

 

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Ga 5:25 

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Ga 5:16 

 

Just as submitting to correction leads to a greater filling with God’s Spirit, resisting correction leads to a deadening of the spiritual powers and, ultimately, to the departure of the Spirit from the life. We read of Saul, after his disobedience, “the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul.” 1 Sa 16:14. Thus he became an object lesson for all persons that resist God’s instruction. They resist the Spirit. They grieve the Spirit. They quench the Spirit.

 

Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Ac 7:51 

And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed . . . . Eph 4:30.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. . . . Quench not the Spirit. 1Th 4:8; 5:19.

 

Nevertheless, those that partake in the self-affliction of the Day of Atonement can expect a special outpouring from Him that “is strong that executeth His word.” Joel 2:11. Joel’s prophecy connects God’s “great kindness” and “gracious” mercy as moving us to the required repentance. “Who knows,” Joel writes, whether our repentance will be sufficient to avert coming judgments on his people.

 

In his picture of the end-time outpouring, the individual work of soul-searching is followed by a spiritual gathering of the people and by intercession on the part of those that have put away their sins. They are praying for those that have not.

 

The pattern is that God calls us to heart-searching, moves us by his mercy; we respond with repentance and with coming together as a church. We respond with a mind-set of intercession. And He responds by a gracious outpouring of the Spirit’s power into the church.

 

     Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.  Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him . . .

     Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the [church] . . . Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, “Spare thy people” . . .

     Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. . . .and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.  . . . 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: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. Joel 2:11-29.

 

Feeling a Need, a Thirst for the Spirit

 

When we humble our hearts, when we afflict our souls, we are rewarded for our thirst. A thirst for righteousness is rewarded with a filling. A thirst for the Spirit brings the needed refreshing.

 

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Mt 5:6 

For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: Isa 44:3 

 

It is only natural that those that thirst for the Spirit’s power in their life will ask for the Spirit. This is the condition laid down by Jesus for receiving the bounty of the Spirit’s power. Whether we are asking for our own needs (Lu 11:13), for the needs of others (Eph 3:14-16), for the Latter rain (Zec 10:1), or for more boldness in our work (Ac 4:29-31), asking brings the power of the Spirit into our life. So it was for Elisha. 2Ki 2:9.

 

Summary

 

To this point we have seen that the Spirit is given for practical purposes. The Spirit gifts men wit the abilities they need to carry out their duties. But it is already-spiritual men that God choose to bear those responsibilities. The Spirit is poured on Spirit-led men.

 

These are men who hunger for righteousness and who ask for the Spirit. They intercede for their church. They respond with humility to God’s reproving. They depend on Christ’s graciousness and so are moved to humble their heart in soul-searching. These are the truths that are for the church at all times and in all ages.

 

End-Time Duties Demand and End-Time Out-Pouring

 

This study is abridged from a longer study that additionally explored the work of the Spirit in exalting Jesus as a “Prince and a Savior.” It considered the all-important topic of baptism by the Holy Spirit. There scripture shows the relation of the Spirit to assurance of salvation. And other truths regarding the reception of the Spirit are touched upon.

 

But here at GYC we will move directly to End-Time duties that demand and End-time gifting of the Spirit.

 

The prophecy of Isaiah 61:1-9 illustrates well the comprehensive nature of the blessings that come with the Spirit. From power in preaching, to beauty in character; from success in freeing captives to accuracy in speaking of prophetic fulfillments; from conviction attending our warnings of judgment to salve in our comforting of “those that mourn”, the gift of the anointing makes us like Jesus.

 

 

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. . . .

 

Notice as the prophecy continues how Christ is glorified by our spiritual growth as his “planting.” Consider how the Spirit’s power brings renewal of truths lost and healing of long-standing backsliding in the church. Observe how Spirit-filled men will become known as the Priests of the Lord and as “Ministers of our God.”

 

. . . But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. . . . And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed. Is 61:1-4, 6, 9.

 

Priests of the Lord and Ministers of our God

 

As Jesus stands in the Most Holy Place His work is focused on purifying the “sons of Levi.” Mal. 3:3. These are Seventh-day Adventists.

 

They are the men chosen, in place of the first-born, to be scattered among all nations as guides and shepherds. They are the “teaching” priests. Where they are absent or ignorant or delinquent even God’s people are “without law.” 2 Ch 15:3. They should “keep knowledge” and men should “seek the law at” their mouths. Mal. 2:7. Their cleansing changes everything for God’s people and brings a revival of primitive godliness “as in the days of old, as in former years.” Mal. 3:4.

 

And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Mal 3:3.

For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. Mal 2:7.

 

Christ’s work in heaven, sitting as a refiner and purifier of silver, corresponds to the work of the Spirit on earth during the same time. We “are washed,” “are sanctified,” in Christ’s name “by the Spirit.” We are thus “saved” “by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” 1 Co 6:11; Tit 3:5.

 

And the need of God’s people to “keep knowledge” and to be a source of truth for the world corresponds to another special work of the Spirit.

 

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Joh 14:26 

 

The Spirit of God “searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” Only when we receive the Spirit “which is of God” may we “know the things that are freely given to us of God.” This is because truths we seek to understand “are spiritually discerned.” 1Co 2:10, 12, 14.

 

Again, the purification of the priests and their growth in knowledge compliment each other. When they repent under reproof they receive an outpouring of the Spirit that opens to them the meaning of God’s words. We read earlier in the study:

 

Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Pr 1:23.

 

Such revelations of truth belong, though largely unclaimed, to the remnant church. The Spirit has for us, as for the apostles, truths “in other ages not made known unto the sons of men.” “By the Spirit” these things may be “now revealed” through the work of prophets. Eph 3:5.

 

Simeon was an Adventist. “The same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel.” “The Holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost that he should not see death before” he had witnessed the infant Messiah. Lu 2:25-26.

 

So Adventists today, waiting for Christ’s Coming and filled with the Holy Spirit, may expect revelations of future events. They may know what is coming.

 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.  Joh 16:13 

 

This two-fold work of teaching and purifying the sons of Levi is the focal point of Christ’s work during the Judgment. The tribe of Levi is to become a land of springs and rivers, a place where spiritual thirst may be quenched.

 

He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) Jn 7:38-39 

 

The church as a collection of teaching priests becomes an epistle written by God to the world. Meditate on this in connection with the fact that Jesus was the Word of God in the flesh. Converts are letters “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God” “in fleshly tables of the heart.” 2Co 3:3. So the change in king Saul, when he was converted, astonished “all that knew him beforetime” and was perplexing to “one of the same place.” 1Sa 10:11, 12.

 

Power

Our commission as a church is to take the Three Angel’s Messages to the world with power. As modern Levites we need holiness of life (and so Christ purifies us) and thoroughness of knowledge (and so the Spirit teaches us).

 

Additionally we need power. Zech 4:6. And power comes through the Spirit. We need the powers of indwelling love and of a sound mind. We, as Levites, need power to show God’s people their transgressions. We need power added to our preaching so that we need not depend on fancy-speaking to convict hearts. All such power is available.

 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2Ti 1:7 

But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Mic 3:8 

And my speech and my preaching was not with [persuasive] words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 1Co 2:4 

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 1Th 1:5-6 

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Ac 1:8 

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: . . . And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Ac 4:29-33

 

Observe that the evangelist’s power of conviction is related to his holy living. The Thessalonians knew “what manner of men” the evangelists “were among” them for their “sake.” The Spirit uses the purity that He has worked into the lives of His witnesses.

 

Jesus had power that worked to spread His reputation far and wide when He entered His ministry.

 

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. Lu 4:14 

 

The power of the Spirit will attend those giving the last-day Elijah message. It will restore families and turn “the disobedient” to the “wisdom of the just.” It will prepare a people for the “great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

 

And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. Lu 1:17 

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Mal 4:5-6

 

The power of the Spirit in the life is like a clothing that covers, while changing, our weaknesses. The Spirit gives us power to overcome temptations that still mightily attract us. This is a covering[1]. The present weakness does not appear in our behavior. The marginal reading of three Old Testament passages even uses the word “clothed” for the filling of the Spirit. “Then the spirit [clothed] Amasai.” “But the Spirit of the LORD [clothed] Gideon.” “And the Spirit of God [clothed] Zechariah.” 1Ch 12:18; Jud 6:34; 2Ch 24:20.

 

God promises to give us “one heart.” He puts a “new Spirit” within us and removes our “stony heart.” We are moved to “cast away” all our “transgressions.” Eze 11:19; 18:31; 36:26. Thus we are “strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man.” Eph 3:16. This prepares us so “that Christ may dwell in our heart by faith.” In other words, the Spirit makes us inhabitable.

 

In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Eph 2:22 

 

God is not the only one that prefers the association of Spirit-modified persons. Almost everyone does initially. They are patient and hopeful, self-controlled and Christ-like. Gal 5:5, 22. Ro 15:13. They live to serve others rather than to serve their lusts and appetites. They are not bound to their passions.

 

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Ga 5:16-17.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Ro 8:13-14

 

They are joyful in the midst of troubles that cloud the brow of other men. Cheeriness characterizes Spirit-molded men.

 

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.  But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.  And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost. Ac 13:51-52

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 1Th 1:6 

 

But the world does not prefer Spiritual association in the long-term. Holy living is a source of unpleasant conviction to the worldling. He will eventually retaliate.

 

But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Ga 4:29 

 

Persecution against us demands fortitude within us. Such faithful keeping of our spiritual life also comes “by the Holy Ghost.” The Spirit-filled man is the faithful man.

 

That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 1Ti 1:14 

 

The connection between the Spirit’s filling and faithfulness is related to the sealing. Though this is a topic of another paper, we should note that the pouring out of God’s Spirit is the sealing process. Eph 1:13; 4:30; 2Co 1:22; 2Co 5:5; Ro 8:23. Our assurance that we are truly God’s comes by the gift of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit we feel endeared to God and cry “Abba, Father.”

 

And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. 1Jo 3:24

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.1Jo 4:13

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Ro 8:15-16.

 

Our calling and our qualifications differ markedly. Remember that the Spirit makes up the deficiency between talent possessed and talent needed. Especially when men are called to administration in God’s work are they gifted and taught by the Spirit with knowledge and wisdom to lead.

 

So the Spirit gave special instruction to David on how to rule “over men.” So Jesus was promised special wisdom to lead. So we noted earlier that Joshua was full of “wisdom” after being anointed to lead Israel. So Othniel (Jus 3:10) and Jephthah (Ju 11:29) were filled when called to judge the nation.

 

The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. . . The Rock of Israel spake to me, “He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. 2Sa 23:2-3. 

And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD; And shall make him of [sensitive] understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:  Is 11:2-3

 

This principle is most pronounced in the delegation of authority from the prophet Moses to 70 other men, 68 that responded to his directions and two that did not. They were gifted when they were called so that they could well bear their responsibility.

 

And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. . . .And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.  But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. Nu 11:17; 25-26

 

There is much more that the Spirit does. The subject is worthy all the study that can be given to it. But my deadline for sending this in to GYC to print for the lectures is past and my time is out.

 

Final Summary

 

Jesus is today teaching and cleansing His tribe of teaching priests, the Seventh-day Adventists. Our duty to the world is larger than we can handle. We need the Spirit’s power and gifting to make up our deficiency. Such power comes to those that practice the Day of Atonement, cooperating with Christ’s work of purifying His kingdom of priests. Where you see the church rising to a higher level of holiness and to greater mastery of the truths for this time, there you can know that Jesus is working by His Spirit.

 

GYC has been one such place. In one such place and some time soon we will see an outpouring of the Spirit reminiscent of the books of Acts and Exodus. Men will be given the very gifts needed to accomplish the work assigned to them.

 

For more information like this and for an unabridged version, see www.bibledoc.org or write Eugene Prewitt at [email protected].

 

Thank you for attending the seminar. Please address constructive help to the email address above.

 

Be faithful,

 

 

Eugene Prewitt

December 4, 2006

For the Word Document: Rev_3_-_Honored_with_the_Latter_Rain


[1] This is not the “white robe” of Christ’s perfect righteousness that is granted to men in the judgment. Rather, it is the garment of charity that is donned by Christians through the power of the Spirit in their life. See Colosians 3. Nor are these characteristics that we “put on” the righteousness that the Father observes when we pray “in Christ’s name.” These have no merit. Our prayers are answered as if the “pardon” written against our name were already confirmed in judgment. All merit comes from Christ’s life.

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