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"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbs 14:12.
Many trust in the "arm of flesh" and are deceived with human wisdom. Yet, God has at great expense provided an opportunity for all sinners to be saved. We are granted a period of probation in which we can learn of God. If we will avail ourselves of the opportunity time affords, if we will study the light given, then there is the everlasting covenant, the conditional promise that we will be transformed in character and prepared for heaven. For all who are seeking something better, we are given a precious promise. "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. Our part in the plan of salvation is to come to Jesus just as we are. Our part is immeasurably small, God's part is immeasurably large.
The Latter Rain is not necessary for you and I to be saved today. But, it will come as promised. As we discovered in our last message, it will only come to those who have the Spirit of God in their hearts, those who are walking in the Spirit and keeping the commandments of God.
In part one we quoted Deuteronomy chapter 11, verses 13 and 14: "And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil."
If God requires we love Him with the whole heart and with all of the soul in order to receive rain for our
| Love the Lord with all your heart |
crops, do we then suppose He will require less in order to receive His Holy Spirit in Latter Rain power? This brings us full circle to the truth we saw last month in Part One of this message. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead is the Teacher of truth. His work is to reveal the character of God to the sinner. Before He can really do that, He must reveal to the sinner, he is a sinner in need of God. Many in this world believe they are good. They were reared with good characters. But, they do not know of what nature they really are. Given a certain situation, all who are not born again of God's Spirit will reveal the selfish fallen nature inherited by every human ever born. We come into this world in need of a Savior, in need to be transformed in nature. Our fallen nature is justly condemned for it can do no good thing until reconciled to God. When we make a full surrender of self, the Holy Spirit takes possession of the heart and we become partakers of a new nature, God's divine nature. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4.
To pray for the Latter Rain in our fallen condition will avail nothing. Until we see who we are apart from God, we see no need to seek out a Savior. It is when we understand we are condemned because of our nature, when we have tried to do good, but cannot, that we then begin to seek an answer to our inability to cease sinning. It is then that the commandment, which was ordained to life, we find to be unto death. It is then that we cry out "O wretched man that I am, who will deliver me from the body of this death?" It is then that the law has done its work as the "schoolmaster" in pointing us to the Savior who only has the power to deliver us from captivity to the law of sin which is in our members.
Again, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in first revealing our wretched nature and condemnation, and then
| The goodness of God leads to repentance |
to reveal the grace of God. When we read of Jesus standing at the door of the heart knocking, it is the Holy Spirit that is pleading with the sinner to cease resisting Christ's immeasurable love. It is through the Spirit that Christ indwells the heart of the penitent. It is through the work of the Holy Spirit that we have known the grace of God. The "goodness of God" that leads us to repentance is revealed by the third person of the Godhead when the Former Rain has fallen.
What we are attempting to show is the direct relationship between the "Former Rain" and conversion, without which one cannot receive the Latter Rain. When building a house, do we ask for roofing shingles before we pour the foundation of the house? So it would be by asking for the Latter Rain before we have sought the Holy Spirit that we might be transformed in character. Jesus made it perfectly clear that none will enter heaven unless born of the Spirit, for that which is born of the flesh is flesh and cannot enter heaven. The fallen flesh is evil by nature and must be replaced at the second coming. Jesus told Nicodemus "that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." When Jesus returns in His glory, all who have been born of the Spirit will receive new bodies, but will keep the character given and formed after conversion.
| Repent and believe the gospel |
The Holy Spirit, the True Witness who is inspiring the Laodicean message and revealing its application to the church today, also has inspired the solution given in that message. What does God hope to achieve with the giving of the Laodicean message today? The same He hoped to achieve shortly after Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan. He continued giving the message John the Baptist had been giving. "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Mark 1:15.
We find Jesus saying the same to us today. "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Revelation 3:19-21.
Jesus love us, He died for all in the world while we were yet sinners. He wants to bring us to repentance just as He wanted to bring Israel to repentance. Many are called, but few choose to come to Christ even though He is drawing all. The solution given in the Laodicean message is the same message given to Nicodemus who came to Jesus in the Garden under cover of darkness. It is also the same message given to the Seventh-day Adventist church in 1888 by Waggoner and Jones. It is also the same message given to the church prior to 1888 and for another 25 years by Ellen White. We will discuss this more in part three, the last part of this series on the Latter Rain.
What is this "solution" given to Nicodemus, seen in the third chapter of Revelation, and in the 1888 message? How does it bring a sinner to repentance and what has it to do with the Latter Rain? In our last message we revealed from Scripture how it is that God brings one to repentance. Let us repeat this since it is so important. All else is built upon this truth.There are two verses that speak directly to this. "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Romans 2:4. It is a knowledge of God's character that transforms a sinner into a saint. When Satan sinned, he did so with a knowledge of God's character. He could not be brought to repentance for he sinned despite knowing the goodness of God. There was nothing more God could show him. But, with man it is different. We have been deceived about God's character. Through a knowledge of His character, by a revelation of His love, we may be reconciled with Him.
The second verse is like the first, it is a revelation of His love with the added thought that I have wounded the One who gave all for me. "Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of." 2 Corinthians 7:10. When I see His great love for me and understand it was my sins that put Him on the cross, it is then that grace is revealed, the highest of all forms of love. For His love is unmerited love. He loves us in our sins. We do not deserve it, we deserve death. He has proved His love and by His stripes we are healed. It is this sorrow over what my sins have done to Christ that the verse speaks of. It is this sorrow that causes one to fall at the foot of the cross in true repentance.
This being the foundation of conversion, how is it seen in the three messages we speak of? Let's start with the Laodicean message. Here is the solution given to those who are blind to their lost condition. "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Revelation 3:18.
What is "gold tried in the fire"? It is faith that works by love. Faith in what? In God. How do we get that faith? To each is given a measure of faith, but that is not enough or else all would be saved. We need "saving faith". We are told how to obtain more faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17. But, what is the motivation for the Laodicean to hear the Word? Let the sinner find himself in the "fire" and see if his faith in God will grow. I can testify that I became a Christian because I was in the "fire" and had no place to turn except to God. As I read my Bible I discovered God's character of love and my faith was settled and has never been moved. Yes, I have sinned, but never have doubted God's love and truth. In other words, it is by understanding God's love for us that our faith becomes steadfast so that we are converted from unbelief to trusting God with the whole heart and soul. This is how God purifies the heart at our conversion, this is gold tried in the fire. This is saving faith that works by His love.
When in an unconverted state we are indeed "naked". The problem for the Laodicean is he does not know he is shamefully naked. Christ has promised us "white raiment" to cover our black shame. We see here God promising to give us what we don't have. He will give us a pure and holy character. What will this cost us? We must surrender our pride and sinfulness, our dirty garments. Is this too much to ask? For many, yes. It is the greatest battle we shall ever have to fight. But, if we will come to Jesus just as we are, He can make us willing to give up our filthy garments for His white ones. He will bring us to repentance. It is then that Jesus gives the command "take away the filthy garments from him....I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." Zechariah 3:4. Born of His Spirit, the character is changed. We then being partakers of His nature, filled with His Spirit, manifest all of the fruits of His Spirit. He then has written His law upon the heart. This is the white raimant He has promised to all who will come to Him. He has imputed and imparted His righteousness to the repentant sinner.
For the blind, God has promised He will send the Holy Spirit that we might see. What does this cost? Nothing from us, if will but ask for it. The price was paid at the cross. As a father, I enjoy giving my children good gifts. I don't do it at Christmas or on their birthdays when gifts are expected. I want them to know I love them and it pleases me to give them gifts on any day, when it is not expected. "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:11-13. Ask that you might see, and you shall receive the Spirit of truth.
We find the solution to our lostness in Christ. There is a condition to receiving these promises. We must come to Jesus just as we are. We must spend time with Him that we might know Him, know of His love and grace. We must give Him the whole heart.
Let's turn to Nicodemus and see what Jesus pointed him to that he might be born again of the Spirit. After telling Nicodemus he was not converted and did not have eternal life, did He leave Nicodemus without any understanding of what he must do in order to be born again (converted)? Is that the character of the God we love? Absolutely not. Jesus did reveal to Nicodemus how to be converted, how to be transformed in character.
After the reproof, Nicodemus then asked Jesus "how can these things be?" John 3:9. Jesus answered, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever
| As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up |
believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14,15. Is this similar to what we read in Revelation? Yes, it is. We saw in Revelation that it is Jesus that saves. We must have faith in Him. In order to have faith, we must learn of His love. So it is here revealed on that dark night in the Garden. Jesus is telling Nicodemus to consider what God required in order to save those bitten by serpents almost 2,000 years earlier. We remember the story how the Israelites were complaining about how bad things were. God had kept the poisonous snakes out of their camp, but now He wants to help them understand He loves them and has been protecting them. Sadly, human nature does not easily see God's love nor humanity's vileness. But, when God's protecting hand is removed, then man can better see his vulnerability and his need of help. When the bombs begin to fall, there are few atheists in foxholes.
"And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Numbers 21:5-9.
Was there mystical power in the brass serpent? Of course not. Then where did the healing come from? Since God commanded it and made the promise, then it was God who healed those who looked upon the uplifted serpent. For what purpose did God choose this method, and why did Jesus speak of it? What has it to do with the conversion of Nicodemus? It was an object lesson to teach the Israelites, Nicodemus, and us that there is power in looking up. There is power to save all who have been bitten by sin IF we will look. Look at what? Why was Moses commanded to make a snake? It is not good enough to know God loves the world. We must know that He loves those who put Him on the cross. That means we must understand He took our sins upon Himself, that He was made sin for us. Yes, the serpent represents sin. It was because He took our sins upon Himself that He was lifted up on the cross. It is by beholding Jesus taking the stripes that we deserve that we are saved. It is called grace, unmertied favor. Nicodemus must see the Messiah in a different light than he had been taught. He must look upon Jesus as a Lamb led to the slaughter to pay the price for his sins. It is by grace that we are saved. It was by beholding Jesus on the cross that Nicodemus was saved.
Jesus was lifted up as He prophesied in John 12:32 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." If we will behold Him lifted up, we shall be saved just as surely as those who were bitten by the serpents lived when they looked upon the uplifted serpent. It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Christ, especially the closing scenes which reveal our uplifted Savior.
Jesus wants us to know Him. Our heavenly Father wants us to know Him, He wants to give us the Holy Spirit. Jesus promised to send Him that we would know this important truth. This is the "Former Rain" that we have been speaking of. If we want the Latter Rain, if we want to live, then we must fall in love with our God. Jesus said we must drink His blood and eat His flesh. If we want to have physical life, we must eat our daily bread. If we want to have spiritual life, we must feed upon the Bread of Life which came down from heaven. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35.
Where do we find Jesus that we may behold Him? First, in the Word. "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14. Then, God sent a prophet in our day who gave us the Desire of Ages which is the most beautiful revelation of Christ. And lastly, we see God in nature. Even with sin having perverted man and nature, we still see the handwriting of God in His creation. "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." Psalms 19:1. The Sabbath was given that we might take time each week to remember God's love for us as we contemplate what He created. As we consider the works of creation, it testifies to His power to not only create, but to re-create fallen man in His image.
| The glory of God will lighten the earth |
And when we are re-created and filled with His Spirit, we will press together with others who are likewise filled with the Spirit of God. The Latter Rain will be poured out and we shall receive even greater revelations of our God. Jesus will continue to add to our number until the glory of God will lighten the earth. Amid the darkness of this Earth, God's church will be filled with His glory, a testimony to the power of His grace.
Let us behold our uplifted Savior that we might live and give glory to Him. By beholding His immeasurable love, we shall be transformed into His image from glory unto glory. It is an unfailing promise!
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