It’s a will worship morning (Colossians 2:23). I keep thinking about Psalm 20, so let’s go with that one.
I was casually flipping through my Bible, spending some time in Joel, when the Spirit reminded me of something I had read the night before in Zechariah. It was marked with a ribbon, so I went to Zechariah and began reading the tenth chapter. The Mind of the Spirit met me in verse one and intrigued the spirit of my mind:
Zechariah 10:1 ¶ Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.
The time, or season, of the “former rain” is autumn (October-November), and the season for the later rain is spring (February-April). The Spirit encourages us to ask the LORD for the latter rain in its season.
God promised Israel: “I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain” (Deuteronomy 11:14; see Jeremiah 5:24). When God chastises His people, He withholds this promised blessing (Jeremiah 3:3).
There are insights here that we must not miss. Some promised blessings are seasonal! It’s important to pray for both supernatural blessings and natural blessings. Even though the season for a blessing has come, do not presume on the blessing; call upon GOD. This will help you avoid provoking God to withhold the expected blessings (Jeremiah 3:3) and ensure that you acknowledge with gratitude that the seasonal, or natural blessings are as much from Him as supernatural interventions.
Along the still waters, the Spirit brought my attention to the analogy of the former and latter rain as a metaphor for Christ’s return to the earth: “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain” (James 5:7). Hosea uses this analogy for the coming of Messiah: “Then shall we know if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hosea 6:3). I noticed that Hosea refers to these in an unusual order: “the latter and former rain.” This made me think of the prophecy of Joel where he spoke of the “former rain” coming moderately, but promised that He would combine the former and latter rain in the first month (Joel 2:23). This promise is scheduled for fulfillment in relation to the coming Day of the LORD (Joel 2:1-5). The prophetic period leading to the Day of the LORD began at Pentecost (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17).
We are now living in the Last Days (Hebrews 1:2; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; see Genesis 49:1; Isaiah 2:2, with Micah 4:1). The time when there will be an abundance of “rain,” the former and the latter combined, that will fall in “one month” is drawing near.
Jesus rebuked the Jews who failed to discern the “signs of the times” in their day (Matthew 16:3). They failed to see that Christ had come (Luke 19:42). Indeed, their time of the abundance of rain had come, but they did not say in their heart, “Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season” (Jeremiah 5:24). Hence, their iniquities “turned away these things” and what good God had for them was withholden (Jeremiah 5:25). So it was fulfilled, that “the showers [were] withholden,” and their “latter rain” promise was withdrawn (Jeremiah 3:3; Matthew 21:43). Don’t miss the “signs of the times.” His return is drawing near, and so we should expect a great Evangelism Explosion in which “this gospel of the kingdom” will be preached to all the world as a witness to all nations (Matthew 24:14).
We have many “signs” signaling that clouds filled with the waters of revival are forming: a time of an outpouring of His Spirit is near (Zechariah 12:10). There is a moving of His Spirit and evidence that the spirit of antichrist is losing its grip on Christ’s Churches. The remnant is rousing, sleepily, still groggy from their long sleep, but waking. The season for revival is now—pray for the latter rain!
The Spirit drew me into the valley, and as the shadow of the cross came over me, He spake Christ’s words to my heart: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). I presented this body to Him, a living sacrifice (romans 12:1-2), and asked to be filled with His Spirit (Ephesians 5:18-21).
At the table, we commiserated for a while on things I believe He wants me to do at His church, over which He has made me an overseer (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed near as we walked together into the harvest.
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live as soon as I can set up the livestream.
Your prayer request for praying for the latter and former rain is in tune with what the Lord has burdened me with for the last four to five years. James 5:7 tells me great harvest is directly dependent on the latter rains of righteousness falling on the church in these last days.