Our Greatest need is for the power promised in the latter rain (a last day account of Pentecost).

Through the Holy Spirit many signs and wonders will take place. A mighty work will be done and thousands will accept Christ and be converted. Through the power of the Spirit even the uneducated will speak forth words with boldness and clearity. Just as in Bible times, simple methods inspired by God will bring powerful results. Through signs and wonders God will make it known to all that He is in control of finishing the work of the gospel. Under the power and direction of God the gospel will then be preached to the whole world and Christ will come.

Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me... Acts 1:8

And when they had prayed… they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you... Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added [unto them] about three thousand souls. Acts 2:38-41

And as they spake unto the people… many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. Acts 4:1,4

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. …every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Acts 2:4-8

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16:17-18

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. Acts 2:43

The gospel commission will never be finished without the power of the latter rain.

…without me ye can do nothing. John 15:5

This is the word of the LORD… saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

Wait for the Promise

Wait upon the Lord for Power: Our first work is to wait upon the Lord. To plead with Him for the power of the Holy Spirit. This isn’t our work, and it won’t be finished by our methods or by our power. We need God’s power, in our life, in our work, in our homes. We need to plead for God to take control of the work and finish it in his power.

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

And, being assembled together with [them], commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father… Acts 1:4

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. Acts 1:8

Wait upon the Lord for Cleansing: We must first experience the cross before we can bring others to Christ. We must first be cleansed and made whole before we can lead others to be healed. All who would work for the Lord and be a witness must first wait upon the Lord and plead for a clean heart, plead with the Lord to be made new.

…when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:32

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. …uphold me [with thy] free spirit. [Then] will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalms 51:10-13

Wait upon the Lord for Instruction: Jesus sends us out to work as He worked. And Jesus tells us that he did nothing without His Father showing Him and telling Him what to do. We must also wait upon the Lord, plead with Him for His instruction in everything we do. We need to learn to hear his voice and listen to his leading. And do nothing unless He tells you what to do. Jesus also said He did not his own will but the will of the Father. We must also lay aside our own ideas, our own plans and ways to do the work and plead with God to reveal to us His way, His methods, His plan to do the work.

Then said Jesus unto them… I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. John 8:28

Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. For the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth… I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. John 5:19-20, 30

Wait upon the Lord for Strength: All who seek to witness for the Lord will come under Satan’s attacks. The attacks maybe from within our own fallen nature or from without –trouble with friends and family. We will only endure by the strength of the Lord. We will need more and more strength. And we will learn that daily strength from the Lord is as necessary as daily food for the body.

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

 

Call a Solemn Assembly

Jesus instructed the disciples to gather together while they waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit. And we also need to pray together, study together and work together. There is strength in unity. We need to pray for one another that God will fill us with His Spirit and heal us. On the day of Atonement all the people gathered at the sanctuary sending there prayers up together in the Sanctuary. We need more solemn assemblies at the sanctuary and in our homes, pleading together for the Holy Spirit.

If I shut up heaven that there be no rain… If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2Chron 7:13-14

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children... Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach…

Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. James 5:6

For a multitude of the people, [even] many of Ephraim, and Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet did they eat the passover otherwise than it was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, The good LORD pardon every one [That] prepareth his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though [he be] not [cleansed] according to the purification of the sanctuary. And the LORD hearkened to Hezekiah, and healed the people. 2Chron 30:18-20

And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: Job 42:10

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas [the brother] of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. Acts 1:13-14

And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost... Acts 4:31

The Lord will hear and answer

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people… Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things…. Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, 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 it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered...

Seek the Lord with fasting, weeping and morning, in true repentance of our sins. A spirit of true repentance will acknowledge and abhor our fallen nature and sinfulness.

In those days came John the Baptist, preaching… Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand… Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Matthew 3:1-3

Repent, and be baptized… and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Acts 2:38

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3:19

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:… Joel 2:12-13

Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:6

Break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12

God has promised that if we will acknowledge our fallen nature and our sins, He will cleanse us and give us a new Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us a new heart with new thoughts, new desires and new motives. Repentance prepares the way for the filling of the Holy Spirit in the Latter Rain.

Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness…. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes... Ezekiel 36:25-27

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: Ez 36:26

Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die…? Ez 18:30-31

Create in me a clean heart, O God;
and renew a right spirit within me. Psalms 51:10

It is a law of divine government that you must ask to receive, you must seek to find. God wants us to plead and ask for the Holy Spirit.

"The LORD… shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:3

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. Zech 10:1

They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; Isaiah 40:31

And when they had prayed… they were all filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 4:31