Pastor Chris Oyakhilome DSc DSc DD
…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).
The Lord Jesus referred to the Father as the husbandman, and we, the body of Christ, are the precious fruit of the earth that He waits for. The apostle James, in the theme verse, also tells us that the husbandman patiently waits until He receives the early and latter rain (James 5:7).
We understand that concerning lsrael, the latter rain began on the Day of Pentecost. Peter confirmed this when he said, “…it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…” (Acts 2:17). This was the beginning of the outpouring that had been prophesied to take place in the last days.
Hosea 6:3 gives us further insight into this promise: “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.” This rain, spoken of in Hosea, pertains to both Israel and the Church. For Israel, the latter rain came at Pentecost, marking the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the early Church.
However, within the Church, that outpouring on the Day of Pentecost was not the latter rain but the early rain. The early rain is the seed-time rain, the rain that comes after the Word of God has been sown, causing it to sprout and grow. Acts 2 marked the start of the Church with the descent of the Holy Spirit, the beginning of a new era for the Church.
The prophet Haggai also spoke of a greater glory to come: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former…” (Haggai 2:9). This means that even though the early rain was glorious, the latter rain, which we are now experiencing, will far exceed what we saw at the beginning. We are living in the days of that greater glory, where the Church will manifest even more of God’s grace and power.
Peter, James and John lived in the last days concerning Israel, but we live in the last days concerning the Church. The latter rain for lsrael is the early rain for the Church, and we’re living in the time of the fullness of that latter rain. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I rejoice in the knowledge that I’m a part of your precious fruit, nurtured by the early and latter rain. Thank you for the greater glory that is now manifest in the Church in these end times. I walk in the power and fullness of your Spirit today, impacting my world with the fruits and works of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
|| Acts 2:16-17
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: ||
|| Joel 2:23
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]. ||
|| 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. ||
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I’m what God says I am, and my life is a testimony of God’s grace and infinite blessings; therefore, I affirm that I live in divine health, prosperity, abundant joy, and indescribable peace. The Lord is my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. In Him, I have divine life – an everlasting life filled with divine health, and soundness of mind and body. My life is filled with the goodness and mercy of God. I refuse to be brought down by sickness. The Name of Jesus has been named upon me, and daily, I enjoy the impact of God’s divine presence in my life! I declare that the power of God’s Spirit vitalizes my physical body, and it is shielded and protected from all evil.
I display the perfections of Christ in sound health and with a life that is sickness-free. The indestructible life of God is in every bone of my body and in every cell of my blood. Therefore, I live in divine health in Christ Jesus. My body is a reflection of the beauty and perfection of God. God’s Word is established in my life and it is evident for the world to see. I am seated with Christ in heavenly places, far above all principality and power, far above the devil and his minions, and far above sickness and disease. I live the glorious life of God who is above all and cannot be brought down by anything.
My words are full of power and authority; therefore I live a life of victory, success, divine health, abundance, excellence, and glory. I am not a victim but a victor. God’s Word is producing what it talks about in my life. I am strengthened with divine enablement in my inner man by the Holy Ghost. I function today with the Spirit of might, dominion, and excellence. I am the effulgence of God’s glory. The glory of God infuses my being, keeping me strong and well every day. The joy of the Lord is my strength. I have all the things that pertain to life and godliness. All I know and experience is divine health, righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Speak in tongues.
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