"As in nature, So in grace."

[rainbowinthesky]

Nothing could be more important than that we clearly understand in what way it is that both the former and the latter rain are a part of the first seal and as such must be distinguished from the second and final seal.

A careful study of the evidences given in the Word of God will show that the latter rain brings the completion of the work begun and carried forward by the former rain. "As in nature, so in grace." C.O.L.65.

Therefore if we are to understand the work of the former and latter rain, and their relationship to each other in the spiritual realm, we must first be clear on their work and relationship to each other in the physical realm. If this were not so, if the symbolism used did not necessitate this, then why should the Lord ever use the falling of the former and the latter rain in nature to illustrate the falling of the former and the latter rain in the spiritual world?

It is He who directs our attention to the falling of the rains in the world of nature. Nowwere is this truth more clearly expressed than in the following statement:

"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.' 'He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain.' Zechariah 10:1 Joel 2:23.

"In the East the former rain falls at the sowing time. It is necessary in order that the seed may germinate. Under the influence of the fertilizing showers the tender shoot springs up. The latter rain, falling near the close of the season, ripens the grain, and prepares it for the sickle. The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit. As the dew and the rain are given first to cause the seed to germinate, and then to ripen the harvest, so the Holy Spirit is given to carry forward, from one stage to another, the process of spiritual growth. The ripening of the grain represents the COMPLETION of the work of God's grace in the soul. By the power of the Holy Spirit the MORAL IMAGE OF GOD is to be PERFECTED in the CHARACTER. We are to be wholly transformed into the likeness of Christ...

"The latter rain, ripening earth's harvest, represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for the coming of the Son of Man. But unless the FORMER RAIN has fallen, there will be no life; the green blade will not spring up. Unless the early showers have done their work, the LATTER RAIN can bring no seed to perfection. There is to be 'first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.'" Testimonies to Ministers,506.

Mark 4:26-29.

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[rainbowinthesky]

"The Lord employs these operations of nature to represent the work of the Holy Spirit."

"The same laws that govern earthly seed sowing govern the sowing of the seeds of truth." C.O.L.33.

As it is in the physical realm so it is in the spiritual realm. The former rain falls at the beginning of the season and it is that which causes the seed to germinate and spring forth. Under the impetus of this rain the grain advances in growth into a lusty shoot. Then usually there is a dry period during which the grain still advances though more slowly on the odd shower which falls and the stored moisture in the soil, until the immature head of grain forms on the stalk. It is by no means yet ready for the harvest and will never be if there is no latter rain to fill out the head and bring it to full maturity. So it is that toward the end of the season the anxious, waiting farmer is rewarded by the coming of the latter rain upon the crop.

But the farmer does not rush out with his harvesting equipment the moment the rain begins to fall to begin gathering the grain. The latter rain falls over a period of time and every head of grains needs all this outpouring throughout the fall duration of it in order to be filled out to full maturity and readied for the harvest. Even then beyond the falling of the letter rain there must be a period when the fierce heat of the summer sun hardens the grain into its golden glory, before it is ready for harvesting.

Right?

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[rainbowinthesky]

I guess all are in agreement! Good.

As the grain thus progresses toward the time of readiness for reaping, the farmer will watch over it testing its progress until there comes the time when he makes the final test and pronounces it ready for the harvest. Only then does he take out the reapers to gather in the grain, all of it, and then the harvest follows. NONE OF IT IS JUDGED FIT FOR THE HARVEST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE LATTER RAIN. As it is in nature so it must be in grace or otherwise why should the Lord ever have chosen the symbol of the activities of nature to illustrate the work of things in the spiritual realm?

Both the former and the latter rain are condensed water vapour falling from the sky to be soaked up by the earth wherein it penetrates to the roots of the plants which, by the same process of absortion in each case, gather it with its dissolved plant foods into the plant structure. By the same indentical processes of cell construction the growth of the plant is carried forward in both the operation of the former and of the latter rain. The only difference is in the time when they fall, the one being at the beginning of the season and the other at the latter end of the season. This being so the one completes the work which the other begun, but both are outpourings of the same rain exactly. That is, one is not the outpouring of water, while another is an outpouring of some other chemical combination. Both are water.

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[rainbowinthesky]

Each and every person who should experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit in the changing of the life from sin to holiness and the subsequent steady growth in the Christian experience, will have no difficulty in understanding the work of the former rain at the beginning of the living experience in Christ. Each such will know that at the beginning of the experience the work is fresh and wonderful as the former rain comes down in steady abundance.

Then there follows additional showers after the initial outpouring of power and under their influence steady growth is made in the development of Christian character. But in nature the falling of the former rain is followed by a DRY SPELL. The sun burns down and something of its heat is felt. This does not mean that the influence of the rain is withdrawn for the air is laden with moisture, evidence of which is given in the dew each morning, but there is a difference from what it was when the rain was falling in abundance at the beginning.

So likewise the first flush of the new experience will be followed by a less spectacular period of quiet, solid development. The Holy Spirit has not been withdrawn. New each morning is the gentle dew of the Spirit's presence, but daily now there will be trials and difficulties calculated to stiffen the moral muscle and prepare us to receive the latter rain, which, if it came too early, would still fail in the accomplishment of its work.

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[rainbowinthesky]

Sky, it sounds like between the former rain and the latter rain the "mettle" is tried to see of it's soundness and then it receives the latter to fully develop it for the harvest.

Gibs
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During the dry spell you mean? I suppose you could say that, yes.

But in nature the falling of the former rain is followed by a DRY SPELL. The sun burns down and something of its heat is felt. This does not mean that the influence of the rain is withdrawn for the air is laden with moisture, evidence of which is given in the dew each morning, but there is a difference from what it was when the rain was falling in abundance at the beginning.
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The former rain does not complete the work of God's grace in the soul. This is the work of the latter rain and it takes all of the latter rain to do it just as does in nature. This work will not be accomplished instantly when the first showers of the latter rain have fallen. It requires time for the letter rain to completely do its work. It is a process of growth and growth always takes time. This is made clear in the following statement:

"As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, 'the time of Jacob's trouble,' THEY WILL GROW UP INTO CHRIST, and will partake largely of His Spirit. As the third message swells into a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and stengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of the light which attends the third angel." Testimonies, Vol.1,353.

The time which immediately precedes the time of Jacob's trouble is the period of the latter rain. Notice how that, when describing the experience of the people of God during this period, the words are used, "They will grow up into Christ." These words are used with the thought in mind of the natural world wherein the grain grows up during the period of the latter rain into full maturity. So it will be that during the latter rain the people of God will receive the final growth into full maturity, which will prepare them to endure the time of Jacob's trouble and, at the same time, translation.

This then is to say, that without the work of God's grace which the latter rain will do in the soul, not one of us would ever be ready for translation. For this reason it is written that "Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will be fitted by the latter rain for TRANSLATION." Spiritual Gifts, Vol.2,226.

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[rainbowinthesky]

This much then must be clear that the latter rain is needed in order to reach that final state of perfection which will fit us for translation, for entry into the kingdom Heaven, but it must be emphasised again that while the latter rain completes the work of God's grace in the soul, it is not a different process at all from the former rain but the continuation of the very same process to ultimate and final completion. In other words the seal of the Holy Spirit in the former rain is still the seal of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It is one and the same seal.

If a team of workmen came and began the construction of a building and brought the work well along the way to leave it for a period before coming back to complete that which they had begun earlier, we would not describe it as being two different buildings but the one when it was complete. It would not even be two different works but one complete, the latter part being but the completion of the first part by the same workmen using the same methods and tools.

So, the same worman, the Holy Spirit, comes in the former rain to begin the work of the character building, and at the end He comes in the latter rain to complete that which He has begun. If His work in the beginning is the seal of the Holy Spirit then His work at the end is the same seal still.

The former rain can never bring anyone of us to ultimater perfection of character. Yet we know perfectly well that there will be a great multitude saved in the kingdom including the faithful Apostles, Moses, the martyrs of the Old Testament and many, many others, without ever having received the benefits of the latter rain. The simple explanation lies in the fact which many recognize anyhow and it is that a different level of experience is needed for the successful passing through the time of Jacob's trouble and translation without seeing death, than for death and resurrection.

It is important that we note and emphasize that it is a different of the same experience which is to be added to the former. The truth of this is well expressed in the following statement from the Advent pioner, James White:

"The masses of the people think that if a person is prepared to die, he is prepared for the coming of the Lord. But they do not consider the difference between dying and standing alive to meet the Lord at His coming. It is one thing to die in the Lord, to yield our spirits to Him while His is pleading for us before the Father's throne, and quite a different thing to stand in the time of trouble after Jesus has ceased to plead in man's behalf, after His priesthood is closed, and He is preparing to come to redeem His own." Life Sketches of James and Ellen White, 431.

This is from the original Life Sketches and is not to be confused with the present book entitled Lfe Sketches from Ellen G. White.

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[rainbowinthesky]

So far in this study we have been seeing that the Word of God teaches that the Latter Rain completes the work of the perfection of the believers and that without it we could not possibly reach full maturity of Christian character and be fitted for translation.

At once this runs counter to the commonly held concept that no one will receive the latter rain until he has reached ultimate character perfection. It is because of the holding of this concept that so many have taken the position that the judgment of the living comes before the latter rain so that, having been judged as reaching complete character perfection they can receive the latter rain. But this concept is untenable as we have seen from evidences so far.

But we must not pass on from this point without investigating the evidences upon which are based the conclusions that the latter rain comes upon those only who have reached finality of character perfection.

to be continued

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[rainbowinthesky]

Here are two statements which can be understood as supporting that view when held in a certain light:

"Today you are to have your vessel purified, that it may be ready for the heavenly due, ready for the showers of the latter rain; for the latter rain will come, and the blessing of God will fill every soul that is purified from every defilement." Evangelism, 702.

"Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation." Testimonies, Vol.1,126.

Taken alone without consideration of any other statement, it must be agreed that these references would justify the position that the judgment of the living commences before the latter rain falls. But if there is one thing we cannot do with safety is to come to a conclusion without comparing statement with statement to see just what the Testimonies do mean when using certain expressions.

Such a comparison will show what the Lord regards as being the facing of every test and the purification from every defilement. When we face successfully every test which has been brought to us so far, the Lord regards us as if we had faced them all, because the very same spirit of submission combined with trust in the Lord's power to save us from the evil one in that crisis, is that which is required to pass even the great final test. As we allow Christ to exercise His own tried and approved faith in and through us with power and strength as we face today's trials, we give evidence of the determination to face the final test in the same way.

This does not mean that there is no need for us to pass the great final test. Even though the passing of every test brought to us up till the time of the latter rain has qualifed us to receive the latter rain, we can still fall during the tests of the closing battle and in the great final test in particular.

to be continued

Nothing could be clearer than that the great final test which we must pass does not come before but at the end of the latter rain.

"The great final test comes at the end of the close of human probation when it is too late for the soul's need to be supplied." C.O.L.412.

Should the statement from Testinonies, Vol.1,186 mean that to pass every test we must pass the great final test too before we could receive the latter rain, then the latter rain could not fall till after the close of probation for all mankind when it would be too late to do any good at all for anyone.

The fact is that no one will have obtained to ultimate finality of character perfection before the outpouring of the latter rain for it is the latter rain alone which can bring us to this level once the former rain has done its work of preparation.

Thus the former rain and the latter rain provide us with the seal of the Holy Spirit whereby we are brought to the place where the devil will find nothing in us which will respond to his devices. All those who have this seal and pass the great final test will be fitted for translation.

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[rainbowinthesky]

I would also like it if you could investigate the point about the Spirit being poured out on "all flesh." To me, that says that we will see some evidences of it in some unlikely places.

Gail friom another forum
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Gail, Was the Spirit poured out on all flesh at Pentecost? Pentecost will be repeated before probation closes. First the Spirit was poured out upon the disciples and then as they went proclaiming their message the Spirit fell upon all who believed. That is what the expression "on all flesh" means for the Spirit will not force His presence where it is not wanted.

And yes we can expect the Spirit to fall in unexpected places as it happened in the days of Christ. Who would have expected that God would choose unlearned, uneducated fishermen to to His work while bypassing the learned men of the Sanhedrin, the teachers of the law, the Rabbis, etc etc.

And, of course, when the disciples were forced to turn to the Gentiles the Spirit was poured out upon all who believed.

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[rainbowinthesky]

The message given by A.T. Jones at the 1893 General Conference session was said to be a repeat of the beginning of the latter rain message given at the Minneapolis General Conference in 1888 except in greater power and glory.

Here are a few excerpts from the General Conference Bulletin:

The speaker: "Well, the latter rain is the loud cry of the third angel's message; it is the beginning of that message of glory that lightens the earth. But the latter rain is the teaching of righteousness. When did that message of the righteousness of God, as such, come to us as a people? (Congregation: "Four years ago.") Where? (Congregation: "At Minneapolis.") Yes. This point was brought up the other night, and can be read on page 183 of the Bulletin. I do not know that we can state it any more clearly than we did that night.

Now, that message of the righteousness of Christ is the loud cry. It is the latter rain. We have been praying for the latter rain here at this Conference already, haven't we? Have you? (Congregation: "Yes sir.") What were you looking for when your prayer was answered? Are you ready now to receive the latter rain? We have been praying here for the latter rain. Now there is the connection. The testimonies tell us what it is and Joel tells us what it is. I simply ask now, Are you ready to receive the latter rain? That is, are you ready to receive God's message of righteousness, according to righteousness? Let us look at it a little further.

Joel says, according to the margin, that it is a teacher of righteousness, that which brings the teaching of righteousness according to righteousness. Whose idea of righteousness? (Congregation: "God's.") No, mine. (Congregation: "No.") Yes, mine will do! (Congregation: "No.") Why? If I receive the righteousness of Christ according to my idea, is not that enough? Is not that receiving the latter rain? Is not that receiving the righteousness of Christ? (Congregation: "No sir, it is your own righteouness.") But that is what is the matter with a good many people who have heard this message of the righteousness of Christ. They have received the message of the righteousness of Christ according to their own idea of what His righteousness is, and they have not the righteousness of Christ at all.

Now, let us ask again, how are we to receive that? How is that to be given?--'According to righteousness.' How, then, is it to be received?--'According to righteousness.' It is given 'according to righteousness,' and we must receive it 'according to righteousness.' We must receive it as it is given. But let us dwell further upon that thought; and I am in no hurry to get away from it, either. When we receive the teaching, that teaching of righteousness 'according to righteousness,' we must receive it according to God's idea of righteousness, and not according to our own measure of it. And he who thinks of receiving that message of Christ's righteousness according to his own idea of it, will miss it entirely. We are to receive it according to God's idea of it, and nothing else than God's idea of righteousness. Nothing else than that is righteousness." A.T. Jones

Interesting, isn't it?

to be continued

 

[rainbowinthesky]

There is a thought again that we had the other night, that when it was presented four years ago and all along since, some accepted it just as it was given, and were glad of the news that God had righteousness that would pass the judgment, and would stand accepted in His sight. A righteousness that is a good deal better than anything that people could manufacture by years and years of hard work.

People had worn out their souls almost, trying to manufacture a sufficient degree of righteousness to stand through the time of trouble, and meet the Saviour in peace when He comes; but they did not accomplish it. These were so glad to find out that God had already manufactured a robe of righteousness and offered it as a free gift to every one that would take it, that would answer now, and in the time of the plagues, and in the time of judgment, and to all eternity, that they received it gladly just as God gave it, and heartily thanked the Lord for it.

Others would not have anything to do with it at all; but rejected the whole thing. Others seemed to take a middle position. They did not fully accept it, neither did they reject it. They thought to take a middle position, and go along with the crowd, if the crowd went that way. And that is the way they hoped to receive the righteousness of Christ and the message of the righteousness of God. Others deliberately discounted the message about fifty per cent, and counted that the righteousness of God.

And so, all the way between open and free deliberate and positive rejection of it,--all the way between--the compromises have been scattered ever since; and those who have taken that compromising position are no better prepared to-night to discern what is the message of the righteousness of Christ than they were four years ago." A.T. Jones, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.243,244.

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[rainbowinthesky]

Some of the testimonies following these meetings went along these lines:

"There is salvation (righteousness) for you but only through the merits of Jesus Christ. The grace of the Holy Spirit has been offered to you again and again." T.M.97.

Notice this powerful statement: "How has it been with the disciples in all ages of the world? Why, they have learned of Jesus; they have been in His school; they have been His students and have learned the lessons of Christ in regard to the living connection that the soul has with God. That living faith is essential to our salvation that we should lay hold upon the merits of the blood of the crucified and risen Saviour... You cannot explain this faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the blood of a cucified and risen Saviour to bring Christ's righteousness into the life. Clothed with the righteousness of Christ and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do... for "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything," as "it is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God." Faith & Works,64,65,66; Testimonies to Ministers,92 (May 11,1889)

Followed by powerful appeals as this one: "Believe it because it is the truth, because God says it, and lay hold upon the meritorious blood of a crucified and risen Savior." F.W.76.

It is clear that God's idea is that the only way to be clothed with the robe of Christ's righteousness is by laying right hold upon the merits of the blood that was shed for us upon Calvary's cross. And that is living faith which brings the believer into a living connection with God that He may through the endowment of the Holy Spirit work in and through us His good pleasure. (Phil.2:13)

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[rainbowinthesky]

If you have noticed here, Elder Jones touched briefly on the fact that the subject of the latter rain had been discussed in a previous meeting as recorded on page 183 of the General Conference Bulletin. I thought I would make this available to you. I find it quite interesting and very thought provoking.

Starting on page 182 of the Bulletin:

"The time has come when Christ's friends should be known. And if it is a Seventh-day Adventist that is called in question for his standing in Christ and the message, let your friendship in Christ be known by standing by Him. Now we have a few minutes to talk upon how we got into this position, how these dangers came upon us. You remember the other evening when I was reading that second chapter of Joel, that one of the brethren, when I had read that 23rd verse,--Brother Corliss--called attention to the margin. Do you remember that? And I said we would have use for the margin at another time.

Now all of you turn and read that margin. The 23rd verse says: 'Be glad, then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God; for he hath given you the former rain, moderately." What is the margin? "A teacher of righteousness." He hath given you "a teacher of righteousness." How? "According to righteousness." "And he will cause to come down for you the rain;" then what will that be? When He gave the former rain, what was it? "A teacher of righteousness." And when He gives the latter rain what will it be? "A teacher of righteousness."

Then is not that just what the testimony has told us in that article that has been read to you several times? "The loud cry of the third angel," the latter rain has already begun, "in the message of the righteousness of Christ."

Is not that what Joel told us long ago? Has not our eye been held that we did not see? Did not we need the anointing? Brethren, what in the world do we need so much as that? How glad we ought to be that God sends His own Spirit in the prophets to show us, when we did not see! How infinitely glad we ought to be for that!

Well then the latter rain--the loud cry--according to the testimony, and according to the Scripture, is "the teaching of righteousness," and "according to righteousness," too.

Now brethren, when did that message of the righteousness of Christ begin with us as a people? (One or two in the audience: 'Three years or four years ago.') Which was it, three or four? (Congregation: 'Four.') Yes, four. Were was it? (Congregation: 'Minneapolis.') What then did the brethren reject at Minneapolis? (Some in the Congregation: 'The loud cry.') What is that message of righteousness? The Testimony has told us what it is; the loud cry--the latter rain. Then what did the brethren in that fearful position in which they stood, reject at Minneapolis? They rejected the latter rain--the loud cry of the third angel's message.

Brethren, isn't it too bad? Of course the brethren did not know they were doing this, but the Spirit of the Lord was there to tell them they were doing it, was is not? But when they were rejecting the loud cry, 'the teaching of righteousness,' and then the Spirit of the Lord, by His prophet, stood there and told us what they were doing,--what then? Oh, then they simply set this prophet aside with all the rest. That was the next thing. Brethren, it is time to think of these things. It is time to think soberly, to think carefully." A.T. Jones, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.182,183.


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[rainbowinthesky]

In the 1893 Bulletin, on page 494 it is said there that this message of the righteousness of God is the same message presented in 1888 except that this time (1893) it is "given in special measure."

Lets hear some more from Elder Jones:

"Now I want to ask a few questions on what we have gone over. What is the latter rain? (Congregation: 'The teaching of righteousness according to righteousness.') What is the Loud Cry? (Congregation:'The message of the righteousness of Christ.') The Loud Cry has already begun in the message of the righteousness of Christ. Where does the latter rain come from? (Congregation: 'From God.') All of it? (Congregation: 'Yes.') What is it? "The Spirit of God."

Now let us just put two things together. The teaching of the righteousness according to righteousness--that is the Loud Cry; that is the latter rain; that is the righteousness of Christ. Is that so? (Congregation: 'Yes.')

The latter rain comes down from Heaven. How much of that latter rain comes out of me? (Congregation: 'None of it.') How much of it can I manufacture? (Congregation: 'Not any.')
Now is that so? (Congregation: 'Yes.') I cannot manufacture any of it? None of it springs from me at all? Where does it come from? (Congregation: 'Heaven.') Will you take it that way? Will you receive it from Heaven? (Congregation: 'Yes.')

*("In the work of God humanity can originate nothing." C.O.L.418)*supplied

Now that is where we came to the other night. Are you ready to take it from Heaven? (Congregation: 'Yes.') Is everybody in this house to-night willing and ready to take righteousness from Heaven? (Congregation: 'Amen!') According to God, without asking that God shall get some of it from us? Are you? (Congregation: 'Yes.') Whoever is willing to take righteousness from Heaven can receive the latter rain (Congregation: 'Amen!'); whoever is not, but wants the Lord to get some of it out of him, he cannot have the latter rain, he cannot have the righteousness of God, he cannot have the message of the righteousness of Christ.

What is the latter rain? (Congregation: 'Righteousness.') Are we in the time of the latter rain? (Congregation: 'Yes.') What are we to ask for? (Congregation: 'Rain.') What is it? (Congregation: 'The teaching of righteousness according to righteousness.') Where is it to come from? (Congregation: 'Heaven.') Can we have it? (Congregation: 'Yes.') Then the latter rain being the righteousness of God, His message of righteousness, the loud cry, it all being that, and that to come down from Heaven, we are now in the time of it, we are to ask for it, and receive it. Then what is to hinder us from receiving the latter rain now? (Congregation: 'Unbelief.')

A.T. Jones, 1893 General Conference Bulletin, p.358,359.

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[rainbowinthesky]

"But not all are following the light. Some are moving away from the safe path, which at every step is a path of humility. God has committed to his servants a message for this time... I would not now rehearse before you the evidences given in the past two years (four years now) of the dealings of God by His chosen servants; but the present evidence of His working is revealed to you, and you are now UNDER OBLIGATION TO BELIEVE." E.G. White quoted by Elder Jones during lecture # 15 in 1893.

Believe what? What message is there referred to that God has given to His servants for this time? (Congregation: 'The message of righteousness.') The message of the righteousness of Jesus Christ. This is a Testimony that had been despised, rejected, and criticised for two years, and two years have passed since that time. But now the present evidence of His working is revealed, and now what does God say to every one of us? 'You are now under obligation to believe" that message. Then whoever does not believe it simply has to answer to God, does he not? That is all. Well, then, let us begin.

There is, however, another word to which I wish to call attention. You will remember that I read Isa.59:6 in the last lesson; it was about those people who were trying to cover themselves with their works. In the fourth verse we have these words: 'None calleth for justice.' After the lesson Brother Starr called my attention to the German translation, and that, he says, is: 'None preacheth righteousness.' I looked at the revised version and that has it: 'None calleth for righteousness.' I looked at Young's literal translation, and that likewise reads: 'None calleth for righteousness.' So you see the thought as expressed in this verse, 'None sueth,' that is to say, to court, to ask for, to beseech, 'for righteousness.' None calleth for that. The same idea is conveyed in the German, only it is put in other words, 'None preacheth righteousness.' Well, is not that what the Lord says? They are trying to cover themselves with their works, and that is not righteousness.

Isaiah 54, last sentence of the chapter: 'This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.' Their righteousness is of whom? of themselves? (Congregation: 'Of the Lord.') Their righteousness is of their works? No, 'their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.' What do you say? (Congregation: 'Amen!) Than any man who expects, looks for, or hopes for any righteousness that does not come from God, what then? What has he? (Voice: 'Filthy rags.') It is no righteousness at all. Even those who want to get it out of their works, will it work that way? (Congregation: 'No.') Is that of God? (Congregation: 'No sir.')

A.T. Jones, 1893 G.C.B. p.359.

 

[rainbowinthesky]

"The only way that God can get into our works is by having Him to start with, and having His righteousness to begin with; and our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought in us by His Holy Spirit. Do you see it is Christ in us, that living presence that does the righteous work, and that is by the Holy Spirit. That is what the Holy Spirit brings; that is the outpouring of the latter rain, is it not? You see we cannot study anything else. That is the message for us now.

*(One interest will prevail, one subject will swallow up every other, Christ and His righteousness." RH Dec.23,1890)*supplied

Shall we receive the message? When we receive the message what do we receive? Congregation:'Christ.') When we receive Him what have we?(Voice:'The Holy Spirit. The latter rain.') This will come more fully afterward.

Now another thing, brethren. I do not want you to put off until after the meeting, your receiving of it. You do not need to do that at all. What the Lord wants is for you and me to come here each evening and sit down and receive that just exactly as He gives it. Just exactly as He says it. You just open your mind and heart to the Lord, and say,'Lord, that is so.'(Congregation:'Amen.')'Wel l,' says one,'are we to sit down here and take everything that is said without any question at all?'--No, not in that sense. But we are to sit down here and have such a measure of the Spirit of God that we can see what He gives through that word which is the truth, and then take it because it is the truth of God.(Congregation:'Amen.')
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"Believe it because it is the truth, because God says it, and lay hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Savior. He is your only hope. He is your righteousness, your Substitute and Surety, your all in all. When you realize that, you can bring to Him only an offering of praise. But when you are not willing to come to Christ and acknowledge that HE DOES IT ALL, when you feel that you must first take a few steps, and come so far, and then God will meet you, that is just exactly like Cain's offering. He did not know Jesus, and he did not know that the blood of Jesus could cleanse his sins and make his offering acceptable to God. There are more Cains than one, with tainted offerings and polluted sacrifices and without the merits of the blood of Jesus. You are to come to Jesus at every step. With the merits of the blood of Jesus and its cleansing power, offer you petitions to God and pray to Him in earnest and study your Bibles as never before." F.W.76,77.

to be continued

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[rainbowinthesky]

"Elder D.C.Babcock.--Brother Jones, please read Job 29:23. Elder Jones.--Very good, 'And they waited for Me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.' All right. What shall we do? What does the Lord want us to do? Wait for His Spirit as for rain. Open your mind; wait as for the latter rain. What did He say to David? 'Open your mouth wide and I will fill it.' Brethren, let us sit down here and open our mouths just like little birds; you know how they do;--it looks as though the mouth was all the bird there was. That is what He wants us to do.

Can we not trust God to give to us what He wants us to have? Brethren, there is a quetion in that that I want to ask: When we come into a place like this, come with hundreds of people who are seeking the Lord, come asking the way to Zion, with our faces thitherward, do we need to sit here suspiciously looking cross-eyed at the Lord as though we did not dare to trust Him for what he would give? Is that honest? (Congregation: 'No.') Is that fair? (Congregation: 'No.') No sir. I believe this much in the Lord; that when we come together with our hearts seeking Him, every one that lays his heart wide open to receive what the Lord has to give, will not receive anything but what God gives.

And the man who comes into such a place as this, with his suspicions aroused and with a readiness to look askance at the Lord--that man is not treating the Lord as a person ought to treat the Lord: he is treating the Lord just as a person might fairly treat the devil. Is he not?

Now, brethren, let us treat the Lord honestly; let us be honest with Him, and He will be honest with us. 'To him that showeth himself froward the Lord will show himself froward.' If you and I treat the Lord honestly, He will treat us just exactly like God treats people. So I say, we need not come into this house with a particle of suspicion as to whether the Lord is going to give us things straight. He will do it; and I am going to expect He will do it, and so I am going to receive lots of blessing out of this thing. That is settled.

Now put those two things together: 'Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord.' He who receives it, what does he receive? (Congregation: 'A gift.') He who receives it as the gift that it is, receives what? (Congregation: 'Righteousness.') According to what? God's idea of righteousness. Will He give us anything than that which is righteousness in His own sight, and according to His own will? (Congregation: 'No.') Do you see that point? Then he who does not receive the righteousness of God as the free gift of God, does he have it? (Congregation: 'No.') and he cannot so have it, you see, because it is a gift. It is of God. It comes from God by the precious gift that it is. And therefore it being of God, and He giving it of His own gift, it is left to me to get it in His own way. He gives what is His own and He gives it according to His own idea. That is the genuine article; that is the righteousness of God alone.

Then don't you see in that there can be no room for a single thread of human invention? We cannot get it in there at all. Don't you see what ample provision the Lord has made that we may have the perfect robe which He Himself hath woven, which is the righteousness of God itself, and which will make us complete now, and in the time of the plagues, and in every other time, and throughout eternity? Brethren, I am glad that that is so. I am just as glad as I can be." A.T. Jones, 1893 G.C.B. p.360,361.
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"You cannot explain this faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour to bring Chris's righteousness into the life. Clothed with the righteousness of Christ and not your own righteousness, you will not depend upon what you can do or what you will do," for "Christ's righteousness accomplishes everything." E.G. White, Faith & Works,65,66,27.

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