May I sum up what I believe is the current trend?
All religious organizations apart, the trend is the latter spiritual rain.
When it rains, does it not rain on both the just and the unjust alike?
Who are we to judge on to whom it falls ?
Deu 11:14 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.
Every generation from the first rain (Pre-Christ) and to include the latter rain (Post Christ) is all controlled by God (Holy Spirit) in due seasons.
First rain came as the Holy Spirit spoke to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the prophets and “in these last days spoken by His Son, Jesus Christ”.(Heb 1:2)
Jesus came: Job 29:23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
The latter rain rains spur-ratically, over here, over there, who knows from where the wind blows.
One thing we do know for sure, is that we can see the evidence of it.
Pro 16:15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
Life is in the countenance of the King Jesus, and His favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
During these times, the failing spiritual faithfulness to Godly principals are taking us to the brink of collateral destruction.
And during these times, the latter rain pours out because the human heart becomes receptive due to fear of world conditions.
There is a trend towards seeking God because the latter rain is taking advantage of the receptivity of the human heart. (Called Repentance)
I must add at this point this verse to qualify the sentence above: 2Co 7:10 For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
Meaning, in my understanding, that godly sorrow is sorrow recognized as having sinned against God, which is to salvation, and not repentant of worldly sorrow which is sorrow for the consequences which worketh death.
What we are seeing allot of, is worldly sorrow, presumptuous of godly sorrow not the repentance towards sin.
The latter rain, rains on those who recognize the sin and take action to remedy them by accepting God’s forgiveness, knowing that God is just to forgive us.
This transformation takes place in the heart and is manifested in the desire of the individual to get back to basic’s, 101 relationship with God directly.
The rain falls upon whom the rain falls.(God’s choice, of course)
Zec 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.
Note: grass there is reference to :1Pe 1:24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:
Hence: Life is brought to the grass.
And now here this: Jam 5:7 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.
Please notice that nothing in this post mentions any particular church?
Church choice is yours, go where the Lord leads you, and while your there, work in His behalf, to lead others to Christ, and if it be so that they choose to join your organization, then it is God who does it.
Code:
Jer 5:24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
Blessings, AJ