The lame

 In Hebrews 11 we have Paul exhorting us about the elders obtaining a good report by faith, and how they to suffered, and were tried, 11:17; and how out of weakness were made strong, vs33-34.Then he goes on in chapter 12 to say, Wherefore (for this cause) seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily besets us and run the race with patience.

 If the great patriarchs can make it and if Jesus endured the cross then we should not let ourselves become weary nor faint, for we have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Paul then goes on to say have you forgotten the exhortation, Here he is quoting the Old Testament Prov.3:11-12; Deut.8:5

Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

Heb 12:6 for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

First of all let us look at what chastisement means-correction, punishment, to be smitten, discipline. The purpose is always for transformation and reformation. It is education, or training, to strike. This is discipline that regulates character.

In verse 5 of Hebrews 12 it says despise not- to have little regard for, to disesteem, and to melt away.

In other words it is like a candle, when the wax gets hot near the flame it melts away, from the flame, we are not to move away from the fire of God, we are not to think little of his purging fire for it produces character in us. Paul knew what the trial situation was all about, and he even calls it as chastened, and not killed.

 2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

 2Co 6:5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watching’s, in fasting;

2Co 6:6 by pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,

2Co 6:7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the amour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

2Co 6:8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;

2Co 6:9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;

2Co 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Pro 3:11 my son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Pro 3:12 for whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

The word weary in Proverbs means this-“to sever oneself, to loathe, have a disgust, to be abhorred, to feel displeasure or horror, to fear. They think the primary idea behind this word is that of vomiting. Have you ever felt like that due to chastening? God knows it is not pleasant; after all he did create us!

Now let’s go to Hebrews 12:7   if ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

If ye endure- stay under, remain, bear the trials, suffer, and continue. This is conditional. What is the condition based on, you might ask, well if you can endure the correction then the Lord deals (offers up) (presents) you as a son, we have all been disciplined by our natural Fathers, and we endured it. But Paul is saying if we be without chastisement or abhors it then we are bastards. Now notice in verse 8 it says whereof all are partakers, we all have to partake of this correction but not all will endure and this is what I want to address today. First what is a bastard? It is a eligediment son, a spurious (which is, not proceeding from the source, pretended, not genuine, resembling in appearance, but not structure) It is also what Jesus was referring to in the parable about the tares and the wheat, a false grain is a bastard wheat. He is separating the wheat from the tares, and he will burn the tares in bundles, (which is the (kaminos), fiery furnace of God. (That is a whole other teaching)

So let us go down to verse 10-11

Heb 12:10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Heb 12:11 now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Profit-our advantage, “to bring together, for the benefit of another, union.

Partakers- to get a hold of

 1Co 9:22 to the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some.

1Co 9:23 and this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

1Co 9:24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

As we said our natural fathers disciplined us for their pleasure but our heavenly Father corrects us that we may get a hold of his holiness and be in union with him, he cannot have union with things that are not holy. We also go through the correction of the Father that we may be able to identify with others; Paul became all things to all men so that he might win them to Christ, amen?

So now I want to talk about what really the Lord laid on my heart, I had a vision on weds day of last week and I saw this long road, much of what was like in the movie the wizard oz, “the yellow brick road” although it was not yellow, but very long and winding. On this road I saw masses of people too many to count, what I noticed was they were all crippled and lame, some had crutches some had canes, some were just limping. I noticed two huge castles like doors opening as they approached the doors, before I could ask the Lord what was there he said ‘these are the doors to my grace” and then that was it, then I heard the LORD say “my church is lame”.

I have had my eyes opens last week and I want to share with you the heart of the Father for his church, we have been deceived to think that if we go every Sunday to our religious meetings tithe our 10% we have done all we can do, we also think that because we read our bibles and say our prayers and do all the right things we are pleasing God. Christianity is so much more than what we are doing, many in the church are lame and sit right beside you and we just are not aware of it, because we are too caught up in our religious activity. There are many weak among us, there are many weak reading this, there are also many strong reading this and, if you can say you are strong then this is for you, and I pray you will get a hold of this and run, if you are the weak reading this I pray that your burden will be lightened as you read this and know help is on the way!

Starting in verse 12 of Hebrews 12 Paul continues to say wherefore (for this cause) lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

What cause? The cause of chastening, discipline, correction, God says we are partakers remember but not all can endure , so for this cause we are to lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees. God wants all to be sons, and discipline is what makes us that but some brothers and sisters have a hard time enduring and it is up to us who are stronger to come along side of them and hold up there hands so that they may come into what the Father has for them. Do you have any brothers or sisters? Did you ever take the rap for them, just because you knew they could not endure the hand of dad, or just because you loved them? Well this is the same, when a brother or sister is going through trials we need to be there for them.

Lift up-implies repetition, to set up right, restoring ruins.

 Amos 9:11  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

We are the tabernacle. God is doing a restoration in our time and it is his church!!

Hands –symbol of power and strength, and action.

If our sister or brother is weak and has no power to go on then we must come along side of them, this is not an option, as it is the gospel!! LOVE ONEANOTHER BEAR ONEANOTHERS BURDENS!!!

Feeble-paralyzed, as by a paralytic stroke, feebleminded-fainthearted, despondent

There are many in the body of Christ that are despondent (dispirited, sad)

1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

Hebrews 12:13 says, and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Straight-honest, moral transformation, paths of righteousness, the paths of the Lord.

Path-a symbol of our walk our conduct, our course.

For those who have endured the correction of the Lord and are still enduring, will have a walk of moral transformation, you will conduct yourselves as honest and morally upright, it is for the reason also of helping your brother and sister, as they are being changed and discipline also. Everyone is so different, we all carry our loads differently, some can trust the Lord to take it all and some do not know how.

So, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but rather be healed.

Lest-(in order) that no lame (halt) limping, cripple (symbol of imperfection) be put out of joint.

Lame- smitten, dejected, (remember the meaning for chastisement) maimed.

Be turned out of the way-to turn, put out of joint, in case he who is weak in the state of grace does not fall from.

(Read John 17)

Let it rather- most of all

Be healed- made whole, cure

If your foot is out of joint you will not continue to walk, you will have to put it back in line, so that the body will function properly.

We are a body, right? 1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

1Co 12:14 for the body is not one member, but many.

1Co 12:15 If the foot shall say, because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

1Co 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

1Co 12:21 and the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

1Co 12:22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be feebler, are necessary:

1Co 12:23  And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

1Co 12:24 for our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:

I have quoted a few scriptures here from the book of 1Corth.12 but please read the whole chapter, in verse 22 says which seem to be more feeble are necessary (needful) (a bend, “ache”); an arm (as curved): - arm. These that are feeble are being referred to an “ache” now I do not mean that in a bad way, but if we are the body, and we have an ache in our body what will we do? Mend it, right? Help the pain, try to fix it! It also says it is needful; we need these feeble brothers and sisters in our body.

Then if we look at verse 24 it says for our comely parts have no need: The word comely there is, wellformed, but God, hath tempered the body together having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:

Why would God temper the body together if there were malfunctioning parts?

GOD HATES DIVISION!! GOD IS A GOD THAT LOVES UNITY!!! Hebrews 12:13 says, and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Remember the word let it rather, means most of all, and the word healed means cure, or made whole. This is Gods desire for those needful body parts to make whole!

1Co 12:25 that there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

1Co 12:26 and whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

It says God has done this, so if we love God and want to please him in our walk, then we should recognize that this is a part of the gospel!

We do not want to see our brother or sister which are weak fall from the state of grace that is what Hebrews12:13 is saying, we are not only a body but an army and if one solider is down we are not going to leave him or her there; we will carry him to safety, all the way! That is unity that is the message of the cross. Let us look at Isa 35

Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.

Isa 35:2 it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the Excellency of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the Excellency of our God.

Isa 35:3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Isa 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with recompense; he will come and save you.

What is the wilderness? Well if we look at the New Testament it is where Jesus was tempted, but if you notice it was the Spirit that drove him there,

 Mat 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Mar 1:12 and immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

The wilderness is a place to be tempted tested and tried, and yes God leads us there because he wants to change us, transform us into the nature of Jesus.

The word wilderness means –to subdue, lonely

Solitary means-barren,

Solitary does not always denote a “barren” region void of vegetation; it is often used of a place uncultivated.

Cultivated means, to prepare land for crops, gardening, to improve, refine, to develop.

So if you are driven by the Spirit of God to a solitary place it is not necessarily for the purpose of being barren, but that God wants to cultivate the areas that have been left uncultivated so that there is fruit in your life, he wants to tend to his garden as he is the Husband and it is his responsibility to see his garden tilled.

It is in this time that Isa 35 says God will come with vengeance and with recompense, he will come and save you, God loves all his children and he will see to it that all are saved, but it is up to us to come along side of them and bear there burdens. This is Christianity!

Rom 15:1 we then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (What did that say?? Not please we wow, the gospel I hear out there is all about pleasing you, but it is wrong!!)

Rom 15:2 let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification.

Rom 15:3 for even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Rom 15:4 for whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:

Rom 15:6 that ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom 15:7 wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Rom 15:7 wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Rom 15:7 wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Rom 15:7 wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.

Don’t worry your eyes are seeing it more than once just thought I would try to get my point across.

Jesus never pleased himself, he had one goal in mind and that was to please the Father, he laid down His life for us, should we not lay down our lives for one another? The truth is this the church is in a sad state of affairs, it is selfish and self seeking, it is complacent and lazy, and we need to change that, we need to  meet the Fathers criteria, it is his Kingdom that needs to be established not ours!!!

Back to Romans 15, bear means- (through the idea of removal) to lift, endure, sustain, receive, take up (to walk) a pace (foot).

Infirmities-to be feeble, be diseased, impotent, be sick (be made) weak, strength less.

1Th 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

1Th 4:9 but as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for you you are taught of God to love one another.

1Th 3:12 and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

1Th 3:13 to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

When we love and care one for another in the Jesus kind of love we are blameless in holiness before God, think about it ,love is the ultimate, we are so arrogant and say we love but we will not  touch any situation where it will be an inconvenience to our lives, we comfort ourselves by saying “they just need to rise up and believe” or “let them work out their own salvation”, but the truth is church without love the kind where we lay down our lives for one another we are just a bunch of babbling religious people, who speak but deny the power thereof!!  Here are some  more scriptures and I am sure there are more touching love, 2 John 1:5 ;1 john 4:21; 4:20; 4:11-12; 1Peter 1:22.

 I challenge you to rise up and walk the walk and stop trying to be spiritual but find a weak brother or sister and take their hand no matter how it may unsettle your life, and let them know that God will come with vengeance on their enemies and save them, let them know that the desert shall rejoice and blossom as a rose. And let them know you love them today. If you are weak reading this and going through something barren right now  know how much God cares for your situation and know that he will send someone to lift your burden and walk you through your dark time. Let us rise up church and be a people of love and commitment one to another, and show the love of Christ, after all it is for love that he died!

 In His Service Michele

1Cor.15:46 Amplified Bible

But it is not spiritual life which came first, but the physical than the spiritual.

We are in a rainy season now, spring is at the door and the life in the ground is starting to bud, the trees are drinking in the refreshment and nourishment of Gods supply of life! Without the rain we would have barrenness, there would be no fruit, there would be no produce or flowers…ah…….the rain!

If you want to know what God is saying look at the natural first, as it is in the natural so it is in the Spirit. Let’s look for a moment at Israel’s seasons

 Israel had two rains;

“The former

“The latter”

Former- spring rains you had a harvest for grain

Latter-Autumn rains you had a harvest for fruit

Summer there was no rain; it was a time of plowing and getting the ground ready for the next harvest

These two rains correspond to the 7 feasts

FORMER RAIN- SPRING SEASON-Passover, unleavened bread, first fruits, Pentecost (these teach about the first coming of the Christ)

The last three which are-LATTER RAIN-AUTUMN SEASON- Feast of Trumpets Day of atonement, Feast of Tabernacles (which gives us insight concerning the second coming of Christ)

Monday of last week I was sitting and meditating on the LORD, He gave me Zechariah 10:1

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.

If you read the whole chapter, you will see that the LORD is addressing the idolatry, the false dreams, the vanity and the diviners, He says the flock is troubled because there is no shepherd, and because of his mercy he will strengthen the house of Judah and the house of Joseph, and he will bring them again to place them, he also said in verse 8 He will hiss for them and gather them and they shall increase. There has not been many shepherds in the family of the church, there sure is a lot of hirelings and wolfs but very few shepherds.

This sounds much like the state the whole church has been in, we have seen a lot of false “things” in Christianity. What I am about to share with you is a word from the heart of the Father, glory to God for his mercy and love for the church; He is our true Shepherd, amen? I have been truly excited and I have felt like I have accelerated in the spirit. Something has happened to me since my last teaching, glory to Jesus!! Friday night I almost could not contain myself as I shared this message, I pray that you will hear what the LORD is saying at this time, and hopefully you can take it for yourself and be blessed as I was and is!

In a time that the flock was troubled they went there way, vs2; God knows that the church has gone it’s way because of the lack of leadership and integrity in the body of Christ and also due to the fact that the sheep really do not know Him, but it is in this time that the Great Shepherd says ASK!!! Glory!!!!!!!!!!!!! Did you hear that? ASK!!!!!!!!!!! Ask for what? Rain. Not only do you ask for rain but in a time of Latter rain!!

I know, you are probably saying what?? Let us look a few words here;

Ask- to inquire, to request, to demand, beg

.

Rain-symbol of God blessing, God’s word and Spirit outpoured, to shower violently

Showers-to shower violently

Latter rain-spring rain (fig) eloquence, prime verb, to gather

Grass-symbolic of frailty of the flesh (Isa.40:6,7;1Peter 1:24)

Field-symbolic of the earth, world,(mat.13:24,38,44)

There are a people within a people who are scratching to get out of the religiosity of “church” they are not satisfied with things the way they are , in their heart they know there is more it is like they are sitting on the edge of their seats ready to fly!!

And then there are some who are just down right satisfied with “playing” church and warming there pew, and only eating on Sunday or fast food through the week, but the other bunch are feasting on fresh manna from heaven, the menu is new every day and they are not satisfied with “leftovers” or regurgitated food! I hope somebody is shouting about now!

On the Monday I received that scripture on the Tuesday the LORD spoke to me about a song from Don Potter, I could not remember the name but I could hear the tune and remember one line in it, the song is titled “Enlarge your tent” the verse is …Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch out your arms of grace. It’s time to lengthen your ropes and with the word drive in your stakes.

The LORD will go to any length to speak to us, I truly love the way he gets my attention. So I went to find the song and I checked out the verses to it, after I did that the LORD spoke another scripture to me, 1Chron 4, so I turned to the chapter and started to read, well it was Judah’s family record, well I was sure as I was reading that I heard wrong, until I got to this verse:

1Ch 4:9 And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, because I bare him with sorrow.

1Ch 4:10  And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

We will get back to this verse, but let us look at the symbolic meaning of the word rain.

We will see that the bible speaks a lot about it, RAIN AS GODS BLESSING-

Deut 11:13  And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deut 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.

Corn-symbol of harvest, increase and blessing

Wine-symbol of teaching, blessing, true or false

Oil-symbol of the Holy Spirit in anointing

Lev 26:3 if ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;

Lev 26:4 Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.

Deut 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.

2Ch 6:27  Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.

(Look up these also) Job5:10;Psalm 68:9 ; Isa.30:23 ;Heb.6:7

Are you seeing the picture yet? We are in a season, “a due” season of where the rain which is OUR INHERITANCE, it is a time that the increase and blessing of God is about to fall. There are conditions to this just like anything. IF YE WALK IN MY STATUES, IF YOU HEARKEN DILEGENTLY TO MY VOICE.(please go through these scriptures) God has conditions to meet, if your life is bearing fruit , then you do not need to worry cause it is going to rain in a time of latter rain!

RAIN IS SPEAKING AS GODS WORD-

Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Isa 55:10 for as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Isa 55:11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Deu 32:2 my doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

God’s word will come to us like the rain and it will perform and do all that it says it will do, it will water the earth, and we are the earth! If you are not reading your bibles and mediating on the “manna” from heaven you will not have any fruit but only a dry and barren land!

RAIN IS SPEAKING AS THE SPIRIT OUTPOURED- Joe 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.

Hos 6:3 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.

We know that he poured out the Spirit on the day of Pentacost, there are three main feasts, two of them have be fulfilled we are now in the third feast, Feast of Tabernacles, this feast needs to be fulfilled, which is the latter rain.(this alone is a vast subject, one must study it, themselves  to understand and  know what the LORD is doing in this hour, the calendar for the LORD is His Feasts)

What will cause no rain?

DISOBEDIANCE!

Deut 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

Deut 11:17  And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

Jer 3:3 Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore's forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.

Some of the church has had a forehead like a whore; do you know what that means? I will tell you, there is no mind of Christ!! They have chose to walk in the fornicating ways of religion and “mans” traditions, by not being ashamed means there is no repentance for the state she is in! She has committed adultery with the “ways” of the world and called it God! It is time for gathering, but if there has been no rain in your garden then I bet there is no fruit! God is about to rain in a time of latter rain!! Glory!!

Jer 5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

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.

Jer 5:25 your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. (Read the all the verses)

Again let me say ASK for rain!!! If you feel your garden has been dry and cracked and barren, then ask!! Repent, for the lack of fruit that you have not allowed to grow by having sin in your heart, sin of disobedience, sin of rejecting the TRUTH!!! And ASK!! God will come and rain in a time of latter rain!!

Deu 28:23 and thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.

Deu 28:24 The LORD shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

I cannot stress enough IT IS A TIME FOR RAIN!

So back to

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. (grass is frailty of the flesh (Isa.40:6-7; 1 peter 1:24)field is the world (matt 13:24,38,44)

God is pouring out his rain on all flesh! Glory however they need it to produce fruit or to give more fruit.

The rain is speaking to us as “blessing and increase” Amen? So what does it mean then to ask in a time of latter rain?

Latter- means spring, a prim root “to gather”

The book of Hosea and Psalm 72:6 say he will come to us “like the rain”

 Hos 6:1 Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.

Hos 6:2 after two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.

Hos 6:3 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.

 Again let us look at the two rains in Israel, God is always talking to the house of Israel in regards to the “seasons” as you read the Old Testament you will see that if they were obedient then God would bless their crop, so in the natural they had their two rains the spring and the fall, they were both a time of harvest, the spring for grain, the autumn for fruit, latter speaks of gathering. The former rain was poured out at Pentecost, which was the gifts, but now the latter rain is fruit, and a time for gathering. We have seen enough “gifts” in the church, but where is the fruit? We now have to see integrity, faithfulness, truth, honesty, righteousness, purity, I could go on, but the church for the most part has not produced much fruit!

 Well God is coming to us like the latter rain it is a time a season where he is about to pour out the rain of blessings on those who have produced, and those who have not will go through the hard times till they do produce.

We have been torn and smitten of the LORD, but it says RETURN, and he will heal us, and bind us up, on the third day we will live in His sight, that is the Feast of Tabernacles (without getting into) that is the latter rain!!

Third day living is walking in resurrection power! Ok so in Zechariah it says in a time of latter rain,

This is the time God is the husbandman he is responsible to make sure there is a harvest. Jas 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.

What is a husband? Symbolically it is a type of headship, eph.5:23; 1 cor.3:6-9; Isa.45:5

 Isa 54:1  Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

Isa 54:2 enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

Isa 54:3  For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

Isa 54:4  Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Isa 54:5  For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.

Isa 54:6  For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, and a wife of youth, when thou wast refused, saith thy God.

Isa 54:7  For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

Isa 54:8  In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.

We are the garden of the LORD; he has comforted us through the waste places

  Isa 51:3  For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.

Many of us have gone through the waste places in our lives, where there has been barrenness, but know out of barrenness can come fruit (when the rains fall) know that out of sadness comes joy (when the rains fall) know that out of death comes life (when the rains fall) and out of despair comes hope (when the rains fall)

 The North wind has blown in a lot of people’s lives.(back three years ago I was praying and the LORD said to me tell my church the “north wind is blowing”, then he told me to go to Matthew 3, the verse 12 says

Mat 3:12 whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

The word fan there has a meaning for north wind in regards to any winnowing was done when the north winds blew) There can be no purging without the north wind blowing!

Son 4:12  A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.

Son 4:13  Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,

Son 4:14  Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:

Son 4:15  A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.

Son 4:16 Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits.

The north is the testing and trials the south wind is the quietness of the earth the fragrance of the spirit, we need both just like we need both rains, so that our beloved can come to tend his garden and find choice fruit for gathering!

Church it is a season a time that the Savior of our souls is coming to us like the latter rain to gather and pour out blessing on us, the time of producing is upon us, the time of increase and enlarging our territory is here, it will be different for everyone, Rob and myself know where we are being blessed for the fruit we have produce for the standing we have done it is now time to be enlarged, the time of grieving and sorrow has ended. Look at  the scripture 1Ch 4:9  And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.( The church has gone through  sorrow and grieving, but now it is a time to call and ask for rain and increase.)

1Ch 4:10  And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

Enlarge-a prim root to increase (in whatever respect) bring in, abundance, be in authority, excel, be full, multiply, plenty.

Is your garden full and plenty of fruit? If you have been thirsty and dry, you are in the right place because it is raining!!!

It is a time that your request will be granted.

In His service

                      Michele