Welcome to Joy By Surprise
YAHUSHUA YaHuWaH Jesus Christ Elijah Isaiah Antichrist Baal Feast Atonement Passover New Moon Israel David God Angel Angels Glory King of Kings Devil Satan False Prophet Pope Miracle Sign Wonder Homosexual Abomination Solar Eclipse Armageddon End Times End of the Age Two Witnesses Aviv Barley Harvest Judgment Nations Jerusalem Man of Sin Goliath Ark Noah Adam Eve Sodom Gomorrah GilGal Global Government World Leader Messiah Moshiach Moses Aaron Red Sea Elohim Heaven Earth Sun Stars Creator Lunar Eclipse Babylon the Great Islam Hebrew Lunar Tetrad Blood Moon Bethlehem Adonai Prince of Peace John the Baptist Tav Paleo Hebrew Sabbath Day Repent Covenant Daniel Belshazzar. Bible teaching, prophecy prophecy and end times and end times information that reveal the relationship of ancient prophecies with current major media events end of the world
1. Analysis
Multitudes of believers all over the earth are concerned about their lack of the Holy Spirit. This secret 'concern' may be analyzed as follows:
- It is either a healthy sign of spiritual growth; for, like trees constantly reaching up to the sky for fresh air, rain and sunshine, believers should always seek the Spirit of the Most High to grow in grace. This ever-present yearning for the Spirit of Elohim is, therefore, a good sign.
- Or it is an expression of massive doubt; the evidence of a person who does not really take YaHuWaH at His word, but constantly wants some visible or audible proof to verify the fact that Elohim has accepted him/her.
In short, a constant yearning for more of the Holy Spirit is either a sign of healthy spiritual growth or it is a sign of raging doubt. Believers must examine themselves regularly to see to which category they belong. The Bible is the best tool for doing this.
2. Divine Assurances
| YaHuWaH 's eagerness to give |
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|---|---|
| Luke 11:13 | If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him? |
| YaHuWaH 's guarantee to give |
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| 1 John 5:14 | And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: 15: And if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him. |
| Measured giving |
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| John 3:34 | For He whom YaHuWaH hath sent speaketh the words of YaHuWaH : for YaHuWaH giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. |
3. Spiritual Conditions
The Most High is happy to give His Spirit to believers: but certain mandatory conditions apply.
| Obedience |
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|---|---|
| Acts 5:32 | And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom YaHuWaH hath given to them that obey Him. |
| Right motives |
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| James 4:3 | Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4: Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with YaHuWaH ? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of YaHuWaH. |
The Holy Spirit is as essential to spiritual growth as water and sunlight are to a plant. YaHuWaH, the heavenly gardener, is growing a spiritual crop. The good seed (Truth) has been and still is being sown in the minds of men and women. Without the power and presence of the Holy Spirit no spiritual growth is possible. Agricultural harvests are simply given to mankind to illustrate the great spiritual lessons and realities the Most High is seeking to teach the human race. We are His vineyard, His harvest, His sheep. The whole spectrum of natural activity was ordained to teach spiritual lessons. Failure to learn those spiritual lessons is one of the tragedies of unbelieving 'nature lovers' of the world. Faith and obedience on the other hand will be blessed by YaHuWaH with natural and spiritual bounty.
| Deuteronomy 11:13 | And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto My commandments which I command you this day, to love YaHuWaH your Elohim, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, 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. |
| Joel Chapter 2 | Provides invaluable lessons about spiritual rain. |
| v 23 | Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in YaHuWaH your Elohim: 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. |
| v 24 | And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25: And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, My great army which I sent among you. 26: And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the Name of YaHuWaH your Elohim, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and My people shall never be ashamed. |
| v 27 | And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am YaHuWaH your Elohim, and none else: and My people shall never be ashamed. |
| v 28 | 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: 29: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit. |
| v 30 | "I will show signs and wonders in the heavens and upon the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of YaHuWaH comes." (Isa.13:6, 9-11; 24:21-23; Eze.32:7-10; Matt.24:29; Rev.6:12-17) |
| v 32 | "And whosoever shall call upon the Name of YaHuWaH shall be delivered." |
This promise has been partially fulfilled. Read Acts 2:17-21 where the Apostle Peter quotes from Joel. But if you study Joel carefully you will see that we are still awaiting several events (blood and fire and pillars of smoke etc) which are to come. Yes, we are awaiting the full and bounteous downpour known as the latter rain.
5. Ask for the Latter Rain
| Zechariah 10:1 | Ask ye of YaHuWaH rain in the time of the latter rain; so YaHuWaH shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. |
Our present need and duty as believers living in the time of the latter rain, at the time when the main harvest of humanity is about to be gathered, is to:
- live lives of faithful obedience
- and to ASK for the latter rain.
As promised in Deuteronomy 11:13-14,
"If you diligently heed My commandments ... I will give the rain in its season, the early rain and the latter rain that you may gather in your grain, your new wine and your oil."
Are you willing to meet those twin conditions of faith and obedience before you too ask for the latter rain? Failure to do so is a form of self-delusion and a tragic loss.
Joy By Surprise
