Counterfeit Rain Clouds

The phrase "Praying for Rain" has come to mean a whole lot more in my life the last couple months as we've been going through a pretty severe drought here in Arkansas. Usually the months of April and May are filled with rain and everything is thriving and green, like a jungle. But not this year! It's been everything we can do to keep the garden growing, and our lake in the front yard is getting lower and lower. I've never seen it go dry, but I'm wondering if this might be the year…

Every day our cry to God has become more urgent… "God, please send

us rain! We need it so desperately!" It made me wonder if my spiritual cry for rain was as urgent as my physical cry for rain, would God be more willing and quick to answer?

We know that the Lord longs to send us His Holy Spirit…and He tells us to ask and He will give!

“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.” Zech. 10:1

In Acts of the Apostles, we are encouraged:

"The lapse of time has wrought no change in Christ’s parting promise to send the Holy Spirit as His representative. It is not because of any restriction on the part of God that the riches of His grace do not flow earthward to men. If the fulfillment of the promise is not seen as it might be, it is because the promise is not appreciated as it should be. If all were willing, all would be filled with the Spirit. Wherever the need of the Holy Spirit is a matter little thought of, there is seen spiritual drought, spiritual darkness, spiritual declension and death. Whenever minor matters occupy the attention, the divine power which is necessary for the growth and prosperity of the church, and which would bring all other blessings in its train, is lacking, though offered in infinite plenitude. Since this is the means by which we are to receive power, why do we not hunger and thirst for the gift of theSpirit? Why do we not talk of it, pray for it, and preach concerning it? The Lord is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who serve Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. For the daily baptism of the Spiritevery worker should offer his petition to God. Companies of Christian workers should gather to ask for special help, for heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to plan and execute wisely. Especially should they pray that God will baptize His chosen ambassadors in mission fields with a rich measure of His Spirit. The presence of the Spirit with God’s workers will give the proclamation of truth a power thatnot all the honor or glory of the world could give." Acts of the Apostles, p. 50

However, as I've been thinking about rain, God brought another illustration to my mind. It actually came in the wee hours of the morning a couple weeks back. We had a forecast of rain, but as of yet had not seen any. However, I was awakened to the distant sound of rumbling thunder. How happy I was! As the storm got nearer, the thunder got louder, and even lightning appeared, but still no rain. I drifted off to sleep, only to be awakened again by the storm…but still…no rain! Oh yes, the wind blew, the thunder cracked…but it seemed all for nought, for no rain fell. "What kind of storm is this?" I thought to myself. "One that makes all the noise but brings no rain?"

And then, somewhere between dreamland and semi-wakefulness, the thought came to my mind how we can tell the difference between the true and false teachers in the last days!

You see, we've all been told that we need the Holy Spirit, and we all know that we need rain. However, not all those that seek this will find it. There are many movements out there that are seeking to work up the power of the Holy Spirit. There's lots of noise, lots of commotion, lots of fanaticism… but this is not the falling of the True Rain! This is an illusion sent from the enemy! The enemy cannot produce rain through counterfeit works… He only makes people think the storm and showers are here, but really, it's all just a big show.

In Last Day Events, we are told:

“Before the final visitation of God’s judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times.... The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he [Satan] will endeavor to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God’s special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.... There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false, that is well adapted to mislead. Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God’s Word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God’s blessing is not bestowed. ‘Ye shall know them by their fruits." Last Day Events, p. 158

You see, a storm that has no rain does not produce fruit. It may look like power, and exhibit power, but it's just a big blundering noisy giant. But if the spirit is not falling and bringing conviction to the heart, conviction that turns our hearts from sin, we can know…this is not a storm God has sent. It is not the revival that we should be praying for!

We need a storm to come that will flood this land with RAIN…not make believe imaginations and warm fuzzy feelings…but true rain, and true growth as a result!

“We should pray as earnestly for the descent of the Holy Spirit as the disciples prayed on the Day of Pentecost. If they needed it at that time, we need it more today. Moral darkness, like a funeral pall, covers the earth. All manner of false doctrines, heresies, and satanic deceptions are misleading the minds of men. Without the Spirit and power of God it will be in vain that we labor to present the truth.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 158

So I'm still praying for Rain…but I want to make sure it's the real thing, not just a make-believe show! Join me and let's seek God together…

We need rain upon our land!