The hour is urgent, as darkness is dispelled by the light of 00:00:01.90\00:00:07.34 God's Word. 00:00:07.34\00:00:08.14 A new day begins. 00:00:08.44\00:00:09.74 Jesus, the light of the world is shining. 00:00:10.47\00:00:13.48 Prepare your hearts to proclaim the final cry. 00:00:14.11\00:00:17.25 This is 3ABN Summer Camp Meeting. 00:00:17.78\00:00:20.95 Hello and welcome back to 3ABN Summer Camp Meeting. 00:00:23.89\00:00:26.69 How many of you have been blessed so far today? 00:00:26.76\00:00:28.59 Alright, those of you around the world, we just welcome you. 00:00:28.59\00:00:33.33 Wish you could be here, but at least we can be together 00:00:33.60\00:00:36.83 through great and new technology. 00:00:36.83\00:00:38.83 Literally, isn't it amazing, folks, that we can speak here 00:00:39.63\00:00:42.70 and the signal goes around the world. 00:00:42.70\00:00:44.67 Nine different satellites traveling 186,200 miles per 00:00:45.11\00:00:49.31 second comes down in people's homes anywhere in the world in 00:00:49.31\00:00:52.38 less than three seconds. 00:00:52.38\00:00:53.68 So that's amazing technology. 00:00:53.68\00:00:55.95 It's my privilege right now to introduce probably one of the 00:00:56.65\00:01:01.59 most well-known faces, Adventist faces in history and 00:01:01.59\00:01:07.40 his name is known around the world, Pastor Wintley Phipps. 00:01:07.40\00:01:10.67 So I'm sure all of you have heard of Pastor Phipps and 00:01:10.77\00:01:13.84 we've been friends for many, many years, two or three, maybe 00:01:13.84\00:01:17.27 decades. 00:01:17.27\00:01:17.91 But Wintley is a man of God. 00:01:17.91\00:01:21.01 He loves the Lord. 00:01:21.11\00:01:22.11 He spends his entire life traveling and presenting Jesus 00:01:22.48\00:01:27.02 to people. 00:01:27.02\00:01:27.75 And he has the Dream Academy where he's helping kids in the 00:01:28.25\00:01:32.59 inner city, making a difference in their lives and then their 00:01:32.59\00:01:36.62 lives, affecting other lives. 00:01:36.62\00:01:39.46 And this is something we were just talking in the back room, 00:01:39.46\00:01:42.36 the legacy that we can leave behind until Jesus comes. 00:01:42.43\00:01:45.53 And so ministry, ministering is his whole life in Linda's. 00:01:46.23\00:01:49.47 So we appreciate him being here. 00:01:49.47\00:01:51.44 He's also one of the most well -known gospel singers in the 00:01:51.81\00:01:56.28 world. 00:01:56.28\00:01:56.64 He just finished a project. 00:01:56.95\00:01:58.98 I'm going to listen to it after a little bit later this 00:01:59.11\00:02:02.28 afternoon, but Bill Gaither asked him to do a project of 00:02:02.28\00:02:05.72 all of his songs. 00:02:05.72\00:02:06.92 And so they went to Prague and a huge orchestra is over there. 00:02:06.92\00:02:10.43 And so they've just got a brand new. 00:02:10.73\00:02:12.46 So you can be looking out for that new project coming out of 00:02:12.53\00:02:16.03 doing those songs. 00:02:16.03\00:02:16.77 But Pastor Phipps is, as I mentioned, been in ministry for 00:02:17.33\00:02:21.77 I won't say how many years, but many, many years. 00:02:21.77\00:02:24.21 And it's a privilege to have him here at 3ABN. 00:02:24.47\00:02:27.41 It's a privilege that I can count him as my brother. 00:02:27.41\00:02:30.41 So I'd like to introduce you to him. 00:02:30.41\00:02:30.45 Normally we would introduce our music. 00:02:32.48\00:02:34.28 But guess who we're going to have sing today. 00:02:34.28\00:02:36.55 Talk about a child. 00:03:39.68\00:03:42.45 Talk about a child. 00:03:58.30\00:04:01.20 Talk about a child. 00:04:08.48\00:04:12.11 Here's one. 00:04:17.79\00:04:19.89 In old Satan's snares, I once was falling. 00:04:21.09\00:04:26.03 Till I heard the voice of my Lord calling. 00:04:26.53\00:04:31.63 Talk about a child that's been converted. 00:04:32.53\00:04:36.74 Here's one. 00:04:41.88\00:04:44.21 Here's one. 00:04:53.62\00:04:56.56 Talk about a child who's bound for glory. 00:05:02.23\00:05:07.24 Here's one. 00:05:09.74\00:05:12.04 Talk about a child who's bound for glory. 00:05:13.04\00:05:18.91 Here's one. 00:05:20.38\00:05:23.05 Ever since I heard the gospel story, I've been traveling up 00:05:23.05\00:05:31.56 the path to glory. 00:05:31.56\00:05:34.50 Talk about a child who loves Jesus. 00:05:35.03\00:05:39.93 Here's one. 00:05:42.67\00:05:45.24 Here's one. 00:05:51.01\00:05:53.55 Ever since I heard the gospel story, I've been traveling up 00:05:53.55\00:06:01.62 the path to glory. 00:06:01.62\00:06:04.76 Talk about a child who do love Jesus. 00:06:05.19\00:06:10.03 Here's one. 00:06:13.10\00:06:15.60 Here's one. 00:06:20.98\00:06:23.51 Here's one. 00:06:27.88\00:06:29.45 Praise the Lord. 00:06:51.11\00:06:52.87 Somebody asked me yesterday, I was down in Houston, Texas. 00:06:55.78\00:06:59.95 And they asked me, they said, does it ever get old? 00:07:01.12\00:07:04.65 I said to them, listen, when you sense the presence of God, 00:07:06.62\00:07:12.86 that is one thing that never gets old. 00:07:12.86\00:07:18.57 Trust me. 00:07:20.67\00:07:21.50 Are you listening to me? 00:07:22.87\00:07:24.51 I mean, when you bow your head and close your eyes, and you 00:07:26.44\00:07:32.58 can sense the molecular makeup of the room change, because the 00:07:32.58\00:07:39.12 Holy Spirit has invaded the space that you're in. 00:07:39.12\00:07:45.26 Nothing like it, nothing like it. 00:07:46.76\00:07:49.33 As a matter of fact, without that, I think I would stop 00:07:49.73\00:07:52.47 singing. 00:07:52.47\00:07:52.93 I couldn't go on. 00:07:55.77\00:07:57.54 I've got a word for you today, and I need for you to pray. 00:07:58.64\00:08:04.21 Will you bow your heads with me as we pray? 00:08:05.21\00:08:07.82 Father in heaven, as we open your holy word, I ask that you 00:08:10.82\00:08:16.52 would cleanse me of all unrighteousness. 00:08:16.52\00:08:19.56 Fill my life with your Holy Spirit's presence and power. 00:08:20.96\00:08:24.47 Speak to me, through me, and for me. 00:08:25.83\00:08:30.41 I promise you, Lord, I'll always give you the honor, the 00:08:31.14\00:08:36.11 glory, and the praise. 00:08:36.11\00:08:37.88 In Jesus' name, I pray. 00:08:38.95\00:08:40.85 Amen. 00:08:41.75\00:08:42.32 I bring you greetings from the church that has allowed me to 00:08:44.99\00:08:48.86 be their pastor for the last 24 years. 00:08:48.86\00:08:55.00 The Palm Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church in Palm Bay, 00:08:57.73\00:09:02.60 Florida. 00:09:02.87\00:09:03.37 And to the thousands who watch us weekly on YouTube and other 00:09:04.74\00:09:10.68 streaming services, I just want to say thank you for your 00:09:10.68\00:09:15.08 prayers and your support. 00:09:15.08\00:09:16.62 As you heard, my brother Danny, who is my brother from another 00:09:17.92\00:09:22.49 mother, some of you know, as you heard him talk about it, 30 00:09:22.49\00:09:28.93 years ago I began a ministry called the U.S. 00:09:28.93\00:09:32.70 Dream Academy almost 30 years ago, and we provide tutoring 00:09:32.70\00:09:38.74 and mentoring in the name of Christ to children whose 00:09:38.74\00:09:43.48 parents are in prison and those falling behind in school. 00:09:43.48\00:09:48.12 And today I want to say a special thank you to all of you 00:09:48.12\00:09:52.72 who are listening, who have supported us over the last 00:09:52.72\00:09:56.59 almost 30 years in the work that we have been doing for 00:09:56.59\00:10:01.40 these children. 00:10:01.40\00:10:07.17 America with a parent in prison as there are all of the members 00:10:07.17\00:10:15.91 of all of the Seventh-day Adventist Churches in America? 00:10:15.91\00:10:20.32 It's about a million members, Adventist members in our 00:10:22.52\00:10:29.09 churches. 00:10:29.09\00:10:29.69 There are about almost 3 million children in America 00:10:30.96\00:10:34.10 right now who have a parent in prison, and 92% of the parents 00:10:34.10\00:10:40.80 in prison are fathers. 00:10:40.80\00:10:42.14 92% of them are fathers. 00:10:43.34\00:10:45.37 So that means that most of these children are fatherless 00:10:46.11\00:10:50.35 during some of the most formative periods of their 00:10:51.31\00:10:54.28 lives. 00:10:54.28\00:10:59.35 religion before God and the Father is ministry to the 00:10:59.35\00:11:06.66 fatherless. 00:11:06.66\00:11:07.46 That's what the Word of God says. 00:11:08.23\00:11:09.86 The Word of God says our Lord is the Father of the 00:11:09.86\00:11:14.54 Fatherless. 00:11:14.54\00:11:15.17 So thank you for what you do to help our children. 00:11:17.54\00:11:20.04 Now, my message today is entitled Latter Rain Believers. 00:11:20.08\00:11:26.65 I was going to entitle it Latter Rain Saints, but I 00:11:27.72\00:11:33.59 thought that was a little too close. 00:11:33.59\00:11:34.99 So I called it Latter Rain Believers. 00:11:36.29\00:11:41.13 If you have your Bibles, turn with me to the book of Matthew 00:11:41.83\00:11:44.10 chapter 25. 00:11:44.10\00:11:45.33 The Word of God says, And at midnight there was a cry made, 00:11:46.23\00:11:50.24 Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. 00:11:51.27\00:11:56.18 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, and 00:11:57.28\00:12:03.45 the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our 00:12:03.45\00:12:09.36 lamps are gone out. 00:12:09.36\00:12:11.03 But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not 00:12:11.83\00:12:17.00 enough for us and you. 00:12:17.00\00:12:19.93 But go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. 00:12:21.00\00:12:25.24 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that 00:12:26.81\00:12:31.65 were ready went in with him to the marriage, and the door was 00:12:31.65\00:12:36.72 shut. 00:12:36.72\00:12:37.15 Matthew 25, 11. 00:12:38.75\00:12:39.92 Afterward came also the other virgin, saying, Lord, Lord, 00:12:39.99\00:12:43.46 open to us. 00:12:44.29\00:12:45.66 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know 00:12:46.29\00:12:50.93 you not. 00:12:50.93\00:12:52.00 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour 00:12:53.34\00:12:59.21 wherein the Son of Man cometh. 00:12:59.21\00:13:02.21 May God add a blessing to the reading of his Word. 00:13:03.28\00:13:05.95 This story told to us by Jesus is brimming with encouragement, 00:13:07.88\00:13:14.72 instruction, warning, and hope. 00:13:15.19\00:13:18.43 The Bible tells us that that day as the sun was setting in 00:13:19.86\00:13:23.03 the west, our Lord sat upon the Mount of Olives, drinking in 00:13:23.03\00:13:28.87 the glorious scenes of his creative power. 00:13:28.87\00:13:33.11 In the midst of the dusk approaching, the eyes of Jesus 00:13:33.54\00:13:38.51 fell upon a home lit up in preparation for a festive 00:13:38.51\00:13:45.65 celebration. 00:13:45.65\00:13:46.62 Light was streaming from every window, and the little home 00:13:47.96\00:13:52.23 seemed enveloped by sounds of joy and laughter. 00:13:52.23\00:13:56.40 Jesus knew this to be the run -up to the climax of the 00:13:57.70\00:14:03.07 festivities that come with a wedding in the east. 00:14:03.07\00:14:06.91 And so he used this as an opportunity to teach one of the 00:14:07.58\00:14:13.18 most vital spiritual lessons in all of Scripture. 00:14:13.18\00:14:18.32 He said to his disciples, Ten young virgins adorned in white 00:14:19.05\00:14:24.69 linen were waiting with great anticipation for the arrival 00:14:24.69\00:14:29.33 and entrance of a bridegroom. 00:14:29.33\00:14:32.57 Each virgin held in their hands a lamp that was lit, and at 00:14:33.30\00:14:38.14 their side they carried supplemental flasks that were 00:14:38.14\00:14:42.91 supposed to contain extra oil. 00:14:42.91\00:14:46.35 As the hours passed, those waiting to celebrate the 00:14:46.35\00:14:51.22 wedding became drowsy and weary. 00:14:51.22\00:14:54.86 A deep sleep claimed every eye. 00:14:55.76\00:14:59.03 They had not anticipated such a lengthy delay. 00:14:59.86\00:15:03.67 While they slept, their lamps that were lit began to flicker 00:15:04.57\00:15:08.57 and go out. 00:15:08.57\00:15:09.47 But suddenly, at midnight, in the deepest, darkest hour of 00:15:10.31\00:15:15.94 the night, when every heart had faltered and every soul was 00:15:15.94\00:15:21.75 asleep, a cry was heard rousing the resting maidens from their 00:15:21.75\00:15:27.86 sleep. 00:15:27.86\00:15:28.42 Behold, the bridegroom has arrived. 00:15:29.22\00:15:32.53 Come, let us go out to meet him. 00:15:33.29\00:15:36.73 Those ten young maidens sprang to their feet, eager to join 00:15:37.47\00:15:43.07 the joyous procession. 00:15:43.07\00:15:45.01 But as they readied themselves, five of the virgins said, 00:15:45.51\00:15:50.01 Jesus, realize that their backup oil, or I should say 00:15:50.28\00:15:56.85 their backup flasks for their emergency supply of oil, were 00:15:56.85\00:16:03.96 all empty. 00:16:03.96\00:16:04.69 They had turned the standby flasks that hung at their sides 00:16:05.66\00:16:11.87 into an item of decoration rather than using it for 00:16:11.87\00:16:18.21 preparation. 00:16:18.21\00:16:18.84 They had, in fact, made no plans for an emergency of this 00:16:20.51\00:16:25.71 nature. 00:16:25.71\00:16:30.29 filling their lamps with the extra oil they had prepared. 00:16:30.29\00:16:34.56 And they begged them, please, share a little bit of your oil 00:16:35.02\00:16:39.56 with us. 00:16:39.56\00:16:40.33 We cannot, said their friends, we only brought enough to 00:16:41.00\00:16:45.03 refill our lamps should a shortage arise. 00:16:45.03\00:16:48.87 The oil we had in reserve is now already in our lamps, and 00:16:49.37\00:16:54.38 we have no more oil to gift you or to spare. 00:16:54.38\00:16:58.95 Try, they said, go hurry, buy some oil from those who might 00:16:59.91\00:17:05.19 sell. 00:17:05.19\00:17:05.92 Perhaps some black market merchants could resupply you 00:17:06.35\00:17:10.83 quickly. 00:17:10.83\00:17:11.53 Go, quickly, right away, and then meet us back at the 00:17:13.09\00:17:17.87 bridegroom's house. 00:17:17.87\00:17:18.97 And so they went, said Jesus, in search of oil to buy. 00:17:19.03\00:17:23.14 But by the time they brought the oil and reached back to the 00:17:23.67\00:17:27.24 bridegroom's house, they found that the door was shut. 00:17:27.24\00:17:32.05 The windows were closed. 00:17:33.28\00:17:34.72 They knocked and pleaded with the celebrants inside. 00:17:34.78\00:17:38.72 Open to us, open to us. 00:17:39.42\00:17:42.86 Instead, sadly, they heard the voice of the bridegroom from 00:17:42.86\00:17:42.89 behind the closed door speaking with a sorrowful voice. 00:17:46.66\00:17:51.50 Who are you? 00:17:52.33\00:17:54.04 And from where have you come? 00:17:55.24\00:17:57.37 I cannot let you in, for I do not know you. 00:17:59.07\00:18:04.81 In other words, you call me Lord, Lord, but your character 00:18:06.01\00:18:11.22 is not aligned to the priorities of heaven. 00:18:12.09\00:18:15.86 Friends, in this parable Jesus spoke the customs and cultural 00:18:19.79\00:18:26.00 settings are so different than ours today. 00:18:26.00\00:18:30.21 In the cultural milieu of those times, weddings were conducted 00:18:30.91\00:18:36.21 very differently than they are today. 00:18:36.21\00:18:38.81 Today, you would never see a wedding with ten attendant 00:18:39.01\00:18:44.82 maids of honor and the bride waiting on the bridegroom to 00:18:44.82\00:18:53.29 make his entrance. 00:18:53.29\00:18:54.73 That's just not how it works today. 00:18:55.50\00:18:58.67 Today, the procession and sequence of a wedding has 00:19:00.04\00:19:04.44 undergone a cultural reversal. 00:19:04.44\00:19:08.81 And in our culture, we expect a wedding celebration to be 00:19:09.88\00:19:14.95 centered around the bride and her entrance, not the 00:19:14.95\00:19:21.56 bridegroom and his. 00:19:21.56\00:19:23.16 In our culture today, it's the bridegroom who waits for the 00:19:23.69\00:19:28.86 arrival of the bride, not the other way around. 00:19:28.86\00:19:31.77 At my wedding, by the way, August 22, 1976, coming up on 00:19:32.87\00:19:41.61 49 years, I was standing at the altar waiting for my bride to 00:19:41.61\00:19:49.02 make her entrance. 00:19:49.02\00:19:50.09 And not only was I excited when those doors at the back of the 00:19:50.95\00:19:55.42 church swung open, I knew I had found a rare and beautiful gem 00:19:55.42\00:20:02.36 of a woman. 00:20:02.36\00:20:03.13 Because, you see, as she started walking down the aisle, 00:20:04.40\00:20:07.74 I looked at the clock, and I realized that our wedding that 00:20:07.97\00:20:13.48 was supposed to start at 11 a .m., when my bride was coming 00:20:13.48\00:20:18.18 down the aisle, the clock actually said 10.59. 00:20:18.18\00:20:23.12 My bride was not just on time, she was early. 00:20:26.32\00:20:31.13 Whoever heard of such a thing? 00:20:33.63\00:20:36.16 Oh, but my Bible says, be ye also ready? 00:20:38.43\00:20:40.57 And I was ready. 00:20:40.57\00:20:41.77 Who would not make her husband? 00:20:43.41\00:20:47.48 I realized I had a bride who was not going to make her 00:20:47.94\00:20:51.05 husband wait one minute longer in anticipation that he had to. 00:20:51.05\00:20:56.18 That's a good woman. 00:20:58.35\00:20:59.85 Now, I know I was blessed also because she told me for an 00:21:02.56\00:21:07.66 engagement gift she wanted a Mercedes. 00:21:07.66\00:21:10.60 And for a wedding present she wanted a four-bedroom house. 00:21:12.97\00:21:17.31 Well, I did what I could. 00:21:19.37\00:21:21.14 For her engagement gift I got her a 1967 Oldsmobile Vista 00:21:23.01\00:21:29.72 Cruiser station wagon. 00:21:29.72\00:21:31.15 I did what I could, right? 00:21:35.62\00:21:37.83 And for a wedding present instead of a four-bedroom house 00:21:38.59\00:21:43.57 she settled for a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment at Andrews 00:21:43.57\00:21:49.34 University. 00:21:49.34\00:21:50.11 I did what I could, right? 00:21:52.64\00:21:54.64 And for 49 years I've been telling her if she ever leaves 00:21:56.38\00:22:00.15 me I'm going with her. 00:22:00.15\00:22:02.18 Friends, this wedding parable Jesus told his disciples is 00:22:06.15\00:22:11.96 chock full of timeless truths, prophetic principles. 00:22:11.96\00:22:16.06 And today, for the next few moments I invite you to follow 00:22:16.60\00:22:19.97 along. 00:22:19.97\00:22:20.44 By the way, I'm a teaching preacher. 00:22:20.84\00:22:23.14 So get ready to learn something by God's grace. 00:22:24.54\00:22:27.71 I want you to follow along with me as we seek to unravel golden 00:22:28.38\00:22:33.18 threads of truth that are woven into the fabric of this sacred 00:22:33.18\00:22:38.09 story. 00:22:38.09\00:22:38.65 Now, to really comprehend the power and purpose of this 00:22:39.92\00:22:43.96 parable we must begin with the understanding that this is a 00:22:43.96\00:22:49.93 parable for the last days. 00:22:49.93\00:22:52.10 And make no mistake about it, we are living in the last days. 00:22:53.30\00:22:59.81 When you watch the news you can see that the stress of our age 00:23:00.04\00:23:05.21 has been wound tight. 00:23:05.21\00:23:06.98 The taut tension of our times cannot be denied. 00:23:08.18\00:23:12.82 Sometimes it seems like even history seems to be holding its 00:23:13.72\00:23:17.96 breath. 00:23:17.96\00:23:18.49 And though we live in a different age every detail of 00:23:19.43\00:23:23.80 this parable from Jesus holds deep meaning for us. 00:23:23.80\00:23:27.47 Every image, every symbol, every word is worthy of careful 00:23:27.50\00:23:33.27 study. 00:23:33.27\00:23:40.18 He wants us to glean from this anointed story told by Jesus. 00:23:40.18\00:23:45.72 Now, to begin with, ten virgins with ten lamps, lamps in our 00:23:46.42\00:23:53.96 day, most of us have never seen a lamp. 00:23:53.96\00:23:56.23 Today you walk into a dark room, you flip a switch, you 00:23:57.80\00:24:01.84 grab a flashlight, but I'm old enough to remember being in 00:24:01.84\00:24:05.97 houses that had no electricity, houses that were lit by 00:24:05.97\00:24:11.71 kerosene lamps. 00:24:11.71\00:24:13.08 I can still smell it. 00:24:13.38\00:24:15.62 And I'm convinced that the first thing Jesus wants us to 00:24:15.98\00:24:20.36 grasp in this parable is that a lamp cannot remain lit without 00:24:20.36\00:24:26.29 oil. 00:24:26.29\00:24:27.00 You can't shine for Christ without the fuel of divine 00:24:27.60\00:24:33.37 grace in the soul. 00:24:33.37\00:24:34.77 I believe Jesus also wanted us to learn that this parable is 00:24:34.97\00:24:39.81 not about virgins and maids of honor. 00:24:39.81\00:24:43.35 This parable is about you. 00:24:44.68\00:24:47.48 It's about me. 00:24:48.65\00:24:50.39 It's about every single person under the sound of my voice. 00:24:51.22\00:24:56.52 For you see, Jesus, our bridegroom has delayed his 00:24:56.83\00:25:01.03 coming and hanging around your waist and hanging around my 00:25:01.03\00:25:07.60 waist is an invisible spiritual container. 00:25:07.60\00:25:11.54 It is either empty or it is full. 00:25:12.34\00:25:16.21 And that means we are ready for Jesus to come if it is full. 00:25:16.78\00:25:21.82 If it is empty, then we need to be reminded that 00:25:22.78\00:25:26.42 procrastination and spiritual stagnation will steal from you 00:25:26.42\00:25:31.96 your spiritual destiny. 00:25:31.96\00:25:33.86 Every moment you postpone preparation for the second 00:25:34.10\00:25:38.73 coming of Christ, you squander divine opportunities and 00:25:38.73\00:25:43.94 imperil your future. 00:25:43.94\00:25:45.44 Jesus also wanted us to learn from this parable that when he 00:25:46.51\00:25:51.08 returns, there will only be two classes of people alive on the 00:25:51.08\00:25:55.32 earth, wise virgins or foolish ones. 00:25:55.32\00:26:00.19 And each and every one of us will belong to one of those two 00:26:00.99\00:26:07.46 groups. 00:26:07.46\00:26:07.96 Regardless of your race, color, ethnicity, or place of birth, 00:26:09.16\00:26:15.44 in the eyes of heaven, you will be accounted either wise or 00:26:15.70\00:26:21.34 foolish. 00:26:21.34\00:26:22.11 The foolish trade eternity for carnal pleasures. 00:26:22.41\00:26:26.61 They remain indifferent to the urgent need for preparation. 00:26:27.32\00:26:31.25 The wise, on the other hand, live with a holy focus, their 00:26:32.02\00:26:37.56 eyes gleaming with expectation over the soon arrival of our 00:26:37.56\00:26:43.20 coming King. 00:26:43.20\00:26:44.00 Oh, but today, for the next few moments with the help of God, I 00:26:44.97\00:26:50.24 want to shift your glance and fix your focus, not on the 00:26:50.24\00:26:55.94 virgins, not even on the lamps, as necessary as they are. 00:26:55.94\00:27:00.92 Today, I want to draw your attention to what Jesus 00:27:01.68\00:27:05.35 identified as a marker of the readiness of the soul, a sign 00:27:05.35\00:27:13.40 of the soul's readiness for heaven, and it is the oil. 00:27:13.40\00:27:20.07 The oil. 00:27:22.97\00:27:24.41 The supply of oil is what feeds the flame of faith. 00:27:25.81\00:27:30.21 The supply of oil. 00:27:31.68\00:27:33.28 It's the oil you prepare today that will feed the light you 00:27:34.25\00:27:38.92 will shine tomorrow. 00:27:38.92\00:27:40.52 Your oil is your spiritual passport. 00:27:42.39\00:27:45.83 Your oil is your readiness for heaven. 00:27:49.46\00:27:52.33 At the beginning of the parable, all ten virgins had 00:27:53.70\00:27:57.64 lamps, all ten lamps were lit, and all ten had oil. 00:27:57.64\00:28:05.05 But when the arrival of the bridegroom was announced, in 00:28:06.38\00:28:09.48 that critical hour, those who had extra oil were ready. 00:28:09.48\00:28:15.12 Ready for contingencies, ready for emergencies, ready for 00:28:16.39\00:28:22.50 delay. 00:28:22.50\00:28:23.03 Now I humbly share with you that through the years I've 00:28:24.30\00:28:28.27 preached this parable many times, searching its depths, 00:28:28.27\00:28:32.81 seeking to understand its meaning and message. 00:28:33.64\00:28:36.68 Oh, but today, what I'm preaching, I'm about to preach, 00:28:37.68\00:28:41.15 God took me to a whole new level. 00:28:41.62\00:28:43.82 You see, I asked the Lord, what is this oil in the flask of 00:28:45.82\00:28:52.69 those Jesus accounted wise? 00:28:52.69\00:28:55.20 And if we need this oil to be ready when Jesus comes, how do 00:28:56.23\00:29:01.27 we get it? 00:29:01.27\00:29:02.47 And so I prayed earnestly, I agonized with the Lord, I 00:29:03.17\00:29:07.51 studied his word, and here's what the Lord showed me that 00:29:07.51\00:29:12.05 the oil in the lamp represents. 00:29:12.05\00:29:14.85 Are you ready? 00:29:16.55\00:29:17.42 I said, are you ready? 00:29:19.35\00:29:20.79 1 Samuel, chapter 16, verse 13. 00:29:22.39\00:29:25.53 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the 00:29:26.09\00:29:31.40 midst of his brethren, and the Spirit of the Lord came upon 00:29:31.40\00:29:36.37 David from that day forward. 00:29:36.37\00:29:40.51 In the word of God, oil is used as a symbol of the anointing of 00:29:41.38\00:29:49.62 God's Holy Spirit. 00:29:49.62\00:29:51.25 Hallelujah. 00:29:53.69\00:29:54.56 In the book of Zechariah, chapter 4, the Bible talks 00:29:55.76\00:30:00.10 about golden oil flowing from golden pipes. 00:30:00.10\00:30:05.80 And in Zechariah, chapter 4, verse 2, it says, And said unto 00:30:08.17\00:30:12.21 me, what seest thou? 00:30:12.21\00:30:13.31 And I said, I have looked, and behold, a candlestick all of 00:30:13.44\00:30:18.08 gold with a bowl upon the top of it and its seven lamps 00:30:18.08\00:30:21.85 thereon and seven pipes to the seven lamps which are upon the 00:30:21.85\00:30:26.79 top thereof. 00:30:26.79\00:30:31.13 and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? 00:30:31.13\00:30:35.20 Don't you know what this is, what you're looking at? 00:30:36.00\00:30:39.97 Do you understand what this means? 00:30:40.20\00:30:42.87 And Zechariah said, No, Lord, no. 00:30:43.17\00:30:45.27 And then God gives the answer. 00:30:45.61\00:30:47.38 Zechariah 4, verse 6. 00:30:47.41\00:30:49.18 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of 00:30:49.34\00:30:53.35 the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, It means, it means, it 00:30:53.35\00:31:01.89 means not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith 00:31:01.89\00:31:13.50 the Lord of hosts. 00:31:13.50\00:31:14.57 And then my favorite writer in a book called Christ's Object 00:31:18.47\00:31:21.91 Lessons pulled it all together for me. 00:31:21.91\00:31:24.45 This is what she wrote. 00:31:24.45\00:31:24.48 The two classes of watchers represent the two classes who 00:31:25.68\00:31:31.19 profess to be waiting for their Lord. 00:31:31.19\00:31:34.39 They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. 00:31:35.52\00:31:40.03 By the lamps is represented the word of God. 00:31:41.06\00:31:46.13 The psalmist says, Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light 00:31:46.47\00:31:51.37 unto my path. 00:31:51.37\00:31:52.47 And then she says, The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. 00:31:52.54\00:32:02.02 Friends, this helped to bring it home even more clearly to 00:32:05.39\00:32:08.42 me. 00:32:08.42\00:32:12.26 knowledge, she says, but they failed to obtain, look at what 00:32:12.26\00:32:16.67 they failed to obtain, the oil of grace. 00:32:16.67\00:32:20.70 So we have Holy Spirit, we have grace. 00:32:20.70\00:32:23.47 They did not receive the truth in its sanctifying power. 00:32:23.47\00:32:26.94 And did you know, in the Bible, one of the names for the Holy 00:32:27.28\00:32:34.95 Spirit is the Spirit of Grace. 00:32:34.95\00:32:39.45 That's one of the names for the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of 00:32:42.59\00:32:46.49 Grace. 00:32:46.49\00:32:47.30 Hebrews 10, 29, How much worse punishment do you think will be 00:32:47.73\00:32:50.90 deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of 00:32:50.90\00:32:53.30 God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was 00:32:53.30\00:32:56.87 sanctified, and has what? 00:32:56.87\00:32:58.87 Outraged the Spirit of Grace. 00:33:00.31\00:33:04.51 So you have the oil being a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and 00:33:04.78\00:33:07.95 then you have the Holy Spirit being connected to grace. 00:33:07.95\00:33:12.15 And then she also says, The oil represents grace given to us by 00:33:12.92\00:33:18.46 the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. 00:33:18.46\00:33:21.93 So the oil is the sacred fuel that keeps the flame of grace, 00:33:23.33\00:33:27.87 hallelujah, alive in the soul, and the agency by which we are 00:33:27.87\00:33:33.07 blessed with unearned, unmerited favor. 00:33:33.07\00:33:36.91 And that's why they call it grace, because it can't be 00:33:37.78\00:33:41.22 transferred. 00:33:41.22\00:33:41.98 I can't give you my grace. 00:33:43.35\00:33:45.05 I can't give you my Holy Spirit. 00:33:47.12\00:33:49.22 The Holy Spirit has been blessed in my life. 00:33:49.22\00:33:52.09 You can't borrow it. 00:33:52.19\00:33:53.43 You can't lease it. 00:33:53.43\00:33:54.60 I can't hand it down. 00:33:54.86\00:33:56.03 And when Jesus is on His way from glory, you have to have 00:33:56.03\00:33:59.70 your own supply of oil. 00:33:59.70\00:34:02.37 And just when I thought I couldn't get it more clear, God 00:34:04.34\00:34:07.21 led me to this thought expressed by the servant of the 00:34:07.21\00:34:09.84 Lord. 00:34:09.84\00:34:10.11 Look at it. 00:34:10.48\00:34:15.15 of Christ, and be full of grace. 00:34:15.15\00:34:17.95 Be full of what? 00:34:17.95\00:34:19.25 Grace and truth. 00:34:19.52\00:34:20.89 To them is imparted the oil of grace, which sustains a never 00:34:21.59\00:34:28.53 failing life. 00:34:28.53\00:34:29.33 The Holy Spirit in the heart of the believer makes him complete 00:34:29.80\00:34:34.40 in Christ. 00:34:34.40\00:34:35.20 The Lord says He is more willing to give us the Holy 00:34:35.54\00:34:38.14 Spirit than parents are to give bread to their children. 00:34:38.14\00:34:42.08 Then let us have the oil of what? 00:34:42.54\00:34:45.08 Grace in our vessels with our lamps that we may not be found 00:34:45.08\00:34:50.82 among those who are represented as foolish virgins who are not 00:34:50.82\00:34:54.79 prepared to go forth to meet the Bridegroom. 00:34:54.79\00:34:56.99 So, friends, I'm trying to hold myself together because when I 00:34:57.56\00:35:03.37 was studying this, I got so excited because I had learned 00:35:03.37\00:35:08.37 that it is the Holy Spirit that implants the grace of Christ in 00:35:08.37\00:35:14.14 the heart and transforms the character into the likeness of 00:35:14.14\00:35:20.02 Jesus. 00:35:20.02\00:35:20.62 And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, I saw 00:35:22.92\00:35:27.62 this. 00:35:27.62\00:35:28.39 Near the close of earth's harvest, a special bestowal of 00:35:28.96\00:35:35.86 spiritual grace. 00:35:35.86\00:35:37.03 Of what? 00:35:38.07\00:35:38.97 Spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the 00:35:40.14\00:35:47.04 coming of the Son of Man. 00:35:47.04\00:35:50.18 Wait, wait, wait. 00:35:51.01\00:35:51.61 Are you ready for this? 00:35:51.71\00:35:52.61 This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of 00:35:53.11\00:35:59.09 the latter rain. 00:35:59.09\00:36:00.36 And it is for this added power that Christians are to send 00:36:00.92\00:36:05.03 their petitions to the Lord of the harvest in the time of the 00:36:05.03\00:36:08.36 latter rain. 00:36:08.36\00:36:12.30 showers of rain. 00:36:12.30\00:36:13.37 He will cause to come down the rain, the former rain, and the 00:36:13.57\00:36:18.11 latter rain. 00:36:18.11\00:36:18.84 Oh, then I saw it absolutely as clear as day. 00:36:19.54\00:36:23.68 The extra oil the wise virgins carried is an abundant 00:36:24.05\00:36:32.92 outpouring of grace through the Holy Spirit. 00:36:32.92\00:36:39.53 We must have and can have this outpouring just before Jesus 00:36:40.33\00:36:46.07 returns. 00:36:46.07\00:36:46.84 This abundant outpouring of grace is called in the word of 00:36:47.30\00:36:51.47 God the latter rain. 00:36:51.47\00:36:53.54 Now check this out. 00:36:54.34\00:36:55.44 The latter rain, she says, ripening earth's harvest, 00:36:55.61\00:36:59.08 represents the spiritual grace that prepares the church for 00:36:59.68\00:37:06.82 the coming of the Son of Man. 00:37:06.82\00:37:08.86 In other words, the latter rain is the bestower... 00:37:09.32\00:37:13.80 Oh, Lord, help me make this clear. 00:37:14.83\00:37:16.63 It is the bestower of grace that prepares the character for 00:37:16.83\00:37:22.14 the second coming of Jesus. 00:37:22.14\00:37:24.14 Amen. 00:37:24.14\00:37:25.14 Now there are some people who believe that once you've 00:37:27.54\00:37:31.18 accepted Christ, you no longer need to grow in Christ. 00:37:31.18\00:37:36.08 Can you believe they actually see growing in Christ as a 00:37:38.35\00:37:42.82 religion of works? 00:37:42.82\00:37:43.73 But look at what my Bible says, Ephesians 2, 8, For by grace 00:37:47.40\00:37:50.67 are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it 00:37:50.67\00:37:53.74 is the gift of God, not of works, unless any man should 00:37:53.74\00:37:56.24 boast. 00:37:56.24\00:37:56.81 But the same Bible says, grow in grace, and in the knowledge 00:37:57.51\00:38:02.64 of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to him be glory both 00:38:02.64\00:38:06.82 now and forever. 00:38:06.82\00:38:08.02 So don't you ever apologize to anybody and tell them, I am 00:38:08.42\00:38:14.76 growing in grace, and this is not a religion of works. 00:38:14.76\00:38:20.13 So it became even more abundantly clear to me, the 00:38:23.73\00:38:26.23 Holy Spirit's outpouring of grace is the latter rain that 00:38:26.23\00:38:30.04 prepares you as you grow in Christlike character in 00:38:30.04\00:38:34.01 preparation for the arrival of the Bridegroom. 00:38:34.01\00:38:37.81 So what am I saying? 00:38:38.15\00:38:43.52 oil in your lamp. 00:38:43.52\00:38:44.69 Praise the Lord! 00:38:47.29\00:38:48.46 As long as you are growing in grace, you've got extra oil in 00:38:48.69\00:38:54.93 your lamp. 00:38:54.93\00:38:55.80 God is making you ready for the return of Jesus to the earth. 00:38:56.67\00:38:59.80 Now, before I close, allow me to give you my personal 00:39:01.24\00:39:05.47 testimony. 00:39:05.47\00:39:06.17 In case you did not notice, I make no apologies for the fact 00:39:07.21\00:39:12.48 that my preaching, I try to make it informed and inspired 00:39:12.48\00:39:17.49 by the Word of God. 00:39:17.49\00:39:19.05 You see, for the last almost 50 years, I have preached 00:39:19.92\00:39:25.06 thousands and thousands of sermons. 00:39:25.06\00:39:27.73 And I can almost say that I've never preached a sermon that I 00:39:28.06\00:39:32.60 didn't ask God to make that sermon biblically based, and 00:39:32.60\00:39:37.14 God used His holy word to enlighten and edify me. 00:39:37.14\00:39:41.31 But I can also tell you in almost 50 years of preaching, I 00:39:41.64\00:39:45.91 have never preached a sermon where God did not use the 00:39:45.91\00:39:52.79 writings of Ellen White to teach me something I did not 00:39:52.79\00:39:58.79 know. 00:39:58.79\00:39:59.29 So allow me to just give you my testimony. 00:40:02.36\00:40:06.74 Ellen White was a purpose -driven servant. 00:40:07.87\00:40:11.07 She was not a perfect servant. 00:40:11.74\00:40:15.18 Like you and me, she had health problems. 00:40:15.18\00:40:22.25 Did you hear? 00:40:23.92\00:40:24.42 Anybody got health problems? 00:40:24.59\00:40:25.65 She had health problems. 00:40:26.59\00:40:28.06 She had financial problems. 00:40:28.99\00:40:30.53 Anybody? 00:40:30.73\00:40:31.03 Don't raise your hand too high. 00:40:31.43\00:40:32.66 She had marital problems. 00:40:36.20\00:40:38.70 She had parenting problems. 00:40:44.21\00:40:46.88 She had diet weaknesses. 00:40:48.31\00:40:50.15 And issues. 00:40:50.98\00:40:52.25 She was a frail servant, but she was also a faithful 00:40:52.31\00:40:56.85 servant. 00:40:56.85\00:40:57.45 And if you don't think so, whoever is out there listening, 00:40:58.19\00:41:02.52 all I have to say is, who made you a judge of her? 00:41:02.86\00:41:07.03 Who made you a judge of her devotion and fidelity to God? 00:41:10.43\00:41:17.71 And who are you, by the way? 00:41:17.71\00:41:19.51 To judge her faithfulness when Jesus says, judge not that ye 00:41:21.78\00:41:26.28 be not judged, when Jesus said, be ye therefore merciful as 00:41:26.28\00:41:30.22 your Father is merciful, judge not and ye shall not be judged, 00:41:30.22\00:41:33.32 Luke 6.37, condemn not and ye shall not be condemned, forgive 00:41:33.42\00:41:37.33 and ye shall be given. 00:41:37.33\00:41:38.36 Now, I'm not judging anybody. 00:41:38.86\00:41:41.40 I'm just giving you my testimony. 00:41:41.60\00:41:43.53 And I know without a doubt, Ellen White was inspired, but 00:41:45.20\00:41:52.31 she was not infallible. 00:41:52.31\00:41:54.31 How do I know? 00:41:54.91\00:41:56.24 Because she said so herself. 00:41:56.34\00:41:58.68 Listen to one of her quotes. 00:41:59.31\00:42:00.82 She said, in regard to infallibility, I never claimed 00:42:01.08\00:42:07.12 it. 00:42:07.12\00:42:07.72 She said, God alone is infallible. 00:42:08.76\00:42:12.66 Could it be more clear? 00:42:13.56\00:42:15.50 So here's my testimony. 00:42:16.36\00:42:17.67 Only fanatics claim she is infallible. 00:42:19.77\00:42:23.10 And only fanatics claim she said she was infallible. 00:42:26.57\00:42:32.78 And I will never leave this church because some fanatic 00:42:35.52\00:42:40.29 claimed that she is infallible. 00:42:41.59\00:42:43.89 What sense does that make? 00:42:43.89\00:42:45.66 Because some fanatic claimed, and you're going to run and 00:42:46.96\00:42:49.66 leave the church because some fanatic. 00:42:49.66\00:42:51.00 Are you with me? 00:42:51.20\00:42:52.13 I know they need correction from her own words. 00:42:53.30\00:42:56.40 And if you think you should leave the church because some 00:42:56.54\00:43:00.04 who hold membership in the church wrongly claim or act 00:43:00.04\00:43:04.51 like she's infallible and need correction because some people 00:43:04.51\00:43:09.15 act like that. 00:43:09.15\00:43:10.25 But you're not going to leave the church because some 00:43:11.52\00:43:14.09 people... 00:43:14.09\00:43:16.99 Help me, Lord Jesus! 00:43:16.99\00:43:18.59 You're going to run and join another denomination. 00:43:21.26\00:43:23.63 Listen. 00:43:23.70\00:43:24.17 There is no church or denomination on this planet 00:43:24.80\00:43:27.47 that you can join that doesn't have hard-headed folks who need 00:43:27.47\00:43:32.67 correction. 00:43:32.67\00:43:33.41 Including me. 00:43:38.08\00:43:39.51 And yes, including you. 00:43:41.45\00:43:44.62 As a matter of fact, I remember reading, if you find a perfect 00:43:48.19\00:43:50.39 church, please don't join it. 00:43:50.39\00:43:51.79 You'll spoil it. 00:43:51.83\00:43:52.99 Now I'm just giving you my testimony, okay? 00:43:57.20\00:43:59.43 Listen, listen, listen. 00:44:01.70\00:44:02.80 It is amazing to me that people who don't have a quarter of her 00:44:02.97\00:44:07.61 intelligence nor an ounce of her anointing and inspiration 00:44:07.61\00:44:13.01 can be so quick to judge what is inspired and what is not. 00:44:13.01\00:44:18.02 I say to them, okay, I'll tell you what you do. 00:44:18.25\00:44:20.42 Throw away all you think she didn't write and then see if 00:44:20.62\00:44:25.66 you have the intellect to write even a half of what's left. 00:44:25.66\00:44:29.60 And by the way, while you're at it, I would like to watch you 00:44:32.40\00:44:36.97 replicate a smidgen of what her work has accomplished. 00:44:36.97\00:44:40.64 I'd like to see you go and establish a church with 00:44:41.68\00:44:44.35 millions of members on their way to glory. 00:44:44.35\00:44:46.48 I'd like to see you go and launch a health ministry that 00:44:47.48\00:44:50.55 becomes a global movement with people outside of the church 00:44:50.55\00:44:54.02 building secular empires on councils that she left the 00:44:54.02\00:44:58.59 church. 00:44:58.59\00:44:59.26 I'd like to see you go start your own health ministry and 00:44:59.79\00:45:03.16 education ministry and the largest Protestant school 00:45:03.16\00:45:06.60 system in the world. 00:45:06.60\00:45:07.54 And by the way, I never saw anywhere where you wrote, the 00:45:08.00\00:45:13.27 color of the skin does not determine character in the 00:45:13.27\00:45:17.58 heavenly courts. 00:45:17.58\00:45:18.61 She said that. 00:45:20.98\00:45:22.22 That the Lord is not partial. 00:45:23.45\00:45:25.29 He does not judge according to appearance. 00:45:25.65\00:45:27.82 So as a man of color, which I hope you can see my paint job, 00:45:28.46\00:45:32.09 as a man of color, you cannot tell me that that those words 00:45:32.36\00:45:38.30 were not inspired by God. 00:45:38.30\00:45:39.83 Too many substitute feelings for the Holy Spirit. 00:45:40.74\00:45:43.91 They substitute spectacle for faith and fog for flame. 00:45:44.14\00:45:48.31 But trust me, God's latter rain oil is not for Googling 00:45:48.41\00:45:53.28 consumers of religion who run and get YouTube accounts. 00:45:53.28\00:45:57.72 Hey, I'm trying my best to hold it together here. 00:46:01.02\00:46:03.93 The latter rain is for consecrated cultivators of 00:46:06.63\00:46:11.47 Christ -like character. 00:46:11.47\00:46:12.67 And don't you let petty pursuits replace preparation 00:46:13.13\00:46:16.97 for the latter rain. 00:46:16.97\00:46:18.31 Don't let trifles lead you to abandon truth. 00:46:19.01\00:46:21.34 You know, it's sad. 00:46:21.61\00:46:22.64 It's sad. 00:46:22.71\00:46:26.38 You're listening online. 00:46:27.62\00:46:29.02 You come here camp meeting, but you're going back to churches 00:46:29.25\00:46:32.49 filled with empty pews. 00:46:32.49\00:46:34.16 Did you know that for every 100 members on our books today 00:46:35.02\00:46:38.76 between 15 and 25 attend church today? 00:46:38.76\00:46:42.50 A little more than 10% of all Adventist churches, 10% of the 00:46:42.76\00:46:48.37 churches contain more than 51% of all the members. 00:46:48.37\00:46:51.47 Oh, but I, for one, I'm excited because my Bible tells me we 00:46:53.41\00:47:00.52 are standing on the brink of the greatest spiritual 00:47:00.52\00:47:04.29 awakening this world and this church has ever known. 00:47:04.29\00:47:09.49 It's called the latter rain. 00:47:10.13\00:47:11.93 Amen. 00:47:13.66\00:47:16.56 former rain to the earth. 00:47:16.56\00:47:17.93 And when the latter rain falls, it will not be a gentle mist, 00:47:18.20\00:47:21.74 but rather a downpour that will drench the earth with Holy 00:47:21.90\00:47:26.98 Ghost power. 00:47:26.98\00:47:27.98 Amen. 00:47:27.98\00:47:28.81 The Bible tells us that the first drops of the early rain 00:47:29.21\00:47:31.65 fell at Pentecost, but the latter rain that is coming will 00:47:31.65\00:47:35.55 eclipse Pentecost with an even more glorious outpouring. 00:47:35.55\00:47:40.02 God doesn't send rain without purpose. 00:47:40.49\00:47:42.96 At Pentecost, 3,000 were converted, but in the latter 00:47:44.06\00:47:46.90 rain, there will be a great multitude. 00:47:46.90\00:47:48.93 Psalm 147, 15 says, He sendeth forth His commandment upon 00:47:49.86\00:47:54.54 earth. 00:47:54.54\00:47:55.00 His word runneth very swiftly. 00:47:55.24\00:47:57.54 So blow the trumpet in Zion. 00:47:57.54\00:48:01.11 Amen. 00:48:01.11\00:48:01.41 Sanctify a fast. 00:48:02.01\00:48:03.75 Call a solemn assembly. 00:48:03.88\00:48:05.78 The final in-gathering will astonish the world. 00:48:06.61\00:48:09.82 Empty churches will be filled. 00:48:10.15\00:48:12.22 Amen. 00:48:12.49\00:48:12.92 Somebody say, Pray the Lord. 00:48:13.56\00:48:15.52 Praise the Lord. 00:48:15.76\00:48:16.26 Praise the Lord. 00:48:16.39\00:48:17.39 Well, in preparation for the latter rain, by the way, the 00:48:18.56\00:48:22.56 latter rain is the next event on God's prophetic calendar. 00:48:22.56\00:48:26.33 And the question is not, will the latter rain fall, but 00:48:26.33\00:48:30.14 rather, will we be ready when it falls? 00:48:30.14\00:48:32.77 Amen. 00:48:32.94\00:48:33.51 You know, I've got to tell you something before I leave you 00:48:34.88\00:48:40.42 today. 00:48:40.42\00:48:40.85 What the early rain started, thank you, Lord, the latter 00:48:42.45\00:48:47.32 rain will complete. 00:48:47.32\00:48:48.72 Amen. 00:48:48.92\00:48:49.39 God will perfect the character of His people for the harvest. 00:48:50.19\00:48:54.93 The latter rain is not only going to revive, it will ripen 00:48:55.86\00:48:59.43 and mature us for eternity. 00:48:59.43\00:49:02.24 Amen. 00:49:02.50\00:49:03.14 Amen. 00:49:03.14\00:49:03.67 For all who understand, the latter rain will develop the 00:49:04.84\00:49:08.64 fruit of the Spirit in our lives. 00:49:08.64\00:49:11.65 Now, I live in Florida, and after you've lived there a 00:49:13.08\00:49:17.42 while, you can almost smell the rain. 00:49:17.42\00:49:19.45 You know, people walk around saying, it's going to rain. 00:49:21.26\00:49:24.19 Or it smells like rain. 00:49:26.43\00:49:28.56 Well, before I leave you today, I want to tell you, I'm 00:49:28.60\00:49:33.17 starting to feel like a networked spiritual weatherman 00:49:33.17\00:49:37.94 who has started to smell the approach of the latter rain. 00:49:38.97\00:49:43.51 So I'm going to leave you with a weather report as a spiritual 00:49:44.01\00:49:48.05 weatherman. 00:49:48.05\00:49:48.75 Here's my weather forecast. 00:49:49.48\00:49:51.15 I'm never going to get hired by a major network, but that's all 00:49:51.15\00:49:54.72 right. 00:49:54.72\00:49:55.82 And His retirement plan is out of this world. 00:49:56.12\00:49:58.69 So here's my spiritual weather forecast. 00:50:01.03\00:50:03.60 Ladies and gentlemen, I see a low-pressure system has started 00:50:04.03\00:50:07.77 moving over God's people. 00:50:07.77\00:50:09.27 I even heard an old lady say, child, I'm too blessed to be 00:50:10.47\00:50:13.58 stressed. 00:50:13.58\00:50:13.98 And I see a high-pressure front of conviction moving swiftly 00:50:14.78\00:50:19.45 across the nations. 00:50:19.45\00:50:20.95 Ladies and gentlemen, I want you to know that humidity 00:50:21.45\00:50:24.02 levels of prayer are rising sharply in remnant communities. 00:50:24.02\00:50:28.12 Pockets of repentance and revival have been detected from 00:50:28.92\00:50:32.66 small groups to crowded sanctuaries. 00:50:32.66\00:50:35.20 And also beware, the spiritual atmosphere is thick with 00:50:35.60\00:50:40.37 expectation and surrender. 00:50:40.37\00:50:42.17 The pollen count of hypocrisy is low. 00:50:43.04\00:50:46.11 But the spiritual air quality of repentance and grace is 00:50:47.61\00:50:52.61 high. 00:50:52.61\00:50:53.35 Our mega Doppler radar is showing that a once-in-a 00:50:53.72\00:50:57.55 -thousand -year spiritual storm is taking shape. 00:50:57.55\00:51:00.69 The latter rain is about to fall. 00:51:00.89\00:51:04.26 So expect early showers of conviction. 00:51:04.66\00:51:07.83 Expect sustained downpours of grace, and this just in. 00:51:09.33\00:51:14.17 Our ACU spiritual weather forecast is showing unusual 00:51:16.37\00:51:21.01 activity in a little opening in a space called Orion. 00:51:21.01\00:51:25.45 That means it's time to get ready. 00:51:25.98\00:51:28.68 As my friend Bill Gaither wrote, I can hear the chariot 00:51:29.28\00:51:32.62 rumble. 00:51:32.62\00:51:33.32 I can see the marching throng, and the flurry of God's trumpet 00:51:34.02\00:51:39.16 spells the end of sin and wrong. 00:51:39.16\00:51:41.40 Regal robes are now unfolding Heaven's grandstands all in 00:51:41.83\00:51:46.23 place. 00:51:46.23\00:51:52.21 Oh, the King is coming. 00:51:52.91\00:51:56.61 The King is coming. 00:51:58.45\00:52:01.92 I can hear the chariot rumble, and now his face I see. 00:52:02.18\00:52:06.99 The King is coming. 00:52:07.22\00:52:10.16 Praise God. 00:52:11.16\00:52:13.70 Praise God. 00:52:15.66\00:52:18.47 He's coming for me. 00:52:18.97\00:52:22.77 Behold, the bridegroom cometh. 00:52:26.44\00:52:30.48 Let's get ready to go out to meet him. 00:52:32.45\00:52:36.42 Let's pray. 00:52:39.62\00:52:40.59 Father, we thank you so much. 00:52:42.16\00:52:44.79 Thank you for those who heard this word and have been 00:52:46.49\00:52:50.00 convicted by it. 00:52:50.00\00:52:51.57 Anyone here today who wants the outpouring of the Spirit in 00:52:52.73\00:52:55.60 your life, the latter rain in your life, I want you to stand 00:52:55.60\00:52:58.87 with me as we pray. 00:52:58.87\00:53:00.34 Father, bless everyone under the sound of the voice of this 00:53:02.34\00:53:06.95 word. 00:53:06.95\00:53:07.42 Prepare us for Heaven. 00:53:09.02\00:53:11.02 In the name of Jesus, in the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen. 00:53:11.82\00:53:19.76 And Amen. 00:53:21.80\00:53:22.83 Turn to the person next to you and say, See you in glory. 00:53:25.57\00:53:28.17 See you in glory. 00:53:30.14\00:53:31.21 Pastor. 00:53:45.12\00:53:45.65 Folks, you know what? 00:53:52.83\00:53:54.00 I hate to say this, we're still on the air. 00:53:54.23\00:53:56.23 Oh. 00:53:56.56\00:53:57.17 So we don't have time to visit right now, except we do have 00:53:57.80\00:54:01.60 time for you to sing a song. 00:54:01.60\00:54:02.94 Oh, okay. 00:54:02.94\00:54:05.97 Oh, I thought the countdown was to the song. 00:54:06.14\00:54:07.88 I thought it was the end of the song. 00:54:08.04\00:54:08.84 No, no, no. 00:54:08.84\00:54:09.38 That's all right. 00:54:09.74\00:54:10.58 That's what happens live television, right? 00:54:10.65\00:54:12.51 Okay. 00:54:12.98\00:54:13.38 Oh, thank you, Jesus. 00:54:14.48\00:54:15.85 Somebody say, Praise the Lord. 00:54:15.98\00:54:17.35 Praise the Lord. 00:54:17.62\00:54:18.35 Hallelujah. 00:54:18.95\00:54:19.55 I thought we were ending. 00:54:19.55\00:54:20.52 Praise the Lord. 00:54:20.86\00:54:21.56 We're getting ready for glory. 00:54:22.22\00:54:23.26 Amen. 00:54:23.66\00:54:23.96 All to Jesus 00:54:28.13\00:54:31.10 I surrender All to Him I freely give I will ever entrust Him In 00:54:34.50\00:54:55.56 His presence daily live I surrender all I surrender 00:54:55.56\00:55:15.71 all to Thee I surrender all 00:55:21.58\00:55:37.33 to Jesus, I surrender humbly at His feet. 00:55:45.24\00:55:57.49 I 00:55:57.49\00:55:58.09 bow forsaken, take me Jesus, take me now, I surrender all, 00:56:05.96\00:56:25.21 I surrender all 00:56:28.88\00:56:32.95 to Thee my Blessed Savior, I surrender. 00:56:37.99\00:56:49.27 I surrender 00:56:54.91\00:56:58.28 all to Jesus. 00:57:06.65\00:57:11.39 I surrender all to Him. 00:57:12.89\00:57:20.04 I freely give. 00:57:20.04\00:57:25.07 Heaven, love and trust Him. 00:57:28.34\00:57:34.55 All to Him I freely give. 00:57:35.42\00:57:42.52 And I surrender all. 00:57:43.02\00:57:49.10 Father in heaven, thank you. 00:58:03.38\00:58:04.98 We surrender our lives to you in obedience. 00:58:06.48\00:58:09.08 We ask that you would allow the latter rain to fall on us. 00:58:10.92\00:58:17.29 The spirit of grace to transform us day by day. 00:58:20.16\00:58:27.27 It is the latter rain. 00:58:28.50\00:58:31.07 Amen. 00:58:32.54\00:58:34.34