RE-PURPOSED: Latter Rain Greater Than the Former Rain!
RE-PURPOSED: Latter Rain Greater Than the Former Rain!
Once something has been “used up” or grown too old to be “used” for the purpose it was designed, most often it is thrown aside or tossed into the trash bin.
One thing that has grown in popularity in this time is something the millennials and others are calling “re-purposing”.
It is taking something that is used or lost its first “purpose” or way it was supposed to be used and then made to be used for another purpose and that is what they refer to as “re-purposing”!
Just as there is a boom of millennials there is also a boom of what is known as baby boomers and GenX’ers.
The 50 and over crowd has grown to a rather large number especially in America. Even the baby boomers population has grown to large numbers and living much longer! The ones who actually served in or was a spouse of one who fought in WWII are also living longer and more healthy than they once were. Many of those are Christians who have caught sight of the plan that our Heavenly Father has desired for a very, very long time.
His Kingdom coming to earth and His will being done on earth like in Heaven!
His will being “heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons, cleanse the lepers, preach the gospel and make disciples of nations”. AH but there are not dead, sick or lepers in heaven…and no need to preach the gospel either in Heaven ah HA, you are correct! Precisely!
IF we do what we are commanded to do by Jesus…guess what? We do what HE did…drive out darkness so that there can be discipling of people and nations and His glory can and will be demonstrated on the whole earth!
What has this to do with re-purposing or folks over 50? A whole lot!
See one of the things the Word tells us is that the “latter rain will be greater than the former rain”!
IN the New Testament (New Covenant) it is stated slightly different… the last shall be first and the first shall be last!
What does it all mean? How does this relate to our subject matter?
I am so glad you asked!
What was once in the past (first as in first group called the church) will be seen (like those in Acts church) the last is referring to the latter days…our time frame.
Summed up what was once seen on earth like the Acts church will once again be seen as in the first church only….the latter rain (this time frame and the one coming) WILL be greater (seen in a way that has not been on the earth….) what could that be? HIS KINGDOM being manifest to the likes of which this earth has not yet seen. The Word tells us HIS GLORY WILL COVER THE EARTH!!! IN other words, the manifestation and demonstration IS going to be seen….beloved, LONG before actual perilous times and the rapture happens!
I realize that shakes some people’s doctrinal beliefs but I say GOOD! What can be shaken shall be shaken so let it be!
What is the re-purposing about then and those who are older?
Again, so glad you asked….
Many have felt they have either “missed their use/purpose” in life and others feel they have been “used up” and have nothing left TO give or be used to do for the Lord.
Here is something to first ponder before going further…are you still alive right now?
OF COURSE YOU ARE….YOU’RE READING THIS! OR hearing it!
That said…anyone alive has NOT “missed it” because the LORD has our “times” in HIS hands!
YOU have a purpose. Okay, maybe you were once a soccer star or a star athlete or scaled mountains, or ran long distances. Maybe you were the marathon mom who could do everything for everyone but not so much anymore…they are grown and you barely have energy for the grandkids!
Maybe you were a “go-getter” business man or woman but that appeal is gone and you don’t feel you fit in any longer…the concert pianist whose hands are not quite so “quick” anymore…the list goes on.
The enemy wants people to “feel dried up” and “done for”! IF he cannot get your soul for eternity, he certainly tries to “foul it up!”
Fouling it up by all kinds of “stinking thinking” …thoughts of defeat, hopelessness, discouragement, sadness, grief, pain, anxiety, fear, self-pity, oppression, depression, unbelief, doubts etc….all in which to get you to “give up”!
These are the same things he has always tried to get everyone to “think”!
They always come in different packages geared to our age, prospects and such…we need to discern these wicked spirits coming against us at any age!
Here are a few quotes from famous respected people:
“You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream” C.S. Lewis
“Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.” – Benjamin Franklin.
Here is the kicker….if you are born again in Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit filled believer and follower OF Jesus then guess what? YOU WILL NEVER DIE!
WHAT?
NOPE! Your body may die….but your soul, what keeps your body going will never die! YOU will step out of that shell of a body as a young healthy soul that looks like you only much, much better…and into GLORY with the LORD JESUS!
However…if you do NOT know Jesus as YOUR Savior, or just refuse to believe IN Him…you will be in perpetual death and darkness for eternity, it’s that simple. GOD does NOT send people to hell….THEY choose to go there when they refuse the free gift of life….JESUS CHRIST!
“19. But those who keep waiting for the LORD will renew their strength. Then they’ll soar on wings like eagles; they’ll run and not grow weary; they’ll walk and not grow tired.” Isaiah 40:31
“20. That is why we are not discouraged. Though outwardly we are wearing out, inwardly we are renewed day by day. Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-17
“5 Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!” Psalms 103:5
Here is the kicker…if you are alive you still have PURPOSE!
The question that is the real issue here is are you WILLING? Are you willing to CHOOSE to be USED?
Are you willing to choose to BELIEVE that GOD WANTS to use you?
The gifts of God are irrevocable…He doesn’t “take them back”…they stick with you! That said…what are you doing with them?
You do NOT ever HAVE to remain in a solitary place…even if you struggle physically or challenged in some mental capacity, YOU have an “in” with Heavenly Father and all you have to do is ask…believing!
ASK HIM with a humble child-like heart and believe HE WILL ANSWER!
We want to just “give up” when it seems He is tarrying too long…but the word tells us this:
“For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time it hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay”. Habakkuk 2:3
“37 For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.” Hebrews 10:37
“9 The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.” II Peter 3:9
“Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.” Psalms 27:14
Waiting means to wait with eager anticipation and great expectation full of HOPE!
Remember the scripture… “Christ IN us the HOPE of glory”?
Check this out beloved one:
“The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts.” KJV
“The glory of this later House will be greater than that of the former, says the Lord of Hosts, and I shall give peace in this place, says the Lord of Hosts.” Haggai 2:9 One New Man Bible Jewish Roots and Power
According to Jewish history from One New Man Bible the glory of the second house never exceeded that of the first. This was a verse pointing to the mass of gentiles/heathens coming to the Lord.
When Jesus came HE talked about the “temple” but not of the ones built by the hands of men. JESUS came AS the Prince of Shalom (not just tranquility but of Kingdom order!) Everything made right! That the very HOLY Spirit of the Heavenly Father would dwell in the hearts of men/women (children). THIS would mean the NEW “House” is mankind!
If our Heavenly Father is NOT giving up on us, why are we “giving up”?
Beloved WE….ARE the later House and the Latter Rain!
We are the beginning of this amazing thing about to turn everything upside down as it all begin over 2000 years ago with JESUS!
So, what’s in an age? Hopefully….wisdom with experience!
AH…but here is the kicker…most think that their wisdom with “experience” is what not to do etc. and often it comes out a bit cynical to younger ones when shared. WHO wants to listen to cynical satire?
When the testimony and history are GODLY wisdom and GODLY even supernatural experiences and encounters….this beloved ones, will leave the younger generation hungry for what you have had and have!
THAT is the point! Paul knew this when he said:
“4 For when one of you says, “I am [a disciple] of Paul,” and another, “I am [a disciple] of Apollos,” are you not [proving yourselves unchanged, just] ordinary people? 5 What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Just servants through whom you believed [in Christ], even as the Lord appointed to each his task.”
He pointed to Christ because people saw the remarkable testimonies he carried but he knew in his “wisdom” what they were doing and corrected them. They would not have even said those things had Paul not been doing remarkable miracles and sharing about encounters/experiences he personally had with Jesus!
Paul certainly understood these scriptures in Psalms 145:4-7
“4One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty and remarkable acts. 5 On the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wonderful works, I will meditate.6 People will speak of the power of Your awesome acts, and [with gratitude and submissive wonder] I will tell of Your greatness.7 They will overflow [like a fountain] when they speak of Your great and abundant goodness and will sing joyfully of Your righteousness.”
RE-PURPOSING beloved is where our Lord Jesus has redeemed all the years the locusts have eaten and HE restores us…our souls Psalms 23:3 and if we believe we have “missed it”, think again! HE re-purposes us all the time because our gifts, skills, talents are not revocable!
THE question may be “how” and “what”. How can we be used…not a cynical question…but asking LORD how may I be used? And “What” Lord do I need to do in order to BE used!
Remember your life assignment is what you have a passion for…get creative! IF you were an athlete…start working out at yoru pace and encourage those around you to do the same. Hire a trainer and speak into their lives/pray for them! Or go to your local church or gym or YMCA that has Senior exercises and take advantage of your love for sports and let GOD USE YOU WHERE YOU ARE!
If you sing…get in a choir! Stop being isolated, insist on being taken where there is music. Can’t get out, get people to come in and worship WITH YOU! Speak into their lives and pray for them! Share what GOD has done in your life!
You love to cook and can’t for some reason? Get some younger women in and start a cook club and share YOUR recipes and secrets and tell them what GOD has done in your life and pray for them!
LOOK …excuses and self-pity “feeling sorry for yourself” or “woe is me” attitudes only plunges a person further into a pit of despair!
THAT pit can get really deep and very dark! Need help…learn to ASK!
Younger people LOVE to do things, you may be surprised! Call your local church or a ministry and ask if there is someone who has a gift of hospitality or mercy and get someone in to help YOU and YOU speak into their life! GET CREATIVE beloved ones!!!
RISE UP and SHINE…so that when you do go home…you are leaving a GOD legacy behind! AND taking souls to heaven to be with you forever!
PEOPLE…beloved are all we get to take to heaven! HOW many have you loved today? How many have you shared about our blessed JESUS with?
PRAY….share….show you care! BE the latter rain and latter house the Word talks about and see what GOD will do with YOU!
BE RE-PURPOSED!
Love and blessings to all!
Pastor Lori Lynn