A Reunion service and the Early and Latter Rain

 

Although Saturday 26^th March was a bit of a gloomy and wet morning the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lowestoft was filled with joy and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. Members of the Yarmouth, Lowestoft, Norwich, Colchester and Ipswich Churches gathered together in fellowship. 

 

 

Many members of these churches had previously attended a special weekend retreat designed to have a better understanding of the Holy Spirit. 

 

 

The Theme song at the retreat was placed on screen.

  

 

 

Take me into full control     By Louise Kleuser

 

 

The Guest speaker for the day was Pastor Don McFarlane, President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the UK and Ireland. Other Speakers were Pastor Sam Ouadjo, Michael Walker (retired Pastor of the Yarmouth Church) and Pastor Paul Smith (temporary Pastor for the Yarmouth Church.

 

 

The morning began with a stirring talk by Michael Walker about the Early Rain. He pointed out the importance of understanding the Early Rain at Pentecost and the preparation that went into it before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was received on that special day.

 

Like many churches in the area, the Adventist Church is praying and waiting for the Latter Rain. Michael said that the second Pentecost will be much more magnificent than Pentecost. He pointed out that the highlight for that day was the zeal and passion that entered the people and led them to go out and share the Good News to the world. Never before had the Holy Spirit been witnessed like this, thousands were converted in one day. Their witness actually turned the world upside down! How amazing it must have been to receive such a wonderful gift that removed all language barriers and gave them the ability to speak to all mankind. The apostles prepared themselves before Pentecost by humbling themselves and devoting themselves in prayer, during those 10 days of waiting in Jerusalem as instructed by the Lord before His ascension. 

 

 

The Dedication of baby Keira.by Pastor Paul Smith

Pastor Paul Smith conducted a Dedication for baby Keira. Adventists don’t baptise the little ones with water instead they follow the example of the parents of Jesus and bring them to the church for a service of Dedication. When they become of an age to understand they can then decide for themselves to become baptized. 

Pastor Smith said that when you look into the face of a baby you look into the future and that the greatest gift in the home is a new life.

 

 

Maureen Roat, who is a member of the Norwich Church, sang a beautiful solo entitled ‘Spirit Song’.

 

 

Fellowship Lunch.

Eunice Sampson, Jean Baker and the ladies of the Lowestoft Church served a wonderful fellowship lunch. The ladies were thanked and applauded for there hard work.

 

 

The second morning service was conducted by Pastor Don McFarlane. He spoke about the Latter Rain. He pointed out that the prophecy in Joel 2 had a double application – it’s fulfilment at Pentecost, as quoted by the apostle Peter (Acts.2), but also before the Latter Rain - because we have already seen some of the signs of that prophecy since that event (i.e. when the sun was darkened, known in history as "The Dark Day" on May 19 1780 and that same night when the moon appeared like blood. Since the time of Moses, no period of darkness of equal density, extent, and duration has ever been recorded. "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2:31.

He spoke about the great revival in Wales of 1904 and how people were changed in so many ways. The crime rate dropped, drunkards were reformed, and pubs reported losses in trade. Bad language disappeared and never returned to the lips of many – it was reported that the pit ponies failed to understand their born again colliers who seemed to speak the new language of Zion – without curse and blasphemy – even football and rugby became uninteresting in the light of new joy and direction received by the Converts. Thousands of people gave their lives to God. 

 

Pastor McFarland emphasised that if we want great things like this to happen in our lives today, then we need to bring our hearts more in line to God and to study and to listen to His word. We must ask for the Latter Rain and the power of the Holy Spirit and to wrestle with God just like Jacob did and who told God that he would not let go until he blessed him. Once the Holy Spirit takes us over we will see great things happen.

 

He concluded his talk by saying that he would like to be part of the Latter Rain and to witness the great things that will be accomplished in the power of the Holy Spirit during the last days before Jesus comes.

 

In the afternoon, Pastor Smith gave a short study on what the Old Testament has to say about the latter rain.