Baptism of the Holy Spirit & the Early Rain?
QUESTION: Baptism of the Holy Spirit & the Early Rain - Are they the same? If not what are they?
ANSWER: The baptism of the Holy Spirit and the early rain are the same in the sense that the Spirit was poured out (Acts 2:17-18) or shed forth (Acts 2:33) on the day of Pentecost, which Jesus promised the disciples before He ascended to heaven.
Before taken to Heaven, Jesus told the disciples to "wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." (Acts 1:4-5) One reason why the Apostle Paul also stated that the Spirit is called "the Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13; in connection to Acts 2:33). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is also the "gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:38) which is a promised blessing and to be received.
Notice how the Holy Spirit fully come on the day of Pentecost when "they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as a rushing might wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost..." Acts 2:1-4
The disciples experienced baptism of the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit was poured out in the day of Pentecost, filling the entire room where they gathered. It's like saying that if water were poured out into a room until it completely filled the room, everyone present would be immersed in the water.
In addition, the baptism or the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Pentecost constitute the early rain, but there is another general outpouring of the Holy Spirit which refer to the latter rain before the coming of the Lord, and that's what the church of God today, are praying for.
- James 5:7 says, "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."
- Deuteronomy 11:13-14 "And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, 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."
- Jeremiah 5:24 "Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest."
- Hosea 6:3 "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."
Just like the natural early and the latter rain are needed for the germination, growth, and perfection of the precious fruit of the earth, so the baptism of the Holy Spirit will make the word of God alive and strong to renew the heart to perfection ready for eternal life when Jesus comes the second time.
I hope and pray you are blessed!
