Receiving the Early & Latter Rain

by Frank Klin maranathamedia.com

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean
hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall
receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation." - (Psalms 24:3-
5)

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments
of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: and a curse, if ye will not obey the
commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day,
to go after other gods, which ye have not known." - (Deuteronomy 11:28)

"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,
that I will give 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. And I will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle,
that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye
turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; and the Lord’s wrath be kindled against you,
and He shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and ye perish
quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in
your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets
between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in
thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. –
(Deuteronomy 11:13-19)

"If ye walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them; then I will give you rain in
due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit." -
(Leviticus 26:3-4)

"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in
all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, to
keep the commandments of the Lord, and His statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked." - (Deuteronomy 10:12-
13, 16)

"And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God
with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live." - (Deuteronomy 30:6)

"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord." - (Leviticus 19:18)

"And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that He
had answered them well, asked Him, Which is the first commandment of all?" And Jesus answered
him, The first of all the commandments, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy
strength: this is the first commandment. And the second like this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well,
Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but He:" - (Mark 12:28-
32)

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"Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord
thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets." - (Matthew 22:36-40)

"Ye shall therefore keep My statutes, and My judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I
am the Lord." - (Leviticus 18:5)

"But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith.
And the law is not of faith: but, the man that doeth them shall live in them." - (Galatians 3:11-12)

"Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God
commanded to teach you, that ye might do in the land whither ye go to possess it: that thou mightest
fear the Lord thy God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments, which I command thee, thou,
and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. Hear
therefore, O Israel, and observe to do; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase
mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and
honey. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all
thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this
day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of
them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down,
and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as
frontlets between thine eyes." - (Deuteronomy 6:1-8)

“Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord.
And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto
me when I came forth out of Egypt. And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a
memorial between thine eyes, that the Lord’s law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath
the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year
to year.” - (Exodus 13:6, 8-10)

“Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even
Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither
with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” - (1
Corinthians 5:7-8)

"And I gave them My statutes, and shewed them My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live
in them. Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they
might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." - (Ezekiel 20:11-12)

"See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; in that I command thee this
day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes
and His judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the
land whither thou goest to possess it. But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but
shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye
shall surely perish, ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan
to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you. I have set before you life
and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: that
thou mayest love the Lord thy God, that thou mayest obey His voice, and that thou mayest cleave
unto Him: for He is thy Life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the
Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. And Jesus saith . . , I
am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." - (Deuteronomy
30:15-20 & John 14:6)

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"Therefore thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep His charge, and His statutes, and His
judgments, and His commandments, always. 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, that I will give 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. And I
will send grass in thy fields for thy cattle, that thou mayest eat and be full. Take heed to yourselves,
that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; and the
Lord’s wrath be kindled against you, and He shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the
land yield not her fruit; and ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you.
Therefore shall ye lay up these My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign
upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. And ye shall teach them your
children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way,
when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." - (Deuteronomy 11:1, 13-19)

"Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them
right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madest known unto them
Thy Holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses Thy
servant: and gavest them bread from heaven for their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them
out of the rock for their thirst, and promisedst them that they should go in to possess the land which
thou hadst sworn to give them." - (Nehemiah 9:13-15)

"But after they had rest, they did evil again before Thee: therefore leftest Thou them in the hand of
their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them: yet when they returned, and cried unto
Thee, Thou heardest from heaven; and many times didst Thou deliver them according to Thy
mercies; and testifiedst against them, that Thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they
dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto Thy commandments, but sinned against Thy judgments,
(which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and
would not hear." - (Nehemiah 9:28-29)

"I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that
thou mayest be clothed, and the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and
repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will
come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." -
(Revelation 3:18-21)

What Are The Weak and Beggarly Elements

and Statutes and Judgments That Were Not Good?
"You came down also on mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven, and gave them right
judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: And made known to them your
Holy Sabbath, and commanded them precepts, statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses your
servant: And gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of
the rock for their thirst, and promised them that they should go in to possess the land which you had
sworn to give them.” - (Nehemiah 9:13-15)

If our Heavenly Father gave His people “right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and
commandments” as stated in the verses above, what are the “beggarly elements” Paul mentions in
the following verses? "Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by
nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye
again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? Ye observe

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days, and months, and times, and years. I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in
vain." - (Galatians 4:8-11)

Are these “elements” part of the same statutes given to Moses? Through the prophet Ezekiel God
tells us He gave the people “statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not
live.”

"Because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, and had
polluted My Sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers' idols. Wherefore I gave them
also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; and I polluted
them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that
I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord." - (Ezekiel
20:24-26)

Is He actually “giving” them or allowing us the power of choice to follow Him or our own inclinations?
Read on.

"But My people would not hearken to My voice; and Israel would none of Me. So I gave them up unto
their own hearts' lust: they walked in their own counsels. Oh that My people had hearkened unto Me,
and Israel had walked in My ways!" - (Psalms 81:11-13)

“But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare My statutes, or that thou shouldest
take My covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest My words behind thee.” -
(Psalms 50:17)

"And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of
their own hands. Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written
in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices
forty years in the wilderness? Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god
Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon." -
(Acts 7:41-43)

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in
them; for God hath shewed unto them. For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world
are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, His eternal power and Godhead; so
that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified not as God, neither
were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible
God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping
things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to
dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and
worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this
cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into
that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman,
burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving
in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain
God in knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God,
despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding,
covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of

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God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have
pleasure in them that do them." - (Romans 1:18-32)

"Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good
way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." -
(Jeremiah 6:16)

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all
might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." - (2
Thessalonians 2:11-12)

"Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will
choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did
answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before Mine eyes, and chose that in which
I delighted not." - (Isaiah 66:3-4)

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in
the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God
through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling
have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” -
(Ephesians 4:17-19)

“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same
mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the
rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may
suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess
of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: wherein they think it strange that ye run
not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: who shall give account to Him that is
ready to judge the quick and the dead. For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that
are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the
Spirit.” - (1 Peter 4:1-6)

Psalms of David
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise
the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is
pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the
Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine
gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. (Psalms 19:7-10)

“Moreover by them is thy servant warned: in keeping of them great reward. Who can understand
errors? cleanse Thou me from secret faults. Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let
them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great
transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy
sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." - (Psalms 19:11-14)

"Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed according to Thy word. With my
whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments. Thy word have I hid
in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee. Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me Thy statutes.
With my lips have I declared all the judgments of Thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Thy
testimonies, as in all riches. I will meditate in Thy precepts, and have respect unto Thy ways. I will
delight myself in Thy statutes: I will not forget Thy Word." - (Psalms 119:9-16)

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"Let Thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, Thy salvation, according to Thy word. So shall I have
wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in Thy word. And take not the word of truth
utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in Thy judgments. So shall I keep Thy law continually for
ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy precepts. I will speak of Thy testimonies also
before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have
loved. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." - (Psalms 119:41-47, 54)

"Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn Thy
commandments. They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in Thy
word. I know, O Lord, that Thy judgments are right, and Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. Let, I
pray Thee, Thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to Thy word unto Thy servant. Let
Thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for Thy law is my delight. Let the proud be
ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: I will meditate in Thy precepts. Let
those that fear Thee turn unto me, and those that have known Thy testimonies. Let my heart be
sound in Thy statutes; that I be not ashamed." - (Psalms 119:73-80)

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore
doth my soul keep them. The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the
simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for Thy commandments. Look Thou upon me,
and be merciful unto me, as Thou usest to do unto those that love Thy Name. Order my steps in Thy
word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will
I keep Thy precepts. Make Thy face to shine upon Thy servant; and teach me Thy statutes. Rivers of
waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not Thy law. Salvation is far from the wicked: for
they seek not statutes." - (Psalms 119:105, 130-136,155)

"Let my cry come near before Thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to Thy Word. Let my
supplication come before thee: deliver me according to Thy Word. My lips shall utter praise, when
thou hast taught me Thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of Thy Word: for all Thy commandments
righteousness. Let Thine hand help me; for I have chosen Thy precepts. I have longed for Thy
salvation, O Lord; and Thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee; and let Thy
judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget Thy
commandments." - (Psalms 119:169-176)

The rest of the “Early and Latter Rain” studies can be found HERE:

Related Studies:

“Repent And Be Baptized In The Name Of Jesus”

“And He Shall Baptize You With The Holy Ghost”

“The Gift, Our Abiding Possession”

“Spiritually Minded vs The Flesh”

“The Seed of Promise”