Pursuing the Double Portion - Craig Winnington

• 25/01/2018
• SLC Stuart Price

 

Download Message(2017/_Pursuing_Double_Portion_mp3)

Pursuing the Double Portion

 

“He has given you the former rain faithfully and He will cause the rain to come down to you. The former and the latter rain in the first month”  Joel 2:23 - 24

In Israel there were two major rains that came on the land - the former and the latter. The former rain came in early summer and softened the ground for planting the crops. There was usually enough moisture in the soil to sustain the crops until full growth. Then the latter rain would come and swell the crops just prior to harvest.

For the Church, the former rain is prophetic of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was poured out and the Church of Jesus Christ was ‘planted’. (Acts 2:16-21)

Throughout the years there has been ‘times of refreshing’ of the Holy Spirit that has sustained the church. I believe we are living in the season of the ‘latter rain’ for the church.

In Hosea 6:1-3 it states:-

V1 - Come let us return to the lord! - It is time!

V2 - after two days He will revive us!       

2 Peter 3:8  states - That a day unto the Lord is a thousand years - From Pentecost till now is about two thousand years..

V3 - On the third day He will raise us up.

Prophetically referring to Christs second coming as we enter the third day of one thousand years, of Christs millennial reign.

The time is NOW when the church will be revived. It is time for the latter rain to come. It is time!

In 2 Kings 2:1-17 we read of Elijah's translation. Elijah means ‘My God is Jehovah’ and is a type Christ. Elisha means - ‘God is Salvation which is a type of Gods people. ‘For by Grace are you saved through faith.’

Elisha wanted what Elijah had - ‘a double portion of his Spirit’ 2 Kings 2:9 There are four aspects of Elisha's life:-

V2 - His Passion, v3-8 He Pursued, v9-11 His Persistence, v12-14 His Possession - ‘Elisha Saw it - Focused, ‘tore His own clothes’ not self reliant - letting go of the old, and picking up a ‘new’ mantle, and crossed back over Jordan - a NEW beginning.

It’s time to pursue the double portion of God’s Sprit - IT IS TIME!

V15-17 The Sons of the prophets said ‘The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha’ yet for 3 days they went looking for Elijah. They recognised the NEW but pursued the OLD.

In Psalms 27:4 - David said ‘One thing have I DESIRED of the Lord, that will I seek after’ we will only seek after what we desire.

There is a double portion promise from God for the church today. Let us like Elisha in his day - Prepare - Pursue - Possess & Position ourselves for a mighty outpouring of His spirit.

‘Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain’ Zech 10:1

It is time to ASK i.e.

Ask

Seek

Knock

IT IS TIME!!

Blessings

Craig Winnington

Have an amazing week.

Pastor Stuart & Colleen.