The Rest and the Refreshing
By G.T. Haywood
Written May, 1924
In the beginning of the Gospel, they had the former “rain” to start it to growing and in the latter days, we have the latter “rain” to “refresh” the grain, just before harvest time. WE are getting the latter rain in the Holy Ghost, in these last days. It is falling now, and the grain is getting “refreshed.” Turn to Isaiah, 28th chapter, eleventh verse; and also the 3rd chapter of Acts, and the 9th and 20th verses, speaking of the “refreshing”.
“For With Stammering Lips And Another Tonge Will He Speak To This People To Whim He Said, This Is The Rest Wherewith Ye May Cause The Weary To Rest; And This Is The Refreshing.”
“Repent Ye Therefore, And Be Converted, That Your Sins May Be Blotted Out, When The Time Of Refreshing Shall Come From The Presence Of The Lord.”
On the Day of Pentecost, there came a “rest” from the burden of the law. But it is not only the “rest,” but it also says “the refreshing”. In the last days we are getting the “refreshing”, while in the former days the church got the “rest”. He is bringing all things to our remembrance. The wheat is being freshened. In Acts 3:19-21, the “refreshing” is connected with the coming of the Lord. Now notice in Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost. He said “Repent, and be baptized every one of you”, speaking individually: but in the 3rd chapter of Acts, he is talking to Israel as a nation and addresses them all. So Israel must repent in the last days for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Hosea 3:4-5 says on this wise, “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice and without an image, and without an ephod and without a seraphim. Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodnsess in the latter days.” Zedekiah was really the last king go of the Jews (who are the center of Israel), yet they did not lose their ruling authority even under Herod in the days of John the Baptist. But when they failed God, they “wandered many days without a king.” And so when Christ came they rejected Him. And “afterwards” in the latter days which is now the Israelites are waking up and returning to their land of Palestine. Amen
Now the harvest is “the end of the age,” and the harvest time is “refreshing” time; and it is connected with the return of the Lord. If we are the “first fruits”: unto the Lord, then He will take this first fruit up and we shall be waving in glory in the hands of Christ our High Priest! “Behold I and the children which God hath given me!” Heb 2:13. Thus is shall be said in the day when Christ “presents us unto Himself glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but it should be holy and without blemish.” Eph. 5:27
God intended to glorify Adam but the first Adam fell short of the glory. The second Adam failed not.
Therefore in Leviticus 23rd Chapter, the first fruits and new meat offering is mention. And on the Day of Pentecost they were baptized with the Holy Ghost, but with “fire” afterwards. And this “fire” is burning on the outside testing your “flesh”. This burns the “leaven” out! “The fiery trials which are to try you!” I Peter 4:12. “I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. Isa. 48:10. No man is really fit for the “fire” until he gets the Holy Ghost. That is why so many “scorch”, not having the Holy Ghost “anointing” to keep them dampened and sprayed and able to stand the heat. So he sprinkles us with His spirit and ironed us with the “fire”. You try to iron “dry” clothes and it will not prosper well; but just sprinkle them down a little and then when the hot iron comes they will resist the scorching and come forth without a wrinkle.
The sermon “The Rest and the Refreshing” by G.T. Haywood was taken from the book The Lost Works of Bishop G.T. Haywood: Unpublished Anthologies from Bishop Haywood’s Early Years, written by J. Laverne Tyson, Volume 1, 1914-1926.
