We often treat revival as if it were as capricious as lightning striking. Is that true? The wind of the Spirit is evidently blowing in China, north India and parts of Africa. Must we just satisfy ourselves with quoting, “The wind blows where it wants to” and leave it at that? Or are there keys in the Word that show us the way into real blessing? WHERE IS THE RAIN?
Read carefully the words of Isaiah 55:10-11, “As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it.”
It is easy to misapply this illustration. We know that often in Scripture the seed and bread are pictures of the Word in two distinct aspects—the seed as the potential of the gospel for the lost, and bread as the provision of nourishing truth for the believer. And surely that is true in this passage as well.
However, you will note that here the “as” and “so” link the rain and snow with God’s Word. May I suggest that there is a third aspect to the Word of God here. The bread is the Word as we receive it for personal sustenance. The seed is the Word as we speak it to the lost. But this is not enough. Much seed has been spread around but seems to be lying dormant without springing to life. What is the matter?
Thank the Lord for a soul being saved now and again, a sprout of true life springing up here and there in the vast fields of North America. But we certainly are not seeing the sheaves being gathered as the Lord promised. Did He promise sheaves? Yes, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Ps. 126:6). If this is the sure promise of God, what is missing?
There have been various suggestions made for the lack of blessing seen in gospel work in North America. Here are some of the more popular:
The West has had its chance, some say; our time has passed. Yet millions of non-Westerners (who have not had their chance) are flooding onto our shores—who, if they stayed in their own countries, might have a better chance of being saved! That certainly would be true of the Chinese, for example, where thousands every day are coming to Christ.
This is a day of small things. We have already pointed out in other articles that misapplying a verse describing the situation during the Tribulation just won’t fly. Besides, Zechariah (4:10) isn’t describing small results. The results are a company that no man can number, according to John (Rev. 7:9)! No, he is referring to small resources—two witnesses who will reap this mighty harvest from all nations.
This is the Laodicean age. Assuming that the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 portray seven ages in the history of the Church, it should be noted that the last four churches are promised the coming of the Lord. You don’t have to be a Laodicean assembly during the Laodicean period. Besides, it surely isn’t Laodicean in other parts of the world. No, this excuse won’t do, either. The Lord Jesus, after all, promised to be with us right to the end of the age as we seek to fulfill the Commission.
It would be good to remind ourselves of the factors that haven’t changed since the days when believers brought in armloads of souls.
The Great Commission hasn’t changed. The gospel is still to be preached to every creature—in our cities, our neighborhoods, our families, to our workmates (but not on company time). We are all to be involved.
The power of God to save hasn’t changed. His arm isn’t shortened; His ear isn’t heavy. He is the one who calls us to redouble our efforts: if those invited refuse, go elsewhere and compel them to come in.
The Word of God hasn’t changed. It is still “the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.” The Holy Spirit’s work hasn’t changed, convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Nor has the power of prayer changed. So what has changed?
Of course, to have successful harvests we must sow the good seed “beside all waters” (Isa. 32:20) at all times (Eccl. 11:6) and in all conditions—“in season and out of season.” We do need to think about where, when, how, and how much seed is being distributed.
But there are two ingredients missing if we are merely throwing seed around. Hosea puts his finger on the problem: “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you” (10:12).
Here are the missing two key factors.
First, before sowing the Word, we must break up the fallow ground. If not, you might as well sow corn on concrete. Notice that it is “your” ground. The plowing must begin in our own hearts, exposing ourselves to God.
Second, and directly related to this, we need the rain and snow. The moisture is the heavenly influence that germinates the seed and causes it to grow. Of what do they speak?
We know that a person is not saved by merely hearing Christians quote Bible verses. It is not hearing about Christ that saves a person; this occurs when they hear Him. Conviction and conversion come to the soul when we realize that Christ is risen indeed and is personally calling us. What a day!
It is the water of God’s word spoken from heaven that confirms and germinates the seed planted by men. It is the rain and snow (in season and out of season) that we need. Why does it not fall? Is it as uncertain as our modern weather reports?
Israel is a narrow strip of land along the windward edge of the Mediterranean. Unlike Egypt with its seasonal Nile flood, it was “a land…[that] drinketh water of the rain of heaven” (Dt. 11:11). The Lord promised two annual rainy seasons, regular as clockwork: “I will give you the rain of your land in due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn…” (v. 14).
But while these rains were regular, not capricious, they were contingent on obedience. Jeremiah, Hosea and Joel (5:24; 6:3; 2:23) spoke of this, as did Solomon in his dedicatory prayer: “When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because we have sinned against Thee, and shall turn again to Thee, and confess Thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto Thee…Then hear Thou in heaven, and forgive the sin of Thy people” (1 Ki. 8:35f).
I believe we will not begin to bring in sheaves until, our hearts broken up before God, we make detailed confession of our sins. Only then can we expect God’s rain, fulfilling Paul’s prayer: “Now He that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2 Cor. 9:10).
We will not begin to bring in sheaves until, our hearts broken before God, we make detailed confession of our sin.