Someone published this request online: “Please pray for rain: "It’s so dry in Tennessee that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling; the Methodists are using wet-wipes; the Presbyterians are giving out rain-checks; and the Catholics are praying for the wine to turn back into water.”
As we look around us today we see trees so dry that the leaves are dying and falling off. We see grass that is no longer soft and green but brittle and brown. Evan as we look at our local wild life we notice that they too are not looking so well. They seem to have lost their color to a certain degree. The birds, rabbits, and squirrels are thin and look unhealthy. The effects of the drought are very apparent.
I told the story last week of the squirrels that often visit our backyard pond and how they literally are trying to soak up all they can from the pond. We are in a drought and the effects are all around us. We have been experiencing record highs this summer. We are without a doubt in the middle of a drought.
- A drought is a period of dry weather: a long period of extremely dry weather when there is not enough rain for the successful growing of crops or the replenishment of water supplies. This is what we are experiencing. This is our collective drought and this is what we all can relate to when we talk about a drought, but what about another type of drought?
A lot of us here today are in a more personal drought aren’t we! There comes a time in every person’s life they experience a drought of some type! It may be the drought of health-when it seems like there is no end in sight to your physical problems. And there is a lack of good health in your life.
It may be the drought of finances-when it seems like the bills are coming in faster than the money to pay them. And you lack the funds to care for your needs. It may be the drought of your occupation-because you have lost the enjoyment of doing what you do for a living. And you thirst for that excitement that you once had within your job.
There may be a drought in your marriage-It seems you have more bad days than good. Less smiles than frowns and it seems even though you are together, you are apart. Your emotions are crying out in thirst, just a hug or a kiss to quench that emotional need is what you desire.
What kind of drought are you in right now? What is it that is keeping you from receiving the Showers of Blessings that only God gives? What is it that you are thirsty for?
Perhaps you are so frustrated with your drought because it has gone on for far too long that you have simply accepted your lot and have weaved its existence into your life. The thought of getting rid of it has evaporated from your mind.
But I am here to tell you that this is not the way God desires us to live. God does not want us to stay in the drought of despair, He wants us to be replenished with all that He gives and receive life in the abundance. First of all, I believe that He wants us to soak in all that he offers in order for us to stop our personal droughts.
I.Soak in God’s word!
A. To lie immersed in liquid (as water) : become saturated by or as if by immersion. This is the picture of soaking that I want you to soak into your thoughts this morning.
1.I do believe the best way in which we can combat all the attacks that we are faced with each day of our lives from Satan is to use God’s Holy Word. To soak ourselves in His Word so to speak.
2.This has been shown to us through the life of Christ.
Matthew 4: 1-11 1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. 6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’” 11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.
3.Jesus combats the temptations of Satan by using Scripture. He says to Satan, “It is written”. You see, Jesus had lived his earthly life soaking in God’s Word and in his presence. Jesus was so saturated with God that He could battle any temptations that Satan tossed His way.
4.Sure He was still tempted. This really should help us to understand that even Christ Himself was tempted. But so many times in our Christian lives we often question to God “WHY?’ when we ourselves are faced with temptations and hard times.
5.We all go through hard times; we all have our times of droughts that we are faced with. We see that even Jesus had His times of drought as well.
6.As Christian we are to and live our lives as Jesus lived His. We realize this and desire all the blessings and privileges that come with that. But I believe that many Christians have forgotten some of the parts of Jesus’ life that we too are and will be plagued with.
7.How are we to believe that we shouldn’t go through hard times and temptations? Are we setting ourselves above Christ Himself?
Illustration: One thing I try and think about that seems to help me during those difficult times, those droughts, is to think about how Jesus went through His times of suffering. I think about how he hung on that cross and endured the pain and agony for my soul. I think about how I myself could not ever endure that type of punishment and how thankful I am that He did it for me.
All my problems, sufferings, drought seems so very small when I think of what Jesus went through for my soul.
B.Jesus is our model of the life we need to live. Jesus lived His life buy soaking God into His very being. He soaked God into every part of His life. Jesus also soaked in Prayer!
II.Soak in Prayer.
A.All through Scripture we read of how Jesus prayed. We even read of how He taught the disciples to pray with the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus soaked in prayer with His father. It was even the first thing He did when he awoke.
1.Take a look at Mark 1: 35-39 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
2.Whenever I read of this I am truly amazed! Here Jesus is, first thing in the morning, so early it was still dark out. Praying. The Scriptures don’t say “Jesus got up, ate some eggs, bacon, and waffles. Then drank a cup of coffee, and then went to pray.
3.No, The Bible tells us that Jesus got up and went off to pray before the sun even rose. Many of us want to soak ourselves in a cup of coffee first thing in the morning but not Jesus; He wanted to soak in prayer with His father.
4.Jesus placed God at the first of each day, over everything else, He placed God above it.
5.Our time and efforts within our daily lives seem to push God at the end rather than the front. I have a clip called, “God’s Pie” that many of you may remember from a previous sermon. It really paints the picture for us on how we prioritize the things in our lives. Many of us are really living backwards with our priorities.
VIDEO: “God’s Pie” (Worship House Media)
-For all the stuff we have in our life, for all the blessings and even for all the materialistic items we have in our lives, we need to realize that it all comes from God and we need to place Him first.
6.In Mark 1 we see how Jesus placed God first above everything else. Then what is it that we read happened next: Simon and the other guys went to look for him and when they found him what is it that Jesus says in verse 38?
Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
7.Here he was, first thing in the morning, praying. Nothing else was really on his mind other than soaking in time with God with prayer and then when the other guys decided to get up for the day they found him and the first thing he says is, “Let’s do some more for God”.
8.Jesus knew His mission. He knew what He was to do and He didn’t allow anything to take his mind off why he was there. Who knows how long He had been praying before Simon found Him.
9.Here He was, praying for an extensive time and then Bam; He was ready to keep on going for God. When I read Jesus’ reply to Simon, I can’t help but to picture in my mind that Jesus said it with excitement and eagerness!
10.This is a perfect example for us to live our lives by. Jesus was thirsty for god at all times. His desire was to take in all of what God had to offer.
11. I am sure Jesus had the weight of the world on his shoulders literally. I am sure He was concerned about what lied before him, how he had to endure the torture and torment of the crucifixion. Jesus knew what was before Him, He knew what was to happen with His life but yet, He still made sure to soak in God in all He did.
12.Jesus made the best of His time. He soaked in Prayer, in God’s Word, and He Soaked His time with serving God!
III.Soak in service to God.
A.Jesus lived His life serving God. This was His main priority, this is what drove Him, this is who He was and all that he was about. Some may say, “we’ll that was what He was here for, that was for Jesus, that was His job.” And I have to totally agree with that except it was more than a job, it was a passion.
1.We are to model our live after Christ and yes, serving God is an extremely important part. As Jesus is the example in which we need to live by.
2.Why is serving God important? Is it really necessary to serve God? What is the purpose of changing our priorities to accomplish tasks that God could honestly do better and more quickly without us?
3.Peter addresses the importance of serving God in 1 Peter 4:10-11:
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
4.Peter makes it clear that we have received our gifts from God for two purposes— to serve others and to bring praise to God. Serving isn’t about us receiving attention or glory; it is for Him to receive glory.
5.How does God receive glory when we serve? The transforming power of Jesus Christ is on display in the lives of those who have traded selfishness for selflessness. Peter says believers should recognize that we are speaking and serving directly on behalf of God to others, while He gives the ability and strength for us to do so.
6. And when we direct glory towards Him instead of accepting it for ourselves, we stand out from the crowd of those who glorify only themselves. And that difference in our lives causes people to examine the life-changing nature of a relationship with Jesus Christ. It validates our faith in front of others.
Romans 12:1-2 says, Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
7.Paul’s point is that for those who have been saved by the blood of Jesus, it only makes sense to honor Him. Giving ourselves to God is our spiritual act of worship (the Greek word for “spiritual” can also be translated "reasonable"). It’s only reasonable that we would serve the God who has provided the greatest service of all: salvation from sin and self and eternal life with Him in heaven.
Conclusion: Our lives should be saturated with serving God each moment we can. We are to soak our lives in His service, it’s really the least we can do.
Let’s face it, when we look at the life that Jesus lived we see droughts of many kinds that plagued His life but yet He was always able to defeat each scorcher. Through Soaking in God’s Word, Soaking in Prayer, and Soaking in Service to God.
Church, this is how we defeat our drought as well. Each drought we are faced with is only temporary, we can and we will get through it. Look at each drought as a wonderful opportunity for personal growth.
James 1: 2-4 says; 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
See your drought as a gift that even though it is so very hard to endure, Showers of Blessings are to follow.
