Video Illustration: War Room! Trailer
Sermon: Elijah’s Story of Breakthrough pt. 4
Thesis: Elijah’s life and story reveals how God provides even in times of nationwide sin, political chaos and famine. Elijah also teaches us how to walk with faith over fear through the tests from the Lord and life. Elijah has been called again by God to go confront King Ahab a second time and the false prophets of Israel!
Scripture: 1 Kings 18
Elijah Confronts Ahab the 2nd time
1After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. 3And Ahab called Obadiah, who was over the household. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly, 4and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.) 5And Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys. Perhaps we may find grass and save the horses and mules alive, and not lose some of the animals.” 6So they divided the land between them to pass through it. Ahab went in one direction by himself, and Obadiah went in another direction by himself. 7And as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him. And Obadiah recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?” 8And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your lord, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’” 9And he said, “How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, to kill me? 10As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to seek you. And when they would say, ‘He is not here,’ he would take an oath of the kingdom or nation, that they had not found you. 11And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here.”’ 12And as soon as I have gone from you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you I know not where. And so, when I come and tell Ahab and he cannot find you, he will kill me, although I your servant have feared the Lord from my youth. 13Has it not been told my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid a hundred men of the Lord’s prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water? 14And now you say, ‘Go, tell your lord, “Behold, Elijah is here”’; and he will kill me.” 15And Elijah said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”
The challenge to Ahab and to the priest’s of Baal!
16So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him. And Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. 23Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. 30Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been thrown down. 31Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time. 35And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water. 36And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.
Introduction:
Elijah stepped up for the fight. He stepped out in faith. He gave all to serve God and to be His prophet to a lost generation. His story reminds us of how adversity drives us deeper into intimacy with God and how it also develops us into the spiritual warrior God wants us to be. Elijah was not afraid to bring the faith fight to King Ahab and Jezebel (The Bonnie and Clyde of their day!)
Have you ever heard of the “The fight or flight response to stress and danger?”
The fight-or-flight response is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival. It was first described by Walter Bradford Cannon. His theory states that animals react to threats with a general discharge of the sympathetic nervous system, priming the animal for fighting or fleeing. We see this reaction in humans as well in stressful and dangerous situations. We see through the life stories in the Bible this same struggle or response in different situations throughout the Bible.
The Bible: Which is the world’s most read book of all times and has sold more copies than any other volume in History is a critical book to know and study. It has impacted both the Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions and has affected the culture, law, art, morals, and behavior of nearly every society on earth. But the Bible is more than just a classic book it is filled with history and tells the story of God’s interaction with humankind and with individuals.
The main story of the Bible is: God created the world, humans rebelled against God and His ways, and God initiated a plan to save the world – a plan that was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The main character in the Bible is God! The Bible describes his connection with certain individuals and nations. But the Bible also tells us that we are in a fight for our souls and for the souls of others and we need to use our faith to win this war.
1 Timothy 6:12: Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses.
Quote: From Book by Kilpatrick - “Chariot of Fire”: “The story of Elijah is the story of Jezebel and the saga of Ahab. Elijah's long fought war, and his spectacular rapture … both hinged on his victory over evil, a triumph that had to be personal before it could be national.”
The example of Elijah’s life is placed in the Bible to show us how we are to fight in the battle for our soul and for the souls of others and even our nation. This battle is real by the way and it is still raging across the world and our nation! The Bible makes it clear that we are to use faith to defeat fear, we are to use our faith to connect with God – Why? Because He is the one who does the miracles to prove – He is the true God and that we represent the Real Truth.
Elijah experienced this classical response of fight and flight both in his life and ministry as he did battle with an evil king and queen for the soul of Israel. As he confronted death with a faith filled prayer to God for a miracle. As he throws down the challenge to take on the priest’s and prophets of Baal and Asherah. Faith – a trust in God that believed God would show up and bring a breakthrough.
T.S. – Let’s look at Elijah’s second confrontation with King Ahab in 1 Kings 18: 16-40 and learn how to use our faith in battle for the souls of others in a nation:
I. Elijah’s second encounter with Ahab and Jezebel turns more dangerous and more deadly:
a. Elijah had a willingness and boldness to address sinful behavior as directed by the Lord and to put his life on the line for the cause of revival – and for the proper soul care of Israel.
i. Elijah was called by God to confront Ahab’s sins – to confront Jezebel – to fight for the faith – to fight for truth:
1. 1 Kings 16:33 states, “Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.”
a. Did you hear this statement?
i. He was the most evil king of Israel! He did more evil than all the other kings combined we are told.
2. I really don’t believe the Lord would have called Elijah to the fight if his heart was not in the right place with Him to fight for truth!
a. From our few verses it’s obvious he heard and listened to the voice of God when most others did not!
i. Elijah responded to God’s call to leave anonymity and safety to take on the wicked king Ahab and Jezebel
b. Would you have listened to the voice of the Lord if he called you do this? Today many ignore God’s voice and reject His words and callings? Many choose to listen to false voices and lies rather than to the truth. Are you one of them?
ii. The battle for the soul of a nation: YES, we are in a spiritual fight today “We are in the battle for the soul of America!” Our fight is with spiritual forces of evil at work in the land driving people from God and righteousness. Our fight is for a nation promoting evil over good and calling it good. Our fight is for a nation which was once a Nation Under God but now is in jeopardy of being a nation that has rejected God and His ways. We have the battle of the God’s going on in our nation right -now – who will America choose?
1. The fight (Our faith fight) is to share the good news of Jesus with lost souls – yes in the world we live today. We are to share the truth of God and expose the lies of the Devil. We are to call lies – lies!
a. We have one mission as a Christian and that is to be a witness for Jesus – we are all called to tell people about the Bible and it’s truths.
i. We are also called to call sin – sin! The two big spiritual battles today which are tearing our country apart spiritually:
1. Abortion – which is sin (Thou shalt not murder!)
a. Leviticus 18:21 “Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech, for you must not profane the name of the Lord your God. I am the Lord!”
b. Exodus 20:13: “Thou shalt not kill.”
c. Just watch an ultra sound of an abortion!
2. Homosexuality – the LGBT movement is all about sexual immorality and sin (The Bible calls this sexual practice sin!)
a. Genesis 18:1 -19:29 Story of Sodom and Gomorrah note Sodomy comes from this story it means:
i. Word net dictionary: Sodomy - anal intercourse, committed, by a man with a man or woman Synonyms: anal intercourse, anal sex.”
ii. Webster’s online dictionary: Sodomy - anal intercourse committed by a man with a man or woman. Synonyms: anal intercourse, anal sex, buggery.
iii. Jude 7: “In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.”
b. Leviticus 18:22 “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman, that is detestable!”
i. This chapter also addresses sex with minors and children and family members and animals.
c. Romans 1:18-32:
i. Read the whole chapter section because it describes many today!
ii. Note specifically Romans 1:24-27: 24Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.”
iii. By the way this practice of sin is condemned before The Law was written to Moses, In the Law and in the New Testament!
iv. This movement wants to usurp their perversion over other people’s rights and beliefs.
v. This is why they stole the symbol of the rainbow from God and use it as pride in their sin – it’s in your face God!
b. This is very important if we want to see revival come to our families, our church, ourselves and our nation.
i. As in the movie War Room we too need to fight in prayer for our families and our friends and community. If we don’t who will? If we fail to do this then the Devil wins in your family, with your friends and within your communities and within our nation.
c. We need to open the door of truth to the lost and let them know what love is and what sin does to people’s lives!
i. It kills – it destroys – it steals away their lives!
d. Prayer tonight from 6-8pm for the elections on Tuesday – Come out pray and decide to be a part of this spiritual breakthrough event by praying for peoples souls to be saved through this event and for the USA to return to the Lord and His truths.
b. Back to Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 18:1-40:
i. Elijah’s faith to go back and face Ahab to me is amazing – he is the most wanted man in Israel and has been for 3 years. Ahab has been looking for him – he is Israel’s most wanted! His wanted poster is everywhere!
1. Elijah once again listens to God to go and find Obadiah and to confront the King again about the nation’s sins and His responsibility for their suffering.
ii. Elijah finds Obadiah another prophet working with the King to find water to save the animals of Samaria – it seems Obadiah is connected to the wicked king Ahab some how – it notes Obadiah fears the Lord and help save about a 100 of God’s prophets lives from slaughter – He did put his life on the line for doing this but why is he helping Ahab?
1. It is obvious through Obadiah’s response to Elijah that King Ahab wants Elijah’s head but Elijah wants Obadiah to step out in faith and tell Ahab he is coming.
2. Obadiah reacts in fear and trembling at Elijah’s request – Elijah he will kill me if you don’t show up!
iii. Elijah’s meeting with Ahab:
1. Immediately the king blames Elijah for the famine and the torment.
a. You see the King blames Elijah for the drought, famine and Israel’s problems - he takes no responsibility for his sin and pushing of idol worship on the people of Israel – this is what is responsible for the drought.
b. He blames the messenger of God for God’s judgment of sin.
c. I hear many doing this today in our time!
i. Faith is bad to have today – we are blamed for so much as a Christian!
2. Elijah tells wicked Ahab the drought is not his fault but because of his wickedness and sin! He is to blame for the woes of Israel!
a. That’s bold – remember he kills people at the drop of a hat.
b. Elijah lays it on the line with Ahab – let’s have a shoot out – me against all your so called prophets.
c. By the way sin is to blame for the woes of the USA today not God.
iv. Elijah throws a challenge in the sand to Ahab – He is led by the Lord to have a shoot out with the false prophets of Baal and Asherah – Ahab agrees!
1. They meet on Mt. Carmel for the showdown at high noon– Sounds crazy right!
a. Elijah is stepping out in faith and boldness.
i. He is ready for the fight!
ii. They meet at high noon at Mt. Carmel for the showdown.
iii. It’s 850 to 1!
1. But Elijah has God on his side – so this no match for – the false priests and prophets are going down – the numbers are in Elijah’s favor not there’s.
2. He is invincible with God on His side!
2. Elijah allows the Baal priests to go first to prove their god is the real God. They cut themselves, do blood sacrifices and do their rituals sacrifices but no fire – no appearance of Baal.
a. They do the cutting of their bodies to get their gods attention. The self-mutilate.
b. But they are ignored by their so-called god!
3. Elijah mocks them to show how foolish they are and to expose them for being frauds.
a. Where is your so-called God?
i. Out to lunch?
ii. Traveling?
iii. Sleeping?
iv. Maybe he is in the bathroom?
v. Elijah puts water on his sacrifice to make the thing more pronounced and to reveal to the people who the true God is.
1. God’s fire would not be hindered by any amount of water!
2. He makes it harder on himself – but it’s not a problem with God!
3. He wants to prove to the people of Israel that God is God! This is who they need to be worshipping not these false idols Ahab and Jezebel introduced to the people.
vi. Elijah prays to God – He knows God can do this – He puts his faith in action!
1. Remember the people of Israel are watching to see who is worshipping the real God.
a. This is faith in action to impact other people! So they can see for themselves.
2. God is not afraid to reveal who He is to others!
a. I just think the church is afraid to put their necks on the line and step out in faith today and this is why many don’t believe.
3. 1 Kings 18:36-38: 36At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
a. What a sight this would have been! This would have made headline news – been on the evening news!
i. Would this have gotten your attention?
ii. Fire comes down and consumes the sacrifice!
1. Whosh!
b. God shows up in a consuming fire to tell the people I am the real deal – these people are liars and deceiving you!
vii. The people are called on by Elijah to destroy the false prophets and to return to God!
1. They do – they slay the false priests in the Valley of Kidron – where Elijah had hidden for a while - revival comes to the nation!
2. Elijah becomes the victor – God is revealed as the true God – Israel’s eyes are opened! Repentance takes place!
viii. 1 Kings 19:1-2 - BUT --- Ahab return home to moan to Jezebel who is mad as a hornet! She is out for blood and Elijah is the target!
1. She promises to kill Elijah!
T.S. – What an amazing story of faith over fear and God showing up in a consuming fire to reveal He is the true God!
II. How does faith work in the midst of trials and even turmoil or battle?
a. Word of Life states the following about the application of this scenario – the following points are gleamed and taken from their article from https://www.wordsoflife.co.uk/bible-studies/study-4-raising-the-widows-son/
i. “How did it work? How does faith operate in a time of crisis?
1. Faith keeps us calm!
a. It keeps calm when the blow falls. Look at Elijah: although he is deeply moved because of what has happened he is trusting God in spite of it. See how gentle and calm he was under provocation - look up 1 Corinthians 13:4-5. He did not reproach God; he was calm when the test came.
2. Our faith still trusts God!
a. Even when God’s plan or purpose cannot be traced or understood.
b. Elijah the prophet could not see what God was doing, but he knew it was for some wise and loving purpose, so he was willing to trust Him until God revealed it.
3. Our faith tells us God is still in control!
a. So we relate the trial to the truth of God’s Word – in times like this we go to His throne because we now He is here with us.
b. Elijah took the child, went to his room, got down before the Lord and related the whole situation to Him - verses 19 and 20. What a great act of faith that was! Elijah’s faith led him to the throne of grace and to the God of grace.
4. Faith always looks to God to do the humanly impossible.
a. See verse 1 Kings 17: 21, I Kings 18:36-38!
i. See James 5:13-15: 13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
b. Elijah knew the mind of the Lord when he prayed seeking his direction and will.
i. By the way God does not always lead us to pray for fire to come down from Him in a dramatic way like this or for the resurrection of a dead person back to life – but you never know He might.
5. Faith in action is always honored by God:
a. See verses 1 Kings 17: 22-23 and I Kings 18:36-38!
i. See Matthew 9:29. Faith (not presumption) will never be disappointed. If the Lord leads you to trust Him along a certain line or about a certain matter you will never be disappointed even if you have to experience faith over fear and being outnumbered or even the loss of a loved one!
T.S. – Faith needs to be acted on to see breakthroughs in our lives and even in our nation but when we do step out in faith God shows up with the healing rains!
III. Looking for the rain to come – for the relief – the breakthrough - the blessing of God! (I know I am!)
a. 1 Kings 18:41-46:
i. The Lord Sends Rain.
1. 41And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. 46And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
b. Elijah was a prophet of God who knew what it was like to go through the dry times and the rainy season.
i. The phrase “Let It rain!” is a plea for God to send a spiritual rain onto this world in which we live. We have all heard the phrase “April showers bring May flowers.” Have you heard this little quote:
1. April Shower:
Mix a little sunshine
With an April shower
Drop it in a garden bed
And up pops a flower.
a. April rains pave the way for a refreshing Spring full of beauty and new life!
c. Let’s take a moment and look at what the natural rains provide for all of us in Spring and what Israel had not seen in three years.
i. The rain brings the satisfaction of the quenching of thirst for plants and creatures.
1. When the rains come to a desert it gives the life in that desert the opportunity to quench their thirst for refreshing water. You watch everything bud to life.
ii. The rains come in and clean up the areas in which we live.
1. Share experience from India and Mexico missions trip:
a. This was very important when I was in India because they have the rainy seasons and the dry season. When the rainy season starts it cleans up the town and literally flushes out the sewer systems and the ditches around the villages. The result is its more sanitary and refreshing.
iii. The rain softens the soil so you can plow it and seed it.
1. In places like India it’s imperative that the farmers get some rain to soften up the soil. Drought causes the ground to become very hard and almost like rock. The rains help soften the soil for planting.
a. After the rains they were out there in the fields working because the ground was soft.
iv. The rain also helps provide nourishment, so the plants produce new life.
1. Just go look at all the trees, flowers, shrubs around here after a spring rain! New life is ready to break forth. The rain is good at producing New Life!
d. We see the importance of the natural rain, but it also applies spiritually to God’s spiritual rain:
i. The rains of Heaven promise to quench our thirst if we drink of them.
1. When we drink in the rain of Heaven, we quench our thirst for that missing spiritual water.
ii. The rains of Heaven come into a life and purify and cleanse our lives.
1. Have you ever been so hot and sweaty that when you jumped in the shower and the water washed over you? Did you feel refreshed? Did you feel better.
2. Illustration: They have talked about this on Survivor how the showers have felt so good. It was refreshing because it cleansed away all the filth of the world.
iii. The rain of Heaven when its being poured out softens the soil of individuals hearts so they are moldable and have the ability to plant the seeds of eternal life in their lives.
iv. The rain helps to prepare the soil, but it also is very instrumental in getting the seeds to bud and break open with new life spiritually.
1. The moisture and the sun help this process to blossom. It births new life and starts the process of growth spiritually – just study the history of Revival.
e. I spent some time on the internet this week searching for information on “Let It rain’ here are few interesting discoveries I made this week: Listen to this poem from one person:
i. Let It rain!
1. Rainbow visions, reflected, refracted...
As I gaze out my window.
Bright skies, only a pane away.
Inside, only pain.
I wish it would rain,
and wash the iridescence from the streaked,
and cracked glass that holds me prisoner.
Here inside my world, of self-induced pain...
let it rain, let it rain, let it rain. Copyright ©...Teresa Bass
a. Do you here the cry of this heart? Here inside my world of self-induced pain let it rain. She is crying for the hurt to be washed away. She wants to be cleansed and to be filled with joy. She does not want the hurt and pain. She wants God to send the healing rain.
f. The showdown is No contest - Elijah proves the Lord God is God. The people reject Baal and kill all its prophets (I Kings 18:20-40).
i. When God displayed His power on Mount Carmel, the Israelites bowed down and said, "The Lord He is God." Then they tore down the altars of Baal and executed the prophets of Baal. Do you think that God would have sent the rains if the people had turned their backs on Him instead (Bible Truth)?
1. The drought is about over when Elijah tells Ahab to go eat and drink because there is the sound of heavy rain coming.
2. I Kings 18:41-46 – The rains Come!
a. The area is being cleansed with the heavy rain.
b. The soil for planting is being softened up.
c. The rain comes – and there is refreshment in the air.
d. There is new life being produced.
e. The old sinful way of drought is being swept away in the flood of God’s rain. (I Kings 21-22).
g. Let’s re-look at what it means when we ask God to send his rain. What are we asking for? What is the latter rain?
i. The Bible Truth makes this observation: So what exactly do we mean when we talk about the latter rain of the Holy Spirit? In Palestine they had a wet season and a dry season. The wet season ran from autumn to spring. The summer months were hot and dry. The rains would begin in the fall. These rains were referred to as the early rain or former rain. The early rain would soften the sun-baked ground so that it could be plowed. It would also cause the newly planted seeds to germinate and thus cause the crop to begin to grow. The latter rains were the heavy rains that came in the spring. They would ripen the wheat and barley crops and prepare them for harvest. The rains were a symbol of God's blessing and providence to the Jews. Their lives depended on the bountiful harvests that the rains made possible. We see an example of this principle in the book of Joel.
1. Joel 2:23: So rejoice, O sons of Zion, and be glad in the LORD your God; for He has given you the early rain for your vindication. And He has poured down for you the rain, the early and latter rain as before.
a. Well, these literal rains were symbolic of a greater spiritual truth. They symbolized times of a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This is hinted at in the passage we just read. Different versions of the Bibles differ in their translation of the phrase "He has given you the early rain for your vindication." This is because some Hebrew manuscripts use the words "moreh sedaqah" here, and others use "yoreh sedaqah". Sedaqah means righteousness. Here is the interesting point. Yoreh is the word for the early rain. Moreh is the word for teacher. So this phrase could be referring to the former rains, or it could be referring to the teacher of righteousness. And who is the Teacher of righteousness? The Holy Spirit. I don't think that the ambiguity here is accidental. The symbolic meaning becomes even more clear when we read the verses which follow this one in Joel chapter 2.
i. Joel 2:28-32: 28 "And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 "And even on the male and female servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 30 "And I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth, Blood, fire, and columns of smoke. 31 "The sun will be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 "And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD will be save
ii. In this context it is very clear that the former and latter rains are symbolic of times when there is a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
2. Application: This is what we are to be crying out for today when we say “Let It Rain!” . We are asking the Lord to pour out His spirit on our lives. We are asking the Lord to send His cleansing rain, his refreshing rain, his lifegiving rain into our lives and the lives around us. We need RAIN! You ask why?
a. If we receive a fresh outpouring we could experience the following:
i. A cleansing touch of the Lord in our lives.
ii. A refreshing touch of the spirit in our souls.
iii. A preparation of our hearts and other’s hearts to God’s planting of eternal seeds in our lives.
iv. The birth of eternal seeds in our hearts.
v. The growth of the fruit of the spirit in our life.
vi. The ability to experience abundant New Life.
vii. The blessing of having a fruitful life filled with joy.
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: We need to know that we can make a difference in our nation and in others lives if we step out in faith and speak the truth about God and idols.
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: If we understand God would use us like he did Elijah then we would put our faith into action. Putting our faith in action will enable us to be bold for the Lord and drive back the fear that says to be quiet!
What do we need to do from this message?
Answer: We need to declare God’s Truth and call sin -sin so that we see a nation come back to the Lord.
Communion:
It’s time to choose who you serve!
