THIS IS WHAT'S HOLDING BACK THE RAIN

The consideration of God's universal dominion, and the universal acknowledgment of it, should restrain us from all irreverence in His service.

It is a righteous thing with God to withhold the blessings of grace from those that do not attend the means of grace, to deny the green pastures to those that attend not the shepherd's tents.

Many are crossed, and go backward, in their affairs, and this is at the bottom of it - they do not keep close to the worship of God as they should; they go off from God, and then He walks contrary to them. If we omit or postpone the duties He expects from us, it is just with Him to deny the favours we expect from Him.

- all three quotes are from Matthew Henry

Psalm 10:16 says - "The LORD is King for ever and ever..."
Psalm 47:2 says - "For the LORD most high is terrible; He is a great King over all the earth."
Psalm 47:7 says - "For God is the King of all the earth..."
Psalm 47:8 says - "God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of His holiness."
Psalm 95:3 says - "For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods."
Psalm 149:2 says - "...let the children of Zion be joyful in their King."

Jesus rules the world. He is the universal Sovereign over the whole earth, has universal dominion, and, resultantly, has claim to universal praise. He is the mightiest of all emperors - the ruler far above all that were ever worshipped as gods - magistrates, powers, and dignitaries. He reigns alone with absolute power. All nations are subject to Him. He is supreme over all things. He occupies the throne. His kingdom rules, and by Him, kings reign.

Ecclesiastes 5:9 says - "...the king himself is served by the field." The "field" that serves this King of Zion or King of saints is His church. The Apostle Paul confirms this by calling God's people - "God's husbandry" (1 Corinthians 3:9). The Prophet Isaiah poetically referred to the people of God as His "vineyard in a very fruitful hill" (Isaiah 5:1).

Consider this. The Scriptures tell us that the church of the Living God is likened to a "field," a "farm," or a "vineyard." Since that is so, what would be the best way for this King to come to His people? What is the one thing that a "field," a "farm," and a "vineyard" all need? They all need - RAIN! They need water in order to flourish.

Hosea 6:3 says - "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."
Psalm 72:6 says - "He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth."

King Jesus comes to His church as the "rain" - the "latter" and "former" rain - to refresh, revive, and make His people fruitful. The "former rain" that falls in October is the autumnal rain - preparing the "ground" of their hearts for the seed. The "latter rain" that falls in March and April is the spring rain - preparing the "full ear" of their hearts for harvest.

This "rain" or the influence of His reign or government - descends upon the "mown grass' - that which has been brought low - has "humbled itself under the mighty hand of God" - or has been "pruned" - cut back through trials, tribulation, or testings.

Just as in nature, when the rain descends on a "mown" field of grass, the field revives - comes to life, grows, and multiplies. The same is true for God's church. When King Jesus comes as the "rain," she is revived to bring forth much fruit.

Jesus is the One Who brings forth the "rain" of His Spirit. He is the One Who "makes the bright clouds" which produce the "showers of rain."

We see this pictured throughout the Scriptures -

Psalm 65:9 says - "Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: Thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water..."
Joel 2:23 says - "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month."
Zechariah 10:1 says - "Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field."

However, as we look around at the church today, we do not see a picture of Revival. In many cases, all we see is Spiritual Drought.

Why is this?

There are two Scriptures which offer an explanation -

Zechariah 14:17 says - "And it shall be, that whoso will not come up...to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."
Malachi 1:14 says - "But cursed be the deceiver...and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing; for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and My name is dreadful among the heathen."

When a people do not rightfully "worship the King," He withholds His blessing or favor. In other words, He holds back what He alone can give to His "field" - that is, the "rain" of His Holy Spirit - that which revives, refreshes, renews, softens, and makes fruitful.

When God's people yield to Him a cold, wearisome, heartless service ... when in their thoughts, theories, conversation, and acts, they display an irreverence for this "great King" Whose "name is dreadful" ... and when they manifest an absence or ignorance of how awful He really is - then He has every right to withhold the "rain" from their "field."

So many churches nowadays are dead and dry - spiritually speaking. They are desperately in need of the "rain" of God's Holy Spirit to revive their "mown fields."

Jesus is the Only One Who can "make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain."

However, it will not happen until the church begins to give Him the glory that is due His Name.

This concept of Jesus being the "great King" Whose "name is dreadful" must come back to the churches.

The Fear of the Lord must be manifested - from the pulpit to the pews. People once again must fear this Awesome Ruler and Sovereign King. No more can the "sacrifices" be "corrupt" which are brought before Him.

Deuteronomy 7:21 says - "...for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible."
Deuteronomy 10:17 says of Him - "For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward."

When Job got a glimpse of Him, he responded by saying - "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:5-6).

We need to respond likewise.

Then the King will "come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth."

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

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