SHOWERS OF BLESSING

Introduction

There Shall Be Showers of Blessing

There Shall Be Showers of Blessing

As the year 2018 winds up, we have cause to give thanks to GodWe must have revival. In relationship to the land of Palestine, the withholding of rain was a sign and seal of God’s judgment upon Israel. Moses warned the people that, if they sinned against the Lord, the Lord would make the rain of their land powder and dust (). That form of judgment was carried out repeatedly in Israel’s history (). Whenever God’s people repented and returned to Jehovah, there was abundant rain upon the land ().

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is compared in the Bible to rain from Heaven. When the believer is obedient to God’s Word, the Holy Spirit works graciously and effectively in his heart. When he is disobedient, the Holy Spirit’s blessing is withheld. While we recognize that rain is the primary reference of many of the passages we refer to in this message, we feel that we in no way violate the general teaching of Scripture by applying these references to spiritual blessings.

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As the year 2018 is winding down, we are bound to give thanks to God for all he has done for us. Many of us have had many testimonies of the intervention of God, or His wonderful provisions. We thank Him very much for all He has done. He supplied our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Our whole subject is summed up beautifully in . “Showers of blessing”—what a wonderful promise! Let us relate it to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

We must have revival in the coming year. In relationship to the land of Israel, the withholding of rain was a sign and seal of God’s judgment upon the nation. Moses warned the people that, if they sinned against the Lord, the Lord would make the rain of their land powder and dust (). That form of judgment was carried out repeatedly in Israel’s history (). Whenever God’s people repented and returned to God, there was abundant rain upon the land ().

I. The need for showers of blessing.

The ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church is compared in the Bible to rain from Heaven. When the believer is obedient to God’s Word, the Holy Spirit works graciously and effectively in his heart. When he is disobedient, the Holy Spirit’s blessing is withheld.

Our whole subject is summed up beautifully in . “Showers of blessing”—what a wonderful promise! Let us relate it to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

A. Only through such showers can we present God’s ideal for His people in the world; ; cf. .

I. The need for showers of blessing.

B. Only through such showers, symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, can we prevent a total drought and stop the church in the twentieth century from becoming a “dust bowl”; .

A. Only through such showers can we present God’s ideal for His people in the world; ; cf. .

C. Only when the church receives such showers can we produce a harvest; ; cf. .

II. The promise of showers of blessing.

B. How can we prevent the Church of this 21st century from becoming a field of dry bones? through the showers symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s ministry. We can prevent a total drought and stop the church in the twentieth first century from becoming a “dust bowl”, a valley dry bones; ; .

A. The series of promises given to Israel in .

C. Only when the church receives such showers can we produce a harvest; ; cf. .

1. The promise of judgment upon false leaders of Israel; .

II. The promise of showers of blessing.

A. The series of promises given to Israel in .

2. The promise of government for God’s people;

We must have revival. In relationship to the land of Palestine, the withholding of rain was a sign and seal of God’s judgment upon Israel. Moses warned the people that, if they sinned against the Lord, the Lord would make the rain of their land powder and dust (). That form of judgment was carried out repeatedly in Israel’s history (). Whenever God’s people repented and returned to Jehovah, there was abundant rain upon the land ().

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is compared in the Bible to rain from Heaven. When the believer is obedient to God’s Word, the Holy Spirit works graciously and effectively in his heart. When he is disobedient, the Holy Spirit’s blessing is withheld. While we recognize that rain is the primary reference of many of the passages we refer to in this message, we feel that we in no way violate the general teaching of Scripture by applying these references to spiritual blessings.

Our whole subject is summed up beautifully in . “Showers of blessing”—what a wonderful promise! Let us relate it to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our hearts.

I. The need for showers of blessing.

A. Only through such showers can we present God’s ideal for His people in the world; ; cf. .

B. Only through such showers, symbolic of the Holy Spirit’s ministry, can we prevent a total drought and stop the church in the twentieth century from becoming a “dust bowl”; .

C. Only when the church receives such showers can we produce a harvest; ; cf. .

II. The promise of showers of blessing.

A. The series of promises given to Israel in .

1. The promise of judgment upon false leaders of Israel; vv. 20–22.

2. The promise of government for God’s people; vv. 23, 24.

3. The promise of enjoyment of God’s covenant; v. 25.

B. The series of promises given to God’s people.

1. Showers of blessing are assured by the Lord; .

2. Showers of blessing are abundant; .

3. Showers of blessing are adequate to meet our need; .

4. Showers of blessing must be sought in faith; ; , .

III. The results of showers of blessing.

A. Revival; .

B. Growth; .

C. Harvest; , .

We may be dry. We may not see many showers of blessing. However, if our hearts are seeking God’s face, if we are laying hold of His promise, and if we believe that the God of Elijah is still alive today, then there will yet be a deluge of blessing upon the church ().

Dr. Henry Ward Beecher said: “We must have revival. It must rain faster, or we perish with drought!”

Rendall, T. S. (1974). There Shall Be Showers of Blessing. In Heart-Touching Sermon Outlines (pp. 14–15). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.23, 24.

1. The promise of judgment upon false leaders of Israel; .

3. The promise of enjoyment of God’s covenant; v. 25.

2. The promise of government for God’s people; , .

B. The series of promises given to God’s people.

3. The promise of enjoyment of God’s covenant; ; ; ; .

1. Showers of blessing are assured by the Lord; .

B. The series of promises given to God’s people.

2. Showers of blessing are abundant; .

3. Showers of blessing are adequate to meet our need; .

1. Showers of blessing are assured by the Lord; .

4. Showers of blessing must be sought in faith; ; , .

2. Showers of blessing are abundant; .

III. The results of showers of blessing.

3. Showers of blessing are adequate to meet our need; .

4. Showers of blessing must be sought in faith; ; , .

A. Revival; .

III. The results of showers of blessing.

B. Growth; .

A. Revival; ; . ;

C. Harvest; , .

B. Growth; ; ; ; ;

We may be dry. We may not see many showers of blessing. However, if our hearts are seeking God’s face, if we are laying hold of His promise, and if we believe that the God of Elijah is still alive today, then there will yet be a deluge of blessing upon the church ().

C. Harvest; , ; ;

C. Harvest; , .

Dr. Henry Ward Beecher said: “We must have revival. It must rain faster, or we perish with drought!”

Rendall, T. S. (1974). There Shall Be Showers of Blessing. In Heart-Touching Sermon Outlines (pp. 14–15). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.

We may be dry. We may not see many showers of blessing. However, if our hearts are seeking God’s face, if we are laying hold of His promise, and if we believe that the God of Elijah is still alive today, then there will yet be a deluge of blessing upon the church ().

Dr. Henry Ward Beecher said: “We must have revival. It must rain faster, or we perish with drought!”

Rendall, T. S. (1974). There Shall Be Showers of Blessing. In Heart-Touching Sermon Outlines (pp. 14–15). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.