Let It Rain (2)
Notes
Transcript
Scripture: Zechariah 10:1
Ask rain from the Lord
in the season of the spring rain,
from the Lord who makes the storm clouds,
and he will give them showers of rain,
to everyone the vegetation in the field. [1]
10:1 the season of the spring rain the rains that commence in March or April are known as the spring rain or latter rain. The former rains are those of autumn that follow the harvest time.[2]
The modern-day church has gotten tripped up; we are asking God for:
· New houses.
· New cars
· New jobs
· We want to be blessed with more money
· New opportunities
They are not asking God for cars, houses to hit the lotto. But for Rain!
· The reason I know they were not asking God for those things because the rain is crucial for life.
· Without rain, we can’t survive
· Without rain, your crops will die
· The cattle would die, the fields would dry up, the chickens wouldn't be living, and without chicken, we would have a problem… no chicken to eat!
· Water is essential to life, you can go without food, but we have to have water.
Rain is an example of God’s power and presence!
· Water is essential to life; I saw on 20/20 news they were talking about how over 1,500 reservoirs were drying up, and it was causing problems
· We need water
· It’s essential that asked God for His rain because it represents His power and presence.
· If you have God’s rain, God’s power, and presence in life, you can have victory in your life!
· It symbolizes God’s favor, and His favor will open doors for you that money cannot do
We need to ask God for His rain!
· People don’t ask God for His rain because
· They would have to give up on somethings
· They would have to change the way they are living
· And people are afraid of giving up their lifestyle
But with the power of God in our lives
· He’ll get into every dark place in our lives
· Every lonely place
· Every dry place in your life
· And when the power of God fills every place in your life, He will give you joy that is unexplainable in your life.
· The Bible calls it an unspeakable joy and peace that surpasses all understanding
I WANT, AND YOU SHOULD WANT, THE POWER OF GOD’S RAIN IN YOUR LIVES!
· I want His Spirit in the dry places of my life
· I want His Victory in the defeated places in my life
· I need His presence in my life
· I want His Power to overcome obstacles in life
· I want His Power to bring life to a hopeless situation in my life
· I want His power to bring healing to the hurting places in my life
· I want His power to bring salvation into the lives of people
· Joy to lift up the depressed people
· The power of God can heal any area of your life
I Want His Rain!
· I need answers to my prayers
· I need joy in my life
· I need restoration in my life
· I need His Rain! … Ask God for Rain
Zechariah says to ask for rain:
· Not only does he say ask for rain, but In the Latter Rain!
Back in that area of the world, they had two types of seasons:
· They had the dry season, which was the summertime, very little rain
· Then they had the rainy season… dry season, and the rainy season
The Rainy Season is divided into 3 different parts of the rainy season
1stTHE FORMER RAIN
· The first part is called the “Former Season or the Former Rain” the former rain is designed to soften the dry land from the hot summer sun.
· During this season, the land has dried up; it hasn’t been a lot of rain
· So the purpose of the former rain is to loosen up the hard, dry ground so that when it really rains, it will be able to be absorbed by the land
2ndTHEN THE WINTER RAIN
· This is the season of heavy rain, it rains constantly, and the problem with this rain is that the ground cannot absorb all of it
· So, in other words, it’s so much rain that the rain just runs off of it, and it peels back the layers of soil.
· And some of you have been in where God has blessed you, that you are in a season or may have experienced more than enough
o Your bills are getting paid
o You are not worried about anything
o You have more saved now than before
3rdTHE LATER RAIN – Here’s what happens the former rain softens the ground, then the winter rain dumps it all down for the crops to grow
· Then this Latter Rain comes after the Winter Rain just to dampen it so that the fruits could ripen and the crops produce.
· So, this Latter Rain is to continue to give the harvest enough rain so that they will not dry out.
There will come a season when we all will experience a season of dryness, instead of complaining, we should ask God for some rain
· Things seem to be fallen apart
· We don’t know what to do
· Things seem like they are not going our way
· Your money is funny
· But instead of complaining, we need to ask God to bring rain in the latter rain
· Yes, He has opened up doors before
· Yes, He has made a way out of no way before
· But you are in this season of dryness where you need to keep on asking for rain
· I’ve been in a season where I had to cry out to God; I was asking God would He just speak to me and give me some insight, some direction in my life, and tell me exactly what to do and go
· I NEED GOD IN EVERY NOOK AND CRANNIE IN MY LIFE
We have to have a hunger for God in our lives
· Not in material stuff
· The car you ride in don’t make you spiritual
· The house you live in doesn’t make you spiritual
· But you have to have a hunger for God that His power will flow in our lives (LET IT RAIN, LORD)
· I need your power, God
· I need some victories
Here in Zechariah 10:1
· 1stOur instruction: Ask for Rain
· 2ndGod gives a promise here’s what God will do
o The Lord will make storm clouds; in the King James version, it says the Lord will make bright clouds.
But in order for storm clouds to be produced in our lives
· We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives to lift us
· Then we need some moist air that’s God’s presence in our lives around us, in us
· But we also need some instability; those are problems, situations we can’t handle
· If all we have are those clouds that lift up and moist air… those clouds will never produce anything
· But when we have some unstable clouds
o Those that are attacking you
o Those that are trying to take you out
o Something that’s trying to frustrate you
o When the devil is on your back, and all hell is breaking loose
· It’s time to tell yourself, grab your umbrella it’s about to rain!
o You’ve been crying long enough
o You have been frustrated long enough
o I’ve been upset long enough
o I didn’t know what’s going to happen… It’s about to Rain!
o Don’t cry about your problems
o Don’t worry about them
o You need some thunder and lightning in your life so God can let His power rain in our lives.
o If you want to hear His voice
o If you want His power
o You need to have some unstable air for God to send His rain.
It says in the verse that God will make storm clouds or thunder clouds
3rdThen He says Vs1- and he will give them showers of rain[3]
· Instead of complaining, get ready for the rain
4thThen to everyone the vegetation in the field[4]
· Vegetation symbolizes we got some help
· Some fruits
· Some results
· After all, you have been through in the end; you will see the blessings of God in your life
Here’s what happens in life:
· The sun shines heat up the water
· It evaporates by a lifting force
· It forms clouds, then comes the rain
Let me make it clearer
· The SON shines, heats up your life
· You send up some praise
· The clouds form,
· Then the rain comes down
· Let It Rain God in my life!
I want God more than anything in my life!
· I want His healing
· I want His Power
· I want to see the manifestation of His Glory
· I am tired as Life as usual… I need His Rain; I need the Latter Rain so I can survive
There is a reason for the unstable situations in our lives
We need to ask God for the Rain in our lives.
Lord, we need Your Power
Lord, we need Your Spirit
Lord, we need Your Rain in our Lives!
When you don’t have the Power of God’s presence in your life, you will do anything
· You will drink
· You will use drugs
· You will sleep with anybody
· When you don’t have the Power of God’s Glory in your Life
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Zec 10:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[2]Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Zec 10:1). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Zec 10:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Zec 10:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.