The Sound of Abundance of Rain

Sermon  •  Submitted   •  1:20:48
0 ratings
· 13,150 views
Files
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
View more →

Intro

Text -
Biblical symbolism of “rain”
Goodness of God
Blessing
,
Word of God
Holy Spirit
1 Kings 18:41 NKJV
Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.”
,
Background Story
There had been no rain since the day Elijah declared it, and the whole land suffered from famine. There was no food for man and beast because the crops had failed for three years in a row.
Rain was one of the most significant symbol of God’s favor to His people. Its absence meant God’s wrath was upon them.
The sound of “Abundance of rain” meant the curse is over, blessing is pouring in again!

Main Points

The Significance of the “Rain”

Earthly bounty

To the farmer, rain meant a good harvest
To Israel - Blessing and favor from God

Spiritual bounty

God’s Word
Isaiah 55:10–13 NKJV
“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. “For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
the Holy Spirit
,
Hebrews 6:4 NKJV
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit,
Hebrews 6:7 NKJV
For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;
the coming of the Lord
James 5:7–8 NKJV
Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
the reign of the “Righteous King”
Psalm 72:1–7 NKJV
Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more.

Prerequisites for the coming of God’s “abundant rain”

A Spiritual Showdown

Elijah’s actions
Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal and Asherah
Elijah exposed the errors of Baalism
Elijah restored the worship of the true God
Elijah began the move to wipe out Baalism.
What we can do
challenge the status quo that hinders the move of God
expose the errors in our midst
restore the worship of God in our homes
begin to remove the errors
Ephesians 5:8–11 NKJV
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
2 Corinthians 10:3–6 NKJV
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Important pointers
Elijah was moved by his zeal for God - He was jealous for God!
Elijah went to battle alone - he did not wait for someone to go with him.
Elijah lead the people in getting rid of the false prophets

Earnest Prayer

Elijah’s actions
He prayed earnestly
James 5:17–18 NKJV
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.
What we can do
follow up the spiritual warfare with an earnest prayer for God’s blessing
James 5:16 NKJV
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Note - fervent - grk. energeo - energetic
Colossians 4:12 NKJV
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Note - laboring fervently - grk. agonizomai, to strain, fight
Important pointers
Elijah declared what he believed would happen, and then prayed for it.

Conclusion

Proof of “abundance of rain” among us

Psalm 72:1–7 NKJV
Give the king Your judgments, O God, And Your righteousness to the king’s Son. He will judge Your people with righteousness, And Your poor with justice. The mountains will bring peace to the people, And the little hills, by righteousness. He will bring justice to the poor of the people; He will save the children of the needy, And will break in pieces the oppressor. They shall fear You As long as the sun and moon endure, Throughout all generations. He shall come down like rain upon the grass before mowing, Like showers that water the earth. In His days the righteous shall flourish, And abundance of peace, Until the moon is no more.
Ezekiel 34:22–27 NKJV
therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. I will establish one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken. “I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. I will make them and the places all around My hill a blessing; and I will cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be showers of blessing. Then the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who enslaved them.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more