Rain and Harvest is Coming By Terrence Clark
Israel was without rain for three and a half years1. Rebellion had again taken its toll. A wicked king and his witch of a wife—Jezebel had led the Northern Kingdom into increased idolatry. In judgment, by the Word of the Lord, at the prophet’s command—no rain.
But God is merciful—not willing that any perish (both in the Old Testament as well as the New). The time had come for Yahweh’s visitation. After a contest between the higher powers, of which God Almighty demonstratively won, the Word of the Lord came again to Elijah. The prophet ran, by the Spirit, ahead of the king’s horses—and promised rain—a sign of harvest and renewed covenant2 revival was coming. Elijah told his servant—go and report on it. He was sent—not to report on the spiritual climate, but on the rain. The servant was to look towards the sea (and see). He did not. He came back with a bad report—I don’t see anything, no rain, no snow, no water, he responded to his master [paraphrased], just dry land, sand, dirt, and dust—much of the same. Go back again, commanded the prophet Elijah, who was in the right position, on his knees, his head between them. Go back…keep looking was again the word until the servant had gone to look seven times. |
This harvest is more than a promise. It’s a declaration.
What he saw the last time was not a darkened sky (at first), impending weather conditions, or even birds flocking—as a sign of a storm. He saw a little cloud, the size of a man’s hand. God faithfully prevailed. And although promised, it was also the faithful intercession of the man of God who would not let go of the divine decree.
Whether from the standpoint of the prophet, the intercessor, the one acting in faith, or the one serving the Lord in ministry—God’s promises requires all to keep looking (and keep looking) in faith. As a servant of God, representing God, with the Word of God, in troubled times, yet with human issues---Elijah can be seen as an OT type of the church. The Epistle of James describes him that way.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed [d]intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
----James 5:17 Amplified Bible
In the same chapter of James, the Holy Spirit talks about an end time harvest and the successive second coming of the Lord.
So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. 8 You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.
----James 5:7, 8 Amplified Bible
Whether from the standpoint of the prophet, the intercessor, the one acting in faith, or the one serving the Lord in ministry—God’s promises requires all to keep looking (and keep looking) in faith. As a servant of God, representing God, with the Word of God, in troubled times, yet with human issues---Elijah can be seen as an OT type of the church. The Epistle of James describes him that way.
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings], and he prayed [d]intensely for it not to rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.
----James 5:17 Amplified Bible
In the same chapter of James, the Holy Spirit talks about an end time harvest and the successive second coming of the Lord.
So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. 8 You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near.
----James 5:7, 8 Amplified Bible
This harvest is more than a promise. It’s a declaration. God calls himself the farmer of that harvest. He says he has long patience for it. Yahweh—Father, Son and Holy Ghost is not distressed in the processing of the bountiful end time harvest of souls. In mercy, he is waiting patiently. Jesus told me, he is still Lord and head of the church. He is confident in his own Word.
It easy to look at the church now on earth and make judgment calls about its spiritual condition. Judgment may be with earnest humility. In most conversations, those pointing fingers are part of the same body. And agreeable, there is a place for introspection.
As a church, we have called ourselves fat, lazy, disobedient, sinful, lethargic, carnal, dead, and some other unholy words. But we forget that Christ (Jesus) is part of the same entity3 we condemn. Accordingly, we are not supposed to try to separate the head from the body4. Therefore we are not supposed to call Christ accurse 5. To condemn the body of Christ may be to do that very thing
I was fellow-shipping with a pastor friend of mine a few years back. He was sharing about some dullness within his church, particularly in the area of praise and worship. Empathically, I responded, well you know, we (as the church) can be a little leth---. I was attempting to say---lethargic, at times. I had been interrupted. Jesus spoke to me and said, ‘don’t you talk about my church like that’. I quickly covered my mouth and rethought my response.
It easy to look at the church now on earth and make judgment calls about its spiritual condition. Judgment may be with earnest humility. In most conversations, those pointing fingers are part of the same body. And agreeable, there is a place for introspection.
As a church, we have called ourselves fat, lazy, disobedient, sinful, lethargic, carnal, dead, and some other unholy words. But we forget that Christ (Jesus) is part of the same entity3 we condemn. Accordingly, we are not supposed to try to separate the head from the body4. Therefore we are not supposed to call Christ accurse 5. To condemn the body of Christ may be to do that very thing
I was fellow-shipping with a pastor friend of mine a few years back. He was sharing about some dullness within his church, particularly in the area of praise and worship. Empathically, I responded, well you know, we (as the church) can be a little leth---. I was attempting to say---lethargic, at times. I had been interrupted. Jesus spoke to me and said, ‘don’t you talk about my church like that’. I quickly covered my mouth and rethought my response.
"Jesus spoke to me and said, ‘don’t you talk about my church like that’. I quickly covered my mouth and rethought my response."
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Jesus is not shaken by what we perceive as a misdirected church. That doesn’t mean his directions are null. It doesn’t mean that we the church don’t need to grow in all things in him 6. It doesn’t mean we are not supposed to walk in love 7. It doesn’t mean we are not supposed to confess our faults one to another and pray one for another so that we may be healed8. It doesn’t negate the messages of correction, warning, and instruction that Jesus, in Revelations 1-3, wrote to his church.
It means that Jesus, the head, is more confident in his Word than is the body of the same name confident. Christ—the anointed one and his anointing, promised that he would present to himself a church without spot or wrinkle9.
We as the body are still accountable—in ourselves and to one another. Daily, it is the fiduciary responsibility of the church to be the church. At the end of the day, however, the ultimate accountability of the church in her reaching her designation belongs to the Head—Jesus the Lord.
The job of the faithful, the intercessor, the promise keeper, and the minister of the Gospel is to stay in faith, sometimes head between knees, looking at the Word, mercy, and grace of God to its completion. Whatever it takes, the Lord of the Harvest knows how and is ready, to take what is even a man’s hand and cause it to cover the sky and bring end time rain and harvest……Keep looking!
Next issue: Keeping Looking 3. The Vision for 2018.
Last Issue: Keep Looking
References
1 James 5:17, Luke 4:25
2 Psalms 68:9
3 Ephesians 5:30
4 Colossian 2:19
5 1 Corinthians 12:3
6 Ephesians 4:15
7 Ephesians 5:2
8 James 5:13-17
9 Ephesians 5:27
It means that Jesus, the head, is more confident in his Word than is the body of the same name confident. Christ—the anointed one and his anointing, promised that he would present to himself a church without spot or wrinkle9.
We as the body are still accountable—in ourselves and to one another. Daily, it is the fiduciary responsibility of the church to be the church. At the end of the day, however, the ultimate accountability of the church in her reaching her designation belongs to the Head—Jesus the Lord.
The job of the faithful, the intercessor, the promise keeper, and the minister of the Gospel is to stay in faith, sometimes head between knees, looking at the Word, mercy, and grace of God to its completion. Whatever it takes, the Lord of the Harvest knows how and is ready, to take what is even a man’s hand and cause it to cover the sky and bring end time rain and harvest……Keep looking!
Next issue: Keeping Looking 3. The Vision for 2018.
Last Issue: Keep Looking
References
1 James 5:17, Luke 4:25
2 Psalms 68:9
3 Ephesians 5:30
4 Colossian 2:19
5 1 Corinthians 12:3
6 Ephesians 4:15
7 Ephesians 5:2
8 James 5:13-17
9 Ephesians 5:27
Terrence Clark is founder and Chief Editor of Voice of One Christian News & Commentary. He is an ordained minister, Bible teacher, workshop presenter, life coach, author, publisher, cartoonist, and gospel singer. He and his wife Linda have four children and seven grandchildren. He also operates as New Testament prophet.
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