Heart Talk For Today

Friday - April 21, 2000

Pray For And Expect Showers of Rain

In Zechariah 10:1 we are reminded of our duty, "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." We understand "showers" of rain is but a symbol of the administration of the Holy Spirit for it is written, "He hall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth" (Hosea 6:3).
God be praised, the showers can be had fo r the asking today just as real as in the days of Elijah. The asking is already begun and soon the bright clouds will spread over the heavens above.
Let us therefore pray that the Lord of the Harvest will brighten our hopes, increase our faith and raise our expectations heaven-high for "floods upon the dry ground" (Isa. 44:3).
In firm reliance upon the never-failing promises of God, we have been asking for rain. Faithful servants of God, like the prophet Elijah, have pleaded through long hours for rain.
The sign has come. The prayer that has lifted the clouds out of the ocean of God's bountiful love can shake them until they drop down their fatness, and make the wilderness a fruitful field, and a glorious harvest of souls will tell of the fertilizing power of God's abundance of rain. We are always ready to bring up-to-date Paul's words to Timothy, "In the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Tim.3:1). Why then should we be slow of heart in bringing up-to-date the words of Peter, "It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out My Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17).
If, through neglect or dullness of our faith, this precious promise has lost some of its brightness, then let us set to work and by faith and prayers polish it up again. In the power of the Spirit, let us lift this truth beside the dark outlook of today and it will inspire us with fresh hope and courage and prevent our love from waxing cold in the presence of abounding iniquity.
Expectant Faith!
One reason why the professed Church has not realized a larger fulfillment of the Holy Spirit of promise is because of so much unbelief and so little prayer and expectation. Without expectation there will be no prevailing power in prayer. Thus, because professed Christians have ceased to expect the outpouring of the Spirit, the heavens have become as brass.
According to Old Testament Scripture and from the teachings of our blessed Saviour, we may conclude that the fulfillment of the Holy Spirit of promise was intended to be like so many mighty Niagaras, exhaustless as eternity, rather than the torrent for a single day as at Pentecost.
Mighty, prevailing prayer, our faithful giving forth of the Word, and our laying hold of the never-failing promises of God will secure a repetition of those wonderful scenes which took place in the days of the apostles and which are recorded for our learning in the Book of Acts. [Selected ]

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