Not drops, but Showers!

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"Ask the Lord for rain in the spring, and He will give it" (Zech 10:1)

 In 1904 there was a mighty revival in the country of Wales, and thousands of people repented and were saved. To whom shall this revival be attributed? Evan Roberts (1878-1951) a young man was moved by Christ's love to pray with tears for his fellowmen for 13 years. When he started preaching the love of God, the Holy Spirit brought about a mighty revival.

Reaping the harvest is the most exciting part of missionary evangelism. The endtime ingathering of souls is accelerated by the last days' outpouring of the Spirit. "It shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh... And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:16,17,21). The Holy Spirit mobilizes the entire Church — not just fulltime ministers — "sons... daughters... young men... old men... men servants... maid servants" for gathering the grains.

Not only the Church as a community but each Christian becomes an ardent soulwinner through the fullness of the Spirit. It is told about Barnabas that "he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit... and a great many people were added to the Lord" (Acts 11:24).

In pioneer mission fields we have frequently witnessed outpourings of the Spirit even on those who were hearing the Gospel for the first time. The case of Cornelius is illustrative of this sovereign act (Acts 10:44-48). After all it is the Holy Spirit who baptises (inducts) people of any culture and status into the one Body of Christ (1 Cor 12:13).

At the same time we cannot conclude that the Holy Spirit is not at work if the harvest is poor or delayed. Not all soils are alike. We must be faithful in sowing and watering but leave fruitbearing into the hands of God. The Bible emphatically states, "Neither he who plants is anything, not he who waters, but God who gives the harvest" (1 Cor 3:7). Having done all, we must wait on God till He rains on our fields (Hos 10:12). He will not disappoint us. He will cause the former rain and the latter rain to come down for us (Joel 2:23) Our labour will not go in vain (1 Cor 15:58). "In due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" (Gal 6:9).

There shall showers of blessing— Precious reviving again;
Over the hills and the valleys sound of abundance of rain!
                                           (Daniel W. Whittle, 1840-1901)

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