Dedicated To The Men of God Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are

"Preach The Word"

Ez.34:20-31 Text v.26

Introduction:

This chapter is filled with truth for the encouragement of God's people, Israel. But Thank God, it will also encourage His Church. This Chapter divides itself into three parts.

v. 1-10 The Severity Of Their Distress v.4

v.11-19 The Shepherd To Their Deliverance v.12

v.20-31 The Showers For Their Development v.26

So too, with the Church, the struggles that were experienced under that old master. Typified by the shepherds who fed themselves and scattered and killed the flock. But, thanks be to God! He has come as "The GOOD SHEPHERD" to FIND, FREE and FEED, His Precious flock.

Not only has He Purposed Their Deliverance

He Pledges their Development. v.25-26

I am most interested in this phrase that is the conclusion of v.26 ......... "there shall be showers of blessing."

[a] The ANALOGY Of The Showers

Rain is a two-fold picture from God's Book of Illustration.

* Depicts The Words Of Scripture

Deu.32:1-2 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. * My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grass:

* Denotes The Work Of The Spirit

Seen through the texts that give us a description of The Work of the Holy Ghost.

Hos.6:3 Then shall we know, [if] we follow on to know the LORD his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

[b] The ABSENCE Of The Showers

* The Revelation That Announces It

Withholding the rain is both SIGN and SEAL of God's judgement upon the sins of the people. Deu.28:24 I Ki.17:1

Solomon recognized this truth ........

II Ch.6:26 When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain because they have sinned against thee

* The Results That Accompany It

Is.5:6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned nor digged but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

DROUGHT OCCURS - The Songs, The Sermons, The Services become DRY and lifeless because the Saints are!

* The Church Assembled together but the Presence of God is no where to be found.

* The Word Is Preached but without any application to the heart.

* The Formality of Prayer without the Pleadings with God.

* The Evident Absence Of Any Spiritual Power.

* The Work Of The Church Continues but without the Blessing O God.

DISCOURAGEMENT OVERWHELMS - As the soul experiences NO benefit under the Word, feelings of Depression and Despair overrun and overrule the saints.

DESPITE IS NURTURED - The Affections and the Attitude are so often controlled by the Atmosphere around one. Begin to find fault and see failure in everyone and everything. Leads one to Despise the service they have performed , the gifts they have given, the people with which they have fellowshiped.

DUTIES ARE NEGLECTED - It begins with just the little things neglected but soon become bigger and bigger, eventually resulting in complete absence and separation from the Church and the things of God.

DEVASTATION IS ENCOUNTERED - Is.5:6 And I will lay it waste

DEATH WILL BE THE FINAL RESULT - Drought gives way to famine, famine gives way to pestilence and pestilence gives way to death!

I Ki.17:12 And she said, ...............

[As] the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I [am] gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and DIE. See: II Ki.6:24-29

Recognizing these things we Long and Look for those showers of blessing, knowing that we cannot survive without them.

I.  THE PRESENCE OF THE SHOWERS v.26

We need to understand some things about these Spiritual Showers.

1. SHOWERS ARE SENT "and I will cause the shower to come down"

A. A Provision From Heaven

Deu.11:11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven:

Deu.28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season,

B. A Prerogative Of Heaven

Mt.5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

It is the absolute act of our Sovereign God.

Gen.7:4 yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights;

I Ki.18:1 Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

No Power On Earth Can Hinder Its Coming!

2. SHOWERS ARE SEASONAL

It does'nt rain all the time. "to come down in his season;"

Deu.11:14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain,

This truth produces three things in believers.

A. Anticipation Looking Forward

Hos.10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

Acs.3:19 when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

B. Appropriation Looking Inward

C. Appreciation Looking Backward

Ps.68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits,

Ps.72:18 Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

Ep.1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly [places] in Christ:

3. SHOWERS ARE SCATTERED v.26a "places"

Doesn't rain everywhere at the same time. It did once, but God said it will never happen again.

Amo.4:7 And also I have withholden the rain from you, when [there were] yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

"blessing"

3 Heb. words for rain in Scripture. All three found in Hos.6:3 . he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

* Geshem - Heavy Winter Rain

* Yoreh - Early (Former) Rain

* Malkosh - Latter Rain

1. PREPARATORY RAIN Former Rain

Comes first, about Oct. through Dec.

A. Prepares The Laborer

Signal that the off time is past and it is this early rain that encourages the heart and stirs it to begin the work.

B. Prepares The Land

These rains come to moisten the ground and fit it for ...........

[a] The Plough

[b] The Planter

Is.30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed that thou shalt sow the ground withal;

C. Prepares The Lost

Suggestive of the Spirit's Work of Conviction.

As it is typical of both the Scriptures and The Spirit; this former rain also prepares the soul for the planting of that Holy Seed that will spring up into life. See: Psa.65:9-10

2. PROVISIONAL RAIN Winter Rain From Mid Dec/March

These heavy rains are welcome, as they fill the cisterns and pools, and Replenish the springs.

Is.44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: in these verses we see;

A. The Promise Of Reviving

The first part of this verse is explained by the second.

B. The Product Of Reviving v.4-5

C. The Power Of Reviving v.6

3. PERFECTING RAIN Latter Rain From Mid Mar/Apr-May

Appears Eight times in Old Test. and Once in the New Test. 9 # of Spiritual Fruition

A. Causes The Crop To Mature

B. Causes The Crop To Endure

Enables The Plant To Withstand The Periods of Drought That Come Before The Harvest.

III. THE PERSEVERANCE TILL THE SHOWERS

Text v.26 "I will cause the shower to come down"

1. PLEADING FOR THE SHOWERS

A. The Promise Seen (Word Of The LORD)

Zech.10:1 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, to every one grass in the field.

B. The Promise Supported

[a] The Precious Mercies Of The LORD Lam.3:21-23

[b] The Past Ministry Of The LORD

Ps.63:7 Because thou hast been my help, there- fore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

C. The Promise Sought II Chr.7:12-14

[a] The Humility Required

[b] The Hope Restored

[c] The Healing Received

2. PATIENCE FOR THE SHOWERS

Jas.5:7 the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

A. Patience Trusting

[a] A Call For Restraint

[b] A Call For Resolve

1. Patience Triumphing

3. PRAISE FOR THE SHOWERS Isa.51:3 Jer.31:10-14

Sermon From Pastor Ron Lovins

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