Rain, Rain, Come again!

Reading: John 15:1-11

"By this My Father is glorified, that you may bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples" (Jn 15:8)

In response to the rain the field must bring forth fruit. Rain is from above. God pours His blessing on us so we may be fruitful to Him. We must be productive to avoid backsliding. The rain typifies God's Spirit, God's Word and God's Grace. Let's briefly study the expected response from us on the receipt of each of these blessings.

God's Spirit is rain. This demands a twofold response. First our character. "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Gal 5:22,23). The Holy Spirit is outpoured on us that we may bring forth these fruits. If instead we still continue to be manifesting "the works of the flesh" (Gal 5:19-21), we are bearing "thorns and briers" only. Every effort must be taken by us to cooperate with the Spirit to produce in us a Christlike character, manifesting thro' love, joy, peace, etc. The second purpose of the rain of God's Spirit on us is to make us faithful and powerful witnesses of Christ (Acts 1:8; 2:17). After receiving the Holy Spirit, if a Christian is idle and slothful and indifferent towards the furtherance of the Gospel, he has received God's rain in vain.

Next, God's Word is rain (Dt 32:1,2). Our response to God's Word must be the increase of faith. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom 10:17). If, inspite of repeated hearing of God's Word, we are still in unbelief, we are only producing thorns and briers. The Word of God is also to produce growth in us. "Desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby" (1 Pet 2:2). It is not uncommon to see believers who attend every Church service and convention and listen to every sermon, but who never grow. Obviously they are not applying the truths in their life. Only a "doer of the Word" is blessed (Js 1:23-25).

Thirdly, rain typifies God's grace. "I will pour... the Spirit of grace..." (Zech 12:10a). God's grace has come to us in all fullness through Jesus Christ (Jn 1:16,17). Because we are under grace, sin shall not have dominion over us (Rom 6:14). Our responsibility is to lean completely on the grace of the Lord and say no to every temptation from the evil one. The negative response to the shower of God's grace on us is to continue in sin taking advantage of God's forgiving grace (Rom 6:15).

God is freely pouring out His rain on us. The Spirit without measure! The Word in plenty! His grace in abundance! Our positive response prevents us from backsliding.

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