Isaiah 32:13-15 ‘Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.’

DAILY READING – Revelation 11; Esther 1; Psalm 105:1-25

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tens of thousands of Jewish immigrants, mostly from Eastern Europe, began arriving in Palestine to establish new Jewish settlements. These immigrants were largely motivated by a desire to live in the land of their ancestors.

The first major such wave of Jewish immigration was called the First ‘Aliyah’, which took place between 1881 and 1903. About 25,000 to 35,000 Jews immigrated to Palestine, though about half subsequently left. About 28 significant Jewish settlements were established, and about 90,000 acres of land were purchased by Jews.

This would be the first time Jews would be returning in such large number after their 2000 years exile from their homeland. And one of the most remarkable things that happened during their years of absence  was that rainfall had diminished over the land. As a result of this decreasing rainfall, gradually the land became deserted. And for those years of Jewish exile, the land of Israel, later renamed Palestine, became desolate and hardly inhabited.

However as the Jews gradually started returning to their homeland, starting with Jewish farmers , who needed  to irrigate the desolate land, a miraculous thing started to occur;  once again rainfall began to increase in the land. And during the 20th Century, rainfall increased 10 percent every decade, till a total increase of over 100 percent.

And as more Jews began to return, with the increased rainfall, they also devised various means of irrigation. The result has been phenomenal. During the 20th Century, over 250 million trees were planted in this land formerly without trees.  Today, the land that was desolate for so many years, is now the food basket of the Middle East, exporting  agricultural products to countries all over the world.

It is indeed amazing, the difference rain can make! For a land desolate and abandoned for 2000 years, the coming of rainfall has made a huge difference.

The Holy Spirit in the scriptures, is likened to rain. And likewise, when He comes into a man’s life, He makes a big difference. From a barren land, a man’s life can become very fruitful.

Isaiah 32:13-15 says ‘Because the palaces shall be forsaken; the multitude of the city shall be left; the forts and towers shall be for dens for ever, a joy of wild asses, a pasture of flocks; Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest.’

Things may remain desolate and barren in a man’s life until the Spirit is poured from on high. Just like a ground needs rain to be fruitful, man that is created from the ground also needs the rain of the Spirit so as to be fruitful in life. Often the reason why things may not be working in a man’s life is because the rain of the Spirit is missing.  And so that life becomes desolate and becomes like a dessert.

Many things may stop working, and progress may come to a standstill, once the rain of the Spirit dries up in a man’s life. It is the Power of the Spirit that causes things to work and once that power is absent, then stagnation takes over.

It is God’s will in these latter days to pour  out upon all flesh the rain of His Spirit. However it is only those who are genuinely thirsty that are qualified for this rain.

It is those who ask, who will receive.

Zechariah 10:1 says ‘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.’

A thirst is what we need for the release of the rain of The Spirit.

In Acts 2:17 Peter said “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh”.

We are already in the latter days and it is God’s will to pour out His Spirit upon all who are thirsty and willing to receive. Why God is pouring out His Spirit upon the church in this latter days is because the end time is the era of power. It is a time the Church will be manifesting the manifold wisdom of God. And if we are to operate as Jesus operated, then we need the spirit without measure to do the works that He did, and even greater works.

The Holy Spirit is the power of God. And in this era of power, we need Him like never before. It is therefore important  to develop an intimate relationship with Him, so that we can experience the power of God in our lives.

We don’t just wish for power, we thirst for it. We have to ask, seek and knock until we receive. And we ask in prayers, fasting and being persistent until the door opens. We also need to create an atmosphere where The Spirit will be welcome. This means we have to constantly maintain a lifestyle of Purity and holiness, even as we surround ourselves with praise and joy.

Just as the coming of rain made a big difference in the land of Israel, the coming of The Spirit will make a big  difference in our lives. By the wind of The Spirit we will be lifted to amazing heights of exploits. Therefore let us be willing to pay whatever price is required to engage His glorious Presence,  and experience progress, fruitfulness and unending blessings.

 

PRAYER: Lord, Please I need Your power at work in my life like never before. Please grant me the grace to pay the price and do all that is required, for me to experience a greater dimension of Your Spirit in my life in Jesus Name.

Quote

When you praise God despite your situation power is released for a raise. – WORDBITE 222.