Sep 18
23
GOD’S SUCCESSFUL WORD
Isaiah 55: 10: For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven,
and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the
eater: 11: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it
shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I
please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
God made the rain and snow to illustrate his word. It is not an
afterthought that God uses creation to illustrate the truth. Everything
was created “by [Christ] and for [Christ] and he is before all things,
and by him all things consist…that in all things he might have the
preeminence.” (Col 1: 16-18) If we have not preached Christ from
creation we have preached creation in vain.
The rain and snow come down from God above. This illustrates how God’s
word comes down from God above. (Ps 104:13; Job 37:6) Christ the Word
came down from above. He is God in human flesh, the Word made flesh who
dwelt among us. (Jn 1: 1, 14) Likewise, it is God above who sends his
gospel to his child. (Deut 32: 2)
Furthermore, as the rain and snow always accomplish God’s purpose so
does God’s word. The Word came down and is now returned to God but not
before accomplishing the purpose for which God sent him. He finished the
transgression, made an end of sins, made reconciliation for iniquity,
brought in everlasting righteousness, fulfilled all scripture, is
anointed the most Holy and has anointed the Holiest giving his people
welcome access into God’s presence. (Dan 9: 24; Jn 17: 4; 19: 30; Heb
10: 19-22) Likewise, the word preached in truth always accomplishes
God’s purpose, “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them
that are saved, and in them that perish.” (2 Cor 2: 15) “the LORD shall
satisfy thy soul in drought…and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and
like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Is 58: 11) Christ
quickens and Christ grows us through the gospel “as the latter and
former rain unto the earth.” (Hos 6: 3-4)
Finally, as the snow and rain gives seed to the sower and bread to the
eater, God accomplishes his purpose, giving us bread to live on and seed
to sow. Believer, live upon Christ the Bread and we shall never hunger.
And as we sow seed from the harvest for a future harvest so God causes
his church to sow the word and calls out his lost sheep. “He that
observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall
not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the
bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou
knowest not the works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy
seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not
whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall
be alike good.” (Ecc 11: 4-6) Free will preachers are like rain-dancers.
But as we depend upon God to give snow and rain and bring forth seed, we
depend upon God to give life and fruit in our hearers, as well as
ourselves. (Job 38: 22-29, 37-38) “Now he that ministereth seed to the
sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown,
and increase the fruits of your righteousness.” “God is able to make all
grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work: Being enriched in every thing to
all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” (2 Cor
9: 8-11) So preach the word!
Clay Curtis.