Provoking Rain
The sermon emphasizes the importance of sacrificial sowing to provoke God's blessings in our lives.
E.A. Adeboye emphasizes the power God has given us to control events in our lives and surroundings, urging believers to take action rather than passively wait for blessings. Using the analogy of the earth, he highlights the importance of sacrificial sowing to provoke God's blessings, comparing it to the earth's process of saving and sacrificing rain for continuous nurturing. Adeboye encourages continuous sowing, emphasizing the need to sow sacrificially and avoid living in sin to experience abundant blessings from God.
Text
MEMORISE: 'Cast thy bread upon the water: for thou shalt find it after many days.' (Eccles 11:1)
READ: Ecclesiastes 11:1-6
God has given us power to control and determine events, both in our lives and around us. The problem with many of us is that we want things done for us: even when we know what to do. Many of us desire the rain of God's blessings, but fail to provoke the rain. How then shall it pour? Let us take a cue from the earth. The earth is very wise. It desires to be watered constantly so that it can nurture all the trees, plants and others on it. How does it achieve this?
The earth waits for God to release the first rains. Knowing that for the rain to continue, there must be a process of cloud gathering, the earth releases part of that first rain through the process of evaporation to the clouds. And when the clouds are heavy, they break forth as rain upon the earth once again. So the earth saves and uses some rain and sacrifices some up the clouds again in preparation for more.
The period between the clouds gathering and rainfall is usually a period of dryness for the earth. All the plants and trees cry, 'Oh mother earth! We are dry and thirsty! We lack sufficient moisture! Help us!' To this, the earth replies, 'Oh my children! If you don't sow, you cannot reap! We had to make this sacrifice so we can continue to have rain. Be patient! The clouds will soon be full and will burst forth as rain! O, hear the earth. Thank God for your source of livelihood!
Please note that if you want to enjoy God's exponential blessings you must be prepared to sow sacrificially into the Kingdom. But you say: I have sown again and again without any positive results! It takes several sowings to sufficiently load your clouds until they are full and break forth as showers of blessings. Hence verse 6 of our text tells you to continue to sow until you reap. Remember, you can determine how fast your rains will come. Start sacrificial and continuous sowing today. But also ensure you are not living in sin while you sow. And sooner or later your clouds will break forth upon you.
ACTION POINT
Sow the type of seed you have never sown before, to provoke your rain.
Ask God to usher his blessings into the church worldwide.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding the power of sowing - The importance of sacrificial giving - The process of cloud gathering
- II points: - The analogy of the earth and rain - The period of dryness and patience - The necessity of continuous sowing
- III points: - Determining the speed of blessings - Avoiding sin while sowing - The promise of exponential blessings
Key Quotes
“If you don't sow, you cannot reap!” — E.A. Adeboye
“It takes several sowings to sufficiently load your clouds until they are full and break forth as showers of blessings.” — E.A. Adeboye
“Start sacrificial and continuous sowing today.” — E.A. Adeboye
Application Points
- Consider sowing a type of seed you have never sown before to provoke your rain.
- Remain patient during dry seasons, trusting that your efforts will lead to a bountiful harvest.
- Ensure that your sowing is accompanied by a righteous life to fully receive God's blessings.