Heavy Rain

"And Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain."
1 Kings 18:41



Though it may not appear this way on the surface, this scripture is one of the greatest statements of faith recorded in God's word. There was a severe famine in the land and it had not rained for a long time. The rivers had dried up, animals had died from thirst, and people were starving. This had happened by the hand of God. The Israelites had turned to idols, specifically Baal. Elijah challenged them on Mount Carmel. There was a showdown designed to prove who the real God was. Of course, God was victorious and the altars of Baal were burned up by the fire of God. After this, Elijah prophesied that rain was coming. It had been so long that it seemed impossible. There were no signs of rain, but in faith, Elijah said that he heard the sound of "heavy rain." He prayed and it did rain...hard.
    I choose to share this with you because I believe there is a heavy rain coming. In fact, it is beginning to fall already. I am not speaking of natural rain, I'm talking about spiritual rain. This is a downpour of the Holy Spirit that will water our lives and all those we come in contact with. I have heard the Lord speak to my heart: "The Holy Spirit will come like rain." This came to me several weeks ago. I understood what he meant. When the Holy Spirit first came to dwell in Jesus, he came like a dove. When he came to those in the upper room, he came like fire. This time, he is coming like rain. He has not been missing. But we have not appropriated his power in our lives. It is time to receive the rain just as the dry, thirsty earth receives the autumn rain.

    I don't fully understand the implications of this. I know that these are the last days of the earth. This is not a prophecy of apocalypse, it is instead a prophecy of great hope. There is an outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming that is unparalleled in all of history. It has been prophesied by Old and New Testament prophets. The Old Testament prophet, Joel said, "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people." (Joel 2:28a). These are the days. Though you may not see it with your eyes, a heavy rain is coming. It is spiritually perceived through eyes of faith. This is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
    Where I live, a rain storm came. It rained nearly 6" in 48 hours. There has been flooding, the courses of rivers have changed, and the landscape has been refashioned in many places. Roads have been destroyed and houses damaged. It is a difficult time, even tragic. But I know this is a physical picture of a spiritual event. The rain of the Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin. The works of men will be shown to be weak. The flow of the Holy Spirit will change the spiritual landscape. Even now, there is the sound of heavy rain. Do you hear it?