OUR PLENTIFUL RAIN (ELDER MIKE MCINNIS) (2024)

Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance when it was weary.
Psalm 68:9

John the Baptizer (i.e.; immerser) was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was, however, according to the testimony of the LORD, the greatest of those prophets. “For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28) He was given a task and a great privilege to be that one who would testify directly of CHRIST as the REDEEMER. “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) Many other prophets had prophesied of HIM who was to come, but John was the first and only one to see HIM, not simply with the eye of FAITH, but to behold HIM in flesh and blood.

Since he was a disciple of Moses, it was not fitting that he should continue his ministry but he understood that HE who stood before him was so much greater than he, even as the Sun outshines the Moon and is the SOURCE of its LIGHT. So, his death was appointed to occur as it did at the precise moment which would fulfill the LORD’s purpose. Yet the importance of his ministry must not be diminished any more so than that of Moses who was not permitted to enter the Promised Land. Moses was buried by the LORD after he had fulfilled the LORD’s purpose as the giver of the Holy and Immutable Law. So too John, as a prophet of the Old Testament, was unable to fully comprehend the establishment of the LORD’s Kingdom and the spiritual nature thereof. We see this as he sent word to the LORD JESUS from prison. “Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (Mat 11:2-3)

We have been given the privilege to behold the finished work of the SAVIOR who has purchased the eternal redemption of HIS people and has risen triumphant over death and the grave (i.e.; hell). John, however, died before seeing any of this, yet it is said of him, “And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the day spring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79) He was not that LIGHT but he bore witness of that LIGHT and was faithful in that to which he was called. He was not that DAYSPRING who has visited us but he is the first to declare HIM among men. “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him (i.e.; HE who is the LIGHT) might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.” (John 1:6-8)

Thus, we are made to see the magnificent mercy and provision of our Heavenly FATHER in the sending forth of the gospel of HIS only begotten SON. This gospel is sent by HIM to accomplish the exact purpose for which it is intended. “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” (2Tim 1:8-10)

Men sit in darkness and the shadow of death except they are given ears to hear and eyes to behold the “LIGHT” which is delivered in the gospel. Even as the grass withers and the flowers fade apart from the heavenly provision of rain, which waters the ground where the seeds are planted. “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: 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.” (Isa 55:10-11) When the LORD is pleased to “send” HIS WORD in the gospel, men shall be drawn unto it as HE gives them ears to hear it. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.” (Acts13:48)

The Psalmist speaks of a “PLENTIFUL RAIN” which the LORD has sent to “confirm HIS inheritance”. We understand this “RAIN” to be speaking directly about JESUS CHRIST the ONE sent to “save HIS people from their sins.” (Mat.1:21) Yet we also understand it to be speaking of the sending of HIS WORD through the preaching of the Gospel since JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF is the Gospel. It is impossible to conceive of a “Gospel” (i.e.; a heavenly declaration of good news) that does not center itself upon the one message which Paul declared he would preach to the exclusion of all others. “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and he crucified.” (1Cor 2:2) “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:8-9)

There are many “false gospels” which have gone out into the world. Any teaching from the scriptures that does not exalt JESUS CHRIST alone as the HOPE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, and SANCTIFICATION of those who believe cannot be called Gospelpreaching even though it may contain many profitable lessons and leave its hearers quite satisfied with its message. The goal of the preaching of the Gospel is not to make those who are under its sound, happy, or content, but rather to exalt and honor HIM who has laid down HIS LIFE as an offering for sin. Those who are awakened by the SPIRIT of GOD, (i.e.; “ye must be born again”) find great pleasure in hearing of HIS work on their behalf and are quite relieved when they are given FAITH to believe that HE has secured their eternal salvation by HIS own work and not their own.

HE instructed those who were present at HIS sermon on the mount (see. Mat 5-7) to do something impossible for them to do in their own power. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” (Mat 5:44) This commandment is completely contrary to the nature of men who show the work of the Law written upon their hearts. (i.e.; “an eye for an eye”) All men naturally despise their “enemies”, regardless of their protests otherwise, and cannot love them by their own design and power. Yet they are held accountable to do so, even as HIS same Law requires them to love the LORD with all their heart and mind.

He goes on to say that those who are enabled to do so, demonstrate the work of HIS SPIRIT in them. “That ye may be (i.e.; show yourselves to be) the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” (Mat 5:45) HE uses the “rain” to illustrate the wideness of HIS mercy and the broad expanse of the Gospel Net, the fact that HE came to call sinners and not the righteous, and that HE will expressly favor HIS own. “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.” (Psa 145:8-12)

While the multitudes of men are privileged to have the glorious Gospel of HIS Kingdom proclaimed unto them, (“The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen.” (Psa 98:2)) not all have been given ears to hear it. Yet those who do hear and believe will openly rejoice in HIS power, HIS mighty acts, and the majesty of HIS Kingdom. This is the heritage of the saints and their calling out of darkness manifests that HE will “confirm HIS inheritance”. He is that “PLENTIFUL RAIN” which causes the Earth to bring forth its abundance. “I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” (Eze 34:26) “Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.” (Isa 44:23) mam

Taken from the Grace Gazette Volume 22.28

Mike Mcinnis