Scripture:
Isaiah 55:10-13 ESV
[10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. [12] “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. [13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
Observation:
I usually try to stay away from trying to explain prophecies from GOD because it can be a little difficult. The meaning might not always be right out in the open and may be hard to discern. Because what’s being said is not always what is being talked about. So I’m going to do my best to explain what’s going on here. I believe that GOD is painting a picture of how the earth gets watered. Mentioning the snow and the rain how it falls to the earth and brings forth sprouts that give the sowers seed to sow. But what is really being said??? I mean, at this point in life, we know how all that happens the rain falls and waters the earth the farmers really count on it to produce the crops they need to produce the food we eat. But let’s look at the underlying meaning here. GOD’S word was given to us from heaven by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to be sown into lives and produce the fruit of the Spirit. In verse 11, YAHWAH explains that HIS word is like that rain, and when it is spoken, it will produce the fruit it is intended to produce. In other words, the LORD never fails to do what HE set out to do. The sower, also known as the preacher, the pastor, the evangelist, the blood-bought child of GOD. Will take HIS word and sow it into the lives of those around him, and fruit will come. It may be slow it coming, but it will produce fruit. Verses 12-13 are some examples of that fruit. If we look at Galatians chapter 5 starting in verse 22, I believe…what we see is a description of what the fruit of the Spirit looks like, and in verse 12, we see at least 2 of those characteristics mentioned joy and peace. So here is what I want to focus on… when GOD’S word is spoken out and if our soil is prepared and ready or not, it will produce the fruit HE intended for it too. If we have rocky soil, GOD will send the workmen to come to work that ground and prepare the soil for the seed… either way, a harvest will be had. Fruit will come if GOD intended for it to HE never fails.
Application:
I know you guys have probably heard this story a lot, but it’s one of those stories that brought the scripture to life for me, and it’s part of my salvation experience. After my encounter with Jesus Christ in a little church in Asher Oklahoma, I retired from pro-wrestling, but the road to that retirement is where this verse came to life for me. At the time, I thought my life was pretty good. I had a lot of good things going on. With a promising wrestling career, a good job, and buying my first house, baby on the way. Life was good. But one day, I started thinking there has got to be more to life than this. Sure, I was petty successful at the time. But there was still something something missing. On the way to a wrestling show in Lawton, I drove by this little church. I did it every Saturday. Nothing was different about this one, except GOD was drawing me to HIM. I got this feeling deep in my spirit that I needed to do something different, the drugs and the so-called successful life w were not enough to fill the void. So I did something simple. I changed the radio station in the car to whatever local Christian radio station there was, and for 2 and a half hours, my family and I listened to GOD’S word being sung by those who had been changed by HIM. The thing is, I was unaware that’s what was going on. I just knew that what I was doing wasn’t working. I still felt empty. As we drove to Lawton and then back. These words were being planted in the soil of my heart. The soil that had been prepared by the workers beforehand from little visits to church when I needed something or my life was falling apart. The rocks were plucked out, and my heavenly Father had created just the right moment to grab ahold of my life. These Christian artists were singing GOD’S word, and it was watering my soul. Now, some 14 years later, my life has completely changed. The person I am now may look like that guy from 14 years ago, but the way I conduct myself is not the same at all. Now, believe me when I say I know that I have not arrived. There are still a lot of changes to be made… but this is what I know…GOD WILL NOT START SOMETHING I WILL NOT FINISH. the work HE began in me will be completed. Because that’s what HIS word says. It will produce fruit… HE will finish what HE started… HE is the author and finisher of my faith. I could go on, but I want to get to my point. At the beginning of this SOAP, you read GOD’S word, and I want you to know it will not return void. It is starting to produce fruit right now. You may have felt at times that there are things that need to change, and you are just not sure how to go about it. You just know that what you are doing is not working. Well, I want to encourage you. In whatever way possible, let GOD’S word plant itself in your heart… whether you have to read it listen to it, or hear it sung through song. I don’t care. Just get it there. HE will go to work. HE will bring about the change that is needed. I am living proof, and I can point to countless others who will testify to the same type of process I went through. HIS word is life.
Prayer:
Father, you are so good. Sometimes, as I look back, it’s hard to believe how far we have come. From that day in the car to this point, so much has changed. I just want to thank you. You have never given up on me. Everyone else seems to go away, but you never do. Thank you for pressing on. I know that you will see me through to the end. Right now, I want to pray for those who may be in a tough spot. Maybe their life is not what it should be, and they are looking for something to fill that void. Father, I pray that you would send someone to speak your word into their hearts right now and that their soil would be without rocks and ready to receive your word. Father, let it produce the fruit that you have in mind for it to. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.