Outline # 172 (This is No. 4 in the Praise & Worship Series)
Introduction: Today we will use nature to see how our blessings come through praise. In nature there is a process known as: The Hydrological Cycle. It is the cycle which brings great blessings to the earth. The Bible has a great deal to say about this. It is a two step process.
I. The Hydrological Cycle steps.
A. The two steps explained.
II. Spiritual Truths
1. Evaporation - Water evaporates from oceans and lakes or rivers.
a. It rises in the air mass and forms clouds.
2. Rainfall - When moisture condenses and comes down as rain, it waters the earth.
a. This makes the land fruitful and productive.
b. Ezekiel 34:26 �showers of blessings�
c. Job 36:26-30 �vaporizes, causes rain�
3. Sunshine - God causes the sun to shine on the ocean, heat causes evaporation.
a. Warm vapor rises and forms clouds.
b. Vapor cools, they distill and form drops of water.
c. This forms rain which - -- vs 28
A. This natural process illustrates spiritual truths.
III. Scriptures to illustrate this process. 1.Amos 5:8, 9:6
1. God causes His blessings to shine on mankind just as the sun shines upon the ocean.
2. Man's heart should be warmed toward God, in response to the blessings He has shown upon him.
3. Man's praises are to rise to God like the vapors that are created by the sun on the ocean.
4. Those praises form clouds of blessing.
5. God causes them to distill into rain which pours forth on the earth.
6. The blessing of rain makes the earth fruitful and prosperous, providing seed for the sower and bread for the eater.
7. The excess rain forms rivers, which run to the sea, from whence it originally came, and the whole process begins again.
a. Amos was a farmer who understood God's process. "calleth far the waters of the sea�
IV. End time Outpouring = Zechariah 10:1
b. The hydrological cycle, sun, vapor, clouds, rain
2. Psalms 147:7-8
3. Proverbs 11:25
a. As we sing praise to God, He forms clouds of blessing from our praises.
b. Then sends forth "showers of blessings" upon the earth.
c. The amount of blessing Is governed by the amount of praise we have sent up to God.
d. Explain what will happen in the millennial reign of Christ.
1. Zechariah 14:17 == no worship, no rain (learn now how to praise)
4. Ecclesiastes 1:7
5. Ecclesiastes 11:3
6. Hosea 6:3
7. Isaiah 45:8
8. Zechariah 10:1 'bright clouds'
9. Isaiah 55:10
10. James 5:7
A. These scriptures show an outpouring of God's Spirit.,
Conclusion: Are you in this Latter Day Army, sowing seeds of the gospel, knowing that the former and latter rain is coming?
1. Time of the latter rain. Vs 1
B. Normally, Israel experienced two rainy seasons.
2. The Spirit will fall from heaven like a deluge of rain.
3. Joel predicts an unprecedented outpouring. Joel 2:23 (Hosea 6:3)
1. The first rain came early in the agricultural season.
C. These times were termed the former and latter rains.
a. This softened the soil and made ready for planting.
2. The second rain or latter rain came after the dry summer months at the end of the agricultural year.
3. This was the time the Feast of Trumpets was observed.
a. This latter rain matured the harvest.
1. The coming together of the 'RAINS', the glorious outpouring of God's Spirit.
D. God is raising up a Praising People these last days.
2. The Heavenly Husbandman is patiently waiting for this abundance, full of information rain.
3. This is HARVEST TIME!
4. What will cause this RAIN?
a. The abundant worship of God's praising people.
b. The Hydrological Cycle = praise rising up to Heaven like great clouds of vapor.
c. Our praise is going to bring back Jesus.
1. It will be a mighty army. [God's got an army marching through the land) Let's be in it!
2. Psalm 149:6 Praise and God's Word in our mouth.
3. Our praise will form abundant clouds of blessings.
4. God will distill and send showers of blessings greater than ever before.
5. This will be the final harvest of precious souls.
6. Then with a shout, the sound of the trumpet we will be gone.
