No. 51. >> Well, let's keep this going with Isaiah 55 Verses 10 through 11. These verses are often used in discussions of the church's mission. Is this an appropriate use of the text? >>DR. DANIEL L. GARD: Absolutely. Let me read this text to you. I'm very fond of Isaiah 55. As you say, we continue to look at this chapter. Beginning with the tenth verse: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making abundant flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater. So is my Word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Now, I wasn't raised in a rural area. I was raider on United States Air Force bases. But I did have the great privilege for five years of serving a very rural congregation surrounded by cornfields in a town that had one stop sign and had approximately 20 houses, two churches, two graveyards, Cookies Gas Station and the Woodland Inn and Pub. And that was the town. But it was a wonderful experience. And my people were largely either farmers or had been raised on the farm. And still had large amounts of their life connected to agriculture. But when I was raised on bases rather than in the country, I always saw the coming of rain as something of an annoyance. It simply ruined my afternoon when I wanted to do something. And along would come the rain and I would have to stay inside. But once I became a pastor to farmers, I found out very quickly how significant the rain is. The rain and snow provide that which is necessary for the production of food. In 1988, there was a major drought in Indiana. And it affected the place in which I lived. And as the Indiana farmers say: The corn needs to be knee high by the Fourth of July. But in that year the few stalks that had survived July 4th were no more than a couple inches off the ground. And so this idea of rain was forcefully driven home to me as I tried to be a pastor to farmers who were wondering whether or not they would be able to keep their farm beyond this drought season. The text today that we just read speaks of the rain and snow coming to bring forth seed to the sower and bread to the eater. Even though I'm not a farmer, I do appreciate what farmers do. Because it, in fact, keeps me fed and alive. Jesus in our Gospel -- in the Gospel reading about the parable of the sower talks about the sower going out to sow. All this helps us to understand a lesson, which is far greater even than that of agriculture. As important as that is. The Lord compares his Word to the rain which he sends. It waters the earth and brings forth a rich crop. The good rain that we have in most years results, at least in our part of the country where I live in Northern Indiana, with some beautiful crops. This year, for example, my lawn remains green into September. Because the rains continue to come. But like many things we take for granted and never bother to give thought to, there's a spiritual lesson in this. One that -- a lesson that Isaiah gives to us. You see, when the rains come, we can run for shelter and think of it as nothing but a phenomenon of nature. Or we can look at the same rain and be reminded that this is like the Word of God. It comes upon us. And we grow. If it's withheld, we not only fail to grow, but ultimately we die. A spiritual drought of God's Word is the thing to be feared most. Yet in the ultimate plan of God for our salvation, there is never a drought. He's given to us his Word, that rain, that comes down upon us in fullness and abundance. It's no accident that the Scriptures speak of Jesus, the Son of God, as the Word made flesh. He was sent down from the world -- into the world as the rains come down from heaven. He came as one who would bring forth a rich crop. In his death upon the cross, that process of growing a crop would begin. When they laid him in a tomb, he entered into the earth it self just as a seed enters into the earth. On Easter morning, though, when he arose, he arose as the first fruits of a new creation. One in which sin and death and Satan are defeated. And the power that they once held is broken forever. Now, you and I have been given life through that Word of God. That rain which God sends. He was crucified for our sin. And then raised for our justification. In baptism our life was made one with his. He is the first fruits. We, through the power of the water that's with the Word, have been joined to him and to be made sharers of that life. And that's really the foundation of Christianity. The Word of God has taken on flesh and has come into this world as God's great rain. Into the lives of those united to Jesus by baptism, God's Word continues to come. It comes with a message of continual forgiveness and grace. Yet it also comes with a message that shapes our lives in ways, perhaps, that sometimes we don't want it to shape. The term Word of God refers to Jesus. Yet it also refers to Holy Scripture which speaks of Jesus and communicates his message to us. That message calls us to a life that's radically different from the life of the world. It seems, though, that many Christians listen more closely to the world's word rather than to God's Word. We let the world dictate our understanding of life. And all too often, we tend to buy into its priorities. We see its influence in Christians who, perhaps, love pleasure more than God. And spend Sunday morning on the lake rather than in the study of that blessed Word in God's House. We see it in professed Christians who remain silent as babies are slaughtered in the abortion chambers of our nation. Not by dozens. But by the millions. With that chant: I can't impose my morality on others. We see it as the God ordained roles of men and women in this world are turned upside down even in the church in hopes of gaining the world's approval rather than God's. But God's Word continues to come to his church like a spring rain, like a spring storm. The thunder and lightning of the law are a part of it. Have we listened to the world rather than God? Have we adapted our lives as Christians to the values of the world rather than to the values of God? If so, then we need to hear the thunder, we need to see the lightning. That thunderbolt is the thunder of judgement in God's righteous anger. It looms over us and promises us that our sin is not taken lightly by God. It condemns us by now and for eternity. Afterall, judgement does begin in the House of God or at least his Word tells us. If it's terrible for those outside the church, how much more terrible is it for those who have the Word to guide them but choose to ignore it. But the thunder is not all there is. There comes the life-giving rain of his Word of forgiveness. That written Word which points us to the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. You see, in him there is no condemnation. For he has brought peace with God for us through his tremendous sacrifice, that price of his holy, innocent and precious blood. He has brought peace to us through his resurrection. See, what God calls his church to do throughout the world is to come to repentance. Both to know the thunder of his judgement. But especially and above all to know the sweetness of the Gospel of forgiveness. How precious are those words of Isaiah to us: My Word shall accomplish that which I purpose. And prosper in the thing for which I intend it. Now, we can't amend or substitute the Word of God. When we do, we have a false word. A word that's devoid of God's power and blessing. But when Scripture is heard, learned and believed and allowed to be what God has sent to be, the church rises from her apathy, from her pain, and becomes a light to the world of darkness. Sometimes we look at the church and she does seem to be weak and faltering today. But that's not God's fault. He has given us all things. And how gently and sweetly that Word continues to rain on us. How sweet the promises are. How gentle. How life saving. Next time you're in your church, look at the baptismal fount. Meditate before that. See there how life is given by God. So gently bestowed. Look again at your altar. Even when the church is empty, bow before that altar. And remember that there at that spot God's Word rains down upon his people. How gently renewed it is by the church's great treasure of Christ's body and blood. God's Word is the rain. It's the rain that makes the church be what she can be. May his Word rain on his people through you. May his Word and may we by his Spirit not only hear the thunder but especially hear what that thunder has to say. And that is there is a God with open arms waiting, embracing, loving, caring for her. Renewing, restoring. That's our hope. God does not send his Word in vain. It will accomplish what he sent it to do. May God give us ears to hear and hearts that receive that rain.