As we talk about the concept of revival we are typically exploring the idea that there are special visitations of God’s presence upon certain people, at specific places, and at certain times. In this short devotional we explore the idea that God desires for His House and His People to be a continual dwelling place for His Presence. This is the concept of a slow rain revival.
SLOW RAIN & HEAVY RAIN
For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength
JOB 37:6, NKJV
As we know, when it rains it doesn’t always pour. There are gentle mists and also heavy thunderstorms. Visitations from God are this way, too.
Prophetically, we see that both types of rain represent a different outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They both represent the power of God, but in different ways.
The gentle rain represents the blessing, mercy, and favor of God.
The heavy rain represents the strength, power, and might of God.
Typically, when we think of revival we think of heavy rain. These are the revivals we study in church history. Heavy rain revivals are full of dramatic manifestations, cultural controversy, and big reformations of thought.
I believe God gives each generation a divine moment to receive a heavy rain revival. Heavy rain revivals, like the ones we typically read about in history, are very exciting but also very challenging to navigate. Just like in the natural, where heavy rain can cause flooding and erosion, heavy rain revivals tend to cause massive shifts in the spiritual climate of a generation or a region.
So, at times, God brings another, gentler type of revival. This is the revival of the slow rain.
WHY THE SLOW RAIN?
With the excitement of a heavy rain revival being so intoxicating, what’s the purpose of the slow rain?
The Hebrew word for slow rain, or a light rain, is raaph. Literally, the term is more similar to the idea of a trickle, a mist, a collection of drops, or a dew. Raaph is used several other times in the Scripture to prophetically speak of the blessing of the Lord.
You visit the earth and water it; you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so you have prepared it.You water its furrows abundantly, settling its ridges, softening it with showers, and blessing its growth. You crown the year with your bounty; your wagon tracks overflow with abundance. The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, hey shout and sing together for joy.
Psalm 65
Think of the book of Acts for a moment. Have you ever considered that the miracles and journeys of the early disciples recorded in that book happened over 32 years? Yes, there were moments of dramatic miracles but there were just as many moments of slow rain - of gentle days of the Spirit’s leadership, of small growth and small steps in discipleship, and of slow, constant growth over time.
More than a series of large events of campaigns, I believe what the Book of Acts demonstrates for us is a slow rain revival - a consistent move of God’s favor and Presence in the lives of all kinds of people. A gentle, constant rain of His Presence.
A REVIVAL FOR THE BURNED OUT AND BURNT OVER
From 1800 to 1860 there was a region of New York State that experienced many different religious revivals. Some of these were true outpourings of God’s Presence and others platformed charlatans and false religion. This region experienced so much religious activity that journalists referred to it as the “Burned Over District.” In their minds, the land was literally burned out from revivalism.
Today, we have our own burned-over districts. Leaders are burnt out and burned over. Many people in the church are even burned out on the concept of revival. Churches have promoted too many programs, quick-fixes, and tweetable answers to address our collective trauma. We know we need something more, but we refuse to do the same thing again and expect different results. If the above describes you, you might need a slow rain revival.
Why not expect God’s presence to settle upon us every time we gather rather than promoting special meetings? Why not celebrate what the Lord is doing amongst us to day while we also wait for greater works? When we accept what God is doing even in the subtle and subdued, we will eventually see Him in more dramatic ways as well.
In short, when our churches begin to accept the slow, gentle rain of God’s presence I believe we will see more powerful seasons revival.
One of the interesting things about living in Southern California is that rain is an event. Even the smallest sprinkle can cause children to go outside and stare at the rain. What if we viewed every moment in God’s presence with a similar awe and honor?
Break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you.
Hosea 10:12