Why Do We Need an Outpouring of the Holy Spirit

• Harvest is a major theme of scripture that runs right through from the first book to the last. I think it’s first introduced in the time of Noah with God’s promise to Noah that as long as the earth remains, seed time and harvest will continue. But I want to turn, first of all, to the book of Deuteronomy. The book in which we have Moses’ instructions to Israel.
• just before they entered the land of Canaan. And he gave them very thorough instructions as to how they were to conduct themselves and how they would be able to enjoy the benefits and blessings of the inheritance into which God was taking them. We’re going to read from Deuteronomy 11:13–14. You have to remember that Israel had come out of Egypt, which is essentially a flat country, and where there is relatively little rain.
• The main source of water is not rain but the River Nile. And in Egypt they have a device called a shaddof. Which they dip a bucket into the water of the Nile, pull it up and pour it into little channels which direct the water to the area where it’s needed for the crops. So, in a certain sense, the water was under their control.
• Moses said to Israel, when you get into the land God is giving you it’s not like that. It’s a land of hills and valleys and it receives rain from heaven. And he said: it’s not under your control. You won’t be able to just get the water any time. But, if you’re obedient and faithful to God, He’ll give you the rain that you need.
• And here is the promise. But, joined with the rain almost invariably in the Bible is the promise of the harvest. And we have to understand that the harvest depended on the rain. That’s true, of course, ultimately in every nation. But it’s much more true in the land of Israel. Because there are really only two main seasons.