"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, ¹¹ 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."

Dear children of God,

Can anyone name for me the important thing that happened last Monday? I’ll give you a clue. It was something that is important for everyone. It is something that we sometimes forget about or take for granted. It is something that we can’t live without. No! It doesn’t have anything to do with the 4^th of July or our freedom. The important thing that happened last Monday was that it rained. Don’t we remember that the parade was almost canceled and that most of our festivities for the day were wet or had to be moved inside? I bet there were a number of people who were quite perturbed and even angry that it rained on their holiday. But that rain was very important as it provided the much need moisture for the crops in the ground and for the many other things trying to grow.

Today we are going to use the picture of rain and snow to remind us of something far greater than rain or snow and its effect on crops. In our text for today we will see that the prophet Isaiah compares the rain and the snow that helps crops by bringing the much needed moisture they need to his holy Word – the Bible. This picture is one that is easy to understands and certainly will remind us that we have something that is always at work. We have God’s Word. Our theme will draw on that picture:

Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet that lived and worked between Moses and Jesus the Messiah. Isaiah is probably best known for his prophecies about the coming Messiah where he wrote, "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (v. 5) At the beginning of chapter 55, Isaiah proclaimed the gospel’s gracious invitation to come to the banquet of God’s grace. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah declared that the Messiah would accomplish the plan of salvation and offer forgiveness to all people as a free gift of God’s grace. The prophet of God urged the thirsty and hungry to come and receive the mercy and grace of God and find the true rest that is found in God’s forgiving love. Every person needs to hear this same news of God’s full and free grace that is found in Jesus our Savior. This message is for all people.

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater," Rain is a funny thing. It doesn’t look like much. It doesn’t have a fancy label, unless you wanted to drink some special water found in a bottle. The science of rain and how it forms and why it comes is something that most of us don’t spend too much time worrying about. For most of us rain is something that is found in the weatherman’s little forecast that is depicted in the 5 day forecast with the picture of a cloud with little raindrops. In fact if the truth be told, most of us think of rain as something that is a bother or nuisance at times. But those little raindrops are very effective.

God in our text talks about the effectiveness of his powerful Word. He compares the effect it has on the hearts and lives of all people with the effect rain and snow have upon the earth. Of course, God is in control of bringing needed moisture to the soil. Such watering provides a very necessary ingredient in the germination, growth, and production of the seeds planted in the earth. The harvest of wheat provides seeds that can be milled into flour for bread and provides seeds that can be planted the next season to produce more wheat. This process allows people to live year after year through the power of our Lord, who is in control of everything and everyone. The moisture provided by the snow and rain brings good results before it evaporates and returns to heaven once more.

But let’s talk for just a minute abort how effective God’s Word is. Why are the words found in the Bible so effective? Why are they able to accomplish such great things in people’s hearts and in their lives? The main reason is because it is God’s Word. In our text he says that it is, "My Word". That little word "my" reminds us that the words we find in the Bible are words written down by men, but they are not the words and thoughts of men. The writer’s of the Bible, such as Isaiah, were just the messengers of God’s Word. God’s Word is effective, because it is from God himself. "All Scripture is God-breathed." That is what Paul said in his letter to Timothy. If it was your words and my words, that is exactly what they would be – just plain old words. But the Bible is the power that God alone can and does give. What exactly is that power is found in the next words of our text.

"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." God tells us that his Word will always accomplish the purpose for which it was intended by him. This Word goes out like a special messenger of God on a mission to change the lives of people and bring them under Jehovah’s grace and pardon in Christ. His Word will not return to the Lord empty. This word means that it will not return, empty-handed or without effect. There is a divine purpose behind every bit of preaching of his Word in this world. God’s Word creates faith in the hearts of men, women, and children. It is that same Word of the gospel that produces fruits of faith in the lives of believers.

The gospel is God’s announcement of forgiveness found in Jesus perfect life and death.. It offers and conveys the Lord’s grace to men — God’s absolution of our sins and his promise of grace and forgiveness without any strings attached. This gospel is not a natural power but a supernatural and divine power because it is God’s Word and truth. The Holy Spirit is connected with the gospel at all times, which always makes it effective. Paul tells us that the gospel "is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes" (Ro 1:16). The gospel always has the power to turn the sinful and rebellious heart of stone to faith in Christ. The unbelief of man does not take away its power.

The gospel not only has the power to convert people to faith but also to motivate believers to be fruitful Christians. The Holy Spirit uses the gospel to invigorate our faith and to encourage us to be willing to serve our Lord. Paul says, "I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" (Rom. 12:1). Just think about the picture of the rain and what it accomplishes on seeds. It is able to make that seed start to grow and then it is able to keep that seed growing until it produces fruit or whatever crop it is meant to produce.

Isaiah tells us that God’s Word is never proclaimed in vain. It is not a waste of time to declare the mercy and grace of God in Christ. The possibility is always there for those who hear it to come to faith and be saved. And when it is rejected through the hardness of the human heart, the gospel has a purpose to be preached as a testimony against unbelief.

Christ established the New Testament church on Pentecost and entrusted the Great Commission to believers in all generations. The church is only built, preserved, and nurtured through the gospel message of God’s grace which is found in the Bible. Mission work is the main business of the Church. Christ, the head of the church, has not changed the Great Commission, nor has he given us any other message other than the gospel to carry out that commission. The Word of God is still the powerful force it has always been. Therefore, let us not lose confidence in its effectiveness, since the Lord stands behind it with the promise "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" (Isa 55:11). The world around us declares that there is no good use for the gospel anymore, that it doesn’t have any power or might. So many suggest that we get rid of it. Sometimes in o! ur weakness we might think it isn’t accomplishing anything. However, let us have confidence that God is behind it and will use it according to his will. Let us keep on proclaiming the gospel, the power of God.