Let us first consider a preliminary step. Judges chapter 6 opens with a compelling scene. The children of Israel are suffering from a horrible oppression at the hand of the Midianites. This is, as usual, due to Israel’s own folly. Because of their sinful backsliding, the Lord has allowed them to taste the bitter results of their own doings. In His abundant mercy, however, He hears their cries for help in the midst of their suffering.

The angel of the Lord then appears to Gideon. Why does he choose Gideon? It is significant that Gideon does not consider himself to be anyone special. In fact, his first comment is to mention, in his view, the unworthiness of himself and even his family to be called to the noble assignment to deliver the nation from oppression. Nonetheless, he responds with immediate and reverent hospitality to the angel and builds an altar unto the Lord.

Before the great task of deliverance can begin, there needs to be some “house cleaning” first. The Lord tells Gideon he must destroy the altar of Baal. Interestingly, it is not Gideon’s altar; it is his father’s. For his own safety, Gideon carries out the task at night. Do the men of the city become angry? Yes, some of them certainly do. But by a miracle of God’s Spirit in the heart, Gideon’s father supports the bold action of his son. And, above all, God is pleased by his obedience.

Gideon continues in his attitude of humility. He beseeches the Lord for greater evidence of this calling. The evidence is granted under impossible conditions, so it is clear that Gideon has a task before him: To press forward against all odds.

Now here is a question for us today: What is the source of our security as God’s professed people? Is it in numbers? No. Remember the story of Gideon’s army. Before the battle, the Lord actually has Gideon reduce the number of his army - more than once. After starting with 32,000, He directs Gideon to eliminate the fearful and all who evidently have too casual an attitude to be really trusted in an emergency. The remnant left over is only 300.

Would you and I be in that number?

There is a work to be done. “This is no time to colonize. From city to city the work is to be carried quickly.”1

Colonization is a comfortable thing. It rests on the laurels of our predecessors - often pioneers from previous generations. Years ago, someone may have planted a church near where you now live. You may be the offspring of that plant. Are you now ready to sow seeds in a new place? If not, why not?

One of the most potent plants in God’s nature is the dandelion. Like its cousin the plantain herb, its leaves are far richer in key vitamins and minerals than most other salad greens. The taste of it is bitter - reminiscent of our bitterest trials in life. Yet through God’s mercy, this lowly weed offers great nourishment, often at no cost to the consumer. The fluffy balls of seeds are easily broadcasted with the slightest puff of wind. God takes care of where they go and His grace produces the next harvest.

Here is an object lesson: Like the taste of dandelion, the bitter experiences you have suffered in life may have already provided you with the vitalizing fortitude you need in order to spread the everlasting gospel in many more ways than you ever imagined possible. We can turn the discipline of our hardest disappointments into a personal training ground to help others who may be going through similar trials as we ourselves have suffered. If the Lord has ever lifted you up out of disaster through His word, you have a powerful testimony to share. He “comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:4).

“Where are the men who will work and study and agonize in prayer as did Christ? We are not to confine our efforts to a few places. If they shall persecute you in one city, flee ye to another. Let Christ’s plan be followed. He was ever watching for opportunities to engage in personal labor, ever ready to interest and draw men to a study of the Scriptures.”2 If we fail to be active, it shows that we do not really believe that the end of all things - the great Advent of Christ - is at hand.

“The Lord desires His people to arise and do their appointed work. The responsibility of warning the world rests not upon the ministry alone. The lay members of the church are to share in the work of soul saving. By means of missionary visits and by a wise distribution of our literature, many who have never been warned may be reached. Let companies be organized to search for souls. Let the church members visit their neighbors and open to them the Scriptures. Some may be set to work in the hedges, and thus, by wise planning, the truth may be preached in all districts.

“With perseverance in this work, increasing aptitude for it will come, and many will see fruit of their labors in the salvation of souls. These converted ones will, in turn, teach others. Thus the seed will be sown in many places, and the truth be proclaimed to all. . . .

“Our churches, large and small, are not to be treated in such a way that they will be helplessly dependent upon ministerial aid. The members are to be so established in the faith that they will have an intelligent knowledge of medical missionary work. They are to follow Christ’s example, ministering to those around them. Faithfully they are to fulfill the vows made at their baptism, the vow that they will practice the lessons taught in the life of Christ. Through sanctification of the truth as it is in Jesus they are to plant in hearts the living principles of saving faith. . . .

“By being good and doing good Christ’s followers expel selfishness from the soul. To them the most costly sacrifice seems too cheap to give. They see a large vineyard to be worked, and they realize that they must be prepared by divine grace to labor patiently, earnestly, in season and out of season, in a sphere which knows no boundaries. They obtain victory after victory, increasing in experience and efficiency, extending on all sides their earnest efforts to win souls for Christ. They use to the best advantage their increasing experience; their hearts are melted by the love of Christ. . . .

“Life is full of opportunities for practical missionaries. Every man, woman, and child can sow each day the seeds of kind words and unselfish deeds. . . .

“The world is not a croquet ground, on which we are to amuse ourselves; it is a school where we are to study earnestly and thoroughly the lessons given in the word of God. There they may learn how to receive and how to impart. There they may learn how to seek for souls in the highways and byways of life. How earnestly the games of this world are engaged in! If those who engage in them would strive as earnestly for the crown of life which fadeth not away, what victories they would gain! They would become medical missionaries, and they would see how much they could do to relieve suffering humanity. What a blessing they would be! What we need is practical education. Ministers and people, practice the lessons Christ has given in His word, and you will become Christlike in character.”3 Did you catch that? Missionary work even helps us overcome sin!

“There is a great work to be done. How shall we reveal Christ? I know of no better way . . . than to take hold of the medical missionary work in connection with the ministry. Wherever you go, there begin to work. Take an interest in those around you who need help and light. You may stand and preach to those here who know the truth; you may preach sermon after sermon to them, but they do not appreciate it. Why? Because they are inactive. Everyone who is able to go out and work should bring to the foundation stone, not hay, wood, or stubble, but gold, silver, and precious stones. . . .

“Christ sought the people where they were, and placed before them the great truths in regard to His kingdom. As He went from place to place, He blessed and comforted the suffering and healed the sick. This is our work. . . .

“‘[The disciples] went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following’ (Mark 16:20).

“The words spoken to the disciples are spoken to us also. None need think that the day for working as the apostles worked is past. Men and women can today work as Christ has given them example. To all will come opportunities to minister to sin-sick souls and to those in need of physical healing. Physical healing is a science of heavenly birth, bound up with the gospel commission. . . .

“Get the young men and women in the churches to work. Combine medical missionary work with the proclamation of the third angel’s message. Make regular, organized efforts to lift the church members out of the dead level in which they have been for years. Send out into the churches workers who will live the principles of health reform. Let those be sent who can see the necessity of self-denial in appetite, or they will be a snare to the church. See if the breath of life will not then come into our churches. . . .

“As religious aggression subverts the liberties of our nation, those who would stand for freedom of conscience will be placed in unfavorable positions. For their own sake they should, while they have opportunity, become intelligent in regard to disease, its causes, prevention, and cure. And those who do this will find a field of labor anywhere. There will be suffering ones, plenty of them, who will need help, not only among those of our own faith, but largely among those who know not the truth. The shortness of time demands an energy that has not been aroused among those who claim to believe the present truth. . . .

“The Macedonian cry is coming from every quarter. Shall men go to the ‘regular lines’ to see whether they will be permitted to labor, or shall they go out and work as best they can, depending on their own abilities and on the help of the Lord, beginning in a humble way and creating an interest in the truth in places in which nothing has been done to give the warning message?

“The Lord has encouraged those who have started out on their own responsibility to work for Him, their hearts filled with love for souls ready to perish. A true missionary spirit will be imparted to those who seek earnestly to know God and Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent. The Lord lives and reigns. Young men, go forth into the places to which you are directed by the Spirit of the Lord. Work with your hands, that you may be self-supporting, and as you have opportunity proclaim the message of warning. . . .

“We shall have to labor under difficulties, but because of this, let not our zeal flag. The Bible does not acknowledge a believer who is idle, however high his profession may be.”4

The answer is no - it is not so simple as that! The latter rain will not even come upon us without some serious, diligent activity on our part. We are told:

“There are some who, instead of wisely improving present opportunities, are idly waiting for some special season of spiritual refreshing by which their ability to enlighten others will be greatly increased. They neglect present duties and privileges, and allow their light to burn dim, while they look forward to a time when, without any effort on their part, they will be made the recipients of special blessing, by which they will be transformed and fitted for service. . . .

“Near the close of earth’s harvest, a special bestowal of spiritual grace is promised to prepare the church for the coming of the Son of man. This outpouring of the Spirit is likened to the falling of the latter rain; and it is for this added power that Christians are to send their petitions to the Lord of the harvest. . . .

“But unless the members of God’s church today have a living connection with the Source of all spiritual growth, they will not be ready for the time of reaping. Unless they keep their lamps trimmed and burning, they will fail of receiving added grace in times of special need.

“Those only who are constantly receiving fresh supplies of grace will have power proportionate to their daily need and their ability to use that power. Instead of looking forward to some future time when, through a special endowment of spiritual power, they will receive a miraculous fitting up for soul winning, they are yielding themselves daily to God, that He may make them vessels meet for His use . Daily they are improving the opportunities for service that lie within their reach. Daily they are witnessing for the Master wherever they may be, whether in some humble sphere of labor in the home, or in a public field of usefulness.”5

Dear fellow pilgrims entrusted with the light of present truth: Do we realize what this means? If we are not engaged in active missionary effort in behalf of souls in darkness, we will miss out on the latter rain! Just as a rain shower can totally pass you by while its refreshing showers drench a neighboring area, we could entirely fail to receive the latter rain simply by neglecting to seize upon missionary opportunities existing before us right now.

Now, in most places the avenues of transportation are still open. Now missionary literature is just as affordable as it ever has been. Now - and we do not know for how long - in most places we can still go safely from city to city. If your resources are limited, you may not even need to go very far. There is plenty to do. Professed believers travel for their own personal pleasure and ambition. They run errands in their neighborhood. They speak to others. The question now comes to us: Why not do these things for God? Think of what Jesus has done for you and me. Think of how far He traveled and inconvenienced Himself. Think of the price He paid. Think of what He suffered. Now He declares: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). The opportunity is here; the time is now - why miss out on the action?