A Statewide Call to Pray! Day Fifteen!

The wilderness is like the threshing floor! A few weeks ago I preached on the threshing floor. Threshing is the process of loosening the edible part of cereal grain (or other crop) from the scaly, inedible chaff that surrounds it. It is the step in grain preparation after harvesting and before winnowing, which separates the loosened chaff from the grain.

Sheaves of grain would be opened up and the stalks spread across the threshing floor. Pairs of donkeys or oxen would then be walked round and round, often dragging a heavy threshing board, sled or sledge behind them, to tear the ears of grain from the stalks, and loosen the grain itself from the husks.

After this threshing process, the broken stalks and grain were collected and then thrown up into the air with a wooden fork-like tool called a winnowing fan or fork. The chaff would be blown away by the wind; the short torn straw would fall some distance away; while the heavier grain would fall at the winnower's feet.

In God's Word, the threshing floor was referenced often.  It represented several things including: provision, transition, revelation, judgment, covenant, mediation, worship, separation, calling and the moving (blowing) of Holy Spirit.

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clear His threshing floor; and He will gather His wheat into the barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (Matthew 3:11-13).

One of the members of the congregation commented after worship that day: "Pastor, it seems to me that we are the grain in this process and we don't have much to do, except to be threshed."  Precisely.  Whether we journey through a wilderness or enter the threshing floor - it is always God's work being accomplished in us.  Surrender to Him.  Take my life and let it be, consecrated, Lord, to Thee.  The wilderness defines our dependence solely on Him.  The threshing breaks away everything that clings to us.  He is ready to awaken us with revival.  He is longing to release His kingdom.  We must let go and let God!

Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done!