Revival Through Prayer: A Call to Return

Devotional

Day 1: Understanding God's Character

True prayer begins with a deep understanding of God's character. Recognizing His loving kindness, mercy, and goodness is essential for meaningful communion with Him. Without this foundation, prayer can become a mere expression of our desires or fears. The prophet Isaiah models this by reminding himself and God of God's character before presenting his requests. This approach ensures that prayer is rooted in faith and trust, rather than anxiety or self-interest. By focusing on who God is, believers can align their hearts with His will and find peace in His presence. [06:06]

Psalm 86:15 (ESV): "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of God's character before you pray today? How might this change the way you approach Him in prayer?

Day 2: Learning from History

Reflecting on the history of God's dealings with His people is crucial. It reminds us that our struggles are not unique and that God's principles remain unchanged. This historical perspective provides comfort and guidance in times of trouble. By reviewing Israel's history, the prophet Isaiah highlights God's faithfulness despite the people's rebellion. This reflection serves as a reminder that God remains constant, even when circumstances are challenging. Understanding this can help believers trust in God's unchanging nature and find hope in His promises. [13:51]

Deuteronomy 32:7 (ESV): "Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you."

Reflection: What past experiences in your life demonstrate God's faithfulness? How can these memories encourage you in your current struggles?

Day 3: Recognizing Our Own Rebellion

The downfall of God's people is often due to their own rebellion and grieving of the Holy Spirit, not the strength of their enemies. This is a sobering reminder that the church's current state is often a result of its own actions. The prophet Isaiah acknowledges that Israel's downfall was due to their rebellion, urging believers to examine their own lives for areas of disobedience. Recognizing personal and communal sin is the first step toward repentance and restoration. By taking responsibility for their actions, believers can seek God's forgiveness and guidance for a renewed relationship with Him. [32:49]

Lamentations 3:40 (ESV): "Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord!"

Reflection: What specific areas of rebellion or disobedience do you need to address in your life? How can you begin to seek God's forgiveness and change today?

Day 4: The Path to Revival

Repentance and a return to God are essential for revival. Recognizing our rebellion, repenting, and earnestly seeking God's face is the path to restoration and renewal. The prophet Isaiah calls for a heartfelt return to God, emphasizing the importance of seeking His presence and power. This process involves acknowledging past mistakes, turning away from sin, and pursuing a deeper relationship with God. By doing so, believers can experience spiritual renewal and witness God's transformative work in their lives and communities. [42:21]

Hosea 6:1 (ESV): "Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up."

Reflection: What steps can you take today to seek God's presence more earnestly? How might this pursuit lead to personal and communal revival?

Day 5: Longing for God's Presence

The cry "Where is He?" is a plea for God's presence and power to be manifest once again. This is the only way for the church to be restored and for God's glory to fill Zion once more. The prophet Isaiah's longing for God's presence reflects a deep desire for divine intervention and transformation. This yearning is essential for believers who seek to experience God's power in their lives and communities. By cultivating a hunger for God's presence, believers can invite His transformative work and witness His glory in new and profound ways. [45:08]

Psalm 42:1-2 (ESV): "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

Reflection: How can you cultivate a deeper longing for God's presence in your daily life? What changes might you need to make to prioritize this pursuit?

Sermon Summary

In the 63rd chapter of Isaiah, we find a profound prayer by the prophet, which serves as a model for us today. The prophet, observing the desolate state of Israel, calls for ceaseless prayer, urging his people to give God no rest until Jerusalem is restored. This prayer is not just a historical account but a timeless lesson for the church in any period of decline or suffering. The prophet begins by reminding himself and God of God's character, emphasizing His loving kindness, goodness, and mercy. This is crucial because true prayer must start with a realization of who God is. Without this understanding, prayer can become a mere expression of fears or desires without substance.

The prophet then reviews the history of Israel, highlighting God's faithfulness and the people's rebellion. This historical reflection is essential because it reminds us that our current struggles are not unique. The church has faced similar challenges throughout history, and God's principles remain unchanged. The prophet acknowledges that Israel's downfall was due to their rebellion and grieving of the Holy Spirit, not the strength of their enemies. This is a sobering reminder that the church's current state is often a result of its own actions, not external forces.

The prophet's prayer is a call to repentance and a return to God. He urges the people to remember the days of old when God delivered them and to seek Him earnestly. This is the path to revival: recognizing our rebellion, repenting, and seeking God's face. The prophet's cry, "Where is He?" is a plea for God's presence and power to be manifest once again. This is the only way for the church to be restored and for God's glory to fill Zion once more.

Key Takeaways

1. True prayer begins with a deep understanding of God's character. Recognizing His loving kindness, mercy, and goodness is essential for meaningful communion with Him. Without this foundation, prayer can become a mere expression of our desires or fears. [06:06]
2. Reflecting on the history of God's dealings with His people is crucial. It reminds us that our struggles are not unique and that God's principles remain unchanged. This historical perspective provides comfort and guidance in times of trouble. [13:51]
3. The downfall of God's people is often due to their own rebellion and grieving of the Holy Spirit, not the strength of their enemies. This is a sobering reminder that the church's current state is often a result of its own actions. [32:49]
4. Repentance and a return to God are essential for revival. Recognizing our rebellion, repenting, and earnestly seeking God's face is the path to restoration and renewal. [42:21]
5. The cry "Where is He?" is a plea for God's presence and power to be manifest once again. This is the only way for the church to be restored and for God's glory to fill Zion once more. [45:08]
** [45:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to Isaiah 63
[00:44] - The Prophet's Call to Prayer
[01:26] - The Condition of Israel
[02:31] - God's Encouragement Through Vision
[03:03] - The Prophet's Prayer Begins
[05:02] - Reminding of God's Character
[06:51] - The Importance of Knowing God
[08:13] - Clearing Doubts About God
[12:12] - Reviewing Israel's History
[15:23] - Lessons from Israel's Past
[19:09] - God's Faithfulness to Israel
[26:11] - Israel's Rebellion and Consequences
[33:28] - The Church's Rebellion Today
[40:26] - Remembering God's Past Deliverance
[45:08] - The Cry for God's Presence

Sermon Clips

I will mention he says the loving kindnesses of the Lord and the Praises of the Lord according to all that the Lord ha bestowed on us and the G and great goodness toward the house of Israel which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. [00:05:19]

Prayer must always begin by a real I ization of God and of his character otherwise prayer can be a mere attempt to discovering some kind of psychological relief or ease prayer can be the mere uttering up of Pious hopes and aspirations the mere expression of our fears if prayer is to be real. [00:05:55]

The first thing to do is to clear our minds to get rid of any doubt or uncertainty about the being and the character of God well you remember how the Apostle Paul puts it he says in nothing be anxious well how are you to avoid this anxious care and burdened anxiety. [00:09:04]

Reflecting on the history of God's dealings with His people is crucial. It reminds us that our struggles are not unique and that God's principles remain unchanged. This historical perspective provides comfort and guidance in times of trouble. [00:12:12]

The prophet therefore begins to look back and he says well now what is the relationship of Israel to God let me go back to the very origin to the beginning of this story and you and I must learn to do exactly the same thing take the way in which the Apostle Paul puts this. [00:15:06]

The downfall of God's people is often due to their own rebellion and grieving of the Holy Spirit, not the strength of their enemies. This is a sobering reminder that the church's current state is often a result of its own actions. [00:32:49]

The church has faced similar challenges throughout history, and God's principles remain unchanged. The prophet acknowledges that Israel's downfall was due to their rebellion and grieving of the Holy Spirit, not the strength of their enemies. [00:33:28]

Repentance and a return to God are essential for revival. Recognizing our rebellion, repenting, and earnestly seeking God's face is the path to restoration and renewal. [00:42:21]

The cry "Where is He?" is a plea for God's presence and power to be manifest once again. This is the only way for the church to be restored and for God's glory to fill Zion once more. [00:45:08]

The church is still not humbled she still doesn't realize that she's the cause of her own troubles she doesn't realize that it's her Rebellion that's done it is there any evidence of repentance for all this Dev ating Hier critical movement of a century ago have they gone back on that. [00:39:40]

The church has only one source of strength and that is the power of God the power of His Holy Spirit and when she turns against that and Rebels against it she invariably finds herself defeated and this is what happens of course because she did that that God punished her. [00:37:05]

The church rebelled in her Doctrine and in her belief she set up the wisdom of men in the of the wisdom of God she became proud of her learning and of her knowledge and what she asked about her preachers and her servants was not any longer is he filled with the spirit. [00:35:18]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?