Road to Renewal and Revival

Isaiah 58:9b-14
If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the LORD will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.
"If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the LORD honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
The main focus of Isaiah 58 is to teach us how to fast. It points out that we have to combine prayer and fasting with social concern and love or it is not something that pleases God. Like 1 Corinthians 13 it reminds us that without love then everything we do is empty and useless.
Lord, fill our hearts with love and concern for those in need.
One of the reasons we fast and pray is that we are looking for revival and renewal. We don’t fast when all is well. We fast when we are suffering losses and are in fear of defeat. Fasting is an emergency measure in which we are seeking to intensify the passion and purpose of our prayers because we see great need. We all want revival and renewal but fasting should reflect a deeper commitment to seeking God’s pouring out HIS blessing upon us and giving to us spiritual prosperity.
The Lord in this passage outlines what HIS people need to seek to do if they desire to see revival and renewal.
The first is they must free people from the chains of contempt ("pointing fingers") and slander ("speaking of evil"). God demands that the society of believers not be one filled with negativity, gossip, murmuring, complaining, sarcasm, and self righteous judgment of each other. The Holy Spirit is never inspiring negative talk.
(Exodus 16:7 ESV) and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?"
(Exodus 16:8 ESV) And Moses said, "When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him--what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD."
(Numbers 14:27 ESV) "How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me.
(Numbers 14:36 ESV) And the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation grumble against him by bringing up a bad report about the land--
(Numbers 16:11 ESV) Therefore it is against the LORD that you and all your company have gathered together. What is Aaron that you grumble against him?"
(Numbers 17:5 ESV) And the staff of the man whom I choose shall sprout. Thus I will make to cease from me the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against you."
(John 6:43 ESV) Jesus answered them, "Do not grumble among yourselves.
(1 Corinthians 10:10 ESV) nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer.
(James 5:9 ESV) Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door..
God does not want congregations to be filled with complaining, griping, and murmuring. Ultimately, this shows a lack of contentment and joy. Revival and renewal will not come to a church that is filled with such abusive words.
Where should be our focus? We should be pouring out our souls to help those in need. That is what the Hebrew literally says here. We are to empty ourselves and our passions in caring for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of hurting people. This is what God want HIS people to give themselves to without restraint. We are to love one another.
If we do this then God will send revival and renewal. Our spiritual desert will become paradise. Our darkest moments will become like the brightest noon.
In addition to this the people of God must also become more passionate about corporate worship and Sabbath rest. We must give time, focus, passion, and intentionality to our praise and prayer. We must make our spiritual life a priority that simply does not get lost in the midst of our busy lives. The spiritual disciplines of worship, prayer, meditation on God’s word, praise, fasting, and study of scripture must be held in honor in our lives and in our schedules. Revival and renewal come when we believe meeting with God is vital and a delight.
Now God must give us such attitude. The LORD must move us towards these ends. But the map is clear. If we want revival and renewal then this is the path we must take.
What can you do to end negative talk in your life? The best way to stop negative talk in the body of Christ is to refuse to listen to it. When a conversation turns negative then just says “this is negative” and end the conversation.
What can you do to pour out your life to those in need? How can you serve those who are most weak?
What could you do to improve your worship on this Sunday? How could you become more serious in seeking God? Could you arrive five minutes early to pray? Could you sit in the front row to improve concentration? Could you prepare on Saturday night for Sunday morning? How can we take pleasure in our worship and glorify God?
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