| NOT LONG AGO two `unchurched' men (separately and in different circumstances) contacted me with quite remarkable stories of God jolting them "awake" to their spiritual need, their deep need of GOD. In both cases it appeared to be a gracious and sovereign dealing of the Almighty with them. We know that amazingly and mercifully, God powerfully influences the mind and will in bringing sinners to faith in Christ. Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father who has sent me draw him..." (John 6:44). One of those men reached out to God with me in sincere prayer, and I trust the
Holy Spirit has worked a deep and enduring work in him. Without question God was doing the awakening.
But then, it's not only sinners who need awakening. There are times when THE CHURCH needs a divine awakening to rouse her from spiritual inertia, backsliding, worldliness, materialism, and carnality, to restore her to the place where God's presence and power are evident in her, so that His purposes for and through her might be realized. The history of the church encourages us with wonderful testimonies of God coming again and again in REVIVAL to an apostate, declining church; divine visitations taking place against the background of a spiritless, dormant and unconcerned church. Reading the prophecy of Isaiah, I was `jolted' by the words of chapter 64:7: "And there is none that calls upon your name, that stirs up himself to take hold of you". There was a desperate need for a `spiritual awakening' among God's people. And there is an equally desperate need among us for `an awakening' today, a supernatural intervention of divine grace. But just as in Isaiah's day few seem to be prepared to "stir themselves up to take hold of God". Note in the text the first word is "AND..." It connects us to the preceding words of the prophet, a man evidently burdened because of a sanctuary that was desecrated and derelict (63:18, 64:12), and God's people marked by a lamentable waywardness and spiritual hardness (63:17). They had forgotten Him, and made themselves such "an unclean thing" (64:6) — little wonder God turned His face away from them in His wrath (verse 5). Spiritual life was at an alarmingly low ebb, as the ravages of sin and general listlessness had taken away all relish for holy things, so that no one was calling on the Lord (verses 5-7). There is a strong note of hopelessness in Isaiah's record. Mark this well: when there are none to care, there are none in prayer! And nothing then seems more hopeless! I have reviewed some of the histories of the past, and they have created within me a longing for "another divine visitation". We have gone far too long without a revival of any significant proportions. Much of what has been claimed as "revival" in recent times has proven to be far removed from what is the genuine biblical visitation of God. The honest confession of many ministers has been that they were totally disillusioned with what was claimed to be the "end time revival", and which they had unthinkingly taken on board. I am convinced that THE need in this hour is for MORE of God's people to bestir themselves to "lay hold of God". By this is meant to give oneself to fervent, passionate prayer — an intractable wrestling like Jacob (Genesis 32:24), or a calculated and concentrated pleading like Elijah (1 Kings 18:42), or an intense agonising like Daniel (Daniel 9:3-19). "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains may flow down at your presence" (64:1). And nothing less than such praying is going to turn the situation of our times in our churches. It has always been this way.
Isaiah strengthens his own faith as he recalls God's merciful dealings with His people in the past. God could do it again, and the next chapter (65) reveals God's answer as former troubles are forgotten and God pledges new and glorious things. YES, GOD CAN DO IT AGAIN! And ONLY God can do it. It is not in OUR power to "speak life" over our cities and to our generation, as many are being urged to do in a total misconception of our prerogatives, authority, and ability. God alone can "speak life" into the dead (Ezekiel 37:3-6). It is certain that if we would know of a `rent heaven' then it will demand a seriousness about eternal issues, a losing of ourselves in God, a love of holiness, a deep concern for the general spiritual state of things in the church and in the community, the honest confession of abounding spiritual need, and a passion for the honour of God. O, to hear again, from a people `stirred to lay hold of God', the cry for Him to "rend the heavens and come down" (Isaiah 64:1,7). Some interpret this passage to be a plea for a sudden and sublime descent of the Almighty to take revenge on His foes; as if His heart were full of vengeance and the very firmament would violently rend asunder at His sudden appearance. Permit me to use it in a "revival" context, for it is evident that the prophet Isaiah is exercised about the spiritual condition of Israel, hence a strong plea for God to come down and powerfully manifest His awesome presence, before which "mountains flow down". Indeed, THIS is revival — the sovereign acting of God as He comes down upon His own people, intervening to lift the prevailing situation of moral and spiritual bankruptcy out of human hands, and to manifest His holy presence by works of extraordinary power. R.B. Jones, in his eyewitness account of the 1904 revival in Wales says, "If one were asked to describe in a word the outstanding features of those days, one would unhesitatingly reply that it was the universal, inescapable sense of the presence of God...In 1904 the Lord had literally rent the heavens, and had scattered the satanic forces entrenched therein. The Lord had come down. The mountains were gloriously melted down in His presence. A sense of the Lord's presence was everywhere. It pervaded, nay, it created the spiritual atmosphere. It mattered not where one went the consciousness of the reality and nearness of God followed...in the revival gatherings...in the homes, on the streets, in the mines and factories, in the schools...wherever people gathered became a place of awe, and places of amusement and carousal were practically emptied." What is most evident is that revival does not depend upon methodologies or personalities (both of which are prominent in our times), but upon obedience, the sign of a willing, tender heart no longer resisting God and refusing to go His way, "the way of holiness" (35:8). Observe Isaiah's lament "You have hid your face from us, and have consumed us, BECAUSE OF OUR INIQUITIES" (64:7). With whom then will God "come down" and presence Himself? The prophet knew very well. "Thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with Him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones" (57:13). God's prophet understands how imperative that divine presence is, hence concern for that which has stripped his people of that august presence. You can sense his inward grief, no doubt reflecting God's own anguish. If we are to have "rent heavens" we must first of all have "rent hearts"! (Joel 2:12-18). God is not a bit interested in the outward `show' of religion with all its futile cleverness, its vain cloning, and its trifling clichés. It is time for the church to wake up to the emptiness of her hype, the barrenness of her life and witness, the general want of integrity, and the hollowness of her false claims. And what claims men and movements often make that only go to underscore their utter deception! It needs to be remembered that profession counts for very little when we do not really know anything of those powerful divine influences that descend when GOD "rends the heavens". Superficiality and artificiality shut up heaven and distance God from us (Psalm 138:6). Sadly, there are those who can still continue to engage in soulish religious `worship', impervious to the fact that He is not there! That is a dreadful and incalculable loss. The tragedy in Isaiah's day was that whilst admitting the people's sins had incurred such a fearful state — they wanted to blame God for it! (63:17) Nothing substitutes for God's presence among us. Cain knew this, admitting to God, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. Behold you have driven me out this day...and from your face I shall be hid...AND CAIN WENT OUT FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD" (Genesis 4:13-16).
Saul had asked, "What shall I do?" The reality is this that when God has gone, and there is no repentance, there is nothing you can do! In Isaiah's day, through their folly God's people had been robbed of their inheritance _ and of His marvellous all-prevailing presence. That was the one thing that MOSES coveted more than anything else, because it was truly THE distinguishing mark of God's people over against all other people. Read Exodus 33:12-17, and note verse 16, "So shall we be separated, I and your people from all the people that are on the face of the earth." IT STILL IS THE DISTINGUISHING MARK! WHY do we need God to "come down"? Is it because of the terrible moral and spiritual condition of our society, the alarming escalation of sin in our own communities, the serious political difficulties and want of godly leadership in the nation? That may be part of the answer. But really the world has always been at enmity with God (Isaiah 63:19. Colossians 1:21). God's people, ought to know better — and BE better and different, just as He purposed, to be the witness He intends us to be to our generation. "You, O Lord, are our Father, our redeemer...the tribes of your inheritance... We are yours...called by your name...you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our Potter..." (63:16-19. 64:8). O, let us stir up ourselves and "take hold of God", that we might know His awesome and saving presence with us. IT IS ABSOLUTELY IMPERATIVE!
[ TOP ] Appeared in Issue 13 Vanguard March 2001 |