(RESET) People of Prayer. Isaiah 62.

Sermon Notes (RESET) People of Prayer. Isaiah 62.

In 1859 a Revival took place right across the world, but also throughout the island. In this Spiritual Revival it is estimated that something like a hundred thousand people throughout the island of Ireland were converted to Christ. That God stirred and awakened hearts with a whole new passion for Him. So our prayer is – Revive us again LORD.’

1: Wouldn’t it be amazing to see God moving powerfully amongst us, and throughout this area in 2021, restoring life and joy to us His church. That Christian people are empowered and others who aren’t yet Christians are awakened to their need for Jesus for the very first time in their lives.

In Isaiah 62 the context is that spiritually and physically, God’s people are in a really low point in their history. The towns are shattered, their empty – Jerusalem is broken – these are dark and difficult days for God’s city, for God’s people, for God’s Church.

Question: How do you turn a situation like this around? How do you transform a church that is dying, that is bleeding?

Isaiah 62 gives you Isaiah’s Remedy, ‘Because I love Zion, my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.’ He’s calling the whole church to pray – I will not stop praying until these things happen – until the situation is turned around and changed.

Question: Do you long to see God move with such fresh grace, love, gentleness and power amongst us today?

2: Before God does a new and more powerful work in His church, He always prepares the way, by calling His people back to united, believing, expected praying, v6-7.

‘I have posted watchmen on your walls; O Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, until He establishes Jerusalem, makes her the praise of the earth.’

Praying men and women are called intercessors. The greatest thing that God can ever do in any church, in any nation is to call Christian people into a team, a prayer team, into effective, believing prayer, before He visits us in revival.

We often have to push ourselves to pray, because prayer is hard work! If I prayed when I felt like it, I’d hardly ever pray. Prayer is a battle and Satan will make it difficult for you, he’ll tell you that you’re useless at it, he’ll tell you that it’s making no difference, he’ll tell you ever lie in the book – to try and discourage you, to stop you going into God’s Presence.

Question: Will you push yourself to pray?

3: We’re to pray with urgency and persistence to the Lord, v7. ‘And give Him no rest.’

Persist - just keep at Him. We need to give the Lord no rest, we need to show Him that we’re serious, that we’re broken enough, that we long enough for this thing. God will not give Revival until people are seriously wanting it and willing it.

We’re to keep praying until something happens. Isaiah says, ‘Give him no rest until something happens – till He establishes His church and makes her the praise of the earth.’

Question: What He did in 1859, is He able to do in 2021?

Our Prayer and cry should be: ‘Oh Breath of Life, come sweeping through us, revive your church with life and power.