Isaiah 64
No military power, economic upturn, or presidential election can bring the revival we so desperately need. Transformation happens when, by holy boldness, one person seeks the face of God; revival can happen in one person, in a family, in a church, in a country.
Isaiah 64 shows us what happens when God shows up and revival breaks out.
First, this passage tells us about the presence that produces revival.
“Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! That the mountains might shake at Your presence—as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence!” (Isaiah 64:1-2). When God comes down, mountains melt and sinners shake. His presence cannot be explained away or mocked. His presence makes the righteous rejoice (see Isaiah 64:4-5), because we know that God wants to meet with us.
To experience His presence in this way, we must recognize the problems that prevent revival.
“But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; we all fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
We are corrupted by our sins; our self-righteousness is like filthy rags. We try to cover ourselves with the thing that defiles and condemns us.
We can also be complacent in our sins (see Isaiah 64:7). We need to stir up our hearts—shake up and shake off the comfort of habitual sin.
We cannot let sin consume us; it cannot eat us alive. If we are serious about revival, we must get right with God and put ourselves at His disposal.
Lastly, prayer precedes revival; seeking His face means fervent prayer.
This type of prayer recognizes God’s sovereignty, remembers God’s mercy, and respects God’s glory (see Isaiah 64:8-9).
Adrian Rogers says, “The problem with so many of our prayers is we’re not willing to repent. We want God’s mercy, but seek no repentance; and prayer without repentance is a religious farce—a smokescreen.”
Life Application
Do you want God’s presence to come down and begin a revival in you? Do you want His presence to bring unspeakable joy?
Pray with sincere repentance. It is not your tears or emotions that save you—it is God who saves you. He saves us instantly, stays with us continually, and keeps us eternally.
