What Is Revival? Prophecies from Isaiah

Jesus knew the Old Testament well. He knew the story of God’s people taken into physical exile in Babylon and their need for a savior to restore them to their land. The Book of Isaiah deals with these historical events and predicted who Jesus would be:

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (7:14). 

He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (9:6). 

The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him (11:2). 

He will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples . . . he will swallow up death forever. Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us (25:7, 8, 9).

Yet there is an even greater exile. Ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humanity has been in spiritual exile. We’ve all sinned and need a savior. The Bible tells us that in Jesus, God seeks to bring us out of exile into a restored relationship with him.

In The Heart of Revival Nicky Gumbel argues that our society seems to be regressing with our post-Christian culture moving into exile. “Our [western] society has attempted to shut God out, and in many ways has succeeded, with disastrous results.”

As recently as 30 years ago most people grew up knowing Bible stories, saying grace over meals, attending Sunday school, and worshiping weekly. Now it is commonplace for Americans not to give God a thought, except when swearing. As a result we are a culture quickly sliding into exile.

When Jesus came, he proclaimed the end of exile. He announced that at long last the night of exile was over. Light has shined in the darkness. That what God promised, Abraham, Moses, David, and Isaiah was fulfilled in him.

The exile is over. God has invaded the earth in human form to rescue us from sin and death, to offer us the free gift of forgiveness and life. Do you want revival? To live and to live again?

Revival begins with being born again, living again as you let the Holy Spirit breath new life into you. It begins as you commit to following Jesus in all aspects of your life. And once it begins, it is powerful. God will change your life at home, at school, at work. God will breathe his life into this world through you. God will bring revival to our church, to our city, to our nation, and to the world.

God our Father, put within me the breath of new life, the breath of your Spirit. Revive my faith in your Son, Jesus, my healer and leader. Restore in me the excitement of when my faith was new, of when my trust was strongest in you. And use me today and tomorrow and forever to help you find all the lost sheep, so that there will be more rejoicing in heaven, and so that the lost and I may rejoice together in praise and thanksgiving for the love you have showered on us in your Son, Jesus our Lord and Savior.  Amen.