Rebuild, Raise Up, Repair And Restore (Isaiah 58)

Champion of the Gospel with Jonathan Heng

God commanded the prophet Isaiah to cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show the people their sins. It’s not comfortable and popular to address sin, but a true messenger must choose whether to obey God or to please people. The voice like a trumpet is a clarion call. Every God-called man and woman must sound the alarm and speak against sin, without fear or favour. He or she will also guard the faith and address false doctrine. There are seducing spirits and doctrines of devils that lead people astray and even cause them to forsake the Lord. There are religious spirit that add to, or subtract from the Word of God. There are also preachers who preach truth mixed with errors. Today, in the church world, we see Christians following preachers based on their personalities and charisma, rather than because they are preaching the truth of God’s Word.

Outwardly, it is possible to be religious, ritualistic and self-righteous. To show hypocritical profession, pretence and practices without true faith and relationship with God. Such acts of false piety describes God’s people not just during the time of the prophet Isaiah, but also throughout history and even today. It is sad and tragic to have an appearance of godliness, but without the power. We need the power of the Word and Spirit! We need to get back to the cross of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone and foundation of our faith. Not running after some latest fads and formulas, but standing on the time and tested truth of the Scripture and the anointing of the Holy Spirit! True spirituality is not just fulfilling outward observances and obligations, but having a transformation of the heart and spirit. Whether it’s fasting, praying or Bible reading, we must not just go through the motions, we need an impartation and revelation of the Holy Spirit in the inner man. We are to walk in the power of the New Covenant. We cannot keep the law in our own strength, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. Religion is legalistic and oppressive. By this, we speak of man-made rules and regulations. We can go through ceremonies and formalities such as prayer and fasting and yet, our hearts are far from God. The true measure of our spiritual life is not just who we are publicly, but also privately. We must be consistent in our behaviour whether people are watching us or not. Many people are concerned with their reputation, but it is character that truly matters. We can appear to be holy when we are in church or when we are engaging in spiritual activities in public, but it is who we are in private and when we are alone that God sees our true self. God desires truth in the hidden and inward parts of our lives, as much as He wants us to influence and inspire others around us.

To love God is to obey Him fully, not just in part. Worship is not just paying lip service, but that our heart, soul and mind is filled with His Spirit and truth. We are to help the hungry, homeless and needy. When we reach out to people with physical and spiritual needs, we will experience God’s blessings and promises, in spirit, soul and body. When we obey God and help others, God rewards us abundantly. I know we are to seek and worship God for who He is, and not so much for what He can do for us. Nevertheless, God still blesses those who love Him! He will guide us, satisfy us and sustain us!

God gave the prophet Isaiah an important mission, which was to:

· Rebuild the old waste places

· Raise up the foundations

· Repair the breach

· Restore the paths

During the time of Isaiah, Judah rebelled against God and abandoned His Word. The moral condition of Judah was defiled and desecrated, like a wasteland. Today, parts of the church is in the wilderness, spiritually-speaking. We have puppet preachers who are more interested in their own popularity, financial livelihood and reputation than concern for the spiritual development of God’s people. They might be better called as spiritual pimps, if you will pardon my expression. They cannot preach the whole counsel of God’s Word for fear of offending those who support financially to their churches and ministries. Woe unto these preachers for misleading their flock. How we need God to raise up more preachers to stand up and deliver the Word with no uncertain sound – “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry” (2 Timothy 4:2-5). There is a call for God’s people to rebuild His house, to be a sanctuary of glory for Him to dwell. Not so much the physical building per se, but where the Holy Spirit can move mightily.

Next, the foundations of many generations will be raised up. To raise the foundation of truth, so that we stand on the solid living rock who will not be shaken. To lift up the name of Jesus, who is the head of the church. In Matthew chapter 16, verses 18 to 19, Jesus declares: “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). From generation to generation, the Great Commission of Jesus Christ is being fulfilled. We must continue to champion and proclaim the glorious gospel. In Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 to 20, Jesus commands us to: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Then, we are to repair the breach. Just as there was a breach (meaning a gap or crack) in Judah when God’s people were unfaithful, there is a breach in the church today when we mix law and grace, when we add to or subtract from the finished work of Christ on the cross. This is committing spiritual adultery! We need to repent and repair the breach. We need to get back to the Word of God and cry for a fresh move of the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts!

Also, we are to restore the paths of righteousness. There is still a way of holiness that we are to walk on. Isaiah chapter 35, verse 8 says: “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein” (Isaiah 35:8).

Under the Mosaic law, Israel was to observe the Sabbath, which is Saturday. It was a day of rest. Today, under the new Covenant, Jesus is our Sabbath rest. When we delight ourselves in the Lord, the Christian life will no longer be a duty. We must take time to be refreshed and renewed in His Presence, which is important for both our spiritual and physical health. We need the rain of the Holy Spirit to flood our soul.

Spiritually-speaking, do we see the old waste places around us? Are there people we know whose lives have been ruined by sin? Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you and I must do all we can to repair the breach and restore the paths to dwell in.