Revival Sermon: Where is He?
A Sermon on Isaiah 63:7-9
Scripture
7¶ I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to …
Sermon Description
What does the prayer of Isaiah teach about God and the church? Isaiah prays to God in a time of dire need and crisis. In this sermon from Isaiah 63:7–9 titled “Revival Sermon: Where Is He?” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones looks to this prayer as an example that the church ought to follow. The church must recognize that they pray to a just and holy God who hears their every prayer. God is not a God who is far off. God calls His people to trust in His holy name and to believe that He will uphold them through the midst of the greatest trials and temptations. But when the church does not trust in God and His power, they turn to worldly and vain philosophies. This is the greatest danger to the church in every age: reliance on everything other than God. The history of the church shows how destructive this is. The answer is always to trust that God will do what He has promised to do through Jesus Christ in the gospel. This sermon convicts and encourages the church in its God-given mission to take the gospel to the ends of the earth for the glory of Christ.
Sermon Breakdown
- The prophet Isaiah reminds himself of God's character - His lovingkindnesses, goodness, and mercies. We must start prayer by realizing God's character.
- The prophet reviews Israel's history. We can learn from how God dealt with His people in the past. Their history is recorded for our example.
- God called Israel His people and was their Savior. The church is God's new creation, called out of darkness into His light.
- God was with Israel in their adversity and affliction. The angel of His presence saved them. He bore and carried them all the days of old.
- But Israel rebelled and vexed God's Holy Spirit. So God became their enemy and fought against them.
- The church today is in trouble because it has rebelled against God like Israel. In belief and practice, it has turned from God's revelation.
- God punishes His people when they rebel. He raised up enemies against Israel and the church. He will continue to do so until there is repentance.
- But Israel remembered the days of Moses and God's past blessings. They asked where the God was who did mighty works.
- They asked where the God was who brought them out of Egypt, gave them His Spirit, led and guided them, gave them rest, and made Himself a glorious name.
- We must seek God and ask where He is, the God of power and glory who can defeat our enemies. Nothing else matters but finding Him.
- We must confess our sins, arise, and go to our Father, though we are unworthy. When He looks on us again, we will be His people and Zion will be filled with His glory.
Revival Sermons
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.