Message 10 January 2016 Stepping up # Crude
Situations
And they that shall be of thee shall build the old
waste place: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou
shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell
in. Isaiah 58:12
This is the first day at a new church venue. We are
in a new place and it looks good for use. When we visited the first time however
we almost wrote this place off. Everything was in a mess. You won’t believe but
it was akin to a dumping site that had recently hosted a whirlwind. The paint
on the walls badly needed refreshing. Some windows were broken. The venue was
also south of the city when we had wanted to remain north of the city. Work was
put in to clean up, re partition, paint, etc and now the place is totally
transformed.
The lesson is that God’s answer sometimes comes
packaged in crude forms and situations. Don’t shun crude – imperfect,
incomplete, needy situations. When crude situations come, face them even though
they bring change and uncertainty. God appears in them in marvelous ways. By
running from them you may just run from an opportunity to see Jesus taking a
walk on water to help you also walk on water. In crude situations be alert for opportunities
to be lifted up. In crude situations keep your eye on potential. Crudeness
requires some working on before you can enjoy the value of something. Crude situations
call for unusual perspectives, choices and steps. We are in a season of year
start prayer and fasting. Ability to sort out crude situations is a result of
the right fasting (Isaiah 58). That is exactly what is required to face crude
situations. Extreme situations demand extreme measures.
1) Context
In Isaiah 58:1-14 the people of God were in a crude
situation and their fasting did not help.
They were puzzled why things were going wrong when they had done right and even
fasted. ‘Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not?’ God sent
a word through Isaiah to warn and explain what was going on. Isaiah was to make
sure the word was heard – ‘cry aloud with a voice like a trumpet’. The problem
was not their fasting but the manner in which they fasted.
2) The right
reason to fast.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loosen
the strings of wickedness tying people up, to undo the heavy burdens weighing them
down, to free people from oppression, to break every bondage to ungodliness, to
show compassion to the poor and afflicted (Isaiah 58:6, 7, 10). This is exactly
what Jesus full of the Holy Spirit came to achieve (Luke 4:18).
3) The condition
for effectiveness
>>Show compassion to those without privileges
you have such as those without shelter and food (Isaiah 58:6, 7, 10). Some
churches have a good tradition of praying for those without food, the sick,
etc
>>Take away the yoke, pointing fingers and
speaking sinfully (Isaiah 58:9). Keep the word of God on your mouth (Joshua
1:8). Run the race casting away sin and
weights (Hebrews 12:1-2). Take responsibility. The hands so busy you can’t
raise a finger.
>>Enter His rest in crude situations (Isaiah
58:13). Do not turn away in choices and
actions from the Sabbath and honor
God. In the terms of the New Covenant there
is a place of rest. A place of total trust, knowing that God is in complete
control, and on time. A place of freedom
from self-effort and self-interest. A place of peace, and grace. Seeking to please
and lean on God that is how to honor him. Jesus died to give you rest. Relying
on one’s own effort neutralizes prayer
and fasting. It tramples Jesus' blood and stifles his wish. His yoke is easy
and his burden is light (Mathew 11: 30) When you have a dream from God,you don't
have to struggle to force it to happen. You don't have to
be worried or frustrated, wondering if it's ever going to come to pass. When
you have the promises of God deep in your heart the Bible says you will
"enter into the rest of God". A place where you know ,beyond doubt,
that God is going to see you through. He will he bring your dreams to
pass!
4) The result
of fasting
>> Then shall thy light rise in obscurity and
break forth as sure as day break (Isaiah 58:8, 10). Morning light breaks forth
gradually but surely. Joy comes in the morning
>> Thy health - spiritual, physical,
emotional, financial, marital, mental, etc shall spring forth speedily
>> Righteousness shall go before thee (v 8,
Psalm 23, Mathew 6:19). You will follow righteousness. You walk into
righteousness.
>> The glory of the LORD shall be thy rear
guard. You will leave behind you a testimony, God’s presence, impact,
confessions, positive comments.
>> Thou will call and the LORD shall answer
(Isaiah 58:9). He will reveal his presence when you call. He will show up. He
will say ‘Here I am’, the answer many don't expect yet covers all questions.
What a sweet assurance and source of peace (Philippians 4:6).
>> The LORD/ Jehovah will guide you always
(Isaiah 58:11, Psalm 23). He shall satisfy your soul in drought and you will be
like a watered garden/tree planted by streams of water (Psalm 1) and like a
spring of water, whose waters fail not. A spring that will not run dry. You
will thirst no more (John 4, 7:37)
>> Those belonging to you shall build waste
places. They shall refine crude situations. They shall redeem and restore them
(Isaiah 58:12). They will repair the broken and restore the paths. The benefits
of seeking God will go beyond you. Ignite the fire for God in others (2 Timothy
2:2). You will raise up the foundations of many generations.
>> Then you will delight yourself in the LORD
(Isaiah 58:14). You will be so satisfied and happy. You will be lifted up to
the next level. You will be positioned to view the earth with aerial advantage.
Made to sit in heavenly places and gain an aerial perspective. Positioned beyond
fear. The lions that roar at you will be like the caged lions roaring at a zoo.
>> Then you will be fed with the inheritance
of Jacob – the blessings of Abraham (Deuteronomy 28).
The mouth of the Lord has spoken it. The Rhema power has been released to
guarantee every promise in Isaiah 58. God’s word is so powerful that it is
eternal Heaven and earth can pass away but the word of God will remain forever
(Hebrews 11:3).
5) Exhortation
Things can turn around when you seek God in prayer.
Don’t shun crude – imperfect, incomplete, needy situations. They package
opportunity to step up. Sort them out by faith and prayer. Be like God who
brings order to chaos. He creates something from nothing. You were a mess but
he restored you. Your heart was broken and he put it together. You were lost
and he reclaimed you. He makes somebodies from nobodies. You can do the same by
his strength (Philippians 4:13).
Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.
Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith
Life Center.
First Floor Dhando House,
66 Eloff Street Extension,
Village Deep,
Johannesburg,
South Africa
