Isaiah 58:1-12

“12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: 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.”

Introduction: Did you know that God has a Plan for your life? We are not here by happenstance! No…. God’s plan is to CHANGE the world, and He intends to use us. Imagine. The book of Isaiah is called a mini Bible. Why? Because it has 66 chapters like the Bible contains 66 books. Plus, the whole scroll of Isaiah was discovered in the caves of Qumran across from the Dead Sea; otherwise know as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

It was a privilege to stand in front of the caves just a few years ago. While standing, I thought of the Bedouin boy who threw a rock into one of the openings to the cave and heard a loud cracking noise, only to discover a pottery jar that contained these scrolls. That became one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.

In the first part of the book, Isaiah deals with judgment and chastisement which would come to the southern kingdom of Judah. Why? Because of their idolatry and immorality, God judged them. Yet, the last section (40-66) gives HOPE and a promise for Restoration. Jesus would come to be a Savior and Israel would be restored. In this 58th chapter, Isaiah is calling God’s people to turn to Him (vv1-2), to trust in Him (vv3-7), and to triumph in Him (vv 8-12).

The prophet Isaiah describes three (3) steps to take in order to “Change our World.”

1. If we are going to Change our World, we need to REBUILD the old places of DESOLATION into a Brand New RENOVATION! (Isaiah 58:1-12)

” 1Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. 2Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God…. “12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: 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.”

{The word “repairer” is gâdar, which means to fence up hedge, build up}

{The word “generation” is dôr, which means age or period, habitation}

{The word “breach” is perets, which means a broken wall, gap}

The God of the Bible uses human instruments to CALL His people back to His purpose. And in so doing, He CHANGES hearts, homes, and ultimately the world. Will you offer a heart-cry for our nation? (vv 1, 2)

2. If we are going to Change our World, we need to RAISE up a Brand New GENERATION!

** If we are going to reach the next generation, there must be “PRAYER & FASTING”!
(Isaiah 58:3-6)

“3Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours. 4Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? 6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”

** FASTING with the right motives releases Holy Spirit power in an incredible way.

** The purpose of prayer & FASTING is not to twist the arm of the ALMIGHTY who is reluctant, but rather
to enable His divine will because of faith trust in His sovereignty.

Jesus said, “When you fast,”(Matt 6:16). He did not say if you fast!

Notice the Right way and the wrong way to FAST (Isa 58:3-6).

I Love this verse……

“To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?” (Isa 58:6)

3. If we are going to Change our World, we need to REPAIR the broken down walls of SEPARATION into a Fortified RESTORATION! (Isaiah 58:7-11)

“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”

** Isaiah is affirming that the God of Israel and Judah will answer speedily as His people return to Him.

** In the epistle of James, the half brother of Jesus, the same principle is applied. “If we draw near to God, He will draw near to us, (James 4:6-10).