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

Jonathan Heng Ministries

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

February 6, 2021

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.

Experience Pentecost Now

June 17, 2023

The first Pentecost took place some 2,000 years ago. Throughout the church age, there has been moves and waves of the Holy Spirit. In 1906, there was an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Azusa Street, Los Angeles, USA. This is the birthplace of the Pentecostal movement that has spread all over the world. Since then, hundreds of millions of believers have been baptized in the Holy Spirit. In the midst of this move of God, there was a prophetic utterance that declared in the last days, there will be an overemphasis on: · Praise to a God we no longer pray to, · Power rather than righteousness, and · Spiritual gifts rather than the lordship of Christ. We are to avoid these dangers and pitfalls. There are parts of the church that have become seeker-friendly, instead of Spirit-filled. Yes, we are to be sensitive to people, but we must first and foremost, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, but He is also a consuming fire. As we develop various means and methods of outreach in the church, let us not neglect the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit who still convicts sin, call for repentance and conform God’s righteousness in our lives. We need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and not grieve or quench Him in the process of drawing large crowds to our churches. In the Gospels, when Jesus said, “Follow Me”, it meant forsaking oneself and taking up one’s cross. In the early church, the Apostle Peter preached a message that pricked the hearts of the hearers and saw 3,000 people saved. Peter’s sermon, under the work of the Holy Spirit, was convicting and hardly comfortable, yet it results in a harvest of conversion. Why? And how? The key is the anointing of the Holy Spirit. When we are sensitive and yield to the Holy Spirit in ministry, He will discern the hearts of the ones being ministered to better than any of us could expect, or at least in the way that He intends. Thank God for the Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit! We need to allow the Holy Spirit to move in the House of God. A Spirit-filled church is a church that has a heartbeat for anointed worship. True worship is a lifestyle, not just an activity. It is more than simply turning up for church services, but is a reflection of loving “the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength... ” (Mark 12:30). We are called to experience not only the visitation of the Holy Spirit, but to be His habitation too, “In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). The House of God needs to be ignited with the Holy Spirit. We need a blast of wind, a blaze of fire. We need a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit today. Thank God for the first Pentecost in the early church, as recorded in the book of Acts. Thank God for the move of God throughout different periods of the church, especially the Azusa Street revival that birthed the worldwide Pentecostal movement at the turn of the 20th century. As we move ahead in this 21st century, we need a new Pentecost now. We cry again for a sound from heaven, a rushing mighty wind. We want to see people being baptized in the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues, to be equipped for service in the Kingdom of God. We are called as a holy people and a royal priesthood. Next, we are to be united with one accord in our hearts. In a world of racial and class divide, believers need to be united in love. We are the Body of Christ, one in communion and purpose with the Headship and Lordship of Jesus. At the same time, unity must be based on foundational and fundamental truth. The truth that Jesus saves, heals, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. The truth that all blessings comes through the cross of Christ! Unity does not mean conformity. We are one and united in Spirit, but with have different types of gifts and ministries. A New Testament church is ignited with the fire of the Holy Spirit, is united in love, communion and purpose. It is also to sow and reap an expedited harvest of souls. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit for employment, not enjoyment. We are employed as laborers in His harvest field. We ask the Lord for open doors. Due to the pandemic, the last few years have been difficult with all the shut downs. It’s time to step up again to usher in the final hour harvest of souls. The power of the Holy Spirit will accelerate and expedite the fulfilling of the Great Commission of Jesus Christ.

Arise And Build

May 27, 2023

Nehemiah was a trusted cupbearer to the King of Persia (Nehemiah 1:11). He received report that Jerusalem was in ruins. The city walls had been torn down, the gates were burned, leaving the residents vulnerable to the enemy’s attack and invasion. There was no peace and no security. Nehemiah was heartbroken and desperate to see the hand of God move and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Today, we see devastation of false doctrines in the body of Christ. Spiritually-speaking, there are gaps in the walls of our churches. We need to proclaim that Jesus saves, heals, delivers, baptizes in the Holy Spirit and is coming again. That we are justified and sanctified by grace through faith, on the basis of the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary’s cross. It’s time for us to rise up and build the walls of sound Biblical doctrines. In our life, our ministry and in serving the house of God, there are precious truths we can learn from the life of Nehemiah. For example, there are lessons about defeating distraction, discouragement and distress. Through prayer, Nehemiah responded to God’s call to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Although God is sovereign and omnipotent, He is looking for men and women with hearts who are broken and burdened to fulfil and finish His work. Today, there is so little anguish and agony in the house of God. Do we experience the sorrow and pain of God’s heart over the sins, the backsliding and compromise in the church? Are we also grieving for lost souls and do all we can to reach them with the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ? To accomplish the task that God has set before us, we need to know that He is the Master Builder. We are to keep in step with the Spirit, know the right timing and opportunity to move in faith and boldness. When Nehemiah stood before the king with sadness on his face to seek permission to build the walls of Jerusalem, it was in essence, a ‘live or die’ moment. Thank God for the king’s compassion and favour to grant Nehemiah’s heart desire to go to Jerusalem. Yet, there are people who opposed Nehemiah. Just because we are doing God’s work does not mean that it will always be smooth-sailing. We will be distracted, discouraged and distressed at times. We can face accusation, attack, intimidation and lies against us from people. We need to stand strong, secure and steadfast in finishing the task, and not allow opponents to shut us down. We need the Word of God and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit to help us not react in the flesh in such times. Nehemiah was a role model on handling criticism and misunderstanding. He did not let discouragement stop Him from obeying God and carrying out his responsibility. He kept building the wall. Today, we may face all kinds of distractions. Worldly pleasures and wrong relationships may divert our attention from fulfilling our calling. We are to stay the course and refused to be disturbed and disrupted. When God called Nehemiah to rebuild the walls, there was a lack of resources and people thought that the task was going to take a long time. In spite of hindrances, Nehemiah fixed his eyes on the Lord with undivided commitment and complete this massive task in just 52 days. Nehemiah’s motives and motivations are to give God all the glory and praise. It is all about God’s plans and purposes, not our ambitions. Once the walls were rebuilt and gates restored, Nehemiah planned to revive the authority of God’s Word in the land. Gatekeepers and musicians were appointed. Jerusalem in Nehemiah’s days is a picture of the church today. Like the Israelites, many Christians are spiritually apathetic and defeated. False doctrines, idolatry, worldliness, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life have become widespread throughout the body of Christ. The church is a called-out body, separated from worldly culture. Separated but not isolated. We need to repent of our backsliding and disobedience. Ask the Lord to revive us, restore us, and set us apart for Him, to be light that shines in our dark and evil world.

Let’s Be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) For Jesus

March 20, 2023

We are called to be disciples for Jesus Christ, committed to follow Him as Lord and Master. We are entrusted with the mission to spread the gospel and reach the lost. We are to be filled and anointed with the Holy Spirit. Discipleship is a committed way of life, dedicated to the Person of Jesus Christ and His purpose. It is not paying lip service. Some follow Jesus out of convenience, but true disciples will experience opposition and persecution from others. Discipleship is denying oneself. This does not mean asceticism, which is the practice of strict self-denial of legitimate things in life, such as having food and sleep. Of course, it is Biblical to fast from food and sleep or some other activities, in order to spend more time in prayer and studying God’s Word. However, we must not carry out these spiritual disciplines with a holier-than-thou attitude, or to believe that we can earn God’s favour. Rather, self-denial is to surrender and give up all self-effort. To take up our cross is to put our faith in Christ and His victory on the cross. We are to commit ourselves to Christ above all persons and possessions. Our love for Christ is to be so much more than our family, friends, jobs, money, hobbies and the like. As human beings with affections, it is so easy to put relationships and riches ahead of the Lord. Yet, any excessive devotion to people and things becomes idolatry. The cares and concerns of everyday life will keep people from following the Lord wholeheartedly. We must, in essence, count the cost and ask, are we willing to pay the price? The Christian life is a journey – to fight the good fight, run and finish the race, and keep the faith. In 2 Timothy 4:7, the Apostle Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:" (2 Timothy 4:7). This should be our prayer and our cry too. We have a mission – to fulfil our calling and role to win the lost and equip the saints. The Great Commission of Jesus Christ involves evangelism and discipleship. We are called-out and set apart to be salt and light to the world. In the church, there is tendency to measure success in terms of the size of attendance, buildings and money. Another condition is that far too often, many Christians are spectators, when we lay the responsibility for God’s work largely on the shoulders of the five-fold ministers – the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Jesus did not call us just to be churchgoers and pew-warmers, but disciples. To carry out the work of the ministry, we need the anointing of the Holy Spirit. We need to be alive and ignited with the flaming fire of God. The book of Acts is the blueprint of what the church should be and must be. The church was born in power, with a community and worldwide vision. Jesus told the disciples that they would receive the power of the Holy Spirit to be witnesses unto Him, " …both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Throughout the church age, we have men and women of God who have caught the heavenly vision and were consumed with the passion and compassion to declare the good news of the gospel. As labourers, we must point people to look to God as the source. We are not celebrities, but servants with Christ-like humility. Our pride and vanity must be pulled down and removed. It’s all about Jesus, and not about us. In this age of self-esteem and promotion, we need to lose ourselves and let Christ be our everything. We need the anointing and demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power, to fulfil our mission to win souls. Not entertainment and amusement, but the preaching of the gospel. The gospel message is not always popular with the wise and wealthy in this world. It is not easily accepted by the great and mighty in society. Even the religious are confounded and stumbled by the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross. Many look at the Christian faith as foolish and weak. Yet, it is the preaching of Christ crucified that is the power of God unto salvation. In Acts chapter 17, verses 1 to 6, we read, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;" (Acts 17:1-6). Here, we see Paul and Silas who preached Christ boldly, and have turned the world upside down. God’s messengers have often been accused of creating mess but the truth is, for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, their lives will be turned right side up. It was sin and the fall that have brought disorder in our world. The presentation of the glorious gospel brings light and shines into the darkness of hearts. People can either receive or reject this light. As disciples of Jesus Christ, our mission is to preach the gospel and fulfil the Great Commission, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Let us follow the examples of the apostle Paul and many other men and women of God through the centuries. Let’s be M.A.D. (Mission Anointed Disciples) for Jesus!