Revival Sermon: O Wouldest Thou Rend the Heavens
A Sermon on Isaiah 64:1
Scripture
1Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
Sermon Description
What ought to be the prayer of God’s people in all times? It is the prayer that God would come down and save His people. It is the prayer that God would deliver His people from suffering and persecution. It is the prayer that God would save sinners and make them spotless children of God. In this sermon on Isaiah 64:1 titled “Revival Sermon: O Wouldst Thou Rend the Heavens,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preaches on the need for God’s people to always pray for God to show mercy and compassion to His people. The church should pray this prayer in faith and belief that God is as loving and good as He has told them He is. It is a prayer that relies on the absolute greatness of God to be what He has said He will. The church can know that in the midst of a world that is hostile to God and His people, God is always for them in His Son, Jesus Christ. This sermon encourages both believers and unbelievers to turn away from doubt and unbelief, and to trust in God who is always faithful. This sermon tells of human sin, but most of all, it speaks of God who is gracious and who has sent His Son to redeem all things.
Sermon Breakdown
- The prophet Isaiah offers a prayer for revival and renewal in Isaiah 64.
- The prayer contains two petitions - for God to look upon his people again with favor and for God to rend the heavens and come down in power.
- True prayer is characterized by urgency, pleading, and persistence. It means taking hold of God and not letting go.
- Revival is God coming down in an unusual and extraordinary way, displaying his presence, glory and power. It is over and above the normal working of the church.
- Isaiah looks back at how God moved in the past, like at Mount Sinai, to gain encouragement for praying for revival. God is still the same God who can rend the heavens.
- We must realize the power and might of God in order to pray bold prayers. God can melt mountains and shake the foundations of the earth.
- We must pray that God would act to make his name known to his adversaries and cause the nations to tremble at his presence. The world does not know God.
- We must pray out of a concern for the state of the church and a desire for God's glory. The church has declined and the world blasphemes God.
- We have encouragement to pray bold prayers from what God has done in the past, the possibilities of what God can do, the promises of God, and the gracious character of God.
- God has done surprising and unexpected things in the past, like the exodus, provision in the wilderness, and the resurrection of Jesus. He is the God of the impossible.
- The possibilities of what God can do are unlimited. No eye has seen nor ear heard what God has prepared for those who love him. We can never ask too much of God.
- God has promised to meet with those who seek him, rejoice in him, and wait for him. If we seek him with all our heart, we will find him.
- Although God may be displeased with our sin, his anger is temporary but his mercy and compassion are everlasting. We can hold onto his mercy and grace.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers from Isaiah 64:1
What is the central theme of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon on Isaiah 64:1?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones focuses on the meaning and significance of Isaiah's prayer, "Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down," which he identifies as the ultimate prayer for revival. This represents a petition for God to manifest His presence and power in an extraordinary way, beyond the normal blessings of Christian life. It's a prayer for God to literally "come down" among His people with transformative power.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones differentiate between regular prayer for blessing and prayer for revival?
According to Lloyd-Jones, regular prayer asks God to "look upon us and be gracious unto us," which is something we should always pray for. Prayer for revival, however, goes beyond this to ask for something exceptional—God "rending the heavens" and manifesting His presence in a dramatic, undeniable way. He describes it as God "coming down" with such power that people become extraordinarily aware of His presence, similar to what happened at Mount Sinai or on the Day of Pentecost.
What signs or characteristics of revival does Dr. Lloyd-Jones mention?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes revival as characterized by: - A consciousness of God's literal presence among people - A sense of being in a spiritual realm where time seems to disappear - A manifestation of God's power that can transform even the most resistant elements - People becoming aware that "someone has come amongst them" - A glory and presence that defies description - People experiencing what feels like "days of heaven on earth" - Many souls turning to God (referencing "make a thousand hearts thine own")
What reasons does Dr. Lloyd-Jones give for why Christians should pray for revival?
He outlines three main reasons: 1. Zeal for God's name and glory - so that God's adversaries may know His name 2. That nations may tremble at God's presence and recognize His sovereignty 3. The current desolate state of the church (compared to Jerusalem's desolation in Isaiah's time)
Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that our priorities in prayer should begin with God's glory rather than our own needs.
What encouragements to pray for revival does Dr. Lloyd-Jones provide?
Lloyd-Jones offers several encouragements: 1. What God has done in the past - pointing to biblical and historical revivals 2. The unlimited possibilities with God - "eye has not seen nor ear heard...what God has prepared" 3. God's promises to meet with those who seek Him righteously 4. The gracious character of God - His compassion outlasts His anger
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the power of God in the context of revival?
He describes God's power using Isaiah's imagery of mountains flowing down, melting fire burning, and waters boiling. He emphasizes that God's power can shake mountains, dissolve elements, and overcome any obstacle. Lloyd-Jones reminds listeners that God's power is "illimitable" and that the weapons of spiritual warfare are "mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds." He challenges Christians not to be intimidated by worldly powers when they have access to the God who created everything from nothing.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is the primary reason the world shows no interest in Christianity?
Lloyd-Jones asserts that "the reason why men and women are outside the church is that they don't know God." He argues that the world will never be interested in the Christian message until it has some knowledge of God through a manifestation of His power. He criticizes the church's attempts to attract people through programs and entertainment, stating these will never succeed where revival would, because only when people "know the name of the Lord" will they come to Him.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe true prayer in this sermon?
True prayer, according to Lloyd-Jones, is characterized by: - Deep longing expressed in words like "Oh, that thou wouldest..." - Taking hold of God and not letting go (like Jacob wrestling) - Alternating between petition and confession - Making claims on God based on His promises - Arguments and "disputations" with God - Not being perfunctory or half-hearted but earnest and persistent - Stirring oneself up to call upon God's name
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.