Restoring the Church's Influence
As I searched and prayed about what the Lord would have me focus on this year, He led me to Isaiah 58:12.
It’s not a typical verse one would meditate on, but when the Author shines His light on it, you stop
and listen.
And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in. (ESV)
I desperately needed these words of promise and affirmation. Four years ago, God led me onto a battlefield where spiritual warfare is being waged for the hearts and minds of children. During that time, He clarified my assignment with Ephesians 5:6-13. Christians, filled with the light of Christ, are instructed to expose the dark. We’re also to refrain from becoming partners with those who walk in darkness or seek to deceive with empty words. I knew I couldn’t just pretend the dark didn’t exist. To shine light into the dark, I had to come out of the shadows. As children of light, we should walk in that light—the light of all that is good, right, and true. Jesus said,
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.
John 8:12 ESVI was not prepared for how intense the fight would play out. Light offends the dark. It divides and separates. It reveals evil lurking in the shadows but also offers an escape for those held captive. It’s holy, sacred, Christ-honoring work. That’s why Satan loathes light casters—God’s people who boldly walk by faith and bring the light of Christ into every aspect of life. Our enemy would rather we ignore his schemes and hide inside our social hubs, afraid of ruffling cultural, political, or educational feathers. But real faith affects real life—all of it. And no weapon formed against us will thwart God’s plan or purposes. (Isaiah 54:17)
I’ve wrestled often with the Lord about retreating from the frontlines. It’s exhausting, hard, and lonely. But God promises, for the nation that has strayed, that if His people pour themselves out to the hungry and satisfy the desires of the afflicted (not just physically, but spiritually) then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom will be as the noonday…(See Isaiah 58:6-12) If we obey His instructions, God says…
You shall RAISE UP the foundations of many generations
God, in His infinite mercy, has given a small window of time for His people to repent of their sin and return to their Biblical roots. In America, we cannot “raise up” anything until we’ve bowed down with a broken and contrite heart before the Lord. Only then will our godly influence be restored.
You shall be called the REPAIRER of the breach
The Church losing Her way created a breach in the already eroding foundation. Truth was compromised. Moral boundaries were stripped. We turned away from the things of God. This gave the enemy access to steal, kill, and destroy anything and everything we once deemed sacred. (John 10:10) God’s people are responsible for repairing the breach. To plug the holes with uncompromised truth. Fill the cracks with what pleases God, not ourselves. Restore biblical, moral clarity. Remove distractions that distort the image of Christ and replace them with hearts filled with thanksgiving and praise unto the Lord. (Eph. 5:4)
You shall be called the RESTORER of the streets to dwell in
The “streets” today where people live, learn, and play are not safe. Darkness hovers, sexual immorality abounds, crime runs rampant as the manufacturer of the chaos desperately seeks to douse the light. Like a roaring lion, he prowls around looking for souls to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) Until the light casters restore the “streets” back to safety, there will continue to be overwhelming turmoil, dangerous potholes, and recklessly scattered stones, causing many to stumble and fall, especially the little ones.
If Christians don’t expose the dark, who will? If we refuse to raise, repair, and restore, who will? Our window of time is closing fast. The Church Age is coming to an end. The way of escape for those trapped in darkness won’t last forever. We need to overwhelm them with the light of Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
I know, through the power of Jesus Christ within us, we can rebuild what the enemy has destroyed. Pray and ask Him what arena He wants you to shine your light into, and what role He has for you in rebuilding the fortress of godly influence in America for generations to come.
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
Isaiah 54:17 esv