Restore the Church!

“Thus says the Lord:

‘For three transgressions of Israel,
    and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they sell the righteous for silver,
    and the needy for a pair of sandals—
those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth
    and turn aside the way of the afflicted;
a man and his father go in to the same girl,
    so that my holy name is profaned...

‘Yet it was I who destroyed the Amorite before them,
    whose height was like the height of the cedars
    and who was as strong as the oaks;
I destroyed his fruit above
    and his roots beneath.
I brought you up out of the land of Egypt
    and led you forty years in the wilderness,
    to possess the land of the Amorite.
And I raised up some of your sons for prophets,
    and some of your young men for Nazirites.
    Is it not indeed so, O people of Israel?

‘But you made the Nazirites drink wine,
    and commanded the prophets,
    saying, “You shall not prophesy.”

‘Behold, I will press you down in your place,
    as a cart full of sheaves presses down.
Flight shall perish from the swift,
    and the strong shall not retain his strength,
    nor shall the mighty save his life;
he who handles the bow shall not stand,
    and he who is swift of foot shall not save himself,
    nor shall he who rides the horse save his life;
and he who is stout of heart among the mighty
    shall flee away naked in that day.'” Amos 2:6-7,9-16

The chosen ones, delivered from their lost estate and given every advantage in order to flourish as a beacon for the world, had trampled their inheritance. Greedy, ruthless, immoral, arrogant, they would meet just judgment. God expects better of His bride. He abhors the devastation of witness and cultural influence, and the consequent pain to His people. Props crumbled and power removed, even the stout of heart who rebel against the Lord will be brought to shame. (Malachi 2:16; Romans 1:18)

But God is merciful to the shamed, and lives to revive, restore, and redeem. Into our brokenness, He plants hope. We have gone our own way; He rises to seek and save the lost. (Psalm 136:23-24; Isaiah 53:6; Luke 19:10)

If we want revival for the church, we must begin with ourselves. Would we ask God to identify in us any misuse or abuse of people, treasure, or opportunity, then swiftly and surely put it away? How can and will we lift high the name of Jesus and shine His light in this dark world? (Psalm 19:13-14; 139:23-24; Matthew 5:14-16; Philippians 2:13-15)

“Restore, Oh Lord,
In All The Earth Your Fame,
And In Our Time Revive
The Church That Bears Your Name.
And In Your Anger,
Lord, Remember Mercy,
Oh Living God,
Whose Mercy Shall Outlast The Years.

Bend Us, Oh Lord,
Where We Are Hard And Cold,
In Your Refiner’s Fire
Come Purify The Gold.
Though Suffering Comes
And Evil Crouches Near,
Still Our Living God
Is Reigning, He Is Reigning Here.

Restore, Oh Lord,
The Honour Of Your Name,
In Works Of Sovereign Power
Come Shake The Earth Again;
That Men May See
And Come With Reverent Fear
To The Living God,
Whose Kingdom Shall Outlast The Years.” ~Graham Kendrick (1950-)

Amen.