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We have learned in the last sermon that we are involved in a spiritual battle for the souls of men. Our main weapons in this warfare are the preaching of the Word of God and prayer. We must be ever so diligent and steadfast in these if the Lord is to bless with conversions. We must understand, however, that even powerful, anointed preaching and fervent, importunate prayer is no guarantee that revival will come, and souls will be saved. There is only one weapon against the Devil that is so successful that it will make revival certain. But this is a weapon that we do not, and yea, cannot wield. That is because it is the Lord Himself that brings revival. Only a visitation from Him will give us many conversions at once. It is with this understanding in mind that the prophet Isaiah desperately prayed,

"Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence! When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence" (Isaiah 64:1-3).

This text naturally falls into four points:

1. A desperate plea for God to come down in revival.

2. Mountains of opposition to revival are removed by God's great power.

3. Sinners wonderfully convicted and converted.

4. Revival always a surprise.

I. First, a desperate plea for God to come down in revival.

"Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down."

Here the prophet senses that he and his nation are in a terrible and hopeless situation. The Babylonians have possessed their land and have desecrated God's Temple. The power and presence of God seem nowhere to be found. The God who had formerly performed great miracles for Israel is now only a distant memory. But Isaiah remembers. Isaiah knows that if God comes down, their situation will change dramatically. Isaiah does not depend upon man to improve his situation. He seeks out no other nation to rescue him and his people from the Babylonians. The prophet firmly resolves to seek the help of God and God alone. Isaiah exclaims,

"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord!" (Isaiah 31:1).

O for that type of attitude in us! That we might never lean upon our arm of flesh but only upon the power of God! This attitude is characteristic of the type of man and the type of prayer that God is pleased to hear when He sends revival. These prayers are desperate, fervent, importunate, and bold. Witness the powerful, passionate prayer of John Knox, "Give me Scotland or I die!" "Bloody Mary" is frequently quoted as saying that she feared the prayers of John Knox more than an army from England. O that our prayers too might cause our enemies to fear!

And notice the urgency of the prayer. Isaiah pleads, "rend the heavens." He seems to be saying, "Lord, come now! O stop whatever Thou art doing because we need Thy help now! Rend [tear] that veil of heaven now and come down!" Also, the urgent rending of the heavens spoken of here, and the results that would follow, seems to indicate that a rather large tear is requested. Isaiah wanted to be sure that he would have enough of God and His presence to do the job. He wanted the floodgates opened wide. He did not ask for God to sprinkle a few drops on them. He wanted a flood.

II. Second, mountains of opposition to revival are removed by God's great power.

"That the mountains might flow down at thy presence, As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil."

There are many oppositions to the conversion of sinners - the world, the flesh, and the Devil. These may come in many and varied forms. And although each proves to be a great obstacle in the usual work of the ministry of the gospel, all these are easily overcome when God sends revival power. Mountains here represent the opposition spoken of above. Mountains are normally considered as representing great strength but will simply melt before the presence of God. A similar thought is seen in Zerubbabel's words to those who would oppose the building of the temple, "Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain" (Zechariah 4:7). That mountain was flattened, and the mountain spoken of here flowed down by virtue of the greater strength and power of the Spirit of God for "none can stay his hand" (Daniel 4:35).

And no wonder that conversions are so numerous and remarkable during times of revival, because when God comes down the preaching of His Word has free course without hindrance.

III. Third, sinners are wonderfully convicted and converted during revivals.

But I believe there is more in this text that would be helpful to comment upon; in particular, the words "fire" and "water." In the Bible, fire frequently speaks of the evidence of the power of God. Remember Elijah's statement, "the God that answereth by fire, let him be God" (I Kings 18:24). God vindicated Himself to the heathen and "the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice" (I Kings 18:38). The word "water" in both the Old and New Testament frequently refers to the Holy Spirit, who was called the river of life by Jesus. And Jesus said, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37-38).

Returning now to our text,

"As  when  the  melting  fire  burneth,  the  fire  causeth  the  waters  to  boil."

We see here a great picture of what happens in revival. The "fire" of the power of God has already melted the mountains of opposition. This opposition once included the hard and stony heart of sinners, which God has melted, convicted, and made soft. But God's work doesn't stop there. The fire of God's power still remains strong and now causes the waters "to boil." This picture of water in very active motion represents the conversion of sinners quickly and abundantly.

IV. Fourth, revival is always a surprise.

When God comes during a revival everyone is awestruck by His great power and workings, especially in the hearts of sinners bringing about wonderful conversions. Truly, He is "able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). The character of God is experienced first hand in a very special way during times of revival. Accounts of those that have experienced revival tell us that the great themes of the Bible take on special meaning: love for God, love for His Word, love for Jesus and His Blood; lips filled with praise and adoration for God and for the Lamb that sits upon the throne. Truly this is a foretaste of Heaven above, and of life in the Kingdom age.

Let us stand for prayer.

"O may our desire for Thee, O God, grow more and more! Help us to be desperate like Isaiah for Thy presence and for Thee to bring revival to our churches so that lost sinners will be converted. Help us to stir ourselves up that we might get a hold of Thee in our prayers. Give us a desire for a manifestation of Thy great power. Help us to earnestly pray as Isaiah prayed,

'Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down.'

In Jesus' name, Amen."