God's Not Done Yet | Isaiah 61

I think we've all been through I think we've all been through situations and have situations where we situations and have situations where we situations and have situations where we think, "I'm done." think, "I'm done." TRUE? Amen. If I could say "amen" TRUE? Amen. If I could say "amen" TRUE? Amen. If I could say "amen" through the camera, I certainly would through the camera, I certainly would through the camera, I certainly would , right? Places where we say , right? Places where we say : God, it's clear you're not going to : God, it's clear you're not going to : God, it's clear you're not going to change this. It never will be. change this. It never will be. change this. It never will be. I always think that I need to listen to I always think that I need to listen to I always think that I need to listen to myself. What are the things I say myself. What are the things I say ? Never or always. It will never change. It ? Never or always. It will never change. It will always be like this. And the word I hear from you today And the word I hear from you today is that God says in those situations, "I am is that God says in those situations, "I am not finished." You may not finished." You may not finished." You may have finished. I haven't finished. have finished. I haven't finished. have finished. I haven't finished. This is Crossroads Daily. No experts This is Crossroads Daily. No experts This is Crossroads Daily. No experts or perfect people, just or perfect people, just or perfect people, just honest conversations about what honest conversations about what honest conversations about what happens when the Bible appears in happens when the Bible appears in happens when the Bible appears in real life. Hi everyone, I'm Chuck. I real life. Hi everyone, I'm Chuck. I real life. Hi everyone, I'm Chuck. I 'm Chris. I 'm Chris. I 'm Chris. I 'm Jamie. I 'm Jamie. I 'm Jamie. I 'm Jordan. 'm Jordan. 'm Jordan. And today is Isaiah 61. We continue with this And today is Isaiah 61. We continue with this And today is Isaiah 61. We continue with this theme of revival. And I think one of theme of revival. And I think one of theme of revival. And I think one of the best images in the Bible is the best images in the Bible is the best images in the Bible is the beauty of ashes.

the beauty of ashes. the beauty of ashes. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. I mean Mhm. I mean Mhm. I mean , I think we just picked it up , I think we just picked it up , I think we just picked it up naturally. As we've all probably naturally. As we've all probably naturally. As we've all probably seen, we've all seen, we've all seen, we've all seen some kind of bomb dropped on seen some kind of bomb dropped on seen some kind of bomb dropped on a place where there was a fire in a a place where there was a fire in a a place where there was a fire in a neighborhood, and all you see is ash, right? neighborhood, and all you see is ash, right? neighborhood, and all you see is ash, right? The smoke rising up is like, man, there's The smoke rising up is like, man, there's The smoke rising up is like, man, there's hardly anything that looks or seems hardly anything that looks or seems hardly anything that looks or seems more hopeless than that, you know? more hopeless than that, you know? more hopeless than that, you know? Because you know someone has lost Because you know someone has lost Because you know someone has lost something. Lives have been lost, something. Lives have been lost, something. Lives have been lost, property has been lost, property has been lost, property has been lost, serenity has been lost. And the fact that, you know, serenity has been lost. And the fact that, you know, serenity has been lost. And the fact that, you know, the Lord promises things like, "I will make that the Lord promises things like, "I will make that the Lord promises things like, "I will make that beautiful." beautiful." beautiful." It is one of the most powerful promises It is one of the most powerful promises It is one of the most powerful promises in the scriptures. And it is a in the scriptures. And it is a in the scriptures. And it is a true promise. I mean, I can think true promise. I mean, I can think true promise. I mean, I can think of places in my life that have been in of places in my life that have been in of places in my life that have been in ashes and the Lord has brought beauty out ashes and the Lord has brought beauty out ashes and the Lord has brought beauty out of them, you know? Well, I don't talk about of them, you know? Well, I don't talk about of them, you know? Well, I don't talk about this much, but I have two brothers this much, but I have two brothers this much, but I have two brothers who were addicted to crack. who were addicted to crack. who were addicted to crack. Yes. Yes. Yes. And when you live with a drug addict or And when you live with a drug addict or And when you live with a drug addict or are in a family with a drug addict are in a family with a drug addict , you go through many ups and downs. You go through a , you go through many ups and downs. You go through a , you go through many ups and downs. You go through a lot of things, like thinking this will never get lot of things, like thinking this will never get lot of things, like thinking this will never get better.

better. better. Yes. You Yes. You Yes. You know, it's like they really relapsed know, it's like they really relapsed know, it's like they really relapsed , like you go through a lot of , like you go through a lot of , like you go through a lot of things like that. But today I look at my two things like that. But today I look at my two things like that. But today I look at my two brothers and God has brought brothers and God has brought brothers and God has brought complete beauty into their lives. complete beauty into their lives. complete beauty into their lives. One of them is a pastor, you know, it's One of them is a pastor, you know, it's One of them is a pastor, you know, it's like God redeemed them in like God redeemed them in like God redeemed them in a very, very powerful way. So a very, very powerful way. So a very, very powerful way. So I think, man, this is a very I think, man, this is a very , very beautiful promise. That's why I find it , very beautiful promise. That's why I find it , very beautiful promise. That's why I find it interesting that when Jesus enters the interesting that when Jesus enters the interesting that when Jesus enters the scene in the New Testament, these scene in the New Testament, these scene in the New Testament, these are the first words he says are the first words he says are the first words he says when he preaches. The first words he when he preaches. The first words he when he preaches. The first words he says are Isaiah 61: "The Spirit says are Isaiah 61: "The Spirit says are Isaiah 61: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the of the Lord God is upon me, because the of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good Lord has anointed me to bring good Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to news to the poor. He has sent me to news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, bind up the brokenhearted, bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prisons to those who are bound." opening of the prisons to those who are bound." opening of the prisons to those who are bound." That is Jesus' promise. It is the That is Jesus' promise. It is the That is Jesus' promise. It is the promise of revival. Where do promise of revival. Where do promise of revival. Where do you long to see that promise fulfilled you long to see that promise fulfilled you long to see that promise fulfilled in our world? You can talk about in our world? You can talk about in our world? You can talk about general things, about your own life, general things, about your own life, general things, about your own life, but where do you see brokenness around you but where do you see brokenness around you but where do you see brokenness around you that you would love to see that you would love to see that you would love to see those ashes turn into something those ashes turn into something those ashes turn into something beautiful? Let's name some of beautiful? Let's name some of beautiful? Let's name some of those things.

those things. How realistic do we want them to be? How realistic do we want them to be? Super realistic or just great? Let's Super realistic or just great? Let's Super realistic or just great? Let's go all the way. go all the way. go all the way. Sure, I'll share a quick bit of Sure, I'll share a quick bit of ... ... ... Yes. Yes. Yes. My story and my family's testimony My story and my family's testimony My story and my family's testimony . My wife and I have been . My wife and I have been . My wife and I have been married for 10 years. married for 10 years. married for 10 years. Well, the details don't matter, but, Well, the details don't matter, but, Well, the details don't matter, but, well, after five or six years of well, after five or six years of well, after five or six years of marriage, we said, "We want to start a marriage, we said, "We want to start a marriage, we said, "We want to start a family and have children." family and have children." family and have children." Yes. Yes. Yes. And I remember the day I came And I remember the day I came And I remember the day I came home from work and discovered that my home from work and discovered that my home from work and discovered that my wife had prepared all that wife had prepared all that wife had prepared all that to reveal to me and tell me that, to reveal to me and tell me that, to reveal to me and tell me that, indeed, I was going to be a father. And indeed, I was going to be a father. And indeed, I was going to be a father. And your whole world changes; You are your whole world changes; You are your whole world changes; You are completely amazed, you get excited, completely amazed, you get excited, completely amazed, you get excited, in short, all of that happens at the same time. And in short, all of that happens at the same time. And in short, all of that happens at the same time. And then, a few weeks later, we lost then, a few weeks later, we lost then, a few weeks later, we lost the child. And I remember that I had no the child. And I remember that I had no the child. And I remember that I had no idea how much I wanted to be a father idea how much I wanted to be a father until I found out I was going to be one, and until I found out I was going to be one, and suddenly that opportunity was suddenly that opportunity was suddenly that opportunity was completely taken away from me. And so, two completely taken away from me. And so, two completely taken away from me. And so, two years later, we had a years later, we had a years later, we had a beautiful baby girl. And God redeemed that thing. And beautiful baby girl. And God redeemed that thing. And beautiful baby girl. And God redeemed that thing. And a few years later, we had a son.

a few years later, we had a son. a few years later, we had a son. But before that, But before that, But before that, we also experienced the loss of another child we also experienced the loss of another child . Well, I have two children whom . Well, I have two children whom . Well, I have two children whom God has blessed me with, but we God has blessed me with, but we God has blessed me with, but we have also suffered losses twice before have also suffered losses twice before have also suffered losses twice before experiencing life. And that has not only experiencing life. And that has not only experiencing life. And that has not only been a powerful and been a powerful and been a powerful and impactful story for my personal family impactful story for my personal family impactful story for my personal family about God creating beauty from about God creating beauty from about God creating beauty from ashes, I believe it has awakened in my ashes, I believe it has awakened in my ashes, I believe it has awakened in my wife Lauren and me an wife Lauren and me an wife Lauren and me an open attitude toward the challenges of creating and open attitude toward the challenges of creating and open attitude toward the challenges of creating and building a family that so many people building a family that so many people building a family that so many people in the world experience. in the world experience. in the world experience. Marital tensions, family tensions, Marital tensions, family tensions, Marital tensions, family tensions, miscarriages, adoptions. There is miscarriages, adoptions. There is miscarriages, adoptions. There is much there, but I believe it has infused much there, but I believe it has infused much there, but I believe it has infused a new fervor into our hearts a new fervor into our hearts a new fervor into our hearts for the command God has given us to for the command God has given us to for the command God has given us to be fruitful and multiply. And be fruitful and multiply. And be fruitful and multiply. And I see a lot of the family as the way I see a lot of the family as the way I see a lot of the family as the way God wants to redeem the world and God wants to redeem the world and God wants to redeem the world and how he wants to use his sons and daughters how he wants to use his sons and daughters how he wants to use his sons and daughters to flourish. So, I'll stop to flourish. So, I'll stop to flourish. So, I'll stop talking about it, but it's very talking about it, but it's very talking about it, but it's very important.

important. important. Thanks for sharing, man. Thanks for sharing, man. Thanks for sharing, man. Thank you for sharing it, and all the Thank you for sharing it, and all the Thank you for sharing it, and all the ups and downs of it. ups and downs of it. ups and downs of it. Of course. Of course. Of course. Yes. Yes. Yes. That's real. Yes it is. It's very real. That's real. Yes it is. It's very real. What else comes to mind when What else comes to mind when you think about what you long to see healed? you think about what you long to see healed? you think about what you long to see healed? The brokenness they would love to The brokenness they would love to The brokenness they would love to see redeemed. I'll share one. In fact see redeemed. I'll share one. In fact , I think it was yesterday in Psalm 144, we , I think it was yesterday in Psalm 144, we , I think it was yesterday in Psalm 144, we were reading it and it said, "There will be no were reading it and it said, "There will be no were reading it and it said, "There will be no crying in our streets." And, man, crying in our streets." And, man, crying in our streets." And, man, my heart goes out to the people who are my heart goes out to the people who are my heart goes out to the people who are homeless or affected homeless or affected homeless or affected by violence on our streets. by violence on our streets. There is a part of me that longs for There is a part of me that longs for more people to have access to shalom, more people to have access to shalom, more people to have access to shalom, peace, flourishing, and the fullness of peace, flourishing, and the fullness of peace, flourishing, and the fullness of God. And that's just... I mean, God. And that's just... I mean, God. And that's just... I mean, I can look at my own city and see it. I can look at my own city and see it. I can look at my own city and see it. But when you take it on a global level and But when you take it on a global level and But when you take it on a global level and think about third world countries, think about third world countries, think about third world countries, I think of places like Haiti. There are so many I think of places like Haiti. There are so many I think of places like Haiti. There are so many examples of this type, such as examples of this type, such as examples of this type, such as those we mentioned about those we mentioned about those we mentioned about war-torn areas.

war-torn areas. war-torn areas. Yes. Yes. Yes. I long for that peace, shalom. There's something in me I long for that peace, shalom. There's something in me I long for that peace, shalom. There's something in me that believes that when Jesus made those that believes that when Jesus made those that believes that when Jesus made those commitments and promises, they had to commitments and promises, they had to commitments and promises, they had to go all the way there. It's not supposed to go all the way there. It's not supposed to go all the way there. It's not supposed to be something like, "Oh, a lot of be something like, "Oh, a lot of be something like, "Oh, a lot of people have a good, people have a good, people have a good, positive spiritual experience." But no, positive spiritual experience." But no, positive spiritual experience." But no, Jesus' power is supposed to restore Jesus' power is supposed to restore Jesus' power is supposed to restore communities, heal families, and transform communities, heal families, and transform communities, heal families, and transform nations. That's not beyond my nations. That's not beyond my nations. That's not beyond my reach. And I long for that. I really long to reach. And I long for that. I really long to reach. And I long for that. I really long to see that happen, you know? And that's why see that happen, you know? And that's why see that happen, you know? And that's why we need a revival. That's why we need a revival. That's why we need a revival. That's why I long for revival I long for revival I long for revival because I just realized that because I just realized that because I just realized that nothing else is going to bring that. Nothing else will nothing else is going to bring that. Nothing else will nothing else is going to bring that. Nothing else will make that happen. make that happen. What about a time when you What about a time when you What about a time when you experienced some of that experienced some of that experienced some of that revival? What does it look like? Perhaps something revival? What does it look like? Perhaps something revival? What does it look like? Perhaps something you mentioned in your example, you mentioned in your example, right? Like the gift of the two children you right? Like the gift of the two children you right? Like the gift of the two children you now have. now have. now have. Yes. Yes. Yes. And what that has meant for you, And what that has meant for you, And what that has meant for you, Lauren, and your family. Yes, where Lauren, and your family. Yes, where Lauren, and your family. Yes, where have you seen that? Where have you seen beauty have you seen that? Where have you seen beauty have you seen that? Where have you seen beauty turn to ashes? I'm sorry turn to ashes? I'm sorry turn to ashes? I'm sorry . . . Beauty, yes, beauty from the ashes.

Beauty, yes, beauty from the ashes. Beauty, yes, beauty from the ashes. Beauty of the Ashes. Beauty of the Ashes. Beauty of the Ashes. Ashes to... Ashes to... Ashes to... No, we want to see beauty turned to No, we want to see beauty turned to No, we want to see beauty turned to ashes. We want to see the ashes ashes. We want to see the ashes ashes. We want to see the ashes transformed into beauty. transformed into beauty. Where have you seen that? I do Where have you seen that? I do n't think my sister will see this. So I n't think my sister will see this. So I think we're good. Sometimes think we're good. Sometimes think we're good. Sometimes I talk when I'm here, I talk about my I talk when I'm here, I talk about my I talk when I'm here, I talk about my middle sister with whom I have a middle sister with whom I have a middle sister with whom I have a great relationship. Yes. I also have a great relationship. Yes. I also have a great relationship. Yes. I also have a younger sister. Okay. With whom I would say I do younger sister. Okay. With whom I would say I do n't have a great relationship. And she got married n't have a great relationship. And she got married earlier this year and something earlier this year and something earlier this year and something hurt me deeply. My God, if you see hurt me deeply. My God, if you see hurt me deeply. My God, if you see this, we'll talk about it later. I was this, we'll talk about it later. I was this, we'll talk about it later. I was deeply hurt by something deeply hurt by something deeply hurt by something that happened at their wedding. And I felt that I think that happened at their wedding. And I felt that I think that happened at their wedding. And I felt that I think the words I said to my mother the words I said to my mother the words I said to my mother were: "I'm done." She is now were: "I'm done." She is now were: "I'm done." She is now married. He has someone else's last name married. He has someone else's last name married. He has someone else's last name . I'm completely fed up. And . I'm completely fed up. And . I'm completely fed up. And then my mother did what then my mother did what then my mother did what mothers do, like: "You already said that." And mothers do, like: "You already said that." And mothers do, like: "You already said that." And I said, "Yes, and this time I'm I said, "Yes, and this time I'm I said, "Yes, and this time I'm determined." And he really was. And determined." And he really was. And determined." And he really was. And then the sister I'm closest to got then the sister I'm closest to got then the sister I'm closest to got married and we had all married and we had all married and we had all the family wedding things that the family wedding things that the family wedding things that preceded it. And guys, when I said I was preceded it. And guys, when I said I was preceded it. And guys, when I said I was done, I just thought, "That's done, I just thought, "That's done, I just thought, "That's great. She's a person. She'll be there for great. She's a person. She'll be there for great. She's a person. She'll be there for everything." And everything." And everything." And something happened when we went to Tennessee something happened when we went to Tennessee something happened when we went to Tennessee for the wedding, where God just for the wedding, where God just for the wedding, where God just pointed out to me all the things I did pointed out to me all the things I did pointed out to me all the things I did during the entire time I was there during the entire time I was there during the entire time I was there in that space. And then I reached a in that space. And then I reached a in that space. And then I reached a point where I thought, "Oh, I guess point where I thought, "Oh, I guess point where I thought, "Oh, I guess my mother was right. I'm not my mother was right. I'm not my mother was right. I'm not finished." And I think there was simply finished." And I think there was simply finished." And I think there was simply restoration there. And it was restoration there. And it was restoration there. And it was great.

great. great. Honestly, I thought it had Honestly, I thought it had Honestly, I thought it had burned completely. burned completely. burned completely. Yes. Yes. Yes. And now it's something absolutely beautiful. And now it's something absolutely beautiful. And now it's something absolutely beautiful. Man. So yes Man. So yes Man. So yes . That . That . That 's powerful. That's powerful, Jamie. And 's powerful. That's powerful, Jamie. And 's powerful. That's powerful, Jamie. And what I love about that is that I think we've what I love about that is that I think we've what I love about that is that I think we've all been through situations where we all been through situations where we all been through situations where we say, "I'm done." say, "I'm done." TRUE? Amen. If I could say "amen" TRUE? Amen. If I could say "amen" TRUE? Amen. If I could say "amen" through the camera, I certainly would through the camera, I certainly would through the camera, I certainly would , right? Places where , right? Places where , right? Places where we say, "God, it's clear you're not going to we say, "God, it's clear you're not going to we say, "God, it's clear you're not going to change this. This will always be like this change this. This will always be like this . It never will be. I always think I . It never will be. I always think I . It never will be. I always think I have to listen to myself. have to listen to myself. What are the things I never say or What are the things I never say or What are the things I never say or that I always say?" It will never change. It that I always say?" It will never change. It that I always say?" It will never change. It will always be like this. And the word I will always be like this. And the word I will always be like this. And the word I hear from you today is that God says in hear from you today is that God says in hear from you today is that God says in those situations, "I'm not finished. those situations, "I'm not finished. those situations, "I'm not finished. You may be finished. I'm not You may be finished. I'm not You may be finished. I'm not finished." Because the Spirit of the finished." Because the Spirit of the finished." Because the Spirit of the Lord is upon me and has anointed me Lord is upon me and has anointed me Lord is upon me and has anointed me to bring transformation to those to bring transformation to those to bring transformation to those same moments, to those same same moments, to those same same moments, to those same situations. So, you know, I'm situations. So, you know, I'm situations. So, you know, I'm sure there are things, as I sure there are things, as I sure there are things, as I express it in this language, that are things I express it in this language, that are things I express it in this language, that are things I 've stopped praying about. It may 've stopped praying about. It may 've stopped praying about. It may be difficult to admit, but I have stopped be difficult to admit, but I have stopped be difficult to admit, but I have stopped praying for them because I no longer believe that praying for them because I no longer believe that praying for them because I no longer believe that change will change will change will ultimately happen; it is something I find hard to ultimately happen; it is something I find hard to ultimately happen; it is something I find hard to accept. And what I'm hearing today accept. And what I'm hearing today accept. And what I'm hearing today is, wow, that God is, wow, that God is, wow, that God has never stopped interceding for all those has never stopped interceding for all those has never stopped interceding for all those things. He has not stopped planting seeds things. He has not stopped planting seeds things. He has not stopped planting seeds of transformation in those things. The of transformation in those things. The of transformation in those things. The story of those things is not over.

story of those things is not over. story of those things is not over. The book is not closed. The chapter is The book is not closed. The chapter is The book is not closed. The chapter is not over. So, perhaps today, not over. So, perhaps today, not over. So, perhaps today, the way we can pray is by thinking the way we can pray is by thinking the way we can pray is by thinking about the places in our lives that about the places in our lives that about the places in our lives that look like ashes. Literally burned. look like ashes. Literally burned. look like ashes. Literally burned. We're finished. And to hear the voice of We're finished. And to hear the voice of We're finished. And to hear the voice of God saying, "But I am not finished God saying, "But I am not finished ." So today, you may have a ." So today, you may have a ." So today, you may have a glimmer of faith to pray again for glimmer of faith to pray again for glimmer of faith to pray again for that place in your life that you thought that place in your life that you thought that place in your life that you thought was over, but God tells you, was over, but God tells you, was over, but God tells you, tells us, that it is not over. He tells us, that it is not over. He tells us, that it is not over. He can still redeem even that one thing can still redeem even that one thing can still redeem even that one thing in your life.