Make Room for More | Isaiah 54

When God is trying to gather me back to Himself , if there have been times when I have wandered or been away from Him away from Him , I always think, “Okay, , I always think, “Okay, now... I must leave for a while to now... I must leave for a while to repair and purify myself repair and purify myself . Then I will be gathered back to God gathered back to God .” But God said, " .” But God said, " This is immediate, I This is immediate, I want to bring you back, I want to make that shame a thing of the past want to bring you back, I want to make that shame a thing of the past ." I tried to cover it up, but I quickly found myself thinking, "Okay, really I quickly found myself thinking, "Okay, really ? What about this, this, ? What about this, this, this?" this?" this?" God says, "No, forget it. God says, "No, forget it. God says, "No, forget it. Yes, it's Yes, it's Yes, it's over." over." over." This is Crossroads This is Crossroads Daily. No one is an expert, and no Daily. No one is an expert, and no one is perfect. This is an honest conversation about one is perfect. This is an honest conversation about what happens when the Bible is put into real life what happens when the Bible is put into real life . Hi, I'm Chuck. This is Hi, I'm Chuck. This is Chris. This is Chris. This is Chris. This is Jamie. This is Jamie. This is Jamie. This is Jordan. This week we're Jordan. This week we're Jordan. This week we're talking about revivals talking about revivals . I'm really excited . I'm really excited . I have a friend named Peter who is . I have a friend named Peter who is helping me think of this question. helping me think of this question. So I texted him and So I texted him and said, "Hey, this is awesome." It's absolutely fantastic. So, I'm looking forward to you all joining us in fantastic. So, I'm looking forward to you all joining us in these conversations this week . We will . We will begin with Isaiah chapter 54. The begin with Isaiah chapter 54. The Book of Isaiah is one of many prophecies that say, " Hey, hey, hey, you've done something wrong Hey, hey, hey, you've done something wrong , you've made a mistake.

, you've made a mistake. , you've made a mistake. This is happening because of sin This is happening because of sin ." ." ." And I think it's very important to be honest about your sins and the consequences of them And I think it's very important to be honest about your sins and the consequences of them . The . The Israelites were Israelites were exiled for their sins. exiled for their sins. exiled for their sins. However, the book of Isaiah, starting from chapter 40 However, the book of Isaiah, starting from chapter 40 and continuing to the rest, especially up to and continuing to the rest, especially up to chapter 55 which we are reading now chapter 55 which we are reading now , is called the “Book of Consolation , is called the “Book of Consolation .” It's like having a small book within the Book of Isaiah .” It's like having a small book within the Book of Isaiah . Some people believe it was written by a different author . And while I do . And while I do n't think it necessarily needs to be by a different author n't think it necessarily needs to be by a different author , there is certainly a shift in direction , there is certainly a shift in direction , and it's moving towards hope , and it's moving towards hope . This represents a . This represents a shift in perspective, emphasizing that God can restore things no matter what happens. As someone very aptly put it, aptly put it, something must change within us before something changes around us . And . And Isaiah chapter 54 invites the Isaiah chapter 54 invites the people of Israel to the God who will change their lives people of Israel to the God who will change their lives . . . So, since we're talking about God gathering his people again So, since we're talking about God gathering his people again , I'm just wondering , what comes to mind when you think of God , what comes to mind when you think of God gathering people from faraway places gathering people from faraway places ? Have you ever experienced such a gathering in your own life or in your relationship with God?

experienced such a gathering in your own life or in your relationship with God? Yeah. The first thing that comes to my mind is Yeah. The first thing that comes to my mind is thinking about all the times in the Old Testament and the Bible when God gathers people together as if they were his people . . . Yeah. Yeah. They participate in banquets, meals, and celebrations, which celebrations, which always revolve around always revolve around remembering how faithful God has been in the past . that's right. . that's right. . that's right. And when I And when I think about my own life, like the think about my own life, like the Israelis, Israelis, I tend to forget things I tend to forget things . . . God has appeared in my life in small ways God has appeared in my life in small ways , and sometimes in large ways , and sometimes in large ways . I . I just live in the moment, I only just live in the moment, I only see what's in front of me, and then I forget see what's in front of me, and then I forget . So I think there's some meaning in people . So I think there's some meaning in people gathering together again and saying something like, "Hey, let's gathering together again and saying something like, "Hey, let's remember what happened in the past and how faithful God was. God's past faithfulness is something we can faithfulness is something we can faithfulness is something we can rely on when we look to the future rely on when we look to the future . If God . If God was faithful then, He will be faithful again. was faithful then, He will be faithful again. " That's exactly right " That's exactly right .

. Yeah. I Yeah. I Yeah. I agree with that. agree with that. Our memory is terrible. Yeah Our memory is terrible. Yeah Our memory is terrible. Yeah . . Plus, there's always Plus, there's always Plus, there's always food. It was as if God was food. It was as if God was throwing a party. God throwing a party. God throws a party when He gathers people together again. I think that shows God's generosity and kindness shows God's generosity and kindness . So, yeah. . So, yeah. . So, yeah. How about you all? What comes to mind when you think of God How about you all? What comes to mind when you think of God gathering people together gathering people together ? ? ? Yeah. In Yeah. In that respect, I think it's like a celebration or a party party . But that's when . But that's when God truly brings me back God truly brings me back . Well, the process of . Well, the process of distancing yourself from God starts distancing yourself from God starts slowly, with thoughts like, "Oh, I'm not going to skip that today, slowly, with thoughts like, "Oh, I'm not going to skip that today, " or "I'm really busy and have other things I need to do other things I need to do ." Then, I suddenly look up and ." Then, I suddenly look up and think, "Oh God, where are you? I'm all alone here." "And when I let go of my pride and my shame and let go of my pride and my shame and recognize that it is not coming from him, yeah, I have this feeling that he is drawing me closer yeah, I have this feeling that he is drawing me closer , that I am being welcomed , that I am being welcomed . Yeah. With . Yeah. With love and compassion, he is gentle and love and compassion, he is gentle and resolute, but resolute, but both are true both are true . And I . And I think it is a celebration. A celebration comes think it is a celebration. A celebration comes from God's desire to reconcile with us .

. . Yeah. So that is the Yeah. So that is the foundation of all his actions foundation of all his actions . When you . When you look at various things in the Bible look at various things in the Bible , it is because he desires to reconcile with his most precious , it is because he desires to reconcile with his most precious creation creation . So I think that in the . So I think that in the space of that gathering, and in space of that gathering, and in that chapter it says that he that chapter it says that he gathers his people with compassion gathers his people with compassion . . . So I think there is a So I think there is a love there that I feel, even though I may not be able to explain it well. Yeah. Yes. Yeah. I love it." Verse 4 says that you will have Verse 4 says that you will have no shame, and you will forget the shame of your youth no shame, and you will forget the shame of your youth . . . Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's as if God is trying to gather me back to Himself during the times when I was wandering It's as if God is trying to gather me back to Himself during the times when I was wandering and away from Him and away from Him . I always think, "Okay , so now I'll , so now I'll take some time to purify and cleanse myself, and then I'll be gathered back to God, then I'll be gathered back to God, " but " but God says, "This will happen soon God says, "This will happen soon ." God wants to bring me back ." God wants to bring me back . Put . Put . Put that shame behind you that shame behind you . I tried to cover it up, but then . I tried to cover it up, but then I immediately thought, " I immediately thought, " Okay, but really?

Okay, but really? Okay, but really? What do you think?" What do you think?" God says, "No, God says, "No, forget it." forget it." " " " That's right. It's That's right. It's That's right. It's over. over. over. That's right. Yeah, I had to That's right. Yeah, I had to learn that in my own life too, because I had an learn that in my own life too, because I had an addiction. addiction. One of the important things in the addiction cycle is that shame is actually what triggers you back into shame is actually what triggers you back into negative patterns negative patterns . So why do groups work ? Why do you need to join AA or NA ? Why do you need to join AA or NA ? Because you ? Because you need a way to break that shame. Otherwise , shame will take control of you , shame will take control of you . And the more you can break free from shame, the more a . And the more you can break free from shame, the more a different, painless path opens up that you're trying to mask with drugs. Those drugs opens up that you're trying to mask with drugs. Those drugs pull you back into shame. So I pull you back into shame. So I needed to learn how important that is. And I think you love the scripture you quoted. God says, 'I take away shame.'" take away shame.'" Yes, yes. Yes, yes. In other words, In other words, we have all made mistakes we have all made mistakes . And I love the phrase "the . And I love the phrase "the shame of your youth" in that scripture shame of your youth" in that scripture . "I mean, is . "I mean, is n't the time in life when you do stupid things when you're young? You know what I mean? Maybe it's because you're young in terms of age , or maybe it's because you're young in terms of maturity of faith. Not everyone is in the same state in terms of faith . I'm not . I'm not saying you'll never make mistakes saying you'll never make mistakes . But I . But I think it happens to everyone.

think it happens to everyone. think it happens to everyone. Think about your parents. I wanted to show my Think about your parents. I wanted to show my children what I was like as a 50-year-old parent, like I was when I was 33. But that was all I had But that was all I had , so I couldn't do that for my children , so I couldn't do that for my children . You know what I mean . You know what I mean . You know what I mean ? So it's all for the ? So it's all for the children. I think there's some children. I think there's some meaning to that. So I want to ask you this: meaning to that. So I want to ask you this: Your story has made me think about this . God . God invites us to His table. invites us to His table. Yes. And Yes. And we must accept that invitation we must accept that invitation . . What are the distractions, the disappointments, whatever they may be, that are preventing us from returning to God when He is trying to call us back to Him? What are the distractions, the disappointments, whatever they may be, that are preventing us from returning to God when He is trying to call us back to Him? Yes. I I believe Yes. I I believe one of the biggest things I've pursued in my life is feeling . So . So even if I return to God in some way, and even if I return to God in some way, and for example, if I think, "Okay, I'll for example, if I think, "Okay, I'll reread the Bible," or "I'll reread the Bible," or "I'll pray more," or "Anything will do, pray more," or "Anything will do, " if I don't immediately " if I don't immediately feel satisfaction or reward, I end up feel satisfaction or reward, I end up thinking, "Ah, I don't know if this is worth it," or "I'll wander off again ." Therefore, ." Therefore, when you feel disappointed, it's easy to chase after the feeling that, "Oh, I when you feel disappointed, it's easy to chase after the feeling that, "Oh, I don't feel God right now. That means don't feel God right now. That means God doesn't exist, or this is God doesn't exist, or this is really worthless, or it's really worthless, or it's not true." not true." But all of this stems from the idea that if I am trapped in my shame I am trapped in my shame , it is because , it is because God wants me to suffer in shame God wants me to suffer in shame . I've always had doubts , and I've also misunderstood what God really is , and I've also misunderstood what God really is . For example, if we understand that God is truly merciful and forgiving forgiving , we would not need to struggle with shame , we would not need to struggle with shame . Therefore, . Therefore, struggling with shame often boils down to struggling with shame often boils down to not having a clear understanding of who God is .

. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. That's good news. That's good news. That's good news. Yeah. In my case, I think it often boils down to what I value Yeah. In my case, I think it often boils down to what I value most in life , that is, what I prioritize, and whether I , that is, what I prioritize, and whether I prioritize my own desires over God's will . Of course, I don't mean that I don't love what God has prepared for me, but sometimes there are moments when I think this way. "Hey God moments when I think this way. "Hey God , my sisters got married this year , my sisters got married this year , but I'm still single. If I remain , but I'm still single. If I remain single my whole life, will you ever single my whole life, will you ever think that's a bad thing think that's a bad thing ?" Yes. ?" Yes. ?" Yes. And I have to sit in that space, And I have to sit in that space, but I don't want to say it out loud but I don't want to say it out loud . In other words, I'm a human being . Even when I say things like that, deep down I'm . Even when I say things like that, deep down I'm thinking, "God, that wasn't my intention." That's why I think you'll come across these kinds of checkpoints. think you'll come across these kinds of checkpoints. In other words, you'll come across these checkpoints In other words, you'll come across these checkpoints . "God, what am I choosing to believe more choosing to believe more ? There's no one else in the room ? There's no one else in the room . It's just you and me . It's just you and me . So I have to be honest, . So I have to be honest, " I " I think. That's right. think. That's right. Therefore, I think my desires sometimes prevent me from being gathered again to God.

think my desires sometimes prevent me from being gathered again to God. Or, sometimes when I'm wandering around, I Or, sometimes when I'm wandering around, I think, "Hey, I know this isn't the best thing for me, but I'm having so much fun right now." So, God, well, I will be gathered to you, God, well, I will be gathered to you, but perhaps I am taking a break right now . It might seem . It might seem stifling to others stifling to others , but in a , but in a space where you're not alone, you space where you're not alone, you choose to die for that desire. Then I will be gathered to God. I gathered to God. I gathered to God. I love it. love it. love it. Yes, I love it. Yes, I love it. Yes, I love it. Sometimes I get Sometimes I get caught up in things like pride or some kind of judgment. When you look at what's happening in the world look at what's happening in the world , it's a complete mess, and it makes you , it's a complete mess, and it makes you think a lot and feel really down . There is a lot of war, anger, and betrayal lot of war, anger, and betrayal , and so many things are , and so many things are happening. And I can do happening. And I can do two things.

two things. Seeing that, you can say, "I'm Seeing that, you can say, "I'm not doing that right." That's why I not doing that right." That's why I forget that God is working on something within me . Or, . Or, God, sometimes I don't understand how all of this will be God, sometimes I don't understand how all of this will be saved and restored saved and restored . . . Sometimes I feel overwhelmed Sometimes I feel overwhelmed . And I even wonder why I should have to try to . And I even wonder why I should have to try to solve this or invest in it solve this or invest in it . Yes, I get stuck , and the situation feels so vast , and the situation feels so vast , and I feel so small in comparison , and I feel so small in comparison . And then I start wondering whether it's worth the effort . And then I start wondering whether it's worth the effort . Sometimes I get trapped in those kinds of thoughts trapped in those kinds of thoughts . No, really . No, really . When we talk about revival . When we talk about revival , I think this shows that God is always an , I think this shows that God is always an open invitation, and open invitation, and there is an open table that we can join at any time . . . However, revival However, revival means to return. means to return. We must return We must return . I . I love what's written here. This love what's written here. This concludes the explanation. "Stretch out the place of your tent and concludes the explanation. "Stretch out the place of your tent and put up the tent for your dwelling place. Do not hesitate . Lengthen your cords . Lengthen your cords and strengthen your stake and strengthen your stake ." God asks us to ." God asks us to show weakness as we seek Him, and to show weakness as we seek Him, and to broaden our expectations of Him broaden our expectations of Him . That . That involves risks. Because involves risks. Because behind it lies the anxiety of "Will God live up to our expectations?

behind it lies the anxiety of "Will God live up to our expectations? " " However, what the Bible tries to remind us is that God always lives up to our expectations . . . And they always And they always provide us with something better than what we could ever obtain on our own . So . So , as we talk about the revival this week , as we talk about the revival this week , we're , we're excited to keep our tents up excited to keep our tents up . . What aspects of yourself do you need to expand What aspects of yourself do you need to expand ? Perhaps we ? Perhaps we need to broaden our perspectives and hopes need to broaden our perspectives and hopes . Perhaps we . Perhaps we need to expand the source of our joy in God need to expand the source of our joy in God . Perhaps we . Perhaps we need to extend the time we spend communicating with God . Because that is the . Because that is the