Isaiah’s Call And Consecration
TEXT
: Isa. 6:1-13.INTRODUCTION
:A. ALL REACH TURNING POINTS IN LIFE WHICH EFFECT US FROM THEN ON.
1. Different for each one, and may not be recognized.
2. May or may not be profound itself, but has a profound effect.
B. SUCH WAS THIS MOMENT IN THE LIFE OF ISAIAH.
1. Isaiah could now see the purpose his life held in God’s commission.
2. He could also see the opposition to and failures of his work that lay ahead.
3. A sense of Divine purpose sustained him in what he did. Like Jesus(John 4:34 ).
4. We imbibe the spirit of Isaiah and Jesus so that our sense of purpose outweighs our desire for man’s approval or safety. Only then can we be victorious in Jesus.
I.
THE VISION OF THE DIVINE MAJESTY.A. ITS DATE IS FIXED IN MEMORY. – "The year that King Uzziah died."
1. We remember important events. Where were you: When Kennedy was shot? When the space shuttle exploded? When the World Trade Center was destroyed?
2. You remember more vividly where you were and what you were thinking.
3. When you were converted – when you came back to the Lord.
B. A VISION OF THE MAJESTY OF GOD.
1. God’s majesty well documented (Psa. 93; 104:1-8; 145:3-6; 1 Kings 8:27 ).
2. The typical reaction of man to his majesty ( 1 Kings 8:10-11; Isa. 6:5 ).
3. For the redeemed, his majesty is joy ( Isa. 12 ).
4. Reverence and awe ( Psa. 33:6-9; Heb. 12:28-29 ).
C. THE SERAPHIM AND THEIR SONG.
1. All known of Seraphim is here ( Rev. 4:6-8? – same place, 6 wings, same song ).
2. Covers his face and feet with his wings – humility and subjection (vs. 2 )
"Holy, holy, holy, is Jehovah of hosts!
The fullness of the whole earth is his glory!" – Rom. 1:20; Psa. 19:1.
D. THE YOKE OF GOD ( vs. 4 ). The trembling of all creation, and his glory.
II.
THE PROPHET'S CONSECRATION.A. THE EFFECT OF THE REVELATION ON ISAIAH’S MIND.
1. First, there is the sense of utter weakness.
a. The very vision of God is fatal ( Ex. 20:18-19; 33:20-23; Judges 13:22 ).
b. Who is man? ( Psa. 144:3; Job 7:17 ).
2. There is, also, the realization of inability.
a. Called to be a prophet – a man of unclean lips ( Ex. 4:10; 1 Cor. 2:1-4 ).
b. We are unworthy – John ( Matt. 3:11 ); Paul ( 1 Tim. 1:12-15 )
c. We rely on his strength, not ours ( Eph. 6:10; Phil. 4:13 ).
B. PURIFICATION AND PARDON ( vs. 6-7 ).
1. A live coal (lit. hot rock) is placed on his lips by an angel and his sins forgiven.
2. Purification by fire a common figure ( Isa. 4:4; 1 Pet. 1:6-7 ).
3. Comes when Isaiah accepts his guilt (vs. 5; John 16:8; 1 John 1:9 ).
4. Comes from the hand of God.
a. Only God can take away sin ( Luke 5:21; Psa. 130:3-5 ).
b. If any man is saved, it is God’s doing ( 1 Tim. 4:10; 2 Cor. 5:18 ).
c. The power to save or be saved is not in man ( Eph. 2:8-9 ).
d. Yet Peter says ( Acts 2:40 ). We have a part ( 1 Tim. 4:16; Ez. 33:10-11 ).
5. We must be pure to serve ( Heb. 7:27; 9:7-8; 1 John 3:3 ).
C. THE CALL TO SERVICE AND ISAIAH’S ANSWER( vs. 8 ).
1. The need of the work in Judah ( Isa. 1:2-4; 5:13 ).
The need of the work today ( Matt. 9:36; Rom. 10:13-15 ).
2. Isaiah’s job – "Go, and tell this people ( vs. 9 ).
Our job – Labor, preach and teach ( 1 Cor. 1:17; Mark 16:15; 2 Tim. 2:2 ).
3. Isaiah’s zeal – and Jeremiah’s ( Isa. 6:8; Jer. 20:7-9 ).
Paul’s zeal ( 2 Cor. 4:11-14; 2 Tim. 1:12 ).
III.
THE MISSION.A. IT WILL BE THANKLESS AND DISAPPOINTING.
1. The warning in Isaiah’s message ( Isa. 6:9-10 ).
2. Fulfilled in Jesus’ day ( John 12:37-41). Worse ( vs. 42-43 ).
3. In our day:
a. Matt. 7:13-14. Majority lost.
b. 2 Tim. 3:1ff; 13; 4:3-4; 1 Tim. 4:1-2; 2 Thess. 2:10-12.
B. PERSISTENCE AND FAITH TO GET THE JOB DONE!
1. Isaiah’s question: "How long, O Lord?" ( Isa. 6:11 ).
2. 1 Cor. 1:17. Our job! 2 Tim. 4:1-2. Leave nothing out ( Acts 20:20, 26-27 ).
3. 1 Cor. 3:6. If we preach our job is done. God will handle the result!
C. THE GLEAM OF HOPE ( vs 13 ). THE HOLY STUMP.
1. The remnant will survive ( Isa. 1:9; Rom. 9:27-29 ).
2. How? ( Isa. 1:27 ). Converts - repentant ones NAS ( Rom. 11:26; Acts 3:19 ).
3. Who among us will survive? ( Acts 17:30; 2:38 ).
CONCLUSION
:A. WE ALL HAVE A SACRED DUTY TO PROCLAIM HIS WORD.
B. BUT WE HAVE A DUTY FIRST TO OURSELVES.
1. Will we be burned with the limbs that are cut off?
2. Will we survive with the stump of Israel?