THE MAKING OF A MISSIONARY

ISAIAH 6:1

A. A VISION OF GOD
  1. Time and occasion:
    1. "In the year that King Uzziah died" -- History of Uzziah - 2 Ki. 15:1-5
  2. The vision:
    1. "I saw the Lord"
      1. A change from the earthly to the heavenly glories.
      2. Moses on the mount - Heb. 11:24-27
      3. Paul in a trance - 1 Cor. 9:1
    2. "Sitting on a Throne"
      1. High and lifted up - Dan. 7:9-11; Rev. 20:11
      2. His train filled the temple - 1 Ki. 8:10, 11
    3. "I saw Seraphims"
      1. Each having six wings, with two he covered his face, with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
      2. One cried unto the other "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God of Hosts"
      3. The whole earth is full of His glory.
B. EFFECT OF VISION
  1. Self-discovery: "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips."
    1. Job had a similar experience - Job. 42:1-3
    2. So did Peter - Luke 5:8
    3. Saul of Tarsus experienced the divine glory - Acts 9:1-6
  2. "Mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
    1. Seeing the King of glory will lead to real self- discovery.
    2. The unprepared inhabitants of the world will understand the signification of the divine glory, but too late - Rev. 6:15, 16
    3. What an impression the vision of seeing the great King on the throne of His divine Majesty must make upon poor mortals!
C. A VISION OF DUTY
  1. Isaiah hears God's call to service: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"
    1. He who reads the hearts of men, knew before hand who would answer the call of duty.
    2. But God wants volunteers for His service; He wants us to take a personal interest in the service of soul winning.
  2. Isaiah's response:
    1. He was a changed man; he had a vision of the sacredness of the ministry; he had been cleansed from all uncleanness.
    2. He was willing and fully surrendered to God; that is the main prerequisite for service--surrender - dedication!
    3. Ponder, if you will, the deep significance of Isaiah's response to the call of duty -
      1. He had a vision of God; that is basic to the service of the Lord.
      2. He had a vision of himself; that is a must if we are to realize our need for divine help to do acceptable service.
      3. He experienced a cleansing; that makes the difference in fruitful service.
      4. He had a burden for lost souls; that was the impelling power for him to say, "Here am I, send me."
  3. Thus we learn these essentials for entering the service of the Lord:
    1. A vision of God is imperative! "Where there is no vision, the people perish" - Prov. 29:18
    2. "We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long" - Ps. 74:9
    3. A vision of the perishing souls, for whom Christ died - Ezek. 37:1-14
    4. A vision of a clean and sanctified life to be the representative of the King of glory - Isa. 52:11
    5. A vision of the Lord who will make us fit vessels of His grace to bear the message of truth - 2 Cor. 3:6
    6. Finally, it is wonderful to be called to serve the King of kings and the Lord of lords.


Design © John Bryant 2011