FITNESS FOR SERVICE

ISAIAH 6:1

A. "IN THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED I SAY ALSO THE LORD SITTING UPON A THRONE, HIGH AND LIFTED UP AND HIS TRAIN FILLED THE TEMPLE"
  1. Background to our subject title:
    1. Uzziah had reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem
    2. During all that time "he was marvelously helped till he was strong"
    3. But when he got his eyes upon himself he fell; he died a leper, for the Lord has smitten him - 2 Chron. 26
  2. It was at such a sad and mournful time:
    1. When Isaiah saw the great King sitting upon a throne
    2. Thus we have a combination of preparatory events that form the background to the ministry of Isaiah, one of the greatest evangelists B. FITNESS FOR SERVICE
  3. A glorious vision:
    1. "I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up"
    2. He had seen the downfall of Uzziah, but he saw also the glory of the unfailing God
    3. Every gospel worker must experience a dual vision;
  4. he must have a vision of lost sinners, their pitiful condition - Acts 16:9
  5. he must also have a vision of the Lord - Acts 9:5; Rev. 1:17
  6. A humbling confession:
    1. "Then said I, woe is me, for I am undone...I am a man of unclean lips"
    2. This demonstrates that a vision of God will lead to realizing our own undone, sinful condition; Examples: Said the man Job, "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" - Job 42:5-6; think of what Paul's vision did for him - Acts 9:1-11; Acts 27:23-24; or what it did for Stephen - Acts 7:56-60
    3. We shall never have a clear concept of our high calling to the work of the Lord until we have seen the need of humanity and the Lord with outstretched hands to save the lost - Is. 65:1-2; Matt. 11:28-30
    4. It was Mr. Moody who told a young inquiring preacher that he must see Jesus and the sinner C. A THREE-FOLD EFFECT OF THE VISION UPON ISAIAH
  7. A great salvation came to the young prophet:
    1. "Then flew one of the Seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand" (v.6). With that life coal God touched the lips of the prophet and cleansed them
    2. Pardon - "Thy sin is covered (margin)" How important this experience of personal cleansing before we are ready to preach salvation to others. Such a covering as only God can cast over the guilt and heinousness of sin, is basic for every worker - Heb. 1:3
    3. Purity - "Thine iniquity is taken away". Not only is sin forgiven, but it is removed out of the life of the penitent sinner - 2 Cor. 5:14-17; John 8:32-36
    4. "Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord" - Is. 52:11. No one was permitted to serve in the office of the priesthood unless he was clean; body, soul and spirit - Lev. 10:3; 22:2
    5. Power - "Lo, this hath touched thy lips". The touch of the living coal was as the sealing of the Holy Spirit - Eph. 1:13. It was power from on high putting his lips into touch and perfect accord with the holy altar
    6. Only the fire-touched lips can speak with power and authority. Pentecost was needed to prepare the early disciples for effective ministry - Acts 2:1-17
  8. A definite commission:
    1. Note, please the call of God for service was distinctly heard, "I heard the voice of the Lord saying, whom shall I send?" (v.8)
    2. Young man, never be satisfied until you have heard the voice of God calling you into His service
    3. Paul had the conviction that God had chosen him to be a minister before he was born - Gal. 1:15-16
    4. Note, what Isaiah did when he was ready for the ministry - "Here am I, send me". He who had a two-fold vision; of sinners and of the Lord; who had experienced a cleansing was not ready to be sent.


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