What’s a Commissioning Look Like?
Isaiah 6:1-8
Introduction
- If you are taking notes, please write: How? Why? What?
- We are going to break Isaiah 6 up into two sections; part 2 will be this evening
- Over the past few weeks we have seen Isaiah, a prophet, crying out to the land
- He has showed us the importance of obeying God, in all things
- Today, we see His commissioning and it is something that we receive also
- The Great Commission is more than a popular verse; it’s believer’s obedience
- Matt 28:19-20, “Therefore GO and MAKE disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and TEACHING them to OBEY everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
- APP: It is the measuring stick for us to determine our faithfulness to Christ … The secret to serving God involves ONE thing: Your Faithfulness
- HE IS FAITHFUL … it is up to us to be faithful to Him
- Let’s look at how one man received his calling, and what we can learn from it
- Stand and read Isaiah 6:1-8 / Pray
Point 1 - Seraphs in Heaven (v1-3)
- There are lots of things to see here for us as he records it … let’s unpack together
- Isaiah has received a glimpse of the majesty of God
- It is at this time when he sees who he is called to serve … imagine the experience
-- It is important to note (I believe) that not everything about Heaven is revealed
- Those which are in Christ will see wonderful sights (sights untold) …
- Angels fly constantly around the throne proclaiming God’s holiness
- These angels though, are special – they are created with one purpose: To Praise
- Note: In no other place in God’s word do we see these seraphs mentioned
- These angels are pure, holy, without blemish – they radiate God’s light
-- In a sense, they are the caretakers of God’s throne and His attendants (humans are not called to worship the angels -- ever)
- These angels praise, constantly, and it is going on right now!!
- The sound of their voices shakes the doorposts (consider force of an earthquake)
- Psalm 99:1 says, “The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake”
- They also radiate God’s cleansing fire and purity – they RECOGNIZE sin
- God’s fire is discussed in 1 Corinthians 3:13, “… his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.”
- They see Isaiah for who he is and realize he cannot be in this place as he is
- Even these Seraphs know that Isaiah must be cleansed to be in God’s presence
- When we enter God’s presence, we too MUST be changed
Point 2 - A righteous cleansing (v5-7)
- Re-read verse 5 … emphasis on realization of who he is in the presence of God
- Ruined: Destroyed, undeserving, done for, doomed to extinction … finished
- APP: The Hebrew translation for the word woe imply that the sound of the seraphim praising God filled Isaiah with a longing to be able to praise God in the same way
- FURTHER: The sound of their praise rendered him speechless (brought him to silence) as indicated by the Hebrew for the word undone
- Isaiah’s realization of who he is has a very pivotal point for us … we are same
- HOW? Isaiah 64:6 says, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
- In response to Isaiah’s cry of woe, one of the seraphim takes a burning hot coal from the altar with a set of tongs.
- He lays this coal on Isaiah’s mouth, or touches it to his lips, to indicate God’s authority and unique ability to make atonement for Isaiah’s sin.
- WHY? There is redemption through the fire that God provides … and nothing else! This is the same fire that will test our walk with God and our lives (1 Cor 3:13)
- Zechariah 13:9 says, “I will bring (them)...through the fire, refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God’”
- This same fire burns forever at the throne and Isaiah is purified with it!
- Imagine the sights of seeing God’s fire, His throne, and having been purified
- TRANS: There is no way that can happen and not change our lives forever
Point 3 – A challenge to go (v8)
- Re-read verse 8 … God is seeking those who would be willing (volunteerism)
- Serving God is a privilege that requires no checklist or committee meetings
- It is something that we do because of our love for Christ (your faithfulness)
- For example: I Pastor because I love Jesus – not because I love people
- 1 Corinthians 9:16-17, “Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.”
- I preach because I love Christ … BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR HIM I MUST!
- WHAT? God is seeking those who want to go; those who desire to be faithful in worship (service is a very real, tangible sign of the worship you have for Christ …)
- APP: Talk about VBS advertising day yesterday …
- Our calling is to move because God needs us to move – and He is seeking us
- The voice that cried out to him is the same one Moses heard on Mt Sinai
- It is the same one Noah followed to build an ark when community laughed
- It is the same voice that Adam heard when he walked with the Lord
- It is the same voice that said (Matthew 3:17), “And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."
- APP: There’s something we must understand here:
- The mercy seat has not been established yet – so this is God’s throne he’s seeing
- This is not the vision of the Lamb – but the vision of the Creator
- Isaiah, being faithful, gives the only answer he can after seeing the throne of Judgment – the throne that awaits all men and women who do not know Christ
- See, this is the One who has given the authority to Christ, and He is JUST
- Isaiah’s response is immediate, without hesitation, and with the right motives
- He says, “Here am I, send me.” In other words: Whatever you need, God!
Conclusion
- Invite singers
- So how about us? Will we go – will you follow the voice who calls you?
- Every head bowed and every eye closed …
- I believe there are several right now who are hearing God speak to you
- There are things you need to do immediately to change and be reconciled
- What better way to serve the Lord than by leaving His House changed?
- Will you come? Will you obey the One who redeemed even you at Calvary?
- Maybe you are seeking a church home – put your hand in mine and be welcomed
- Maybe you need to take the first step and surrender your life to Christ?
- Pray
