Here Am I! Send Me!

Here am I! Send Me!

Isaiah 6:1-8

Here am I! Send Me!

The church‟s work in this present world greatly involves

evangelism.

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evangelism.

D. T Niles said, “Evangelism is one beggar telling another

beggar where he found bread.”

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evangelism.



Joseph Aldrich declared, “God‟s evangelistic strategy in a

nutshell: He desires to build into you and me the beauty

of his own character, and then put us on display.”

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evangelism.






Charles Spurgeon said, “Our great object of glorifying God

is to be mainly achieved by the winning of souls.”

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evangelism.






Charles Spurgeon said, “Our great object of glorifying God

is to be mainly achieved by the winning of souls.”

“I‟m just a nobody telling everybody about somebody who

can save anybody.”

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Evangelism is important, because Jesus made it

important.

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important.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to

me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I

have commanded you” (Mt 18:18-20, ESV).

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important.

Mt 18:18-20.

“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea

and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8, ESV).

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Yet, long before he came to this world, Jesus appeared

to Isaiah in tonight‟s text.

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Yet, long before he came to this world, Jesus appeared

to Isaiah in tonight‟s text.

John informs us that it was Jesus whom Isaiah saw in

this passage.

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“Though he had done so many signs before them, they

still do not believe in him, so that the word spoken by

the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: „Lord, who has

believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the

arm of the Lord been revealed?‟ Therefore they could

not believe. For again Isaiah said, „He has blinded their

eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their

eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I

would heal them.‟ Isaiah said these things because he

saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many

even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of

the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would

not be put out of the synagogue” (Jn 12:37-42, ESV).

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John quotes from Isaiah 6:10, and then he declares that

Isaiah saw Jesus‟ glory.

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John quotes from Isaiah 6:10, and then he declares that

Isaiah saw Jesus‟ glory.

We wish to study this text that we, too, might see

Jesus‟ glory & declare, “Here am I! Send me!”

Here am I! Send Me!

ISAIAH 6:1-8

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This text likely represents Isaiah‟s call & thus,

chronologically this passage belongs at the very

beginning of the book.

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But, in chapters 7 & 8, Isaiah goes to Ahaz‟s court &,

humanly speaking, he fails miserably.

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But, in chapters 7 & 8, Isaiah goes to Ahaz‟s court &,

humanly speaking, he fails miserably.

This passage informs us why Ahaz disregards Isaiah‟s

message.

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“Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on

seeing, but do not perceive. Make the heart of this

people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes;

lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears,

and understand with their hearts, and turn and be

healed” (vv 9-10, ESV).

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Tonight, we wish to explore Isaiah‟s call & see what he

saw.

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saw.

What did he see?

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saw.

What did he see?

A HOLY GOD.

AN UNHOLY SERVANT.

A HOLY GOD WHO NEEDS HOLY SERVANTS.

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A HOLY GOD

vv 1-4

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“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting

upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his

robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim.

Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and

with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

And one called to another and said: „Holy, holy, holy is

the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!‟

And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice

of him who called and the house was filled with smoke”

(vv 1-4, ESV).

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Isaiah sees the Lord “high and lifted up.”

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That phrase occurs elsewhere in Isaiah in relation to God.

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That phrase occurs elsewhere in Isaiah in relation to God:

e.g., “Thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who

inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: „I dwell in the high

and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and

lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive

the heart of the contrite” (57:15, ESV).

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e.g., 57:15.

But the concept doesn‟t just occur in relation to God.

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e.g., 57:15.

But the concept doesn‟t just occur in relation to God. “The LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty,

against all that is lifted up—and it shall be brought low; against all

the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks

of Bashan” (2:12-13, ESV).

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e.g., 57:15.

But the concept doesn‟t just occur in relation to God. 2:12-13.

The point seems to be: There are many who extol themselves as

“high and lifted up,” but only God is the One who is truly “high

and lifted up.”

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As Isaiah sees the Lord “high and lifted up,” he notices

that the train of his robe filled the temple.

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The Assyrians, whose invasion is foretold in chapter 8,

often pictured their kings on a grand scale next to other

men.

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The Assyrians, whose invasion is foretold in chapter 8,

often pictured their kings on a grand scale next to other

men.

Again, the imagery is that the Assyrian kings think of

themselves as “high and lifted up,” but only God is truly

“high and lifted up.”

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Isaiah sees seraphim in the attendance of God.

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The Hebrew for “seraphim” literally means “burning

ones.”

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ones.” I do not know if Isaiah speaks of a class of angels or if he speaks of

a fiery appearance.

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ones.” I do not know if Isaiah speaks of a class of angels or if he speaks of

a fiery appearance.

The point is that heavenly beings are in attendance to God.

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ones.”

The seraphim call to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the

LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

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The phrasing of “Holy, holy, holy” sets God apart from

that which is not holy.

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Twenty-five times in Isaiah the prophet refers to God as

“the Holy One of Israel.”

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In Isaiah, the prophet speaks of both the coming Assyrian

& Babylonian Captivities.

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& Babylonian Captivities. As “the Holy One of Israel,” God is separate from the sins of his

people.

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& Babylonian Captivities. As “the Holy One of Israel,” God is separate from the sins of his

people.

Therefore, “the Holy One of Israel” has a right to judge his people

for their sins.

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The whole earth is full of God‟s glory.

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We can surely see God‟s glory in the things that he has

made.

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made.

But, I don‟t think that‟s what the seraphim have in mind.

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made.

But, I don‟t think that‟s what the seraphim have in mind. The context of the Book if judgment upon Israel & Judah.

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made.


Because “the whole earth is full of his glory,” God can use the

Assyrians to judge Israel & the Babylonians to judge Judah.

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made.


Because “the whole earth is full of his glory,” God can use the

Assyrians to judge Israel & the Babylonians to judge Judah.

Also, all peoples are accountable to God.

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UNTIL WE SEE GOD AS HOLY,

WE HAVE NO NEED TO

EVANGELIZE.

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AN UNHOLY SERVANT

vv 5-7

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“I said: „Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of

unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of

unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD

of hosts!‟ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having

in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs

from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said:

„Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken

away, and your sin atoned for” (vv 5-7, ESV).

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Isaiah immediately recognizes his dire situation &

declares that he is undone for (a) He is a man of

unclean lips & (b) He has seen the LORD.

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Isaiah‟s lips are unclean.

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He has just heard the seraphim praising God with

absolutely pure lips.

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He fully recognizes that his lips are nowhere as clean as

theirs.

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theirs.

In a very real sense, lips can be neither clean or unclean.

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theirs.

In a very real sense, lips can be neither clean or unclean. Lips utter what the heart tells them do utter.

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theirs.

In a very real sense, lips can be neither clean or unclean. Lips utter what the heart tells them do utter.

“What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this

defiles a person” (Mt 15:18, ESV).

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But, because our lips are a “window to the soul,” what

we say has a large bearing on how holy we are.

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“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give

account for every careless word they speak, for by your

words you will be justified, and by your words you will be

condemned” (Mt 12:36-37, ESV).

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“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give

account for every careless word they speak, for by your

words you will be justified, and by your words you will be

condemned” (Mt 12:36-37, ESV).

Because Isaiah‟s lips are unholy, he stands condemned

before God.

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In his unholy position, Isaiah has seen the LORD.

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Isaiah certainly believes his death is imminent.

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No man can see God & live.

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No man can see God & live. “You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (Ex

33:20, ESV).

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No man can see God & live. “You cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live” (Ex

33:20, ESV).

However, Isaiah only saw a representation of God, for no man has

ever seen God (Jn 1:18).

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A seraph cleanses Isaiah‟s lips with a coal from the

altar.

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altar.

Isaiah has acknowledged the sin of his lips & his sin is

cleansed.

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altar.


cleansed.

God takes away the sin Isaiah has confessed.

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altar.


cleansed.

God takes away the sin Isaiah has confessed. Unless we are willing to confess our sins, we cannot find

cleansing.

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altar.


cleansed.

God takes away the sin Isaiah has confessed. Unless we are willing to confess our sins, we cannot find

cleansing.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9, ESV).

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UNTIL WE SEE OURSELVES AS

UNHOLY SERVANTS, WE HAVE

NO REASON TO EVANGELIZE.

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Until we have appropriately dealt with our own sins, we

can be no good to a lost & dying world.

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Until we have appropriately dealt with our own sins, we

can be no good to a lost & dying world.

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother‟s eye,

but do not notice the log that is in your own eyes? Or

how can you say to your brother, „Let me take the speck

out of your eye,‟ when there is the log in your own eye

You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye,

and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of

your brother‟s eye” (Mt 7:3-5, ESV).

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HAVE WE DEALT WITH OUR

OWN SINS THROUGH JESUS?

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Until our sins are atoned, we can be no good to a lost &

dying world.

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Until our sins are atoned, we can be no good to a lost &

dying world.

What good could we ever hope to accomplish in such a

state?

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A HOLY GOD NEEDS HOLY

SERVANTS

v 8

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“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, „Whom shall I

send, and who will go for us?‟ Then I said, „Here am I!

Send me‟” (v 8, ESV).

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God asks a somewhat rhetorical question.

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It‟s a rhetorical question, for God knew precisely what he

would do.

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It‟s a rhetorical question, for God knew precisely what he

would do.

Could the Lord not be asking the same question today?

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Do we ever notice those around us living in sin?

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We know that the majority of people in this world are

going to be lost.

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going to be lost: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate

is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and

those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow

and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find

it are few” (Mt 7:13-14, ESV).

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going to be lost: Mt 7:13-14.

We also know that being lost is a horrible condition.

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going to be lost: Mt 7:13-14.

We also know that being lost is a horrible condition:

“Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh,

called „the uncircumcision‟ by what is called the

circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands—

remember that you were at that time separated from

Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and

strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope

and without God in the world” (Eph 2:11-12, ESV).

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Isaiah volunteers to go by saying, “Here am I! Send

me!”

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me!”

The prophet realizes he can‟t wait on everyone else to do

it.

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me!”

The prophet realizes he can‟t wait on everyone else to do

it.

Don‟t we often have a tendency to wait on others to act?

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Isaiah willingly volunteers for a difficult assignment.

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Ahaz isn‟t going to listen to him.

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Ahaz isn‟t going to listen to him.

But, Isaiah still knows that he has a responsibility to go.

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The work of the church is far from easy.

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“We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the

affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly

burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life

itself” (2 Cor 1:8, ESV).

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“We do not want you to be ignorant, brothers, of the

affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly

burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life

itself” (2 Cor 1:8, ESV).

“As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way:

by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,

beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights,

hunger” (2 Cor 6:4-5, ESV).

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There can often be hurt feelings.

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There can often be hurt feelings.

People will reject the Gospel just like Ahaz rejected

Isaiah‟s preaching.

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ARE WE WILLING TO BE SENT?

Technology

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