Title Page

Lesson Ten

Isaiah 6:1-3Isaiah 6:1-2

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

Isaiah 6:1-3

Isaiah 6:33 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:4-6Isaiah 6:4-5

4 And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Isaiah 6:4-6

Isaiah 6:66 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

Isaiah 6:7-9Isaiah 6:7-9

7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Isaiah 6:10-12

Isaiah 6:1010 Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Isaiah 6:10-12Isaiah 6:10-12

11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

Focus Verse

Isaiah 6:1

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high

and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Focus Thought

Isaiah received a vision from the Lord and heeded the call of God.

IntroIntroduction

The prophet Isaiah is a significant figure in the Old Testament. The word prophet originates from a Hebrew word meaning “to announce”; thus, a prophet is God’s mouthpiece or spokesperson (Hebrews 1:1).

IntroIn his book A Popular Survey of the Old Testament, Norman L. Geisler describes a prophet as “the human instrument through which God declared His message to men.” A prophet, then, is one through whom God speaks. Consequently, the prophet has insight or vision into the will and purpose of God.

IntroThe word vision has become a popular term among Christian leaders in the contemporary church. However, popular business jargon has replaced much of its original meaning. Goals, objectives, and action plans based on theory or trends are not always synonymous with a God-given vision. Furthermore, a godly vision that reveals God’s will and purpose is crucial to an effective ministry.

IntroA person could have an intelligent plan and desirable goals, yet lack God-given vision. The Tower of Babel is an example of mankind’s ability to conceive a workable plan with desirable goals, yet lacking in God-given vision (Genesis 11). This incident in mankind’s history further proves God does not always work through our dreams and goals.

IntroIn his book Disciplines of a Godly Man, R. Kent Hughes states, “Vision is the currency of leadership.” Therefore, a leader without vision is bankrupt, lacking a basic ingredient necessary to lead people. The Bible clearly warns, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18).

IntroGod’s messenger should have an accurate, prophetic word from God that enables him to lead, guide, and direct His people. Those who follow such a visionary leader feel safe amid the complexities of their lives. Certainly, nothing can substitute for godly leadership that carefully follows the Spirit.

IntroIn the year that King Uzziah died, Isaiah received a vision from God calling him to do a special work. Despite the fact that Israel had sinned, God revealed His plan to Isaiah that would remedy their sin problem and the sins of the world. (See Isaiah 53.) Isaiah surrendered to God’s call and remained committed to what God had called him to do.

IntroIf we are to become people of vision in our postmodern world, we should learn the valuable lessons afforded us by the model of Isaiah as he heralded a message of hope and salvation to a generation in trouble. His theme parallels beautifully with the gospel of Jesus Christ: no matter how messed up a person’s life may be, God can save him.

IntroThrough repentance, water baptism in Jesus’ name, and being filled with the Holy Ghost, God is able to save those hopelessly trapped by sin. Like Isaiah, people of vision are called, commissioned, and committed to God’s purpose—preaching the message of deliverance to all people everywhere.

I. The Call AThe Call

Isaiah’s effectiveness as God’s servant grew out of his own personal experience with Him. How could he preach repentance convincingly to others unless his own life bore fruit of repentance? The same is true of everyone in Christian service. Our effectiveness begins with our own personal experience with God. Paul proclaimed that the Corinthians were epistles “known and read of all men” (II Corinthians 3:2).

I. The Call AAn anointed life ablaze with godliness and passion always stands out from the crowd. Although each is admirable, education, talent, ability, charisma, or business savvy will never substitute for a personal relationship with God. For example, it was obvious to onlookers that Peter and John were not properly educated or trained men; however, the call of Jesus Christ and their living relationship with Him was evident. (See Acts 4:13.)

I. The Call AGod called Isaiah to proclaim a message of repentance to a wayward people, but he needed a personal cleansing before he could effectively minister to others. He needed an encounter with fresh fire. He needed the seraphim to touch him with a live coal from the altar—not from last month’s or last year’s worship, but from an altar aglow with fresh fire.

I. The Call AA. The Vision

The vision of Isaiah was accompanied by three things: the seraphim, the voice of God, and smoke. On numerous occasions in both the Old and New Testaments, angelic beings appeared in God’s presence to fulfill His purpose. Although we do not worship angels, they are a very real and vital part of God’s hierarchy of power. (See Hebrews 2:6-7.) They exist to do the divine bidding of the Almighty.

I. The Call AAccording to Nelson’s Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the seraphim were angelic or heavenly beings associated with the prophet Isaiah’s vision of God. (See Isaiah 6.) Seraphim had six wings: two with which to fly; two to cover their feet; and two to cover their faces. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary suggests that two pairs of the wings depicted humility and respect, while the third pair of wings enabled them to fly.

I. The Call AThe holiness of God should evoke a similar humility and reverence from those who serve God today. The call of God came to Isaiah in an atmosphere of humility and reverential awe. As we seek to serve God by whatever means—preaching, teaching, singing, music, or any other means—we should do so in a spirit of humility and reverence instead of pride and arrogance.

I. The Call ABooker T. Washington, the renowned educator, was an outstanding example of humility in service. Shortly after he became president of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was walking in an exclusive section of town when a wealthy woman stopped him. Not recognizing Mr. Washington, she asked if he would like to earn a few dollars chopping firewood. Professor Washington smiled, and accepted her offer.

I. The Call AWhen he had finished, he carried some of the wood into the house and stacked it neatly by the fireplace. A young girl recognized him and revealed his identity to the woman. Embarrassed, she went to see Mr. Washington and apologized for her oversight.

I. The Call AIn spite of his position as an esteemed educator, Mr. Washington was humble enough to do menial tasks that others may have thought beneath them.

I. The Call AOne of the seraphim, having “a live coal” in his hand taken from the altar, purged Isaiah’s sin. The imagery of the seraph taking a live coal from a living fire—a fresh fire—to cleanse Isaiah should speak powerfully to us. We should ask ourselves if there is enough fresh fire on our personal altar to bring about a cleansing in our mind and spirit as we seek to serve God.

I. The Call AIt is easy to get spiritually cold when we worship with the ashes of yesterday’s fire. Only a living fire—fresh fire—can purge away our sin and carnality. We cannot maintain fresh fire on our altars while spending countless hours consuming various media, surfing the Internet, or following any other carnal pursuits. The call of God is too sacred for us to neglect in exchange for fulfilling insignificant human interests.

I. The Call AIsaiah saw the Lord, and “the house was filled with smoke” (Isaiah 6:4), the shekinah cloud, or the glory of the Lord. When Solomon finished the magnificent Temple that he built for the Lord, and they placed the ark of the covenant inside, the same cloud appeared and prevented the priests from ministering (I Kings 8:1-11).

I. The Call AWhen we enter God’s house with prayerfulness, humility, repentance, and praise instead of manifesting arrogance, carnality, or maliciousness, God’s glory will fill the house! David declared that God’s glory inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

I. The Call BB. The Call

As with Isaiah of old, God still has a work to accomplish. He has chosen to get it done through willing and committed individuals who will obey His call. God will accomplish and perfect His work in the church through the ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). God does not call everyone to perform the same ministry, yet each one works in harmony with the others to effect God’s complete purpose (I Corinthians 12:27-31).

I. The Call BIn Isaiah’s vision, God asked, “Whom shall I send?” (Isaiah 6:8). Although the answer seems obvious, it was Isaiah’s choice whether or not he would make himself available. He could have declined and walked away; instead, he yielded to God’s call. Each of us has the freedom to do as we wish regarding the call of God—we can yield to it or resist it. Isaiah chose to yield and surrender his will to the will of God.

I. The Call B Likewise, to serve God effectively, we should surrender ourselves to the will of God. When we surrender to God’s call, we may find that it conflicts with our career plans or changes the direction of our lives. Things that once were unimportant to us become priority because of our surrendering to God’s design and purpose.

I. The Call BIsaiah acknowledged God as the only King because there is only one God (Isaiah 44:8, 24; 45:5-6, 18, 21-22; 46:9). Isaiah’s prophecy teaches us that God would later manifest himself in flesh (Isaiah 9:6) and become the Savior of all mankind (Isaiah 53). Jesus Christ was God manifested in flesh (Matthew 1:21-23; I Timothy 3:16). The great King of Isaiah 6:5 became the suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:11 to justify many.

I. The Call BIsaiah’s vision of God impacted him profoundly, causing him to dislike what he saw in himself.

Isaiah 6:5II Timothy 2:2

“Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts”

(Isaiah 6:5).

I. The Call BOverwhelmed by God’s purity and holiness, Isaiah lamented his own depraved condition. We may deceive ourselves with self-righteousness when comparing ourselves to others (Luke 18:10-14), but we can never experience such pride when confronted with the true righteousness of God.

I. The Call BIsaiah certainly felt no pride after his encounter with the holiness of God. His only feeling was self-contempt. A God-called individual of true spiritual depth genuinely humbles himself in God’s presence, leaving no room for egotism.

I. The Call BAs with Isaiah, God’s purity magnifies our impurity, sending us to our knees in repentance. To the Corinthian believers Paul declared, “Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation” (II Corinthians 7:10). Certainly, God’s radiant righteousness reveals the dullness of our self-righteousness.

I. The Call BWe often recoil at the sight of ourselves in our true condition, but the discomfort provides the necessary motivation for repentance that clears the way for relationship with God and empowers us to reach a state of full maturity in God.

I. The Call CC. The Touch

Isaiah confessed that he was “a man of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5); therefore, the seraph touched Isaiah’s lips with the live coal taken from the altar and laid it on Isaiah’s mouth (Isaiah 6:6-7). From that point onward, Isaiah had a new message to share.

I. The Call CThe tongue is the most unruly member of the human anatomy (Proverbs 18:21; 21:23; James 1:26; 3:5-8). It should not surprise us that God chose tongues as the sign of the new birth, for there is no denying God’s touch when we surrender our tongue to Him in complete submission and obedience.

II. The Commission AThe Commission

God does not call people to inactivity, but to action. He called Noah to build an ark, and He called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees. He called Moses to lead Israel out of Egyptian bondage, and He called Samuel to be a spiritual guide to His people.

II. The Commission AJesus called the twelve disciples to preach and to teach those things that He had communicated to them, and He still calls people today to fulfill His purposes. According to Paul, not everyone is called to be a preacher or teacher (I Corinthians 12:29). However, He does call everyone to minister in some way, even if it is to work in harmony with the pastor for the church’s edification.

II. The Commission AA. The Response

Although Isaiah did not yield and surrender to God’s call immediately, he was willing both to obey and to go. Many people seem to be willing, but they never become involved in God’s work. Isaiah’s initial response was to recoil from God’s call because of his sinfulness—not because he was unwilling. We should not interpret his hesitancy as unwillingness or apathy, but his response reveals our need to approach God’s work with caution.

II. The Commission AOn the other hand, when one is overzealous—abandoning all caution—he can cause much harm. Zeal is a two-edged sword (Galatians 4:17-18). It can be a good thing or a bad thing because it cuts both ways. This is one of the reasons why it is crucial that we work under the oversight of a local pastor who is responsible to oversee the church (Hebrews 13:17). Isaiah’s response indicates that he first spent time preparing himself before he entered into service.

II. The Commission AUnrestrained zeal may prompt well-meaning individuals to pursue active service before they are prepared, which may bring unnecessary embarrassment to themselves or injury to the church body. Therefore, we should prepare ourselves carefully in the presence of God before we sing, play music, teach a Sunday school class, lead a youth group, preach a sermon, or pastor a church.

Romans 12:6-8II Timothy 2:2“Having then gifts differing

according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us

prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he

that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with

simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy,

with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8).

II. The Commission AFor instance, a person may have ambitions to pilot an airplane. However, prudence demands that before one takes the controls, he should receive proper training. Similarly, a novice should not be allowed to bring injury to the body of Christ just because he is zealous and willing to serve. Personal preparation and training are essential.

II. The Commission AFor this reason, Paul advised pastors not to appoint novices to positions of influence and responsibility until they first are proven (I Timothy 3:10). He further implied that candidates should be thoroughly examined, scrutinized, and tested before being given such a position.

II. The Commission ATo ignore Paul’s instruction may lead the church body into possible embarrassment, hurt, or even shame, especially in the eyes of unbelievers. Rather, we should appoint leaders who are role models, competent and capable of doing the work to which we assign them. Although no one is perfect, we should not appoint those whose witness has been so tarnished that they lack credibility. If a leader is to inspire confidence, he should have credibility—especially among the unsaved.

II. The Commission AAlthough he was willing, Isaiah first waited until God prepared him for the work. Effective service always begins with personal preparation, which may include working closely with a pastor or mentor, allowing him to counsel, critique, and direct us.

II. The Commission AOnce Isaiah was at peace within himself that he was prepared for the work, he made himself available to God. He was not only willing to serve, but he was willing to go—to get involved in God’s work. Since God never calls anyone to inactivity, we should get busy fulfilling His purpose for our lives. 

II. The Commission BB. The Commission

God revealed His plan and purpose to Isaiah, authorizing him to communicate a specific message to which Isaiah remained committed. He refused to compromise it. Likewise, our message must be specific and on target.

II. The Commission BA person of vision knows what his message is and communicates it clearly with conviction. Nathan looked King David in the eye and said, “Thou art the man” (II Samuel 12:7). His specific message affirmed that God had revealed David’s sin to him. The clarity of our message reveals the clarity of our vision, but a weak message reveals a weak vision. If we have heard from God, we should speak with clarity and conviction.

II. The Commission BIn an age when mega media ministries feed the masses with vague generalizations, hungry hearts still deserve to hear a clear, specific gospel message from God-called servants. We should not be vague when preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.

II. The Commission BWhen we are vague in our declarations of truth, sin makes inroads into the church. On the other hand, a clear and specific gospel message empowers people, enabling them to make spiritually sound decisions. Only then can we expect believers to make mature choices and walk in the power of the Spirit, abounding with joy and peace.

II. The Commission BIsaiah’s message was to remain consistent “until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate, and the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 6:11-12). Just as Isaiah could not change the message in midstream, a person of vision understands the seriousness of his mission and is committed for the duration.

II. The Commission BGod had clearly declared to Isaiah that the people would not receive his message, but Isaiah never tweaked his message to accommodate the whims of the people. He knew that to truly help people, the message should remain consistent. Changing the core message cannot help but bring confusion to future generations. (See Galatians 1:6-9.)

II. The Commission BIf we tamper with the message, we interfere with people’s ability to comprehend and fulfill the will of God. Doing so places the one who tampers with God’s message in a grave position with God.

II. The Commission BCommentators suggest that Isaiah met death by being sawed in two during Manasseh’s reign in Judah. One may ponder how those who compromise God’s Word will fare at the judgment when compared to men like Isaiah, John the Baptist, or Paul, all of whom gave their very lives defending the truth. Without question, people of true vision demonstrate courage, conviction, and commitment.

III. The Commitment AThe Commitment

A. Isaiah Obeyed

Isaiah obeyed despite opposition. There is no greater witness to a person’s commitment to God than his continuing obedience in the face of difficulty. Even though his message was poorly received, Isaiah remained faithful to the task.

III. The Commitment AMore than 180 men died in the Alamo fighting for the independence of Texas from Mexico. These freedom fighters stayed and continued to obey orders—even when their cause seemed lost—because they were completely committed to freedom. Likewise, Isaiah kept preaching the message that God gave him because he was committed to it even when the people rejected it.

III. The Commitment BB. Isaiah Went

We recognize a person of vision because of his acting upon what God has shown him. He has a task, a specific job to do. God has called and commissioned the person of vision, and he cannot sit still or remain idle. He is committed to fulfilling his commission.

III. The Commitment BIsaiah went about fulfilling the call of God on his life. The person who leisurely approaches life usually lacks vision. Such a person apparently sees nothing worth doing and he continues to excuse his inactivity.

III. The Commitment BIt is not so with a person of vision, however, because his vision keeps motivating him to action. Columbus discovered the Americas because he saw something that others failed to see. When others gave up or threatened mutiny, Columbus sailed on! So it is with people of vision.

ReflectionsA brief glance at history reveals the impact that a person of vision can have on a people, a nation, and even the world. For example, John F. Kennedy, in his book Why England Slept, examined the reasons why England was so sluggish in its preparations to engage Hitler in the 1930s. One of the reasons he cited was the lack of England’s long-range point of view—she had no vision.

ReflectionsEngland’s political leaders were shortsighted and complacent. As a result, little was being done to prepare for the inevitable future conflict. In armaments, Germany was outproducing Britain by 43 percent.

ReflectionsKennedy concluded it was not until Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as prime minister that England began to awaken from its lethargic sleep. Had it not been for Churchill’s visionary leadership, England would have been devastated by the German war machine. A person of vision makes all the difference!

ReflectionsIsaiah’s ministry began with a personal encounter with God during which he received vision and purpose. This encounter occurred close to the altar, which is always a good place to begin seeking God. The altar symbolizes death—death to self-will, pride, carnality, worldly desires, and selfish ambitions. For Isaiah, cleansing and personal preparation preceded service to God.

ReflectionsPeople who have a personal encounter with God often become people of vision. Like Isaiah, they tarry in the presence of God, preparing themselves for the work to which God has called them. People of vision are truly committed and possess a desire to be effective. Moreover, they will not compromise their mission by compromising their message.

ReflectionsA chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Isaiah was one of many links in a chain of events that led mankind to the Savior, Jesus Christ. Every preacher, teacher, evangelist, pastor, or Christian worker is likewise a link in the chain of events that leads souls to the Lord. Therefore, we should be faithful and true to the vision, consistently proclaiming the unchanging message of salvation and holiness. The eternal salvation of future generations may well depend on what we do today.