We all know well the story of Isaiah’s consecration in chapter 6 of Isaiah’s book.
It is, after all, a powerful story!
We have all read it in the past and rejoiced over the description of the Lord sitting high upon a throne, and his train filling the temple.
We’ve rejoiced over the telling of how that the Seraphims with their six wings flew around crying unto one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
We’ve rejoiced at how the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried.
We’ve preached about how that Isaiah said, “Woe is me! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people with unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
We’ve stood in awe of the fact that an angel flew down to Isaiah with a coal from off of the altar, touched it to Isaiah’s lips, and took away his iniquity and purged his sins.
As powerful as this experience was, if we leave the telling of it at verse 7, we have misunderstood the importance of the story.
When God gives someone a vision, or a conviction experience, He always pairs it with a purpose.
Let’s take a look at how Isaiah received his purpose from the Lord:
- Conviction
Isaiah 6:5 “Woe is me!” - Confession (Repentance!)
Isaiah 6:5 “For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips” - Cleansing
Isaiah 6:6-7 “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: (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.” - Communion
Isaiah 6:8 “Also I heard the voice of the Lord” - Consecration
Isaiah 6:8 “’Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then said I, Here am I; send me.” - Commission
Isaiah 6:9 “And he said, Go, and tell this people…”What would have happened if the story ended at verse 7?
While Conviction, Confession, and Cleansing are extremely important parts of our Christian experience, they do not exist in a vacuum. Imagine the effort of Conviction, Confession, and Cleansing without culminating in Communion! Imagine Communion that never lead to Consecration, or Consecration that never received Commission.
As a Holy Ghost filled Apostolic, I know what it’s like to sit in Heavenly Places in Christ Jesus. I know what it’s like to feel Jesus step into the room and how it feels when He begins to commune with His people. I have been awestruck by His Presence on many occasions.
I am still left with one question:
“Does our Consecration ever lead us to DO anything for God?”
After all of the glory we experience, does it ever compel us to DO anything in return for our Savior? Do we consume His Power upon ourselves, or should we ever feel drawn to GO and DO a work for God?
How many conferences, camp meetings, and special services does it take for us to get enough depth in God to actually do something with what He’s given to us? How many Bible classes do we have to sit in before we are properly educated to share the good news of the Gospel? How many similar commitments have we made to God that fizzled and faded away?
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Isaiah’s story is that the LORD HIMSELF was looking for someone who would GO.
I don’t think it is a stretch to believe that God is still looking for people to GO and spread the Gospel. One of the prayer requests given by Jesus to His disciples was that the Lord of the Harvest would send forth laborers into the harvest.
The needs of this world are GREAT. Evil men and seducers waxing worse and worse. Perilous times have come. But who will GO?
It is my deepest desire that there will be someone who will respond like Isaiah did…
“Here am I Lord; send me!”
—– JGA —–
Juan G. Alvear is the Assistant Pastor at Conyers Apostolic Church, and the founder of the Harvest Companion.