Greetings again my Brethren. What a wonderful study of Isaiah’s qualifications for ministry we have been looking at these past months. Funny how when we read about Paul, Peter, or Isaiah we think they are unlike us, but in reality the only things that are really different is the time in which they lived. They had the same God and Holy Spirit empowering them as we do and yet we have the written word of God to explain things. I think we Christians today will have a lot of explaining to do when we stand before God. God does not love Isaiah any more than He does you or I. God did not call Isaiah (Paul, Peter, or even Jesus) into ministry any different than He does us. I am really glad to know I have the same chance to be used of the LORD as the next man. Brother Peter told us, “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:” (Acts 10:34) This mean there other qualifiers and disqualifiers that prevents from being used of the LORD. There are many disqualifiers and only a few qualifiers that we have discussed over the months, but make no mistake God is closely scrutinizes us in our walk with Him to see if we have what it takes to be called by Him to minister. We in our selves do not possess the ability to be called, but we do have the desire and “want to.” This is all it takes, God will take it from there to see if we truly are serious and committed. But before we get too far down the road let us finish up with our divine commission. Back in 1976 I joined the US Navy and served in many Enlisted jobs as a Corpsman, but God laid on my heart to go to college and try to become an Officer. I did not see far down the road as the LORD did, but He knew what my call would look like and He knew I had to be an Officer to fulfill my call. So in 1987 I became a Medical Service Corps Officer after graduating college. To become Enlisted all I had to do was complete some paperwork, but to become an Officer well it took much more paperwork, time, and even an act of Congress to receive my commission. So too in our lives. When God calls us into the ministry there is a personal commission that enables us with accountability, responsibility, and authority as when I became an Officer, but much greater. We all have a general call, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20) What we call the “Great Commission,” but also there is a personal call something more important to our heart. We see this in the life of Isaiah, “And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 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. 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. 13 But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
” (Isaiah 6:9-13) The text here says, “Go” then in italics we read “and tell this people.” Just the lone “Go” is automatically understood as YOU “Go.” Any time God directly speaks it is a direct implicit message to the one hearing. Here God spoke not to the people, but directly to Isaiah. God had a message for the people, but it was not conveyed by God’s lips, but from the lips of Isaiah. Thus Isaiah was commissioned by God (with all of His accountability, responsibility, and authority) to tell the people thus says the LORD. Today I hear a lot of preaching and teaching most from off the internet, sermon books, and commentaries, but seldom do I hear a message from God. I cannot remember when I have heard “thus says the LORD” in a Church service. Yes in our monthly Home Group Meeting (that is what you get), but no in most services that are bulletin or agenda driven. He is a personal God and He personally calls His children to speak for Him. This is why just anyone cannot go for Him. Only the ones He calls can go and if He calls them then He will justify and if He justifies them they must be qualified. If you notice the message Isaiah (verses 10-13) was not the message the people wanted to hear. Seldom does God’s servant speak swelling words of grandeur into lofty heights of blessing, oh no most often God’s servants speak a word of correction and if heeded will bring repentance and life, but if not then the reward will be bondage and death. So too why God gives His servants a personal commission for if the servant does not know if they are sent by God then they will flounder and maybe walk away from God.
Next month we will begin to look at David’s call and the “Providence” involved for ministry. Providence is that act of God whereby HE makes ALL events fulfill His purpose. Listen closely my friend do you hear Him call now?
