7 Step Preparation of Isaiah For Prophetic Ministry

7 step preparation of Isaiah for God’s work.

In the book of Isaiah, sixth chapter is a detailed report of his personal experience--personal encounter with God - a visitation of God - a time of personal revival. Isaiah went through -- a drastic and a deeper change--- a significant transformation after which his ministry became very different and dynamic. Messianic prophecies began to flow through after this vibrant experience.

Step1: He saw the vision of God’s holiness

He saw the unique vision of God’s holiness – They spoke only one thing about God. Repeating 24 x 7. They don’t say, “God is good” or ‘God is righteous” or “God is merciful” but forever the say, “The Lord of Host is Holy, Holy, Holy” God revealed His absolute holiness unto Isaiah. Chief characteristics of God – Holiness, righteousness and faithfulness are the core virtues of God, which are repeatedly exposed in the Scripture and the holiness is supreme among them. In Revelation chapter 4 we read again about the praising of the angels after 700 years gap.

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

“For the prophecy came out in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” 2 Pet 1:21. Preparation for his prophetic ministry. If holiness is lost everything is lost. Holy men of God moved by the Spirit of God. “One of the most instructive passages on holiness is Isaiah 6:1-7 and its account of Isaiah’a call to the prophetic office” RC Sproul.

Holiness is not merely the absence of sin but it is very root nature of God. “Be ye holy as I am holy”

Isaiah used an impressive term about God-the holy one of Israel. Isaiah realized and registered the revealed holiness of God in his life. Hence he used the title, 'the holy one of Israel".

Step 2: Conviction

"Owe unto me"

He was convicted of his own spiritual condition. In fifth chapter, he pronounced owe upon others.

5:8 You are doomed! You buy more houses and fields to add to those you already have.

5:11 You are doomed! You get up early in the morning to start drinking, and you spend long evening getting drunk.

5:18 You are doomed! You are unable to break free from your sins.

5:20 You are doomed! You call evil good and call good evil? You turn darkness into light and light into darkness. You make what is bitter sweet, and what is sweet you make bitter.

5:21 You are doomed! You think you are wise, so every clever.

5:22 You are doomed! Heroes of the wine bottle! Brave and fearless when it comes to mixing drinks.

6:6 I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful.

God brought him to a ground of seeing his own sinfulness in the dazzling light of God’s holiness-He could see his own life as God saw. “I-am-doomed” was the cry of a great Prophet. The then sin of the society penetrated into his own life. Where do we stand in the light of His holiness? The more we see His worthiness the more we will know our unworthiness. Today’s Christianity as more conventions with fewer convictions, conviction of sins is the one of the most common signs of a genuine revival.

The sermon of Jonathan Edwards on sinners in the hand of angry God is still a challenging message. Holiness never compromises with the sins of the World.

Step 3: Confession

“I- am- a - man- of- unclean – lips” was the specific confession of Isaiah. Sins of the world have crept in to the churches – made them as worldly churches. Confession is the result of conviction and repentance. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chr. 7:1.

Step 4: Consecration

He was cleansed by the heavenly fire-not by the fire from the Temple. “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18 Sanctification begets sanctification; Fire begets fore; revival begets revival; reformation begets reformation. When we confess our sins, heaven responds. An angel came down leaving his work in heaven to put the fire on the lips of Isaiah. Revival begins in our personal life. What God wants to do through us will first take place in our life. Cleansed vessels are the need of this hour to bring revival in the churches. His holy word and His Holy Spirit cannot flow through the defiled vessels. God used Isaiah to cleanse the Temple – Greater reformation took place in the days Hezekiah. Revival and reformation follow the personal sanctification. Revivals are born on the ground of holiness. God commissioned Moses on the holy ground, so Isaiah was.

Step 5: Call of God – hearing the voice of God - heart cry of God in the midst of noise of the angels and shaking of the doors of the Temple. He heard the noise of angels as long as he was not cleansed. Afterwards He heard, “Who shall go for us? Whom shall I send?” In the holy of holies His voice was heard by Moses. We need to stand on the ground of holiness to hear the voice of God. We are more interested to pray and preach than to hear from God.

“We cannot do anything without God and God will not do anything without us on the earth.”

Greater is the end time reformation than the former one. God needs reformed reformers to reform His church. Can we hear the call of God?

Step 6.Commitment:

A new level of commitment comes when God shares his own burden with us. Isaiah wrote, ”This is the burden of God.”

God is looking for our availability not for our ability.

He expects an unconditional and unlimited commitment unto Him. Isaiah cried,“Here I am; send me”

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” C.T. Stud. Obviously, genuine commitment is unconditional.

Step 7: Commissioning

He was not self-appointed. He was commissioned for a specific task by god himself.. If you are commissioned by God, you will be backed by heaven. When you are commissioned by God you become a heavenly servant. Commissioning includes assignment of specific work with delegated authority. Isaiah became a man of mission. Perhaps, visionaries will become missionaries – hence, we need to hold on to the vision that God has given and thevision will, one day, turn to be your mission.

Conclusion:-

In the process of knowing the Holy one of Israel, sooner or later, we will be brought to a ground of seeing His absolute and unique holy nature which will ultimately cause a revival in our personal lives. May the Lord of Hosts convict us, cleanse us, revive us and commission us for His great work which he is doing on this earth. Amen