Send Me Lord, Sermon by Sharon Stewart.
Isaiah’s Commission
6 In the year that King Uzi died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.”
4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Thoughts to ponder
- Is God calling you?
- Stumbling blocks to answering the call.
- Results to being obedient
We see in today’s reading, that Isaiah saw the Lord. He saw him in all his brilliance, in his glory, while he was being minister to/ attended by seraphim or angles. He said that I heard the voice of the Lord. He knew he was being commissioned by God, there was no confusion, no second guessing no doubt in his mind. This was Isaiah’s experience.
God does not call all of us in the same manner. Those of you who are familiar with the Old Testament know that God showed up in some truly peculiar and strange ways. He showed up in angels, burning bushes, clouds, and fire. He spoke through donkeys; scripture says He spoke to Moses face to face. He spoke through his prophets. Elijah heard the Lord through a still small voice.
God may not manifest himself to us like he did with those back in the biblical days, but I believe that he is still trying to communicate with us and it’s a good chance that he is trying to connect with you too. There is still work to be done in Earth and we are the tools that he uses. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10.
ARE YOU BEING CALLED? That of course is for you to consider and pray for discernment. My answer would be a resounding YES! All through the scriptures it teaches that we were created for God’s purpose, believing that helps me to understand that I’m not just a mishap, not just one night of pleasure between my mom and dad. For the word God in Jeremiah says I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. The Word helps us to understand that we are placed upon this Earth for a reason, and that life has meaning. I do believe that there is a master plan. God spoke to Jeremiah. I have plans for you…and those plans are to prosper you. I believe the God that spoke to Jeremiah, still speaks to us today. I believe that He is calling us to open our hearts to say Send Me Lord, Send Me.
Yes, your life does have purpose; and to look up the word purpose you would understand it to mean value. God has uniquely placed value on each one of our lives. All of us have something to bring to the table. We are all relevant to Kingdom building and as unhinged as this world appears, full of confusion, chaos, uncertainties, anxieties, God has called us to make a difference, and we can be used to make this place a better place in which to live. But we have to be willing to go, be willing to be sent out. Send Me Lord, Send Me.
Are you being called? For some of us the call on our lives may be quite perspicuous, well understood. You know exactly what you should be doing, and what road you should be on.
Are you being called? The book of Matthew is riddled with lessons, teachings, parables, and experiences of our Lord Jesus the Christ and at the end of that book, Matthew chapter 28, is The Great Commission, where Jesus commands that his followers go into the world and teach all that they had learned all that he had given to them. Church we are his followers, we are the disciples. Yes we are being called. and our response should be here I am Lord. Send me Lord, Send Me.
The Word of God, Titus 2:14 says, who gave himself for us to redeem us from lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. zealous meaning, passionate, committed, dedicated and enthusiastic. Yes, I believe we are called. If you study the book of Mark, you may also understand that God wants us to move with a sense of urgency. one might say hurry it up. The Lord says that we do not know the time or day of his return. God wants his children to be ready. There is a characteristic term that occurs quite frequently in Mark, ethos, which is variously translated, straight away, fast or quickly, Mark is considered a gospel of immediacy…it is noted as the shortest book, yet records more miracles if we are looking at the bible as a sort of guidance, or a reference as to how we should be moving for the Lord in our Christian lives, we may want to note these things.
Now consider those who were called and miracles and blessings that came out of them. Mary saw an angel, Moses saw the burning bush, David heard about his call through the prophet Samuel, and Joseph had a dream, Paul met Jesus on the Damascus road, and we see here that Isaiah had a vision. All called out by God. All on a mission for the Lord and I would venture to say that it was some good that came out of all of their lives.
How do we know that we are being called? John 6:44 Scripture says that …No one comes to me unless the Father who sent me draws him… We don’t have to be confused. The Word of God says that we are not to lean on our own understanding but to trust and acknowledge him and he will direct our path. .God will let you know when you are being called out. I believe there is a deep yearning, a sense of knowing, when God is calling us. We just have to be ready to move. get out of our heads. We know God is love. Believe he is who he says he is and be about the business. He’s not going to put more on you then you can handle.
If you know there is a song for you to sing, sing it. If you know that there is a prayer that needs to be prayed pray it, if you know that there is a Word that can bring healing, speak it…
Here I am God, Send me.
John 6:60, many of the disciples felt Jesus was just too hard to understand, to complicated and therefore, fell away. the bread of life, one to be eaten? They could not grasp. . Just too much to comprehend. They tried to put a human understanding to something spiritual and therefore they could not connect. Saints sometimes we can really complicate Jesus. .I finds that anything that takes us out of our comfort zone …anything that may mean investing a little bit of time. . A little bit of money…anything that we really don’t want to do we can complicate it?
Luke 6:46, why do you call me “Lord, Lord” and do not do what I tell you to do. Yes, God is calling you. Jesus wants us to believe in who he is, the Son of God, our Creator. The way to eternal life. He said that we must come to him as little children, humble, teachable and ready to please. He wants us to come out of our comfort zones. That is the only way we can be of useful to the kingdom. We know that all things are possible through Christ who strengthens us.
Send Me Lord Send Me, Are you being called?
Sometimes it may appear unclear as to whether or not God is calling you. .. We see the call on Samuel’s life. 1st Sam. 3 said in those days the visions were rare. Today’s world many of us may feel the same. It is not always easy to see God, or to hear him, through the catastrophes and turmoil, the diseases, cruelties, injustices and hatred seems to over shadow the good that we know God is. and we beg to ask the question. My God where are you?
Growing up I often heard that we are not supposed to question God. There’s a scripture that says when I was a child, I spoke as a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned as child, but when I grew up I put away childish things. Well when I grew up I began to study the Word for myself. I read the story about Jesus being whipped, abused, spat on, mocked and ridiculed. hung high and stretched wide…said nails were hammered into his feet and hands, said he looked up into the sky and cried out …My God, My God, why have you forsaken me. Now we can agree to disagree. But I think its ok to have a little talk with Jesus every once and while and ask Lord, as Marvin Gaye would say, what’s going on?
I believe He’ll have an answer for…He might start off with I told you what to expect. It’s in the book. I told you that in the last days the world is going to be filled with trouble… hatred is going to be rampant…men are going to be lovers of themselves. False prophets will come upon you…wars and rumors of wars famine and earthquakes. And that this is just the beginning. . But I also told you that I would not leave you by yourself. I will send my children, the believers some help. I will send the comforter, an advocate, the Holy Spirit someone to fight your battle, sustain you through the madness.
John 14:20, The Word said I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. ..That’s where God is. ..He says do not let your heart be troubled and do not be afraid…don’t let the news overwhelm you. God calls us out to be faithful servants not fearful. We don’t live in the same type of hope that the world lives in, we know Jesus is on his way back, we know what’s going on… He teaches that we are in this world but not of it. ..Greater is He in me then he who are in the world. We are overcomers through the blood of the Lamb. We have work to do Saints.We have to be steadfast, unmovable, unshakable and unstoppable Yes the world is full of darkness but we are called to be some light.
We must find the strength to say SEND ME LORD SEND ME! I’ll speak, I’ll encourage, and I’ll fight. I’ll be an Ambassador for you. What is it you need me to do?
Scripture said when Samuel was being called by God he had not yet known the Lord. Samuel had to depend on someone who did, Eli, for Samuel was just a young lad… We’re familiar with the cliché …it takes a village to raise a child. we’re part of that village. It takes a community of believers to help to recognize, nurture and cultivate, the gifts and talents we see placed on our children’s lives, as well as those that we see in each other. We are mature enough to know that all good things come from the Lord. Eli knew that God was calling Samuel. .After 3 times of being called, Eli helped Samuel to understand that, indeed it was God he was hearing from. .And Samuel responded, speak Lord your servant is listening. This too should be our response to God. speak God your servant is listening.
If you are called into a ministry serve – get in where you fit in. To understand God’s willed for our life, we must have some knowledge of the Word. This will give us a clear view of God’s character and his nature.
It’s so very important to be around God fearing people, not perfect people, but people who have respect, reverence the Lord. People who can give you honest criticism, setting aside their own personal agendas.
Stumbling blocks to answering the call
Todays reading said. Isaiah felt a since of doomed, he felt unworthy to be in the presence of such glory, because he was unclean and lived amongst unclean people, amongst a people who was self-serving, disobedient and unholy…and because of this he felt that he had nothing to offer the Lord.
Huge message in and of itself…be mindful of the company we keep. . Limit the time that you spend around toxic people…poison is capable of causing death…Negative attitudes, poor dispositions, stubborn hearts… lying spirits these things can rub off. Read your bibles, understand the teachings. God warned the Israelites to be careful of the nation that they were about to enter into. Why? God knew that this nation had the capability of bringing on oppression, depression and disobedience. He knew that they could hinder his people from becoming a holy Nation and block their blessings.
Again, I bring this message for consideration and for encouragement for you and for me. Ponder the thought of our being. if indeed, the most important thing in this life is to be saved, to glorify God, to serve him that we may spend eternity with him in the everlasting. Why are so many of us still not heeding to or answering, the call? Not feeding the hungry…visiting the sick. Taking in the poor and homeless. Speaking out on injustices. Why are so many of us still not sharing/ or working in our gifts?
I will not be so arrogant and prideful to think that I know the answer…but searching the scriptures gives me some food for thought; it gives me pause to think.
Consider those who hesitated to heed the call. Moses said that he could not speak, he gets tongue tied, words get all tangled up, and he did not feel he can deliver God’s people from oppression. I can relate to Moses. Jonah was afraid and pride. He did not like the Assyrians; they were ruthless, evil people. The bible studiers know the story. and thought it was a waste of time to go where God was sending him. Jeremiah said he was too young and even Timothy had to be encouraged. It is in the book.
We see in just these few personalities. Fear, Pride, Lack of confidence and in some case lack of faith, all can be hindrances in moving forth in God’s will.
Fear itself encompasses so much for us to give thought to.
Fear of criticism, fear of commitment, fear of getting disappointed, or hurt.
This can happen my brothers and sisters and it can happen in ministry, it can happen while serving God. 1st. Samuel 12:24, says Only Fear the Lord and serve him faithfully.
We should also understand that making a commitment to God should not be taken lightly.
There are times we may pay a price for being followers of Christ. I am reminded of the story in Luke 9; 57. a man walked alongside a road with Jesus. He told Jesus, I will follow you wherever you go. Jesus replied foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head. Jesus was letting him know that it may get a little rough sometimes and sometimes you may have to go it alone. ..Jesus lets you know that once you put your hands to the plough, that there is no turning back. He said if we do this that we will be of no use to the Kingdom. God is a God to be taken seriously.
No such thing as retiring from being a Christian. It is a lifetime journey. One that God promises great rewards at the end.
The Word of God teaches that we should not allow anything, or anyone get in our way of serving him, but just as important we should not be a stumbling block or a hindrance to others.
Church we also must pray for a spirit of discernment. To know who our enemies are. …people come at you with all kinds of stuff. all kinds of untruths. wolves wrapped up in sheep clothing. Setting their own agendas, being used by Satan to steal, kill, and destroy. .. God told Joshua stay strong and be encouraged…you got work to do. We have a charge to keep, and a God to glorify.
Unfortunately, we too, even as season saints, can block people from fulfilling their calling. making them to feel less than…hindering people from stepping up and stepping out. We do need to understand that everything needs to be done in decency and in order and that there are disciplines to be followed but we too must be mindful of the Word of God. Mark 7:13 The tradition of men makes the word of God of no effect. Let us not teach man made ideas as commands from God.
For those of us who still feel the least bit insecure about stepping up for Jesus, the least bit unworthy, know that Jesus sat amongst the tax collectors and ate with those who were considered undesirables. Jesus came to help the blind, the cripple and the crazy.
A lot of us do not like to deal with confusion or conflict. a whole lot of mess. getting tied up with issues that never seem to get resolved. Word teaches that Jesus was not and is not an author of confusion, but he had no problem in confronting, it is all in the scripture. My understanding as I study the Word, is that if we must deal with confrontation, let it be for right reasons…do it with the right heart and spirit. Let it be about God. Church the harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. Jesus needs us all.
Do not be fearful…and understand that opportunity can come wrapped in opposition.
Let us have open and willing hearts to be about the work of the Lord. …Send me Lord Send me
Saints I believe that we are in control of our own destinies. God has given each one of us a free will. We must decide which roads to take. He gives us the blue prints. The Holy Bible and in it, 1st Peter 5:8 speaks to us about being sober minded, balanced, and alert. for the enemy is looking for someone to devour.
We do have an adversary and he rules the air and blinds the minds of those who do not believe. I implore you to become a believer. We must know who the Supreme Being is and that Satan has known power over him, Jesus the Christ
Know that there is not a man or a woman on this earth who has a heaven or a hell to put you in. . . . We live to serve Jesus. We must be bold and confident in whom we are. We are children of the Highest God.
SEND ME LORD SEND ME
#3 REWARDS FOR OBEDIENCE
Deuteronomy 5:33 Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days.
SEND ME LORD, SEND ME