WHAT EVERY MINISTER NEEDS IS A FRESH VISION

"The vision of God always brings the revelation of the utter worthlessness of self, an indispensable prerequisite to effective service for God." - Unger's Commentary on the Old Testament

"Those are fittest to be employed for God who are low in their own eyes and are made deeply sensible of their own weakness and unworthiness." - Matthew Henry

In Exodus 33:20, the Lord God spoke to Moses and said - "...Thou canst not see My face: for there shall no man see Me, and live."

Throughout the Bible, we read of those who had the experience of seeing God's glorious majesty and were "shaken to the core" as a result.

In Judges 6:22-23, we read - "And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face. And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die."
In Judges 13:22, we read - "And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God."
In Job 42:5-6, we read - "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
In Isaiah 6:5, we read - "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."
In Daniel 10:7-8, we read - "And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength."
In Habakkuk 3:16, we read - "When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself..."
In Luke 5:8, we read - "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord."
In Revelation 1:16-17, we read - "...and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. And He laid His right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not: I am the first and the last."

Each person had a unique experience yet a similar reaction. They either felt overwhelmed or feared as though their life was about to be cut off.

In this message, we would like to zero in on the Prophet Isaiah's vision of the glory of God. His first words after getting a glimpse of Jesus as "the KING, the LORD of hosts" were - "Woe is me! for I am undone..." Actually, these are the words of a sinner. Now, we know that God would not call a sinner to be His spokesman. Yet this is exactly how the Prophet felt in the Presence of such a Holy One. He immediately became aware of his inward sin as well as his personal unfitness or unworthiness. Conscious of his own vileness, he knew that he couldn't join in with the seraphim who were singing God's praise with holy lips - "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." And he certainly didn't feel worthy to be called on to perform His service.

In the sight of God's glorious majesty, he was hit with an overwhelming reverence and godly fear. Instead of the song of the angels, he cried out - "I am undone." In other words, I am struck dumb...I am amazed ... I am unholy.

Imagine that! The seraphim are crying out - "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts..." And in the background, the Prophet Isaiah is crying out - "Woe is me! for I am undone..." In the midst of such holiness, I am found unholy.

He then goes on to say - "...because I am a man of unclean lips..."

Others who were called to speak for the Lord felt their inadequacies -

Moses - in Exodus 4:10 - said- "...O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since Thou hast spoken unto Thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue."
Jeremiah - in Jeremiah 1:6 - said - "...Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child."

Perhaps Isaiah was referring to a rash word that he had spoken or to his own sinful silence in not reproving sin in the people with a holy boldness and liberty. Somehow, he had offended in word and was instantly convicted of it when he saw the glory of God.

Honestly, if the Lord should "mark iniquity" (Psalm 130:2) concerning our tongues, which of us would stand?

James 3:1-2 says - "My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."
In Matthew 12:35-37, the Lord Jesus said - "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

Isaiah felt tainted by his environment - "...because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips..." He felt - as we have oftentimes experienced - defiled by the evil communication and unclean lips of those around him. He was in the midst of hypocrites as implied in Isaiah 29:13 - "Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart from Me..."

Jeremiah described the heathen around him in this manner - "And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth...And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies..." (Jeremiah 9:3 & 5). Ezekiel described them as such - "...for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness" (Ezekiel 33:31). And lastly, the Apostle James depicted them in this way - "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing..." (James 3:8-10).

"... for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts" (Isaiah 6:5) - Seeing the King caused the Prophet Isaiah to see himself. In the view of Christ, he saw the impurity of himself...the worthlessness of self...and his own personal weaknesses and failures.

Once again, let's read our opening quotes -

"The vision of God always brings the revelation of the utter worthlessness of self, an indispensable prerequisite to effective service for God."

"Those are fittest to be employed for God who are low in their own eyes and are made deeply sensible of their own weakness and unworthiness."

Before God could ever use Isaiah, he had to come face-to-face with his own worthlessness. He had to be humbled by his weaknesses.

Just how many ministers of the Gospel do we have today who have had this same type of experience?

Sad but true - we would have to say - "Not many!" How do we know? Because so many are so full of themselves. They are haughty, arrogant, and proud. They carry themselves above the people. And do not have any sense of their own filthiness or unworthiness.

Who has had a vision of Jesus - in all of His glory and majesty - and has seen themselves for who they really are?

Now, that is a man or a woman that has something to say! Hear ye him or her!

You will recognize them by their utter lowliness.

May God Bless His Word,
Connie

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