SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Isaiah 6:1-4) (1) “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.” (2) “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.” (3) “And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.” (4) “And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”
(Isaiah 6:5-8) (5) “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.” (6) “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.” (8) “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”
PREFACE SUMMARY
When the Lord shared this message with me, I thought about how we often allow people, things, and situations to distract us, leading us away from the true purpose of our life and ministry.
To grasp the message, consider why King Uzziah is referenced in Isaiah 6 and why the author promptly depicts Isaiah's vision of God's elevation in the temple.
The vision profoundly impacts Isaiah, causing him to confess his unworthiness. This is followed by a divine cleansing miracle and a direct call to serve, which Isaiah responds to with immediate and total surrender.
We are discussing raising the standard, which requires examining Saul’s call to kingship and Samuel's dedication to mentoring him, preparing him to lead God’s people.
Pause for a moment and consider how his failure—being rejected by God and losing his kingship—originated from his disobedience in following God’s command to destroy everything in a city. Instead, he kept some of the best animals and also spared the heathen king Agag, whom God had already cursed for his entire lineage.
Can you imagine the impact of this disobedience on Samuel? He had carefully prepared Saul to be their King. Saul prioritized the admiration and approval of the people over God's favor, which led God to reject him as King over His people.
This introduces the message about raising the standard by illustrating that Isaiah experiences the same heartbreak and disappointment after mentoring Uzziah to become King. Despite Isaiah's efforts, Uzziah's pride and desire for widespread approval overshadow obedience and God's favor on him. He had a godly father and was also tutored by Zechariah.
God not only rejected him from leading His people, but because he was a prideful king, he also tried to become a priest and offer sacrifices. He was instantly struck with leprosy. Therefore, God is strict when He sets up rules, especially when they interfere with his redemptive work, which He wrought through Jesus. Why, just look at how he had prophets lie on their side for days and eat dung to represent a spiritual truth to His people, and why did Moses, after leading 3.5 million people, have to die and not enter the promised land?
In summary, Moses struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God required, because the rock represented Christ, who would be struck only once. This was King Uzziah’s sin – he attempted to be both King and Priest, which violated the law of God. Melchizedek, David, and Jesus would be the only persons who could be both kings and priests in God's eyes.
BREEDING GROUND FOR A GENERATIONAL CURSE
A thorough examination of Isaiah 6, alongside the historical context of Uzziah's family, reveals a significant generational shift in leadership and faith in Israel. After Uzziah, also known as Azariah, was struck down with leprosy due to his pride and intrusion into the priestly duties, his young son Jotham was appointed to co-reign alongside him.
The incident deeply impacted Jotham, instilling in him a fear of God that ultimately led him to distance himself from the temple. This distancing can be interpreted as a reflection of his belief that he had little use for God, particularly in light of the harsh consequences his father faced.
Jotham later fathered Ahaz, who became infamous for his wickedness and idolatry, cementing his legacy as one of the most corrupt kings in Israel's history.
Unlike Jotham, who was unsure of his relationship with God, Ahaz fully embraced idol worship, even removing holy vessels from the temple to pave the way for pagan practices. Under his reign, the worship of foreign gods flourished, leading the nation into spiritual and moral decay. Ahaz's actions represented a stark departure from the covenantal faithfulness that had characterized earlier leaders.
One notable invention attributed to Ahaz was the sundial, which later played a critical role in the story of King Hezekiah. When Hezekiah received a death sentence from God, he demonstrated remarkable humility by praying fervently, turning his face to the wall in earnest supplication.
In response to his heartfelt plea, God sent a prophet to offer a miraculous sign regarding the sundial, asking Hezekiah whether he would like it to move forward or backward by ten degrees. God in His divine mercy chose to spare Hezekiah’s life.
Hezekiah then ascended the throne as a king after God's own heart, much like David. Recognizing the moral and spiritual decline initiated by his father, he took decisive action to eradicate idol worship from the land.
Under his leadership, the temple was restored as a center of true worship, and the religious practices that had been forsaken were reinstated.
Hezekiah was granted divine wisdom, enabling him to implement advanced irrigation techniques that transformed the arid landscape. He designed and constructed tunnels to divert water from the underground pool of Siloam into the city, providing a vital water supply and demonstrating his commitment to his people's well-being.
Through these actions, after a lengthy and challenging period of waiting that spanned three generations, God raised the standard of righteousness in Israel once again through King Hezekiah. This significant shift highlighted His unwavering faithfulness, even amid the numerous failures of previous kings who had strayed from His commandments.
In stark contrast, many preachers over time have grown complacent about addressing sin within their congregations, often choosing to ignore or downplay serious issues—especially when they pertain to members of their own families. Note: They let down the standard.
This reluctance stems from a desire to protect a façade of perfection, leading them to minimize the role of evangelists who might bring uncomfortable truths to light. Instead of genuine revival driven by heartfelt prayer and a commitment to spiritual growth, these leaders began staging revivals alongside other pastors, treating them as mere events to be organized rather than as transformative experiences born out of a consecrated church's hunger for revival.
Consider the experience of young children who were encouraged to say their bedtime prayers, thereby instilling a sense of faith and routine. Yet these same children often found themselves attending church with their grandparents, while their parents—who might be labeled preachers—opted to sleep in. Thus, this inconsistency raises critical questions about their parents’ commitment to their faith. What message does this send to their impressionable hearts and minds about the importance of faithful church attendance, and how might it shape their own future spiritual journeys?
FAITH UNDER FIRE
This segment of the message highlights Isaiah's profound sorrow regarding the fate of King Uzziah. King Uzziah had once been a symbol of hope and strength for the nation, but his downfall left a lasting impact on Isaiah.
As Isaiah stepped into the temple, his heart felt heavy with confusion and disappointment. He was deeply troubled by his perceived shortcomings and wrestled with the unsettling realization that, despite his unwavering dedication to God’s calling, he had not made strides greater than those who had come before him.
In a moment of profound introspection, he reflected on his feelings of inadequacy and lamented to himself, "Woe is me! I am unclean, a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips." He was struck by the thought that, like the great prophet Elijah before him, he seemed to have achieved no more than his forefathers, who had faced similar trials and tribulations.
Notice how everything changed in an instant when an angel appeared, bringing forth a glowing coal from the altar. As the angel gently touched Isaiah's lips with the glowing ember, a profound surge of transformation coursed through him.
In that moment, his deep-seated doubts and overwhelming feelings of failure began to fade away like shadows before the dawn. This act of divine grace sparked a new, invigorating sense of purpose within him, illuminating the path that lay ahead and reaffirming his vital role in God’s grand design.
No longer did Isaiah see himself as a failure; instead, he came to recognize himself through God's eyes. He realized that God has never lost a battle; He is steadfast in His presence, where He has always been. God's unwavering standard remains unchanged, and His thoughts toward Isaiah overflow with love and compassion.
The very atmosphere of the temple was charged with God's glory, as thick clouds of smoke filled the sacred space. The angels, radiant and majestic, continued to proclaim, "Holy, Holy, Holy," their voices echoing through the halls of heaven, causing the temple posts to tremble with the weight of their worship. This revelation filled Isaiah's heart with awe, reinforcing his commitment to fulfill his divine calling.
LIVING A FOURISHING LIFE IN A FALLEN WORLD
This message resonates deeply with me, making me shout out in frustration because my entire life often feels like a series of failures. Despite the profound anointing I have been entrusted with, the weight of my burdens and the trials I face can become incredibly heavy at times.
Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I find it necessary to take a pilgrimage to the potter's house, a place where I can surrender my life to Him and allow myself to be reshaped like clay in a skilled artist's hands. In these moments, I sometimes imagine giving voice to that clay (ME), expressing its struggles and hopes.
My thoughts frequently wander to the Jordan River, where the memorial stones stand as powerful reminders of what God has done. Even when I feel the waters receding and am met with obstacles from all sides, those stones—carried from the realm of the supernatural—serve as symbols of previous victories.
They remind me of the profound changes that occurred when Christ entered my life, leading me to reflect on the smooth stones that now stand testimony to the people, churches, books, and ministries that have emerged through my own journey after my conversion.
How many times have we experienced heart-wrenching disappointments, as our once grand visions seem to dissolve into scattered fragments? It’s painful to think about how often we have poured our hearts and resources into individuals, projects, or ministries intended to glorify God, only to watch them crumble before our eyes.
Moreover, how frequently have we found ourselves caught in the midst of church squabbles? We sit in the pews, listening to leaders and fellow congregants—who profess to be living close to the cross—engage in arguments and petty grievances that feel entirely out of place within the sanctuary. This discord can be disheartening, reminding us of our humanity and the challenges we face as we strive to embody Christ's teachings in our lives and church communities.
Are you eager to explore how to lead a flourishing life despite the challenges of a fallen world? One profound way to understand this is by observing the work of a silversmith.
Imagine entering a workshop filled with the rich, metallic scent of silver. The silversmith begins by taking a raw piece of silver and placing it into a solution designed to purify it. He then applies heat, gradually raising the temperature until the silver melts into a shimmering, molten state.
As you watch closely, you see the silversmith peer into the glowing liquid. He meticulously dips out the impurities that rise to the surface, a process that requires both skill and patience.
When God placed this in my heart, I thought of a dear friend, Pastor Jason Hand from Bristol, Tennessee, with whom I used to consult when God would use us in a big way.
I remember one time when he was preaching in a hard way, and I was praying someone would take him a handkerchief, but to my surprise, I happened to notice a nice, neat, white, folded one sticking to his sock that had just come out of his pant leg.
I can see myself preaching this in front of him and how he would become so full of God that I would have to give him the mike because he is going to hit that floor like a calf that has been shut up for days in a barn.
Yes, I can see myself standing in front of him, holding my bible, looking at it, then looking at him as the silversmith reaches in to remove the impurities from the silver.
I can see him now, as I say, look, Pastor Jason, he is dipping in and out, comes a proud look. Oh yes, I look at him, then look at my bible, the perfect law of liberty, and say look, here comes a lying tongue, and he dips again and out comes a false witness as described in Proverbs 6:16-19.
This act of refining the silver is a powerful metaphor for our own journey in life. Just as the silversmith removes imperfections, we too can reflect on our own experiences, letting go of what holds us back and embracing the growth that comes from facing challenges.
Here we enter the temple and no longer look at our failures, but we catch a glimpse that God foreknew us before creation. He knew how many times we would mess up and miss the mark, but decided to trust us anyway with His anointing and His ministry. We begin to see ourselves the way He sees us, that He is equipping us to flourish, even amidst the difficulties we encounter.
MY CONCLUSION
Church, God is the standard we must meet. He came down on our standard when He took upon Himself bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh, yes, when He wrapped Himself in flesh and bore our earthly image that one day we can bear His heavenly image.
Yes, He humbled Himself and met the woman taken in the act of adultery, even reaching down to write on a cursed Earth demonstrating His compassion to forgive and heal lost, broken humanity.
He demonstrated the life of God through His virgin birth, His pure devoted life before men, His death, His burial, and His resurrection. Here is the work that was wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and made Him both Lord and Christ.
Yes, the word says, above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but in the world to come. And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all. Ephesians chapter one.
The word informs us in Isaiah 59:19, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against Him. Note that the original Hebrew has the comma just after the word come in " instead of after the phrase like a flood. If this is true, it means all the enemy has to do is come in or launch his attack, the standard will be lifted against Him, and that standard is our High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is mediating for us before the throne of God.
Psalms 29:10 speaks of the Lord, the King who rides atop the floods. Note: A flood is something beyond your control.
The enemy has a way of knowing when God is getting ready to move for us. He will send distractions our way to get our eyes off our assignment; therefore, may we hold on just a little longer and realize we need each other, for we are nearing the end of the day of grace, and His coming may be sooner than we think.
The attacks on our faith are meant to shape us into the image of God’s Son, transforming us into humble servants. They teach us how to apply God’s word more effectively in our lives. While some observe us going through these trials, they are also experiencing their breakthrough.
In summary, let me close this inspirational message, which I feel is a clarion call to the body of Christ, by saying: It is essential that we recognize God's timing, for it is usually when we are at our lowest point in our faith and just when we are about to give in, that we find God has been working behind the scenes orchestrating events to take place in our favor.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
