Who Shall I Send? Series

TEXT: Isaiah 6:1-12

TITLE: “Who Shall I send?”

SERIES: Questions God Asks

TOPIC: Evangelism; Faith in God

OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church August 17, 2008

PROP.: God

INTRODUCTION: At this time, our Jr. Church age kids (4yrs - 4th grade) are dismissed for Jr. Church. And Please take the attendance pads and pass those down the pews.

Good morning and welcome!

Today we continue in our sermon series: Questions God Asks.

Questions are a part of our life.

They allow us to discover information: Why is the sky blue? Why do planes fly? What would I look like with a mustache?

Questions help us strike up a conversation! “How you doin’?

Questions help teachers assess what students are learning?

Questions are NOT a part of God’s life.

God knows EVERYTHING there is know! He knows how to split the atom. He knows how many licks it takes to get to the middle of the lollipop. He knows what you’re thinking this moment and what you’re going to be thinking 3 days from now. God, who created the universe, NEVER needs a question mark at the end of any of his sentences.

And yet, God asks questions. Why is that? God asks questions for OUR benefit. Questions that will cause us to reflect on truth. To reflect on His will for our lives.

Allow me to refresh your memories on where we’ve been in this series:

We’ve looked at two questions so far that God asks.

The first question was…

WHERE ARE YOU? (Genesis 3:1-9) This is the most important question that God will ever ask! GOD DESIRES TO BE CLOSE TO YOU! He asked it of Adam and Eve when they were trying to hide from God in the garden of Eden. God desires His children to have a close relationship with Him. And He asked this question not because He didn’t know where Adam and Eve were, but He wanted them to know if THEY knew where they were at!

The second question was…

WHO GAVE MAN HIS MOUTH? (Exodus 4:1-12) This is the question that God asked Moses as God laid His master plan for using Moses to approach Pharaoh, demand freedom for the Israelites, and then lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses felt VERY inadequate, and VERY under qualified. Moses looked at his limitations rather than focusing on God’s power. So God re-assures Moses by asking this question of him; to remind Him that God will equip those willing to be used!

Today’s question that God will ask is found in Isaiah 6:1-8.

Please be turning there as I’ll give you some background information:

It’s a time of turmoil for God’s people. The Kingdom of God is now divided into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).

King Uzziah had ruled for 52 years. From the time he was 16.

During his reign:

He successfully defended Judah against attacks from: The ammonites, Philistines and the Arabians. He developed a strong standing army, and rebuilt the nation’s fortification.

He even re-opened the Red Sea port of Elath for his nation and promoted commerce.

Things from a physical standpoint were great! The economy was strong. The people felt protected and powerful. But all of that was about to change…

King Uzziah, has just died.

So that brings us to God’s call for someone who will go and tell God’s message to God’s people. To assure them that God is on His throne. He is not dead. And to warn the people of impending judgment. Let’s read our text for today:

Isaiah 6:1-8

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, 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 seraphs 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!"