What We Need From Revival

ISAIAH 6: 1—13

Isaiah 6:1–13 (NLT)

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.

7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’

10 Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”

11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?” And he replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland;

12 until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.

13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”

Introduction;

In Proverbs 29:18, the wise—man Solomon wrote, “Where there is no vision, the people perish…”

The Hebrew word in this verse rendered “vision”, is not the ordinary word for some-

He was aware that his sinfulness deserved death.

Prophets and Apostles of old.

Hebrew Scholars have interpreted these words in Revealing ways.

One translation is that “Where there is no vision the people get out of hand.”

An implication that without vision, unity cannot exist.

Another translates “perish” as “are purposeless.”

Activities are diluted and the people lack direction.

Two other concepts are “the people run wild” and “are naked.”

The first suggests a lack of discipline, without which no group can function intellegently.

The second interpretation, “are naked”implies a people stripped of their defences and helpless in the world. Unless the Christian acts upon the system, the system will act upon the Christian.

Clearly, whatever the correct interpretation, lack of vision is a crippling condition for

God’s people; Certainly no fruitful activity – and no revival ever comes to pass without the vision of individuals.

T.S.: In our text we find the greatest need we have from revival…VISION! - “three deminsional vision”

I - AN UPWARD WISION IS NEEDED. (Isaiah 6:1-4)

Isaiah 6:1–4 (NLT)

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

A - When the world is in crisis, we need a fresh upward vision. (Isaiah 6:1)

Isaiah 6:1 (NLT)

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

1- In Isaiah’s day, the glory of the past reign of Uzziah had given way to crisis.

a. King Uzziah had ruled Judah for about 40 years.

Isaiah was born and grew into manhood during the years of his reign.

During his reign, Uzziah had

modernized the army of Judah,

conquered the territory of Philistia,

extended his commercial activities into Arabia,

reconstructed the copper and iron works at Elath

had taken an enlightened interest in agriculture.

His reign brought peace and prosperity such as the nation had not known since the days of Solomon.

2- Tragedy had struck the nation—King Uzziah had died.

The mourning ofJudah was intensified due to the inability of Uzziah’s son, Jotham, to be an effective ruler.

B- We receive a fresh upward vision when we seek God. (Isaiah 6:1-4)

Isaiah 6:1–4 (NLT)

1 It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple.

2 Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew.

3 They were calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

4 Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

1- Isaiah, as we see in our text, had gone to the temple to pray.

As he prayed there, he received a vision from God that would alter the course of his life.

a. Notice the vision of God he received:

Sitting upon a lofty throne (vs. 1b)

His glory filled the temple (vs. 1c)

attended by “Mighty seraphim.” (vs. 2)

The cry of the seraphim:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory!” (vs. 3)

The temple was shaken to its foundations (vs. 4)

The entire building was filled with smoke. (vs. 4)

Illustration: (Reginald Heber)

Holy, Holy, Holy! Tho’ the darkness hide thee,

Tho’ the eye of sinful man, Thy Glory may not see,

Only thou art holy; There is none beside thee.

Perfect in pow’r, in love and purity.

C - When we receive a fresh upward vision, we must answer a pointed question:

1. Who is on the throne of your life…who Rules your life?

Is it you or is it God?

T.S.: Seeing God in all of His Holiness and Glory causes us to get an accurate

Glimpse of ourselves.

II - AN INWARD VISION IS NEEDED. (Isaiah 6: 5—7)

Isaiah 6:5–7 (NLT)

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.

7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

A - When we receive an inward vision, we see ourselves as we truly are. (Isaiah 6:5)

Isaiah 6:5 (NLT)

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

1- Having met the Holy God…Isaiah was immediately aware of his own sin and defilement.

Isaiah’s response to this vision of God was that of a man brought face to face with death.

From his lips burst forth an agonizing cry of despair.

“It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips,”

The word translated “doomed” literally means “lost…to be cut off, cut down, or destroyed.”

Isaiah recognized his sinfulness.

Isaiah had never realized the depth of his sin and depravity until he stood in the revealing light of God’s holiness.

Illustration:

Mark Twain once said…”Most people are bothered by those passages in

Scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I always noticed

That the passages in Scripture which troubled me most are those which I

Do understand.”

B- When we recognize our sinfulness, we must immediately seek cleansing and forgiveness. (Isaiah 6:6-7)

Isaiah 6:6–7 (NLT)

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.

7 He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

1- Isaiah’s cry of confession was followed by God’s demonstration of mercy in cleansing away Isaiah’s sin.

2- We must be willing to confess our sins to receive cleansing from our sins. (1 John 1:9)

1 John 1:9 (NLT)

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

3- Don’t try to measure yourself by the yardstick of another person.

It may be true that you are as good as the next fellow –but you fall so short of the holy yardstick of God—measure yourself by Him!

Catch that true inward vision of yourself and then confess your sins to God and

Allow Him to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.

T.S. Only when we catch that inward vision & allow God to correct our lives, can we hope to help others---

III - AN OUTWARD VISION IS NEEDED. (Isaiah 6:8—13)

Isaiah 6:8–13 (NLT)

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’

10 Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”

11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?” And he replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland;

12 until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.

13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”

A - When we receive an upward vision of God and an inward vision of self, we can then see the real problem around us. (Isaiah 6:5b)

Isaiah 6:5 (NLT)

5 Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”

1- The problem with Israel was not who was on the throne, but the sin of the people.

2- The problem in America, in Woodville, is not who is in leadership politically, but the sin of the people.

(Proverbs 14:34)

Proverbs 14:34 (NLT)

34 Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

B - When we receive an outward vision, it contains a commission for us. (Isaiah 6:8-13)

Isaiah 6:8–13 (NLT)

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

9 And he said, “Yes, go, and say to this people, ‘Listen carefully, but do not understand. Watch closely, but learn nothing.’

10 Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”

11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?” And he replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland;

12 until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.

13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”

1- When Isaiah received his vision from God, it contained a call for Isaiah. (Isaiah 6:8)

Isaiah 6:8 (NLT)

8 Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

2- God has called us to go and tell others about Christ.

(Matthew 28:18-20)

Matthew 28:18–20 (NLT)

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

3- Isaiah’s call was a continuous one. (Isaiah 6:11-13)

Isaiah 6:11–13 (NLT)

11 Then I said, “Lord, how long will this go on?” And he replied, “Until their towns are empty, their houses are deserted, and the whole country is a wasteland;

12 until the Lord has sent everyone away, and the entire land of Israel lies deserted.

13 If even a tenth—a remnant—survive, it will be invaded again and burned. But as a terebinth or oak tree leaves a stump when it is cut down, so Israel’s stump will be a holy seed.”

Our call is continuous … until He returns!

T.S. Oh, that the Lord would grant us what we need this Revival!

CONCLUSION:

I -- AN UPWARD VISION.

II -- AN INWARD VISION.

III -- AN OUTWARD VISION.

Charlie Peace’s eve of hell sermon (pg. 19 Why Revival Tarries)

Why is it that we don’t have that vision? Something is affecting our vision…our

Spiritual Sight.