Sermon Tone Analysis

Are you Ready for Service?

Isaiah 6:1-6

There is a splendid moment in the movie Jurassic Park, when world-class paleontologist Allen Grant, who has devoted his life to the study of dinosaurs, suddenly comes face-to-face with real, live prehistoric creatures.

He falls to the ground, dumbstruck.

The reason is obvious.

It is one thing to piece together an informed but nonetheless imperfect image of dinosaurs by picking through fossils and bones.

But to encounter an actual dinosaur—well, there can be no comparison.

For many people, spirituality amounts to picking through the artifacts of faith that survive from long ago and far away.

In that bygone era, humans saw God, heard his voice, and experienced his awesome, at times terrible, power.

But that was then.

Today, those kinds of gripping encounters with God—with a God who wasn't an illusion, but Someone who was real, Someone you could see, and touch, and feel—well, there could be no comparison.

Citation: William D. Hendricks, Exit Interviews (Chicago: Moody, 1993)

Isaiah is one of the most significant of Old Testament books.

Isaiah spoke out to Judah during the critical years of Assyrian expansion, when the Northern Kingdom, Israel, was destroyed.

Isaiah is especially significant for (1) his revelation of God through powerful, vital names (such as Holy One, God the Judge, etc.); for (2) his clear vision of Jesus the Messiah; for (3) his Servant theme; and (4) for his powerful visions of history’s end.

The book of Isaiah is a miniature of the bible in that there are 39 divisions in the first part and 27 in the second half of the book.

The sins of the people are so great that God issues an invitation, who will go for Us, and whom shall we send.

The Triune God is interested in willing workers.

I want you to assess your readiness to serve based on 1).

A Personal Experience, 2).

A Personal Evaluation and 3).

A Personal Enlisting.

I.

A Personal Experience

a.

The Vision

b.

The Voice

c.

The Volume

Abraham had a faith challenge experience

Esther had a courage challenge experience

Saul had a Damascus experience

Job had an illness and betrayal experience

Ruth had a commitment experience

Joseph had an envious family experience

Hezekiah had wall of wellness experience

Mary had a Holy Spirit impregnation experience

Hosea had a promiscuous wife experience

Esau had a deception experience

David had a sin experience

David had a stalking experience

Naaman had a Jordan River experience

Jeremiah had a dungeon experience

Nehemiah had a wall building experience

Ezra had a temple rebuilding experience

Elijah had a Mt.

Carmel experience

Jesus had a Calvary experience

II.

A Personal Evaluation

a.

The Circumstance

b.

The Coals

c.

The Cleansing

What is man that Thou art so mindful of him?

Lord Teach us how to number our days that we may know how frail we are

Man that is born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble.

Search me Oh God, try me and see if there be any wicked way in me.

III.

A Personal Enlisting

a.

I am a Volunteer

b.

I am a Vessel

c.

I am Valuable

1.

I am available

2. I am anointed

3. I am assigned

Joshua says, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Elijah says, “Choose ye this day whom you will serve.”

Jesus says, “He that desires to be great, let him be chief servant.”

No man can serve two Masters, you must choose one.

There is a story told of a pig and a cow.

The pig bragged about how when he died, people would benefit from his death, pig feet, pig ears, chitterlings, etc.

The cow said that I don’t have to wait until I die to be of service!

I provide milk all over the world and when I die, I will provide steaks, burgers, neck bones, etc.

You don’t have to wait until you die to be affective

You don’t have to wait until you die to be a blessing

You don’t have to wait until you die to be a cure

You don’t have to wait until you die to be distinguished

You don’t have to wait until you die to be effective

You don’t have to wait until you die to be faithful

You don’t have to wait until you die to be grateful

You don’t have to wait until you die to be helpful

You don’t have to wait until you die to be innovative

You don’t have to wait until you die to be joyous

You don’t have to wait until you die to know the King!