Available

AVAILABLE

When Isaiah encountered the presence of God, his first response was not to ask for details, guarantees, or benefits. Instead, he simply said, “Here I am; send me.” True availability to God begins with a surrendered heart, not with knowing the plan. In a world where we crave control, God calls us to trust Him enough to make ourselves available for His purposes.

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Isaiah 6:1–8 NKJV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to 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 were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 So I said: “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 my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.” 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever noticed how much we love to know what’s next before we say yes to anything? - We want the five-year plan before we commit to a job. - We want the itinerary before we book the trip. - We want the guarantee before we take the risk.

It’s how the world trains us to think — be cautious, gather information, protect yourself from uncertainty. But when it comes to following God, He doesn’t always hand out the blueprints. More often, He just calls your name and waits for your response.

That’s what happened to Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 6, we find him caught up in a moment of divine encounter — he sees the Lord, high and exalted, the train of His robe filling the temple. Angels cry out “Holy, holy, holy,” and Isaiah is completely undone. He’s overwhelmed by God’s holiness and his own unworthiness. But after God cleanses him, something incredible happens. Isaiah hears the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”

Notice that God doesn’t give Isaiah any details. There’s no description of the mission, no explanation of how hard it will be, no promise of how it will end. Just a question — a call.

And Isaiah’s response is simple, powerful, and immediate:

“Here I am. Send me.”

He doesn’t ask where. He doesn’t ask how. He doesn’t even ask why. He just makes himself available. That’s what this message is all about — being available to God. Because availability isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about having a surrendered heart.

Maybe today you’ve been asking God for direction — for a plan, a purpose, or a next step. But what if God isn’t waiting to give you more information? What if He’s waiting for your availability?

In a world where we crave control, God is looking for people who will trust Him enough to say, “Lord, whatever You want… I’m Yours. Here I am.”

MAIN TEACHING

Isaiah’s availability didn’t appear out of nowhere. It was born out of a moment with God — an encounter that changed everything. Before he could say “Here I am, send me,” Isaiah had to see who God truly was, recognize who he truly was, and experience God’s transforming grace.

And that’s where true availability begins for every one of us.

Availability Begins with an Encounter (Isaiah 6:1–4)

Isaiah 6:1–4 NKJV

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to 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 were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

Isaiah’s calling didn’t begin with a task — it began with a vision. Before he ever heard God’s voice, he saw God’s glory.

The setting is significant: “In the year that King Uzziah died.” Uzziah’s reign had been long and prosperous, but it ended in tragedy after his pride led to judgment (2 Chronicles 26:16–21). His death symbolized a moment of national uncertainty — leadership was changing, the throne was empty, and the people were fearful about what would come next.

But while the earthly throne sat vacant, Isaiah saw that heaven’s throne was still occupied. “Kings rise and fall, but the Lord reigns forever” (Psalm 93:1–2).

This encounter anchors Isaiah’s entire ministry: before he could speak for God, he had to see God. Before he could represent heaven on earth, he had to stand in heaven’s presence.

“Availability begins not with activity, but with awe.”

Isaiah’s eyes were opened to the majesty and holiness of God — the Lord seated on a throne, exalted, surrounded by seraphim calling out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory!” (Isaiah 6:3). That cry of “holy” wasn’t mere repetition — it was emphasis, the ultimate declaration of God’s perfection and otherness.

This encounter shatters our illusions of control and independence. When we see God for who He truly is — holy, sovereign, glorious — we can no longer live as though we are the center of our own story.

That’s where availability begins. When our hearts are captured by the greatness of God, surrender becomes the only reasonable response.

The apostle Paul experienced something similar on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3–6). Before he could be sent to the nations, he had to be blinded by the glory of the risen Christ. Like Isaiah, his mission was birthed in an encounter.

And, when we truly encounter God, our priorities realign. We stop living for comfort, control, and convenience, and we start living for the only One who is worthy. Worship leads to willingness. Awe leads to availability.

Availability Requires Surrender (Isaiah 6:5–7)

Isaiah 5:5–7 NKJV

5 And now, please let Me tell you what I will do to My vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be burned; And break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down. 6 I will lay it waste; It shall not be pruned or dug, But there shall come up briers and thorns. I will also command the clouds That they rain no rain on it.” 7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, And the men of Judah are His pleasant plant. He looked for justice, but behold, oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help.

Isaiah’s first response to God’s holiness wasn’t excitement — it was conviction. The closer he came to God’s presence, the more he became aware of his own sinfulness.

The closer you move to God the more convicted you feel about your sin? 

In that moment, Isaiah didn’t compare himself to others; he compared himself to God. And in the light of that holiness, he realized that even his lips — the very instrument God would one day use to speak His Word — were unclean.

This is the paradox of encountering God: His holiness exposes our sin, but His mercy invites us to stay.

Isaiah cries out, “Woe to me! I am ruined!”

That’s the language of surrender — not defiance, not denial, but humble confession. It’s the posture God always responds to.

“The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.” — Psalm 51:17

Isaiah confesses, and immediately, grace moves toward him. One of the seraphim flies to him with a live coal taken from the altar — a symbol of sacrifice and atonement — and touches his lips. The angel declares, “Your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

That’s the gospel in a single verse.

Before God calls Isaiah to speak, He purifies the very thing that will carry His message. Before God can send us out, He wants to heal what’s within.

This is the divine pattern: Confession leads to cleansing, and cleansing leads to calling.

Isaiah didn’t earn God’s favor; he received it. The altar coal represents what Christ would ultimately fulfill — the once-for-all sacrifice that cleanses every sinner who comes in faith (Hebrews 10:10–14).

Through Jesus, we don’t just get a clean slate; we get a new heart — one that’s free to love, serve, and obey without fear.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9

Surrender is not about groveling; it’s about grace. When we confess our sin, we make space for God’s transforming power. He takes what’s unclean and makes it holy. He turns our shame into service.

And here’s the key: - Before God could send Isaiah, He had to first heal Isaiah. - Before Isaiah could speak words of truth, his lips had to be touched by fire. - Before God can use us publicly, He must first purify us privately. (This might not be a universal truth, but I think the general principle is still sound) 

“Before He uses our words, He redeems our hearts.”

Availability Is a Daily Commitment (Isaiah 6:8–9)

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here I am; send me!’” — Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah’s moment of calling comes after cleansing. Only once he’s been purified does he hear the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?” — a Godly invitation.

God doesn’t command Isaiah. He simply asks. And Isaiah, freshly forgiven and deeply transformed, responds with immediate willingness: “Here I am; send me.”

He doesn’t hesitate. He doesn’t ask for the destination, the timeline, or the reward. He just says yes.

Isaiah’s obedience is powerful because it’s relational. He’s not obeying for the sake of success; he’s responding out of love. The One who cleansed him now calls him — and that’s enough.

“The love of Christ compels us…” — 2 Corinthians 5:14

Isaiah’s mission would be difficult. In the verses that follow (Isaiah 6:9–10), God tells him that the people will hear but not understand, see but not perceive. His ministry would be marked by rejection. Yet Isaiah doesn’t flinch. Why? Because his obedience isn’t dependent on the response of others; it’s rooted in faithfulness to the One who sent him.

That’s what true availability looks like — faithfulness even when the fruit isn’t visible. It’s the kind of obedience Jesus demonstrated in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

Availability is not a one-time declaration; it’s a daily posture. Every day, God still calls — maybe not with a booming voice from heaven, but with quiet nudges in your heart:

“Will you forgive that person?”

“Will you speak a word of encouragement?”

“Will you trust Me with your future?”

And every day, we get to respond:  “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”

“If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” — Luke 9:23

Notice that word daily. Following Jesus isn’t just a one-time yes at an altar; it’s a continual yes in the ordinary rhythms of life. Isaiah’s “Here I am” becomes a model for how we live — not for a single moment of calling, but for a lifetime of surrender.

When we wake up each morning and place our day in God’s hands, we are practicing availability. When we say yes to small acts of obedience — unseen and uncelebrated — we are living sent. When we trust God’s plan even when it leads through hardship, we are echoing Isaiah’s words: “Here I am; send me.”

CONCLUSION

Isaiah’s moment in the temple was more than a personal encounter — it was a turning point that reoriented his entire life. He came in as a prophet burdened by the chaos of his nation, and he left as a messenger burdened with the heart of God.

And that transformation began with one simple phrase: “Here I am; send me.”

Those words still echo today. They’re the heartbeat of every person who’s ever chosen to follow Jesus. Because every time we say yes to God — even when the path is unclear, even when the cost is high — we step into the kind of life we were made for.

Isaiah didn’t have all the answers. He didn’t know how difficult his calling would be or where it would lead. But he trusted that if the same God who revealed Himself in holiness was the One sending him, then that was enough.

And the same is true for us. We live in a world obsessed with knowing the plan — where security is found in clarity, not in calling. But God isn’t asking for control; He’s asking for availability. He’s not looking for people with perfect résumés or flawless faith. He’s looking for people who will simply say, “Here I am.”

That’s what makes the Christian life so beautiful — it’s not about doing great things for God; it’s about saying yes to the next thing He puts before you. Sometimes that’s a big, public calling — a new ministry, a bold step of obedience. But often, it’s the quiet, hidden moments of availability that shape us the most.

When you stop to listen to someone who’s hurting instead of rushing by — that’s availability.

When you forgive someone who wounded you deeply — that’s availability.

When you offer what you have, even if it feels small or insignificant — that’s availability.

When you say, “Lord, I don’t understand what You’re doing, but I trust You anyway” — that’s availability.

Every “Here I am” becomes a doorway for God to move — in your life, in your family, in your church, and in your world.

So maybe today, the question isn’t “What does God want me to do?” Maybe the question is, “Am I available?”

Because God still calls. His voice still goes out: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And He’s not looking for the most talented, the most confident, or the most qualified. He’s looking for hearts that are surrendered, ready to trust, and willing to go.

So wherever you are, whatever season you’re in, whatever questions remain unanswered — what if your response today was simply this:

“Here I am, Lord. I’m Yours. Send me.”

Let’s pray together.