There is little question that we, as a nation, stand in need of revival. America needs to turn back to God. As we look at the condition of our country we are amazed at the moral breakdown of society. It is time for genuine revival, but it must begin with each of us.
Over the last few weeks we have been talking about personal revival. We used the example of the prophet Jonah. Tonight I want us to look at another of the prophets, this time Isaiah. His world was also troubled and in need of turning back to God. Note the condition in chapter one verse 4-6.
It is not hard for us to point our finger at the conditions we see in this world, but the real need for today is personal revival. Isaiah shows us what is needed for us to have personal revival. Note: Is. 6:1-8
I. We Need a New Awareness of the Character of God. v1-4
A. "In the year that King Uzziah died..." v1
1. Uzziah had been a great and powerful king.
a. He began to reign when he was only 16 years old, and reigned for 52 years.
b. He sought for God and God made him prosper.
c. He was a mighty warrior and God gave him many great victories.
d. He transgressed against the Lord later on in his reign and God smote him with leprosy until the day he died.
2. In his day everything was centered around the king, and with him dead there was a great void, because he had been a great king.
3. Isaiah perhaps had is eyes upon the great king, but now God removes him from his sight.
4. He describes an event that took place in his life that changed him forever and made him a different man.
5. Like many who are preoccupied with other people or things, Isaiah had not been focusing upon God.
B. "I saw also the Lord..."
1. Isaiah, now unable to look to Uzziah, looks to God and finds out what God is really like.
2. He saw the Lord enthroned.
a. Israel's throne was empty, but God's was occupied.
b. Great leaders come and go, but God remains!
c. In order to do successful service for God, we must have a vision of the enthroned Christ.
d. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords.
3. He saw the Lord's attendants.
a. There were seraphims; each one with six wings.
b. Two covered their faces out of reverence for the Lord.
c. Two covered their feet out of humility before the Lord.
d. The other two was used for flying to do service for their Lord.
4. He heard the praise in heaven.
a. Holy, holy, holy : this is the nature of God.
b. The whole earth is full of His glory.
c. The glory of the great king Uzziah paled when compared to the glory of God!
d. The whole place shook and was filled with smoke indicating the very presence of God!
II. We Need a New Awakening of Christian Conscience. v5-7
A. Isaiah's Confession. v5
1. His vision did something for Isaiah.
a. It changed him completely.
b. He didn't shout, he began to sob.
c. It made him weep because it brought him to a sense of sin.
d. This is the greatest need for us to see revival!
2. He cried, "Woe is me!"
a. This was the outward expression of the inward conviction.
b. Seeing God, he became aware of himself.
c. The same thing happened to Peter in Luke 5:8, "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord."
d. It happened to John in Re. 1:17, "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead..."
3. He said, "I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips..."
a. He confessed his sin and his help- lessness to do anything about it.
b. He confessed that he was unclean and that his people were also unclean.
c. He didn't tell the Lord how honest and upright he was...he knew that he wasn't.
d. Unclean lips are the result of an unclean heart. cf Mt. 15:11
B. Isaiah's Cleansing. v6-7
1. The live coal.
a. Came from the brazen altar where the sacrifices had been offered.
b. God brought the cleansing after Isaiah repented.
c. Before he could be used of God, he needed to be cleansed by God.
2. The lips were cleansed.
a. "Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged..."
b. God meets our specific needs.
c. His grace is sufficient.
d. The Lord took our sin and iniquity that we might be free.
III. We Need a New Concern for the Souls of Men. v8
A. "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us...?"
1. God asked for volunteers.
2. God is looking for someone to send to tell others of the precious truth concerning Christ.
3. God is always looking for someone who will represent Him.
B. "Then said I, Here am I..."
1. Now that he was changed and now that he was cleansed.
2. He was ready to commit his life to the service of God.
3. He looked up and saw the Lord, he looked in and saw himself, but when he look ed out he saw the world and its need.
4. When revival comes, we begin to care about the needs of others.
C. "...Send me..."
1. When Isaiah said, "Send me" God said. "Go".
2. If we are unwilling to go, who will?
3. There needs to be within us a readi- ness to obey God's will and carry the message to those who have never heard.
What will it take for genuine revival? A new awareness of God, A new awareness of self, and a new concern for souls. God wants to send revival, but we must be willing to receive it from Him. When our hearts are right, then we are ready to serve.