Today, we finish up the article written by Evangelist Rick Flanders. If you missed yesterday’s devotional, you need to go back and read it in preparation for today. May God bless our hearts and minds with heavenly illumination as we consider these truths taught by Isaiah.
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- That He Could Be Purged
After the prophet experienced the blow of being surprised by his own uncleanness, he was surprised again that he could be purged of that sin and made clean. A seraphim flew to Isaiah, having taken a live coal off the brazen altar. “And he laid it upon my mouth [remember the issue of his unclean lips], and said, Lo this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” (Isaiah 6:6–7).
Of course, the sacrifices burning on the altar represented the offering of Christ on the cross as the sacrifice for our sins. That atoning sacrifice not only provides salvation for the lost soul, but also cleansing for the believer whose sins have put him out of fellowship with God (read 1 John 1:3–9). So the unclean prophet was purged, and the sins that had made him unclean before God were taken away.
Often Christian people have trouble believing that they are really clean. Even after they have confessed their sins, they only allow themselves to feel “cleaner.” But when the Lord Jesus washed His disciples feet, He pronounced them “clean every whit” (John 13:10), and taught them that the saved man who confesses all the sins that have stood between him and God’s blessing can claim a complete purging. See what He said in John 15:2–3.
“…every branch that beareth fruit, he [the Father] purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.”
Sometimes it comes as a surprise that a man can be clean before God. But when the servant sees how sinful he is, he must deal with his sins, confess them, and then claim forgiveness based on the promises and mercy of God.
You can be purged! Don’t listen to the Devil who wants to make you think that you can never be used of God again. The words that follow the promise of purging in John 15 call upon the cleansed branch to abide in Christ and bear “much fruit” (read verses 1–8). No matter what has happened the child of God can be cleansed and made useful again.
- That He Could Be Used
Now that he was purged of his sin, Isaiah was given another surprise. In spite of his failure, after he had been cleansed, he could be greatly used of God!
Verse eight records a conversation he was allowed to overhear between the Persons of the Trinity. “Whom shall we send,” he heard them say, “and who will go for us?” Then Isaiah spoke up and said, “Here am I; send me.”
God was looking for volunteers, and He is still looking for volunteers. The disciples Jesus trained in His earthly ministry were folks who answered the call, “Follow me.” Anyone who volunteers to do God’s work on earth will be used. Of course, this is different from deciding to pursue ministry as a career. Those who labor together with God have taken the yoke of Christ upon them and surrendered to fulfill His plan (Matthew 11:29 and 16:24). Jesus said that His true friends are the ones who do “whatsoever I command you” (John 15:13–14). And God will use you if you yield your body for His use (remember Romans 12:1–8).
Your past sins may limit the positions from which you may minister. Sometimes a certain kind of failure will necessarily prevent a man from being a pastor. However anyone who has been purged can be used of God.
Please keep in mind that usefulness in the service of the Lord is not about position anyway. It is about being the branch that bears His fruit. If you covet being a pastor or a deacon so much that you will not accept God’s will for your life, God will not be able to use you.
The Lord has left every believer in the world to be a witness for Christ and to minister to His people, and He will use you in some way according to a wonderful plan if you will surrender to Him and trust Him for the power to bring forth His fruit. Jesus said, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
What a surprise that a man who found himself too dirty to offer acceptable praise to a holy God was now made fit to be used of Him! And what a phenomenal ministry the Lord gave to the prophet after he learned these three surprises.
The Lord has great things He will do with you, too, if you will “see” Him in the Scriptures, high and holy as the King, confess your uncleanness, and let Him purge you. Then you will be ready to hear His voice and volunteer to fulfill His purpose for your life.
https://ministry127.com/christian-living/3-truths-that-transformed-isaiah
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