In Chapter 6 of Isaiah, Isaiah had a vision of both the throne and the altar here. Then the Lord asks, "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" (Isaiah 6:8). Isaiah replies, "Here am I. Send me."
We need to see both the throne and the altar constantly. We need to be struck down to the dust first with a vision of God's holiness, and then we need to be lifted up because the blood from the altar has cleansed us. Only then can we go forth and serve the Lord. We can't go forth if God doesn't send us. If we go without God sending us, then we will labour in vain.
Many "Christian workers" have not been sent by God. Some organisation or man has sent them to the mission field. Or perhaps they have gone on their own. It is easy to engage in Christian activity because the need is so great. But if we want fruit that lasts for all eternity, God Himself must send us. Other godly men may confirm the call we receive from God - butthey cannot call us.
God called Saul and Barnabas personally to His service. The confirmation of that call came later through other prophets (Acts.13:1-4). And when God calls us, He will also tell us what to preach. He told Isaiah, "Go. Tell this people……." (Isaiah 6:9).
God is still the same today as He was in Isaiah's time. Under the new covenant, the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts and so we don't hear God with our physical ears now, as Isaiah heard Him then. We hear His voice today in our hearts. But His voice is just as unmistakable. I have never heard the Lord's voice audibly with my physical ears and I have never seen Him or an angel with my physical eyes. But I have seen Him and heard Him clearly in my heart many times during the last five decades.
Jesus said that those who believed in Him without seeing Him with their physical eyes are actually more blessed than those who see Him and believe (John 20:29).
The commission that the Lord gave Isaiah was a very difficult one. He told him, "Go and tell my people this: 'Though you hear my words repeatedly, you won't understand them. Though you watch and watch as I perform my miracles, still you won't know what they mean.' Dull their understanding, close their ears, and shut their eyes. I don't want them to see or to hear or to understand, or to turn to me to heal them" (Isaiah 6:9,10) . This is the verse that Jesus quoted when He was explaining why He spoke to people in parables (Matt.13:15).
So what do we see here? A vision of God, a vision of self, a vision of grace that forgives, a vision of anointed service, and finally, a vision of fruit (Isaiah 6:13). A holy seed would come forth from the corrupt nation of Judah. A remnant will be raised up for the Lord through our service.
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Zac Poonen ( - Present)
God called brother Zac Poonen to a new work early on in his Christian experience. The movement is now called Christian Fellowship Churches where the New Covenant of New Testament Christianity is clearly preached.Brother Zac Poonen has written 25 books most of them being on the deeper Christian life. Many of these have been translated into a number of languages and have been circulated widely around the world. He clearly and passionately shares the narrow way of Christian discipleship that is neglected by so many modern preachers.
Recommends these books by Zac Poonen:
Through The Bible by Zac Poonen
The Final Triumph-A verse by verse study of the book of Revelation by Zac Poonen
Beauty for Ashes by Zac Poonen
Zac Poonen is a former Indian Naval Officer who has been in full time ministry in India for nearly 50 years as a Bible teacher and preacher. He holds responsibility for a number of churches in India and abroad. He currently pastors the Christian Fellowship Church in Bangalore, Karnataka.
He has written more than 25 books and numerous articles in English - which have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages. His messages are available on audio and video format.
Like the other elders in his church, Zac Poonen also supports himself and his family through what he describes as "tent-making" and does not receive any salary for his services. He does not receive any royalties for any of his books, CDs or DVDs, that are published by Christian Fellowship Centre, Bangalore.