BRIEF REVIEW: In trying to explain preaching to someone recently, my mind settled on Isaiah 6:1-8 as a very relevant passage for every preacher to hold in mind about the nature of what we do when we speak for God.
In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, 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 mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. - Isaiah 6:1-8.
I. First of all, WHO IS THIS GOD THAT SENT THE PREACHER? Answered in Parts 1 through 4 and applied to the preaching.
II. Secondly, WHO IS THE PREACHER THAT GOD SENT?
A. He is a man of unclean lips, Isaiah 6:5.
1. Preacher, will you ever get it through your head that you are a man of unclean lips? I don't care how long it has been since you gave up cursing or taking God's name in vain - that is not the issue. You are still a man of unclean lips because your lips will end up speaking what is in your heart, and you know what the Bible says about your wicked, filthy heart, Jeremiah 17:9; and about what all comes out of your heart, Matthew 15:19.
Therefore, how dare you EVER take your unclean lips into the pulpit and declare your opinion, your conjecture, or what you think. That's not speaking for the Lord. How many times does God have to remind us preachers that we are to "PREACH THE WORD," II Timothy 4:2.
Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. Jonah 3:2.Let these examples be enough. God commisions a preacher to preach exactly what God says, nothing more and nothing less. God's house must not become the place people go to hear the thoughts of a man of unclean lips.
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15.
Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Colossians 1:25.
And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, what the LORD saith unto me, that will I speak. I Kings 22:14.
And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee: have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak. Numbers 22:38.
If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the LORD, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the LORD saith, that will I speak? Numbers 24:13.
For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ. II Corinthians 2:17.
2. Most of all, understand this. What you have to say MATTERS NOT AT ALL. What God has to say is the only thing that matters when you stand up to preach. Be sure you say that and only that, you man of unclean lips.
B. Secondly, this man that God has called to preach dwells "in the midst of a people of unclean lips." Do you understand how that matters or applies? It means that the people to whom you preach are accustomed to hearing unclean lips. They are accustomed to hearing from other men of unclean lips. What does that have to do with the preacher? Here is one way it applies: How are those people going to know when you are speaking for yourself or when you are speaking for God? How will they tell the difference, since they are so used to the mortal talk of mortal men? The fact is, such a people cannot discern the opinions of men from the word of God. The preacher speaking to such a people has an amazing and very weighty influence over them that even he does not understand. He must keep this power in check.
Preacher, always remember the following:
1. Everything you say from the pulpit is taken by most as "Thus saith the Lord." Whether you intend it that way or not, that is the way most listeners take it. Whether that is a right attitude or not, that is simply a fact of life that you have to learn to live with and preach within those parameters. Therefore, if it is not a "Thus saith the Lord" statement, then don't say it when you claim to be speaking for the Lord.
2. Your opinions or preferences you give from the pulpit will be confused with the word of God by some. They will come to believe that the Bible teaches something because they heard you preach it. You may become guilty of "making the word of God of none effect through your tradition," Mark 7:13.
3. Those who do not confuse your opinions or preferences with the word of God instead may come to the conclusion that you yourself have made that confusion. They expected to hear "Thus saith the Lord." They heard instead your opinion. They then make a logical conclusion that you believe the opinion you gave is in fact the word of God. This can be and has been the cause of horrible divisions among brethren, when some believe another has placed his opinion on the level of God's word. It is a reasonable conclusion on their part, even if it is wrong. But you are the one at fault in this misunderstanding, because you spoke through your unclean lips instead of preaching the word.
C. Thirdly, this God-called preacher is a man that realizes his limitations and disabilities. Notice this: "Woe is me! for I am undone...for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."
1. Upon seeing Who exactly God is, the man realizes who himself is. Watch for this to continue in Part 6.
VM
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