Greetings again my Brethren. Last month we began to lay a foundation in the call of God in Isaiah’s life as we looked at the nature of his ministry. Now this month we will continue to look at Isaiah’s call as we look at the vision with a call from God. When most Christians think of the word vision they turn to the verse in Proverbs that they think talks about vision or what the world says vision is, but the word “vision” here in Proverbs 29:18 is not the same word most people (to include Christians) think it is. Let us look at the verse, “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” (Proverbs 29:18) The word “vision” here is not to make plans or forecast plans for the future, but is from the root word, Strong’s #2372, which means to gaze at; mentally to perceive, contemplate with pleasure. It literally means to look at without restraint or limitations. Now this makes greater sense in the LORD because one can have a great vision, great plans and still fail, but if people cast off restraint and do not limit themselves to what God has written in His word or spoke to hearts than for sure “the people will perish.” The actual picture here is people are just gazing out the window day dreaming doing what they want to do and say. Now you cannot have vision without revelation. Have that be both making plans for the future (what we most often think vision is) or casting off restraint. Revelation from God is needed to lay a foundation in what God wants in our lives and with no revelation moving in our lives we will not be successful in God. And to be able to understand what is really being said one must not listen to other people’s revelation, but allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us individually and give us our own revelation. Sadly I see preachers and teachers use from other’s books, messages, sermons (there is a difference between and sermon and a message), concordance, and the like to speak to the people, but they are not speaking, “thus says the LORD,” but the words of the author of the book, etc. To get revelation from God is costly and make no mistake my friend you will pay dearly to hear from God. revelation comes by STUDYING the word of God (the Bible, Scriptures) looking at the individual words and the meaning and once we get a mental picture of what the Holy Spirit is saying in the verses (as we study the words) held in content from beginning to end then and only then can the Holy Spirit give unto us His thoughts. Revelation is key to our operating in God. In Isaiah 6:1 we find three areas of revelation. “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.” (Isaiah 6:1) A lot of Bible teachers and preachers make a big deal about King Uzziah, but it is not about King Uzziah’s death he was used as a place marker as a time reference and to show the period of the apostate Jewish heart condition towards God when King Uzziah died. Maybe King Uzziah had something to do with Israel walking away from God. The first revelation Isaiah had was, “the Lord sitting on the throne” here we see the majestic sovereignty of God. Isaiah had the vision of God sitting on a throne (maybe King Uzziah’s throne) today it is not a physical throne the Lord wants to be seated on, but the fleshly throne of our heart where He can rule and reign over our lives. As majestic as God is in all creation only when we give Him free course can he be a God to us. The next revelation Isaiah had was the Lord “high and lifted up” in the supremacy of this sovereignty. God higher than high. How high is God? Well, measure that distance and add a little more. Isaiah seemed to know something about distance and ways, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.’ (Isaiah 55:8-9) I wonder how far the heaven is from the earth? In verse 6:1, the term “lifted up” (to bear, take, or carry) is different than used in John 12:32 when Jesus said, “if I be lifted up” (exalted or elevate) Here God’s ways are always higher than our ways and thoughts and they are used to bear or carry us. Now that is nice to know. And the last revelation Isaiah had was “his train filled the temple” in the exclusiveness of this sovereignty. I really like this thought. Here Isaiah is saying in a back handed way, God’s glory filled the temple. The word “train” here means Strong’s #7757 to hang down; a skirt; by implication a bottom border or edge. It is the same region of the garment the lady in Luke 8:44 who had an issue of blood touched. Here Strong’s #2899 which means border or hem. If the hem or border filled the temple (which is not a church, but our bodies) then don’t you know the rest of the glory of God was presence. Isaiah was saying if the small portion of where healing is found then everything else is also present. I like that thought too.
Next month we will continue to look at the second of the five elements, a revelation of service in verse 6:1. So Please take a good study and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart. And listen closely my friend do you hear Him call now?
