Responding to God's Call

I like the outline of the commentary (The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren Wiersbe via PC Study Bible) made about Isaiah 6.

In Isaiah 6 we find the nation Judah in unstable circumstances as it's King Uzziah died. This king was very good and fruitful and was responsible for Israel's national growth (Yet in his latter days, he became too proud and was stricken with leprosy and died). This was when Isaiah saw the vision of the King of kings seated on a throne.

Isaiah 6 is what Isaiah experienced as he responded to God's call as a prophet. As Spirit-filled leaders we go through the same experience as we respond to God's call for our life. Consider these three progression of Isaiah's calling:

He saw the Lord (Sight) - In the uncertainty of times caused by the death of a powerful king, Isaiah saw in a vision the Lord seated on a throne as a reigning King. "I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple." He also saw angels worshipping the Lord crying "Holy, holy, holy".

Vision does not begin with us. As Ptr. Rick Warren always say, "It's not about us." It begins with God, seeing with spiritual eyes His greatness, holiness and grandeur.

He saw himself (Insight) - And as Isaiah saw the greatness and holiness of the Lord, and realizing he was standing in His presence, he saw himself--a worthless, sinful man. "Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips!" was the cry of Isaiah in the presence of the Lord.

As we come before God in worship and reverence, we cannot help but be amazed by Him, and see ourselves as unworthy of this glory. We will not be able to proclaim woes to other people, when we do not realize our own woes--our weaknesses and misgivings. To be able to be used by God, we are called to be repentant, teachable and humble. Before God our Potter mold us up, He breaks us down--and that we should be aware of.

So in Isaiah's vision he sees an angel take coals from the altar and touched his lips with it as a gesture of cleansing through fire. As ministers (people who do ministry), trials come to bring out the best in us. Consider Peter's words that out of trials and suffering come character, patience and endurance.

He saw the need (Vision) - After these, God throws the challenge, "Whom shall I send?" And with no hesitation, Isaiah responds "Here I am send me!" God presented a need, Isaiah saw the need and met the need.

We need to realize that before a vision is given, before we set our foot to walk the path of ministry, the two previous awareness are non-negotiable (seeing who God is and who we are). It's placing yourself where you're supposed to be (in humility and service), and placing God in your life where He is supposed to be (as King and Lord of our lives).

In Holy Discontent by Bill Hybels (read the book!), he defines one's calling as seeing one's passion coming in parallel with God's passion. Moses saw the need, the plight of Hebrew slaves in Egypt--It was the heart of God all along. God said, "I hear the cries of my people, and I am sending you." Moses' at first failed to be where he was supposed to be in their relationship with God. He tried rescuing Israel with his own might. God brought him through 40 years of stripping and molding--trial by fire. And only then, came that one day like any other that would begin his extraordinary walk with God.

Anointed servanthood is seeing who God is + seeing who we are + seeing and responding to the need, our passion coming in alignment with God's passion.

Day in the Life: Vision

Just came back from ASCM retreat last night. It was once more a time of refreshing and rest for me. But I am glad I'm home. Ready for work and ministry. I've been away two weeks for this and the Chrysalis Institute. So my body's kinda already looking for ministry.

During the retreat I've been given a vision from the Lord through another person. The vision was an image of me climbing a rope ladder. The destination upward is unseen. And I was climbing it with shaky hands that the whole ladder shakes. My friend asked me if something keeping me worried these days. I knew it. Besides the wedding (but I've settled in my heart that God will uphold us), I've been struggling in my heart for these past two weeks. The word that the Lord that has spoken to me has been that of one thing. Discipleship, taking risks. I was reminded to remember His promise before I entered the seminary. That calling was so vivid it's hard to forget. Yet somehow I find myself today scattered in ministry. Ptr. Sam Sade's message on Keeping in Step with the Church where in one of the points he talks about Narrowing My Focus. It hits me bullseye. Anyway, I remember other people who have given me visions of where I would be going. I was told I am worried and fearful. Yes, I am, with a lot of things, especially people--what people would say if I took a step. This two week journey might have been very important for me. I think I know what I will do, with the assurance of the Lord. Lord, I ask for more grace when my pace is slow. My desire is that you be glorified in my life.

AIYS Conference

I got home from the AIYS (Asian Institute of Youth Studies) Conference yesterday morning. I was grogy, caught up some sleep. AIYS was awesome. I came down empowered and improved. There were around 50 delegates from 14 nations (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Saipan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, United States and the Philippines.)

From there God had finally confirmed my calling to serve as a pastor in the youth ministry. I've been praying for God to answer my questions as I went up the mountain. After I graduated my life was at a halt. I didn't know if I would pursue my career as an architect or continue do ministry.

Going up to AIYS opened doors and widened my perspective and vision for the youth. During the last days of the conference, most of us are already complaining about information overload because of the constant lecture and talks we sit on from 8 in the morning til 9 in the evening. But it is all good.