Lord, Send Me: Answering God's Call to Share the Gospel

In a world increasingly filled with evil and division, Christians face a crucial question: Will we answer God's call to share the gospel? The prophet Isaiah's response in chapter 6 provides a powerful model for believers today who want to make an eternal impact.

Why the Gospel Message is Urgent

We live in days that are exponentially more evil than previous generations have witnessed. Violence erupts over simple disagreements, and divisive rhetoric dominates our culture. Yet the gospel itself is inherently divisive - not because it promotes hatred, but because it declares exclusive truth. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me."

This exclusivity doesn't align with our culture's belief that all paths lead to heaven or that good people automatically make it. The reality is that most people are dying and going to hell, which makes our commission to share the gospel tremendously urgent.

Understanding the Great Commission

Jesus' Authority and Our Mandate

When Jesus declared "all authority has been given unto me" in Matthew 28:18-20, He wasn't making a suggestion. The Great Commission is a command - go into all the world and make disciples. This isn't reserved for pastors or a special elite group; it's every believer's responsibility.

Why We Struggle to Obey

Many Christians today think showing up to church and trying to be good people earns them brownie points with God. But the truth is, none of us are good. Scripture declares there is none righteous, no not one. We don't win people to Jesus through our own efforts - we tell people about Jesus and trust the Holy Spirit to draw them.

What the Gospel Actually Is

What the Gospel is NOT

The gospel is not:

• "God has a wonderful plan for your life"
• Your best life now
• A purpose-driven life
• Motivational messages or therapeutic felt-needs preaching
• Health, wealth, and prosperity promises

What the Gospel IS

The gospel is the good news about the person and work of Jesus Christ:

• Jesus was born of a virgin according to Scripture
• He lived a perfect, sinless life
• He died on the cross as atonement for our sin
• He rose again from the dead
• He ascended to heaven and received His coronation as King
• He will return again

This message is only good news when we understand the bad news - that we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory, breaking every one of the Ten Commandments.

Isaiah's Vision and Calling

Seeing God Changes Everything

In Isaiah 6:1, we read: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple." Isaiah couldn't see the Lord clearly before because his eyes were on earthly kings. When we truly see Jesus for who He is, it transforms our perspective completely.

The Response to God's Holiness

When Isaiah saw the seraphim crying "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts," his immediate response was "Woe is me! I am undone!" True salvation requires coming to a place of recognizing our desperate condition. We must see ourselves as undone before we can be made whole.

The church today needs to rediscover God's holiness. He is holy love, holy righteousness, holy justice. When we walk with God, we walk on His terms, not ours.

Purification and Commission

God purged Isaiah's sin with a coal from the altar - a process that wasn't comfortable but was necessary. When God deals with us, it doesn't always feel good. Sometimes He needs to knock chips off our shoulders or use sandpaper to smooth our rough edges.

After purification came the call: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Isaiah's response was immediate: "Here am I! Send me."

The Difficulty of the Gospel Message

A Message That Divides

God's instructions to Isaiah reveal the challenging nature of gospel ministry. The message would cause people to hear but not understand, to see but not perceive. This isn't because God wants people to reject Him, but because stubborn hearts resist truth.

Jesus Himself said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword." The gospel divides families, friends, and communities because it demands total surrender to Christ.

Preaching Until the End

When Isaiah asked how long he should preach this difficult message, God essentially said "until the end of the age." Only a remnant would respond, but God always preserves His people. The gospel will separate wheat from tares, sheep from goats, the righteous from the wicked.

The Condition of Humanity

Romans 3:10-18 paints a sobering picture of human nature:

• There is none righteous, no not one
• There is none who understands or seeks after God
• All have turned aside and become unprofitable
• Their throats are open tombs, their tongues practice deceit
• Their feet are swift to shed blood
• There is no fear of God before their eyes

This is why the world desperately needs the gospel. This was our condition before Christ, and it remains the condition of those who haven't received Him.

Overcoming Obstacles to Evangelism

It's Never Easy

Sharing the gospel is never comfortable. It's not easy to break the ice, tell people the bad news so they can receive the good news, or risk relationships for truth. But Jesus promises, "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Expect Rejection

Don't be surprised when people reject the message. They want God on their terms, not His. Even family members may resist - a prophet is not accepted in his own home. This doesn't mean we stop sharing; it means we pray for the Holy Spirit to prepare hearts.

Trust God for the Words

We don't need to have all the answers perfectly prepared. God will give us the words when we step out in faith. The key is being willing to say, like Isaiah, "Here am I! Send me."

Life Application

The call to share the gospel isn't optional - it's a command from our King who has all authority. This week, ask God to give you boldness to share the true gospel with someone in your mission field. Whether it's at work, school, in your neighborhood, or with family, look for opportunities to tell others about Jesus.

Don't compromise the message thinking it will make people more receptive. The gospel comes like a sword, cutting away flesh and sometimes severing relationships. But God will build up what He tears down, and you may be amazed at who responds to the true gospel.

Remember that God doesn't accept us unconditionally - He's not happy with our sinful condition. But He loves us enough to meet us where we are and change our condition completely.

Questions for Reflection:

• Have you truly seen Jesus as the holy King, or are your eyes still focused on earthly things?
• When did you last share the complete gospel message with someone who needed to hear it?
• Are you willing to say "Here am I, send me" even if it means facing rejection or difficulty?
• What mission field has God placed right around you that you've been avoiding?