Praying with the Prophet
Guided Intercessory prayer from Isaiah 6:1-6
Author’s Note: This was adapted from Monday’s with the Master prayer meeting from Oct. 9, 2023. It was a privilege to lead this group of saints in prayer. I made modifications for digital format. Link below for printable PDF.
Isaiah 6:1-6
“In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” (Isaiah 6:1-6)
The Prophet declares God's Holiness
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
God is Holy and inhabits the praises of His people
Psalm 22:3 "Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises* of Israel." (dwelling in the praises of...)
The Earth is His
Psalm 24:1 "The earth is the LORD’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,"
We are humbled by His holiness and majesty
Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.?”
The Prophet beholds God's power and glory
"And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke."
God reigns from His Kingly Sovereign throne
Acts 7:49 "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool."
Jeremiah 10:10 "But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King. At His wrath the earth quakes, And the nations cannot endure His indignation."
God's power and rule are beyond our comprehension
Job 26:14 "Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?"
The Prophet confesses his sin
"And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost (undone); for I am a man of unclean lips..."
Psalm 25:16-18 "Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins."
Jesus calls all to repentance:
- Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
- Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The Puritan Thomas Watson (1668)
“Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed. For a further amplification, know that repentance is a spiritual medicine made up of six special ingredients:
1. Sight of sin
2. Sorrow for sin
3. Confession of sin
4. Shame for sin
5. Hatred for sin
6. Turning from sin
If any one is left out it loses its virtue."
(Repentance by Thomas Watson p.18)
Jesus responds to our confession and repentance with cleansing instead of condemnation:
1 John 1:19 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Romans 8:1-2 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you] free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."
The Prophet confesses the sin of his people (nation)
"I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips..."
Nehemiah 9:1-3 "Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth on their heads. And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God."
The Prophet's sin is atoned for
"Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for."
Romans 3:21-24 "But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it - the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
The Father's 'Amen' “When the Savior hung on the cross and cried out ‘It is finished,’ three days later God the Father said, ‘Amen!’ and raised him from the dead… the resurrection is the Father’s Amen!” - Rhett Dodson (With A Mighty Triumph! Christ’s Resurrection and Ours)
Thanksgiving:
Our response is gratitude.
Psalm 25:8-10: Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Gratitude manifests into worship... Worship is the only thing humans can give God.
Isaiah 25:1 "O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure."
Supplication:
Pray for The sick and suffering in our fellowship.
Pray for Israel - The peace of Jerusalem
Psalm 122:6 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you!” Jerusalem is every believer’s future home (See Revelation 21)
Pray for Welfare of our city and nation:
Jeremiah 29:7 “But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”
Pray that God's Kingdom work in the world - particularly in Israel and America
God’s glory will be revealed where we live.
God’s will and Word will be obeyed where we live.
God’s Kingdom will be ushered in with power in our world.
God’s Kingdom will advance in the place where we live.
The Kingdom of heaven grows and spreads throughout our families, communities and world.
Matthew 13:31-33 “He (Jesus) put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”
Christ calls us to be faithful with what he has given.
Luke 16:10 "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much..."
Our faithfulness in small things become big things in the hands of God.
Luke 1:37: "For nothing will be impossible with God.”
The prayers of God's people unleash power from God's heavenly throne
James 5:16 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
Closing Prayer:
Lord, your Word says;
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock." (Isaiah 26:3-4)
Lord, when we trust in anything other than you we can't expect peace. We have peace because you are our trust and you have overcome the world!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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