A People Not Healed

Isaiah 6:1-10

INTRODUCTION: Healing can come in a variety of ways. Perhaps least important is the healing of the body. This type of healing was on major display during the earthly ministry of Christ. Obviously the most important type of healing involves the healing of the soul or salvation. This is the healing of which 1 Peter 2:24 speaks. However, after salvation we still, at times, need emotional or mental healing. Regardless of whether the healing is that of the soul at salvation or of the mind after salvation, some underlying principles remain the same.

I. A PEOPLE OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

A. During the Ministry of Isaiah (Isaiah 6:1-10, esp. 9-10)

1. His ministry in many ways served as a miniature Bible.
2. He testified of the Lord’s…
a. Birth (Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6)
b. Death (Isaiah 53:1-11)
c. Resurrection (Isaiah 25:8)
d. Second coming (Isaiah 63:1-6)
e. Kingdom (Isaiah 11:1-16)
3. Yet, the people rejected, missed, or ignored the truth (Isaiah 1:2-9).

B. During the Ministry of Christ (Matthew 13:1-17, esp. 14-15)

1. He showed them the power and will of God in His miracles.
2. He showed them the mind of God in His teachings.
3. He showed them the love of God in His sufferings.
4. Yet, they followed Him only for the miracles, rejected His teachings, and ultimately put Him on the cross.

C. During the Ministry of Paul (Acts 28:17-29, esp. 25-27)

1. He showed them the power of a changed life.
2. He preached Christ in the synagogues, that He was the Son of God (Acts 9:20).
3. He confounded the Jews proving that Jesus was the very Christ (Acts 9:22).
4. He persuaded them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets (Acts 28:23).

II. A PEOPLE OF SELF-INFLICTION

A. Their Eye Problems

1. Their eyes were shut; lest they see with their eyes (Isaiah 6:10).
2. They saw, but could not see (Matthew 13:13).
3. They saw, but they did not perceive (Acts 28:26).
4. They closed their own eyes (Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:27).

B. Their Ear Problems

1. Their ears were heavy; lest they hear with their ears (Isaiah 6:10).
2. They heard, but they heard not (Matthew 13:13).
3. They heard, but did not understand (Matthew 13:14; Acts 28:26).
4. Their ears were dull of hearing (Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:27). Note: The idea of this is that they had grown weary of hearing.

C. Their Heart Problems

1. Their hearts were fat; lest they should understand (Isaiah 6:10).
2. Their heart was waxed gross (Matthew 13:15; Acts 28:27).

III. A PEOPLE OF CONTINUED WOES

A. The Problem

1. Help was available, but the people missed the help.
2. The people might tend to blame their circumstances or even the Lord, but the New Testament clearly suggests that before the Lord hardened any hearts, the people first decided to harden their own hearts.

B. The Process

1. True hearing or seeing could have produced perception/understanding.
2. Perception or understand could have led to conversion.
3. Conversion would have led to healing.

CONCLUSION: Many saints are living wounded, bitter, and destructive lives because they have not enjoyed the Lord’s binding up of their wounds. At the end of the day, we remain in such conditions because we do not put ourselves in a place to receive God’s help.