“Here Am I”

“Here I Am”
7/6/25
Elder Michael James

Isaiah 6:8 (CSB) Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send?
Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

• As many of you know this is not my calling but as I was reminded in a meeting that I, as one of your elders am supposed to fill this role and Biblically, I am called to it.
• I was guilty of running from the message I’m giving to you now and it’s simply to hear the Lord when He calls and reply “Here Am I”.

Prayer

Opening Statement:

• Here am I or Here I am Lord is used in the Bible 17 times and generally speaking it’s form is that of “Use me Lord. You have my attention.”
• We will go over a couple of verses and hopefully I can convey meaning and truth and if I get off track or commit heresy someone from the team is supposed to grab the mic or me off stage haha.
• “Here I Am”… is this simply how available we are to the God who gives us life and salvation, or do we pick and choose?

Isaiah 6:8 (CSB) Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send?
Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

Back story on Isaiah… It’s said that the apostles quoted or alluded to Isaiah more than any other Old Testament Book.

Isaiah 6:1-8 (CSB) In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a high and lofty throne, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ² Seraphim were standing above him; they each had six wings: with two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. ³ And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. ⁴ The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. ⁵ Then I said: Woe is me for I am ruined because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Armies. ⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. ⁷ He touched my mouth with it and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for. ⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.

• God revealed Himself to Isaiah and He saw him as pure and holy.

• As the Seraphim proclaimed but he was troubled because he felt the weight of his sin and God did not tolerate uncleanliness in His presence.
• God knowing this had his Seraphim clean his lips before using him as His voice in Judah and Jerusalem.
• Isaiah made himself available when called.
• It seems like we as Christians should and could be more available to Gods calling and voice, but we are not, and I find myself guilty of this very condition constantly.
• I always have something to do or accomplish.
• I can teach anyone in here how to assault a target, stop a sucking chest wound, or build stuff with your hands…
• The point is this is in my wheelhouse I operate in when it should be Gods wheelhouse because I was told “I don’t have to do this, I get to do this.”
• I get to do this because I am called by God and empowered by His amazing grace and Holy Spirit.
• I need to have the courage to answer “Here I Am” and be available to Gods calling.
• Isaiah foretold the Kings coming in chapters 7:1-12:6.

Isaiah 9:6 (CSB) For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

He answered when he heard the Lord.

• I think of all the times Jesus choses us and it’s daily, hourly, minute by minute, the Bible says The Lord will tarry until the last soul is saved…

2 Peter 3:9 (CSB) The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

• Jesus is saying “Here I Am” and we aren’t even asking because if your blessings are abundant with God chasing you, what would your blessing be like if we were chasing Him?

One of my favorite stories in the Bible…

Matthew 9:20-22 (CSB) Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe, ²¹ for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.”

²² Jesus turned and saw her. “Have courage, daughter,” he said. “Your faith has saved you.” And the woman was made well from that moment.

• She was running after Jesus and had the faith if she just touched His robe she would be healed.
• She received a miracle because she was pursuing Jesus, not the other way around.
• I don’t know about you, but that’s a sure sign of faith!
• Among the other sores she had, she wasn’t expecting Him to touch her or seek her out. She was seeking Him!
• I wonder what blessing would be in store for us as Children of God if we just chased after our Savior the way He chases us.

Acts 9:10-20 (CSB) There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” “Here I am, Lord,” he replied. ¹¹ “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. ¹² In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.” ¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” ¹⁷ Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” ¹⁸ At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ And after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. ²⁰ Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”

This moment is when Saul became The Apostle Paul. The author of most of the New Testament.

• If Saul, who was a persecutor of the Jews following Jesus, became Paul, and Apostle of Jesus Christ who built the capitol “C” Church can change… what can The Lord do for you?
• The Lord called Abraham in Genesis 22:11.
• The Lord called Jacob in Genesis 31:11
• The Lord called Moses in Exodus 3:4.
• The Lord called Samuel in 1 Samuel 3:4.
• The Lord called Isaiah in Isaiah 6:8.
• The Lord called Annas in Acts 9:10.

All these people were flawed, ordinary, every-day sinful people like us… What made them different and stand out was they ALL said “Here I Am” when God called them to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom.

• What is God calling you to do?
• Who needs to say, “Here I Am Lord, Send Me.”?