Woe, Lo, GoIsaiah 5, we will pick out the various woes pronounced upon others.Isa 5:8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!

Isa 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

Isa 5:18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

Isa 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

It is easier to pronounce woes upon others, than reprove one's self.

Observe the opening scenes of chapter 6. Isa 61 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. Then it was that Isaiah cried, "Woe is me"! Isa 65 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

When we see the holiness of God, the "woe is me" is sure to follow.

What we need today is to see our own needs, to confess our own sins.

We need to be cleansed from sins and made ready for service in behalf of all who need our help.

"Are you sitting idle? Still there's work to do;In the Master's vineyard there's a place for

you;Be a faithful servant, ever ready stand,

Where the Master calls you--lend a helping hand!"

I. Woe! the Cry of the Believer

Isa 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

In the 5th chapter of Isaiah, the Prophet had pronounced a succession of woes against others.In the 6th chapter the Prophet sa, "the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up".Above the throne stood the seraphim, and they cried one to another saying: "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of Hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory". Then Isaiah cried: "Woe is me! for I am undone".When Christians get a vision of God and of His holiness- they get a vision of their own unworthiness.It is a good thing for saved people to realize their shortcomings.There are many who are powerless and without any desire for fellowship with God. Many believers have a form of Godliness, but they know nothing of its power; they

come before the Lord as the people come, and they worship as the people worship; the words of the minister are to them as a pleasant sound, as of one who has a pleasing voice.They hear God's Word, but they do it not.They worship with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.Saddest of all, many of these prayerless, burden-less, and worshipless saints have no sense of lack; they seem wholly oblivious to the fact that they are living far from God.The story of Isaiah brings before us the hour when a believer is fully awakened to his need, and when he cries, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips". There is one supreme precedent for betterment, and that is a sense of lack.

The believer must first understand his true state of heart, before he will seek for better things.

Where there is no sickness, there is no need of a physician.Where there is no sense of sin, there is no true repentance.It is necessary for one to realize his weariness before he seeks rest; his thirst, before he seeks water; his hunger, before he seeks food.It is a happy day when the Christian sees the Lord, high and lifted up, and begins to realize his own uncleanness. Then he can sing:

"Lord lift me up, and let me stand,

By faith, on Heaven's table land;

A higher plane than I have found,

Lord, place my feet on higher ground."

Woe! the Cry of the BelieverII. Woe! the Cry of the Unbeliever

John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

We need to pray for the old-time conviction of sin among the lost, as well as among the saved.

On Pentecost, following the message of Peter, the people cried aloud, saying: "Men and brethren, what shall we do"? It is the mighty power of the Holy Spirit as He convicts the world of sin.The unsaved world is rushing so rapidly down

the river of pleasures,that they have no time to think; they are lost

in therapids of careless living.

The unsaved are so engrossed with the cares of the world;

They are so engulfed in the pursuit of business; that they have no time for God or His Word.

If Patrick Henry were here today no doubt he would preach:

Is TV or Technology so dear,

As to be blinded by their chains,

Forbid it Almighty God,

I know not what course others may take,

But as for me,

Give me God’s Word for life and for death.

No room no room for Him No room to let Him in No room for Jesus In the world He made no room No room for the King of kings Room for others and for other things No rooms for Jesus In the world He made no room Room for houses lands and pleasures Room for things that pass away 

But for the One who reigns forever There's no room today  

What the heavy laden need today, is a vision of the Lord, high and lifted up; then, and only then, will he cry: "Woe is me! for I am undone".The Holy Spirit is convicting the world of sin, because Christ has gone to the Father and is glorified.

"Fairest flowers soon decay,Youth and beauty pass away;Oh, you have not long to stay:Be on time!

"While God's Spirit bids you come,Sinner, do not longer roam,Lest you seal your hopeless doom:Be on time!

"Time is gliding swiftly by,

Death and judgment draweth nigh,To the arms of Jesus fly:Be on time!"

Woe! the Cry of the BelieverWoe! the Cry of the Unbeliever

III. Lo! is the Answer of Christ

Isa 6:7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

When Isaiah cried, "Woe", then the Lord responded: "Lo". The "lo" bears with it the willingness of God to forgive confessed sin.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In response to the Prophet's cry of contrition, an Angel took the tongs, and securing a live coal from off the altar, touched the Prophet's

lips, and said: "Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged".The altar is a reminder of the Blood of Christ. It is the Blood of the Lord Jesus that washes away our sin. Rev 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb .

We too, no matter how guilty, can find a whiteness, whiter than snow, through the cleansing power of Calvary.

The fire from the altar represents the purifying power of the Spirit. The Holy Ghost is "a fire." He can give victory in life. He can take the lips purged by the Blood and make them lips full of power.

Fire, in the Word of God, is not only the symbol of cleansing and of power, but also of illumination.

The one who is touched with the Spirit of God, will find a new cleansing, a new power and a new vision

manifested in his life.

Again, when the fire of the Altar touches our lips, all fear of man will be removed.Peter, before Pentecost, denied his Lord, saying with an oath: "I know not this Man". Peter, after Pentecost, faced the multitude and cried: "Ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified".

Woe! the Cry of the BelieverWoe! the Cry of the UnbelieverLo! is the Answer of Christ

IV. Go! God's Call to the Individual

Isa 6:9 And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Follow the progression: First, it was "Woe!"

There was the "Woe" of sin. Second, it was "Lo!"

There was the "Lo" of cleansing. Now, it is "Go!"

There is the "Go" of service.

Acts 6:3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

The order of these words can never be reversed. God never calls any one to do work for Him until that one is clean.

The Holy Spirit said: "Look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business".

God has no place in His Church for the unclean to serve.

Isa 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

This is the Master's command.

It is the vessel which is clean and sanctified that is made meet for the Master's use. God is far more careful about clean lips and pure hearts, than He is about gifted lips and wise hearts.David realized this truth when he said, "Create in me a clean heart * * renew a right spirit within me * * then will I teach

transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee" (Psa 51:10, Psa 51:13).Illustration: The little girl who saw her mamma fretting about home, soon after she had returned from church, said, "Mamma, I don't see it does you any good to go to church, for when you get home, you are just as worried as you were before you went." The little girl was not deceived by her mother's professed piety.Your walk talks,And your talk, talks,But your walk talks louder Than your talk, talks.

Woe! the Cry of the BelieverWoe! the Cry of the UnbelieverLo! is the Answer of ChristGo! God's Call to the Individual

V. Go! God's Command to His Church

Matt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

God's call to sinners, = "Come."God's command to His Church, = "Go.""Go ye into all the world" and make disciples.

2Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

Illustration: A man came to the minister's house and asked his little girl if her papa was at home. The little darling looked up into the man's face and she said: "No, my papa is not home, but if you want some one to pray for you, I 'spect I could do that as well as my papa."You may not all be able to stand in a pulpit and preach; You may not be able to expound the deep truths of Gods word;

But You can pray, and You can go with God’s word to some individual (it’s all written down for you).

Woe! the Cry of the BelieverWoe! the Cry of the UnbelieverLo! is the Answer of ChristGo! God's Call to the IndividualGo! God's Command to His Church

VI. Lo! God's Promise of Aid

Matt 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

First, there was the -"Woe" of acknowledged sin.

Then the response -"Lo" of cleansing. Then God's question -"Who will go"? Then God's command--"Go."

And now there is another "Lo!"

The first "Lo" was the "lo" of cleansing. This is the "lo" of assurance. "Lo, I am with you alway".When Christ gave this promise to His disciples, He meant far more than sympathy. Our Lord was about to ascend to the Father's right hand, far above all principalities and powers. Knowing fully what all of this meant, He said to His disciples, "All power is given unto Me; * * Go * * and, lo, I am with you".Christ tells us:

"I am a conqueror;

I am clothed with all authority: you need have no fear of their faces.

I will link My omnipotence to your impotence;

I will clothe your nothing-ness with My almightiness;

I will supply your weakness with the might of My power."

The ambassador for Christ does not need to be afraid.

The ambassador to the nations of this world has behind him the power of the country he represents. The ambassador from Heaven has behind him the power of God.

"Keep step with the Master, whatever betide;

Though dark be the pathway, keep close to your Guide.

While foes are alluring, and danger is near,

When walking with Jesus, you've nothing to fear.

"Keep step with the Master, wherever you go;

Through darkness and shadow the way He will show,

The light of His presence your path will glow,

And make all the desert a garden of bloom.

"Keep step with the Master; nor halt by the way;

Whate'er He commands you, oh, haste to obey!

Arise at His bidding, press on in His might;

While walking with Jesus, you're sure to have might."

See the Woe of sin,Receive the Lo of sanctification,

Obey the Lord’s command Go,Remember Lo of companionship.

Woe, Lo, GoI. Woe! the Cry of the BelieverII. Woe! the Cry of the UnbelieverIII. Lo! the Answer of ChristIV. Go! God's Call to the IndividualV.Go! God's Command to His ChurchVI. Lo! God's Promise of Aid