“⁸ Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

⁹ And He said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

¹⁰ Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” Isaiah 6:8-10

God will send His Prophets to “go and tell” His people of the wrong path they have taken but sadly, most will not hear.  Their ears will get heavy and their eyes shut.  They will “hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed but perceive not.”

It was effective preaching of which Isaiah was commissioned to “go and tell”, not vain babbling.  Effective preaching will bring about that which it is intended to do; stir them to repentance or rebellion.  It will awaken people from their apathy or make their eyes and ears heavier.

“¹⁷ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

¹⁸ For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:17-18

Many Believers should consider how they personally receive the “preaching of the Cross” because it IS having its intended effect.  Sometimes the wisdom of words and the tickling of ears will quicken the flesh; while the preaching of the Cross of Christ may seem to dull the senses if the heart is being hardened by it’s effect.  The acceptance of the Cross of Christ for Salvation, perhaps receives little more than a nod from the Believer for daily living.  In truth, the wisdom of words have made the Cross of Christ of no effect and many are perishing.

Isaiah was commissioned to effect, through his preaching, exactly that which his preaching would bring about…hardness and unrepentant heart.  Isaiah’s preaching did not stir the people from their apathy but in fact pushed them further down the wrong path.

Prayerfully and honestly consider the effect the preaching of the Cross is having on your heart.

-Donna Clark Warren