HOLY: Beyond Me

But the Bible does tell us around 200 times to have holy fear - to remember who God is, as holy, and make adjustments to our posture and perspectives accordingly.

We talked about the literary use of repetition for emphasis, and how that plays out in the heavenly description of God in that He is holy, holy, holy

We talked about the understanding of holiness and that it means to be set apart, cut away from, distinct in its uniqueness, and special.

And when we say God is holy, holy, holy, we’re saying He’s exponentially set apart from anything else we can imagine...

Even in our imagining of the purity of perfection - He’s still higher. Even in our imagining of the “goodest” good - He’s still greater. Even in our imagining of the most precious, costly, unique, or sacred…that’s our God is still yet MORE HOLY.

His ways are higher in morality and justification His thoughts are richer, deeper, and fuller, beyond our highest IQ.

And anything else would be limiting, in our mind, of Who God really is, what He is truly capable of, and how He exists.

God values this holy fear - He’s even able to quantify our holy fear of Him on the daily basis. Isaiah 33:6 “There will be times of security for you— a storehouse of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.”

Scripture tells us - in the miracle of our salvation - to continue to work it out in fear and trembling…to never forget out precious, how miraculous it is that a Holy God would choose the believer to have an eternal life-infusing relationship with Him.

Because He is holy…and because He is holy, He is an all-consuming fire. And His holiness radiates from His throne into all that is exists. His holiness drowns out any imaginations that rise in conflict with who He is. His holiness rejects and consumes anything that is in conflict with Him.

Our God is an all-consuming fire. His holiness must consume any and all sin. His holiness, even as we observe His sacredness and His perfection, His holiness translates to His wrath in any instance of sin…because sin opposes God’s holiness. Sin is profane and must be removed from existence.

We read in Isaiah 6:1-7 “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. 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. And one called to another: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies; his glory fills the whole earth. The foundations of the doorways shook at the sound of their voices, and the temple was filled with smoke. 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. 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. 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.”

PRAY

JESUS SAYS FEAR GOD

Jesus said in Luke 12:2-5: There is nothing covered that won’t be uncovered, nothing hidden that won’t be made known. Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops. “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!

Jesus tells us to fear God. He repeats it to emphasize it.

And He uses the strong language of God being the One capable of throwing us into Hell - which is a reality.

But lets look at the very next verses:

Luke 12:5-7 “But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear! Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten in God’s sight. Indeed, the hairs of your head are all counted. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

In the same thought, Jesus - the Son of God and incarnate reflection of the Father - conveying the Will of God for you and me with a spoken Word:

Fear GOD, fear Him! - but don’t be afraid. Fear Him - for He loves you. Fear Him - for He knows everything about you. Fear Him - for He is holy.

Fear Him - for He cannot sin against you.

Don’t you think this Holy God, who is an all-consuming fire that purges anything in conflict with Him -

don’t you think this Holy God - Who is all-powerful -

don’t you think this Holy God is all-knowing -

don’t you think this Holy God has the ability to see your value?

If He values a sparrow enough to see it and know it and watch it... Aren’t you worth more than even many sparrows?

If He values the sparrow enough to know the number of its days, the fragility of its nature, to provide for its every need... Aren’t you worth more than even many sparrows?

Those days that we look in the mirror and we doubt our self-worth, we look condescendingly upon ourselves and the lies of the enemy ring out in our ears…and we wonder about this life... we can still look at ourselves and think - more than a sparrow.

[TIE THOUGHTS - THE SPARROW and HOLINESS OF GOD.]

According to Jesus, God so deeply cherishes you that He knows the number of hairs on your head. Science estimates most humans have on average 100,000 hairs on their scalp.

David writes: How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand. (Psalm 139:17–18 NKJV)

That’s an enormous amount! Science and math enthusiasts tell us that depending on the size and how tightly packed, there are approximately five hundred million to a billion granules of sand in one cubic square foot of beach.

But think of it—if you add up all the granules of sand on the planet, you still wouldn’t have the number of thoughts God has about you! Ask yourself this question:

What do you predominantly think of?

I’ll answer that with this: you rarely think about something you don’t value.

God’s thoughts about you outnumber every grain of sand on the planet! Think about that!

Here is what’s astounding, a truth you need to know about our HOLY GOD: God cannot exaggerate!

We human beings may exaggerate in our story telling and maybe stretch the truth to make an impression...

God only speaks Truth - it’s part of His Holiness. He cannot tell a lie, or even ‘stretch the truth’.

So in stating that His thoughts about you outnumber every grain of sand on the planet, that’s huge!

So what is our value? What is the value of Ryan (Kevin, Salvo, Emilie, Ruth)?

Well to begin, value is determined by a purchaser.

The question is not about our value to people - because that can vary.

And we need to acknowledge that the world doesn’t have a great track record about valuing people as we should.

Today there are an estimated 40 million people forced in active slavery - whether its sex trafficking, or slave-labor, or human-trafficking...

Millions of babies are sacrificed and murdered every year in their mothers’ wombs. Did anyone value them?

Digital prostitution continues to sky-rocket where men, women, and sadly children are exploited and relegated to a small some of cash for one person’s temporary satisfaction.

The world has a problem with valuing people - God’s greatest Creation, marked by their maker with the image of Himself.

God is the One who sets the real measure of worth in this universe, not man. And even for those things we esteem, Jesus reminds us that “what people value highly is detestable in God’s sight” (Luke 16:15 NIV). He also makes this remarkable statement: “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26 NKJV).

Yet, Jesus gave his soul up in exchange for you and me.

So what is your value? Paul writes, “God bought you with a high price” (1 Corinthians 6:20). God’s bid for you—His set price—is found in these words: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16 NKJV).

You were worth Jesus to God. God would NOT make an unprofitable deal.

COMPELLED, CANNOT NOT

This is why, when we look at Isaiah chapter 6 and we see Isaiah’s reaction to this holy encounter with God, Isaiah reacts:

Isaiah 6:5-8 “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. 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. 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. 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.”

Isaiah - in response to this Holy God, and recognizing his own iniquity, imperfection and sinfulness and having been touched by God and purified to be made holy in God’s presence - Isaiah’s response to God’s question was without question and without hesitation.

Isaiah’s response was out of a compelling, he must - he cannot resist - resistance is futile - Isaiah had the ability to choose his response to this whole situation, but the Holiness of God commands Isaiah’s attention and proper response to this Holy Moment that when God speaks, God’s creation MUST respond.

God asks - “WHO WILL I SEND? WHO WILL GO FOR US?”

Isaiah doesn’t take a moment to look around and see he’s the only one in the room. He doesn’t for a second think that he’s NOT the one.

No, he is compelled, his experience is beyond himself, he cannot not respond in agreement with the Spirit of God

He’s like the prophet Jeremiah where he says Jeremiah 20:9 “I say, “I won’t mention him or speak any longer in his name.” But his message becomes a fire burning in my heart, shut up in my bones. I become tired of holding it in, and I cannot prevail.”

When you’ve had an encounter with Holy God, you have to MOVE - NOW. There is no delay, there is no “I’m not feeling like it”. There’s no feelings getting in the way. The truth is God is Holy. Therefore I must respond to His holiness. And what God says must be done, is done. And my feelings have to catch up with that that Word of God.

God said, “I’m looking for someone”

Isaiah said, “Here I am.”

God didn’t say what, when, where, how. Isaiah said, “Send me”.

The holiness of God demands a response. And all creation testifies

I have to come to the reality that the response to this Holy magnificent God is BEYOND ME.

He’s beyond Ryan, and Ryan’s worldview.

He’s beyond Ryan, and Ryan’s limited understanding of who God is.

He’s beyond Ryan, and Ryan’s capabilities... HE’S BEYOND ME.

Psalm 19:1-9 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge. There is no speech; there are no words; their voice is not heard. Their message has gone out to the whole earth, and their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming from his home; it rejoices like an athlete running a course. It rises from one end of the heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat. The instruction of the Lord is perfect, renewing one’s life; the testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making the inexperienced wise. The precepts of the Lord are right, making the heart glad; the command of the Lord is radiant, making the eyes light up. The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are reliable and altogether righteous.”

When you live in holy fear of the Lord, you have nothing to be afraid of.

THE LAST DAY

Living in holy fear of God is a lifestyle - its a way of life.

Matthew 7:21-23 ““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’”

Just because you did some righteous acts among your days does not mean you lived a life of holy fear before God. God treasures holy fear - and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He wonders to and fro looking for those who worship Him in spirit and in truth.

In Luke 12, Jesus gave us a loving warning - where God’s holiness is outstretched in love yet unwavering in wrath towards sin.

Lev 10:1-2 “The priest Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his own firepan, put fire in it, placed incense on it, and presented unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them to do. Then fire came from the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.”

Some translations use the word “profane” in that Aaron’s sons did a profane thing before the Lord.

Profane is the opposite of sacred. Profanity is opposed to holiness.

One definition of profane is “to treat something sacred with irreverence.” It means to treat what is holy as common or ordinary. In essence, Aaron’s sons came into the glorious presence of God with irreverence. What happens next is sobering, and even frightening: So fire blazed forth from the LORD’S presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. (Leviticus 10:2) These two men, who were authorized to come into God’s presence, immediately died for their irreverence. Did God viciously attack them? No, they put themselves in harm’s way.

The earth is 93,000,000 miles from the sun. To sunbathe at the beach for most is delightful, but if your sunbathing takes place inside 10,000 miles of the same sun, you will meet immediate death.

They erred in becoming too familiar with God’s holy and glorious presence and consequently acted in a way that brought disaster upon them. Listen to the words Moses straightaway spoke to Aaron after his sons’ deaths: “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’” (Leviticus 10:3 NKJV)

What Moses stated is a universal and eternal decree. Universal means that it applies to every created being, whether human or angelic. Eternal implies what has always been will always be—it’s never going to change. You can only come into His presence with a heart and attitude of reverence.

So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. (Acts 5:11 NKJV) A couple things to note. It doesn’t say that “great fear came to the city.” No, it reads, “great fear came upon all the church.” Second, notice it doesn’t only say “fear,” but “great fear.” Again, there’s no exaggeration with this. By Scripture stating “great,” it’s a very strong magnitude of holy fear.

What do we gather from these examples?

The greater God’s manifest glory, the greater and swifter the judgment of irreverence.

Therefore, delayed judgment is not denied judgment.

For this reason, Paul writes: Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. (1 Timothy 5:24 NKJV)

It is wise never to permit under any circumstances an irreverent, casual, or familiar attitude toward God.

You see, it’s actually more dangerous when His glory is not manifesting. Why?

We get comfortable and complacent in our relationship with God. We ultimately slip into a state of irreverence, thinking I’ve got nothing to worry about - God judgment isn’t towards me, and I’m free to live how I wanna.

But the opposite is true still… If you want revival in your life, if you want healing in your land, if you need God to show up in a mighty way…HE WILL.

First recognize He is Holy.

PRAYER - ALTAR RESPONSE

MOVE NOW

We often put God on trial - asking questions like, “If God is so perfect and powerful, why do bad things happen to good people?” “If God is so mighty and righteous, why is the world in such chaos.”

It’s a very self-righteous perspective.

Proper question: “If God is so holy, and perfect, all-powerful and righteous, how is it that I’m still breathing and alive right now?” How is it that I woke up this morning knowing that yesterday, last night even, I lived a life so unholy and unpleasing to God.”

This is the perspective of the holy fear of God.

How is it that Isaiah stood before a holy God and realizing he was done, finished, through, ruined and destroyed.

Isaiah’s testimony is our testimony. Mercy. God’s judgment withheld, and not giving what we truly deserve.

Next week we will talk about God’s holiness and grace. What enabled Isaiah to even have the opportunity to say HERE I AM - SEND ME.

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