Isaiah The Christmas Prophet

Isaiah 6:1-8

Intro:

A. Isaiah, the Christmas Prophet

1. A virgin shall conceive (Isa 7:14) says, Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

2. His name shall be called Wonderful (Isa 9:6-7) says, For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

3. The Coming of John the Baptist (Isa 40:3-5)

4. The Coming death of Christ on the Cross (Isa 53)

5. The Millennial Kingdom

B. Before Isaiah Received all these insights, he needed to be changed

C. Isaiah lived in a desperate time

1. Chpt 1 – Israel was a wayward nation

2. Chpt 5 – All the woes were pronounced

3. So, Isaiah had some things he needed to work out, as do we

Isaiah, the Christmas Prophet

Body:

Read vv 6:1-4, says - In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

A. Isaiah became aware of the character of God

1. Isaiah 's vision answer the question: what is God like?

2. Jesus also came to answer this question: he came to reveal the Father

a. God is all powerful: omnipotent; the sea; the healings

b. God is all knowing: omniscient; “needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man” according to (John 2:25)

c. God is eternal; Jesus: (John 8:58) before Abraham was, I am

3. But Isaiah had to learn that God is holy

a. Holy, Holy, Holy: the Trinity

b. He told Moses: take off your shoes, you are standing on Holy ground

c. The incarnation (Jesus’s life) is the greatest example of God’s holiness

1. Luke 1:26-35: the holy one which was born

2. Song writer said O Holy Night….it certainly was

3. Holy in His birth, in His life, and in His death

d. Revelation: He Is the Holy One

4. And God has not changed: He is still Holy

Isaiah, became aware of the character of God

Read vv 5-6 says, 5 So I said:

“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 my eyes have seen the King, The Lord of hosts.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.

B. Isaiah’s Christian conscience was awakened

1. So I said, Woe is me! Comparing to the woes pronounced earlier

2. When Isaiah measured himself by God’s standard – conviction

3. Last days: consciences seared with a hot iron

a. Old fashioned honesty is hard to find

b. Rubber band convictions that stretch to the occasion

4. Hear Isaiah’s confession:

a. I am undone

b. I am a man of unclean lips

c. I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips

5. Take note of how specific he is

6. But also take note the clear message of forgiveness (vv 6-7) says, 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:

“Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”

7. Matt 1:21 says, 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Isaiah’s Christian conscience was awakened

Read V 8 - 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

C. Isaiah had a renewed concern for those who are lost

1. The Lord’s question is: Whom shall I send?

2. Isaiah’s response: Send me

3. People will pray for everything else, but who is saying send me

4. The message to the shepherds was really a message of evangelism to the world

5. Are we willing to go wherever he leads?

That’s what the Lord’s question is this Christmas season - Whom shall I send? What will your answer be?

Isaiah the Christmas Prophet

Isaiah became aware of the character of God – Holy, Holy, Holy

Isaiah’s Christian conscience was awakened – Woe is me

Isaiah had a renewed concern for those who are lost – Here I am, Send me