Worship: Isaiah 6:1-8 (Prompts)

Introduction

Attention:

iPhone

Being left “on read”

Leaving God “on read” = failing to worship

Isaiah 6:1-8

Need:

More than music (music as a means)

Worship as a lifestyle

Body

The Big Idea: Worship is a response

The Question: What is worship a response to?

God’s holiness

Isaiah 6:1–3 (ESV)

Explanation:

Isaiah’s call

Context on King Uzziah

52 years

Best king since Solomon

Temple incense (Levitical priests)

Banned

Seraphim

Only mention in Bible

“Fiery ones”

Show ancient painting

Show second photo

Why cover the face?

Exodus 33 (covered by God’s hand)

Man and angel alike

John Oswalt: “for even the most perfect of creatures dare not gaze brazenly into the face of the Creator.”

God’s holiness: “unapproachable and unique moral majesty”

What the angels say

“Called to one another”

Worship is a shared experience

“Holy, holy, holy!”

Illustration:

Liam. TV SHOW, on vacation

“I’m bald, I’m bald, I’m bald!”

“Its an egg, its an egg, its an egg!”

Don’t forget God’s indescribable holiness

Application:

God’s holiness > action?

Hand raising

Spiritual disciplines (being more than doing)

Family

God’s call to respond

Transition statement: And it is impossible to look at who God is without realizing what we are apart from Him

The Big Idea: Worship is a response

The Question: What is worship a response to?

2. Our sin

Isaiah 6:4–5 (ESV)

Explanation:

Isaiah’s surroundings

Temple

Shaking

Filled with smoke

Incense (King Uzziah)

Comparison/contrast

Isaiah’s response

Andrew Davis: “A true vision of God’s holiness always results in conviction of sin on the part of us sinners.”

John Oswalt: CRUSHED by his uncleanness.

Lips

Prophet

Personal & corporate uncleanliness

Romans 3:23

Identifying with “all”

Illustration:

Dirty mirror

Distorted reflection

Light reveals dirtiness

Our hearts = mirror

Light = God’s holiness

How far we have come

Application:

Feeling the weight of sin

Asking God to reveal sin

Share illustration that I learned from pastor Steve

Worship = confession and repentance

Transition statement: Thankfully, our worship doesn’t have to end with just an awareness of our sin; we can also worship with an awareness of God’s forgiveness of our sins

The Big Idea: Worship is a response

The Question: What is worship a response to?

3. God’s forgiveness

Isaiah 6:6–7 (ESV)

Explanation:

Coal

From the altar

Fire as OT symbolism for God’s holiness

Destruction

Romans 6:23a

Cleansing & purification

“atonement, propitiation, satisfaction, forgiveness, cleansing and reconciliation.”

The fire of forgiveness upon unclean lips

Alec Motyer: “the Lord ministers to us at the point of felt need.”

Romans 6:23b

Illustration:

Debt

Fresh start

Application:

Forgiveness = grace

No more guilt

A weight lifted

Responding to God’s forgiveness also compels us to respond to the commands that He gives us.

The Big Idea: Worship is a response

The Question: What is worship a response to?

4. God’s commands

Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)

Explanation:

Isaiah signs up

John Oswalt: “Such a grateful offering of themselves is always the cry of those who have received God’s grace after they have given up hope of ever being acceptable to God.”

Not hiding:“here I am!”

Following God’s lead = being sent

Saved “from” and “to”

Alec Motyer: “He has been brought in in order to be sent out.”

Saves > Sends

Illustration:

Invitation to a mission

Saved from and to

Application

Where is God sending you?

Workplace

Serving at church

Vocational ministry

Missionary overseas

Are you willing?

Not going = not worshipping

Won’t you go?

Conclusion

Visualization

Don’t go home and leave God on read today

Go home and respond

Reiteration

Lifestyle

PRAY