131 Gripped by the Holiness of God

Intro

Recap last week and series

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The importance of this Scripture. Today’s topic affects everything:

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I can’t serve because I’m not good enough or know enough or worthy enough.

When pressure builds, some fold and others seem to be oak trees

The likelihood that I’ll have ongoing struggles with a particular sin habit

fringe vs. fire

young people checking out because they don’t own their faith or ready to take on hell with a squirt gun

whether I give out of obligation/reluctance or as a matter of worship.

Whether retirements are spent seeking comfort or picking up speed.

Exposition

Isaiah 6:1 NIV

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

I saw the Lord

Uzziah had Leprosy. He co-reigned with Jotham. Prosperity and peace. 740 B.C.

Uzziah died - God did not. Assyria loomed (Isis). Reference Jonah. Clermont vs. Chicago. I saw the Lord! Seated on a throne!

Isaiah (and the church) needed to be reminded that ultimate security and hope isn’t based on who leads our government and isn’t robbed by outside forces.

I saw the Lord - Adonai (no physical descriptors whatsoever).

problem - God said, “You cannot see my face and live.” So what gives? . . He’s looking at Jesus!

Exalted

Train of his robe filled the temple - wedding pictures - Mars Hill/Decatur

Isaiah 6:2–4 NIV

Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

Seraphim

not naked babies

3 sets of wings

the sheer force of their voices in worship shook the foundations of heaven

The temple may be coming apart but the Temple remains seated!

Holy Holy Holy

antiphonal singing

Holy

Holy

cities, hands, words, people, the root word is “cut”

concentric circles

Glory

Glory

Ichabod and Samson

mesmerized

On the wrong side of the fence - lions

Isaiah 6:5 NIV

“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

Isaiah 6:5

The clearer we see God, the clearer we see ourselves.

The clearer we see God, the clearer we see ourselves.

I’ve got a potty mouth

God’s holiness is the standard

Satan wants us to get into the comparison game OR the attempt to fix ourselves.

God’s holiness is the standard

God’s sacrifice is the basis of our worth

Isaiah 6:6–7 NIV

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Heaven provides salvation

Altar - the reality of Jesus’ sacrifice is ongoing in heaven almost 800 years prior to Calvary!

Isaiah recognizes his sinfulness and heaven goes into motion.

Notice Isaiah doesn’t say if it burned or if he had a blister. He is so absorbed with God and his atoning sacrifice, nothing else matters!

Nothing from Isaiah - all from God - freedom of Grace

Isaiah 6:8 NIV

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Isaiah

envision scene.

Saved by grace for kingdom work

The picture is that of a divine court sending a messenger. All eyes on Isaiah

Recount Isaiah’s predicament

Isaiah isn’t simply saved by something, he is saved for something.

what would give Isaiah the strength to do the work God has called him to?

It’s the same thing that gave Abraham the courage to leave everything that was comfortable to him and venture into unknown lands.

His task will be incredibly difficult but his salvation and backstage pass here serves as the foundation for his .

It’s the same thing that gave Moses the strength to face Pharoah

It’s the same thing that gave David the courage to face Goliath.

This same Jesus commissioned the church as well. Our tasks might not look like Isaiah’s but they’re difficult none-the-less

It’s the same thing that gave S.M. and A. the strength to face Nebuchadnezzar and say no way.

It’s the same thing that gave S.M. and A. the strength to face Nebuchadnezzar and say no way.

Their minds, hearts, and souls were absolutely gripped by the holiness of God. His greatness was FAR beyond anything this world could offer. After a couple billion years in His presence, all the troubles of the world will seem pretty minor

It’s the same for you and me! When you are gripped by...

Sin struggles

parenting

grand-parenting

workplace struggles

marital struggles