NLFBCM Joint Fellowship

Introduction:

2 Peter 1:2 KJV 1900

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

His Heart Our Feet: The Mission

Why do we go?

Don’t ever compare yourself to other people. That’s what I’ve been told my whole life. Comparison is the root of all discontent. And while this is true when it comes to people. There is actually a comparison that we should make and one that I think would be really helpful for us as we try to live life today.

That comparison is between you and God. Now you might say, there’s no comparison. God is infinitely higher than me. God is infinitely better than me in all His ways. I am like an ant on an anthill compared to the majesty of God.

And that’s the point. By comparing ourselves to God, we can truly see how far we fall short. This comparison will lead to humility and potentially even dread.

And in our humility, we don’t find a God that does not consider us, but actually wants to have a relationship and has made a way to bridge the gap between sinful man and the Holiness of God.

Transition to the text: Turn with me in your Bibles to Isaiah 6:1-8. After 5 chapters of prophecy related to the coming judgement of God on the people of Israel, Isaiah looks back into the past and recalls for us his call by God to be a prophet.

And in his call, we see a vision of God and Isaiah’s reaction to God and to himself.

As we read this passage, we learn that...

When we see God for who He is, we feel our sin, our need for a savior, and are motivated to obey His Call on our lives.

Read:

Isaiah 6:1–8 KJV 1900

1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. 2 Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. 3 And one cried unto 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 moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 Then said I, 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 mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 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.

When we see God for who He is, we feel our sin, our need for a savior, and are motivated to obey His Call on our lives.

Transition: The first thing that Isaiah experiences is that.....

Point #1 - God is Holy. (Isaiah 6:1-4)

Explanation: This scene starts with Isaiah’s vision of the throne room of God.

It’s curious that Isaiah saw this vision in the year that Uzziah died. Uzziah was a good king, one of the few, but if you look at 2 Chronicles 26, you see that he had a major failing later in life and died in isolation as a leper. Yet he was still counted a good king showing that no one has to be defined by their worst mistake.

But any time a good king died, there is worry that perhaps the next king might be not so good. And perhaps, this vision is to show Isaiah who the true king is.

Every thing we see here speaks to the Holiness of God.

He’s seated on His throne.

He’s high and lifted up.

The train of His robe fills the temple.

This isn’t dull scene. Isaiah is witnessing the majesty of God.

Now notice that this isn’t about Isaiah. He’s almost a fly on the wall. He isn’t even acknowledged by God until verse 9. He’s simply standing in awe of God who is Holy.

Now God is served by angels. Seraphim are a type of angel that seems to have 6 wings. The other type of angel we see in Scripture is Cherubim. Seraphim seem to be those that serve in the heavenly temple of God.

They cover their faces because God is Holy and they cover their feet because God is Holy.

Why Isaiah doesn’t immediately die from what He sees is probably because this is a vision and not actually being in the presence of God.

And the Seraphim are saying,

Isaiah 6:3 KJV 1900

3 And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: The whole earth is full of his glory.

It’s interesting that there are 3 Holies here. Could it be that there is one for each person of the Trinity? We’ll see in verse 8, that this passage certainly leaves open the possibility of the Trinity. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. But at the worship of God, the threshholds of the Temple shakes and the whole place is filled with smoke. God is responding to the worship.

The point of vv. 1-4 is that God is Holy. This isn’t a show for the onlooker. This is the truth and reality of who God is. Holy.

Illustration:

Application: If God is holy, then we must honor Him as holy. We must approach Him with humility and and the knowledge of who He has revealed Himself to be. We must remember He owes us nothing and that we deserve nothing.

When we come face to face with the holiness of God, we should stand in awe and wonder. but the holiness of God has another affect on us. It beckons us to respond.

Transition: So how would Isaiah respond to the Holiness of God?

He is terrified! Which only helps to reveal the second point here.

Point #2 - God is Gracious. (Isaiah 6:5-7)

Explanation: Isaiah in witnessing the Holiness and the Majesty of God, He has one thought and one reaction.

I’m a dead man. And he isn’t the only one in Scripture to have this response to God’s holiness.

Revelation 1:17 KJV 1900

17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

And why would they feel this way? Because of their sin. When we come face to face with the Holiness of God, we can’t help but feel the weight of our sin. God’s piercing Holiness reveals every little sin or shortcoming you have ever done. And imagine you are feeling the shame and guilt of every thing you’ve ever done all at once. You’d fall down as though dead or at least wish you were so you could be free from that moment.

But in that moment, God is not angry with Isaiah. Remember God lifts up the humble. Isaiah’s humble acknowledgement of his sin and that there is nothing he can do to get rid of it, leads God to demonstrate His grace to Isaiah.

Sin causes a rift in the relationship between man and God. There is nothing that man can do to deal with that rift. Only God can. The question in this case is will He?

Yes, God makes a way for Isaiah to stand before Him. We see this odd scene where an angel carries a coal from the altar.

A lot of speculation as to what the tongs represent and what the coal is. But the truth is that in the Bible sometimes a tong is just a tong.

But you can’t miss that this vision is fulfilled fully at the cross where God made a way to finally atone for the sins of mankind.

Romans 6:10 KJV 1900

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

Now still, up until this point, God has not really acknowledged Isaiah’s presence. He’s using angelic mediators. But after Isaiah’s sin is atoned for, God speaks to Isaiah.

This truly speaks to the Holiness of God and the sinfulness of sin. Nothing here is accidental.

John 9:31 KJV 1900

31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

Sin separates us from God. But in God’s grace, he makes a way for us to have a relationship with Him and also that we might serve Him.

Illustration: My favorite Christmas Carrol is “O Holy Night.” And the second verse speaks to exactly what Isaiah is feeling here:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

When we come face to face with the holiness of God, we feel the weight of just how far we fall below His holiness. And we must come to grips with our sin if we are to be used by God.

Application: Have you come face to face with your sin? Acknowledging that you too have nothing that will beckon God to welcome you in?

Many of us go through life without purpose or meaning. We feel as though we are adrift in a reality of ambiguities…to quote the band Kansas, “All we are is dust in the wind?”

Is this how you feel? Maybe it’s because you haven’t come to God and let Him deal with your sin. And then have you followed in His purposes to Go.

the atonement for Isaiah”s sin was only temporary and would eventually find it’s fulfillment at the cross of Jesus Christ. The fullness of God’s face and mercy is on full display at the cross of Jesus Christ. And when we look back at what the Lord has done for us, how can we be anything but grateful.

John 3:16 Transition: It is only after God has dealt with our sin that He can use us to accomplish His purposes.

John 3:16 KJV 1900

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV 1900

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Are you grateful for your salvation.

And for Isaiah, we see that....

Point #3 - God is calling. (Isaiah 6:8)

Explanation: The first thing that God says in this vision doesn’t come until vs. 8. And there is a general call

Isaiah 6:8 KJV 1900

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.

A couple questions here:

Who is speaking? This is God. The Voice of the Lord. And the 10 Million Dollar question is who is “Us?” It starts out with “Whom shall I send (singular) denoting the singular nature of God and then switches to “Us.” What’s happening here? Is God including the angels in His planning? Probably not, because God does not need any to consult with. He is self existent.

Isaiah 40:12–14 KJV 1900

12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, And meted out heaven with the span, And comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, And weighed the mountains in scales, And the hills in a balance? 13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or being his counseller hath taught him? 14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, And taught him in the path of judgment, And taught him knowledge, And shewed to him the way of understanding?

Nowhere else does God deliberate with His creation to accomplish a plan for His purpose. “In carrying out His sovereign purposes, God consults only with Himself. He has no need of counseling with His creatures, even with angelic creatures. Hence, it would seem wise to adopt the time-honored interpretation of the church and to regard the Lord as using the plural form to indicate that in the Speaker Himself there is a plurality of persons” (Young, Vol. 1; 254).

In other words, this is a foreshadowing of the fuller revelation of the Trinity that will come in the New Testament in the person of Jesus.

2. The second question we must answer is “Who is God speaking to?”

Now at first read, it would appear that God is putting forth the question hoping someone will answer. And I’ve heard many a sermon on Missions to that affect saying this is a general call to any and all who will answer. “Will you answer God’s call?” And that’s not a bad application. But if the call is general, why is Isaiah here in the first place? Seems arbitrary. And doesn’t fit with the context of the book at all.

Even though the question, “Who will go for us?” seems open, it’s clear it is directed at Isaiah. And it is the illusion of free will. Isaiah doesn’t actually have a choice. He’s going. But what happens here is that Isaiah is given the opportunity to respond joyfully. And that’s what happens here. Here I am send me!

Don’t miss the significance of this. Just a few seconds ago, Isaiah thought he was a dead man because of his sin. And now, having been cleansed, he is useful to God and He jumps at the chance to show his devotion.

Now whom shall I send may not apply to you, but the Great Commission does.

Matthew 28:18–20 KJV 1900

18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Having been saved from our sin by the blood of Jesus and having had our guilt and shame removed, our respond to that call is to Go!

God is still using sinful men and women like me and you. And that is Amazing Grace!

Illustration:

Application: When posed with the question, “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” Isaiah answers, “Here I am, send me?”

God was going to use Isaiah, but Isaiah still had to answer. That’s why He was there.

Jesus told His disciples to Go, make disciples of all nations.

In response to a Holy and awesome God, will you respond and go?

Because that’s what this all comes down to. Will you follow after God? Will you obey and do what He asks? Or will you ignore Him to your peril.

Summation: From this vision we come face to face with the holiness of God. That holiness sheds incredible light on our sin, but not so that we can feel guilt and shame but that in our humility God can deal with it and then call us to serve His purposes on this earth.

Response: How will you respond to a holy God that has dealt with your sin and is calling you to serve Him?

Conclusion:

Scientists know that light travels at the speed of 5.87 trillion miles a year. They also know that the galaxy of which our solar system is a part is about 100,000 light-years in diameter - about five hundred eighty seven thousand trillion miles. It is one of about a million such galaxies in the optical range of our most powerful telescopes. In our galaxy, there are about 200 billion starts. The sun i one of them, a modest star burning at about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit on the surface, and traveling in an orbit at 155 miles per second, which means it will take about 200 million years to complete a revolution around the galaxy.

Scientists know these things and are in awe of them!

Now as Christians we believe that God spoke the universe into existence. And if God is that powerful, shouldn’t we approach Him with a certain level of respect and reverence and wonder and even dread.

God is glorious and majestic in all that He is and all that He has created.

And like Isaiah to be in the presence of one so amazing, glorious, majestic and awesome, dread is an appropriate response.

And knowing all that…that he wants to have a relationship with you should fill your hearts with joy!

Me? Yes you!

So don’t waste a single minute, because a holy and gracious God is calling you to Himself and wants to know you and wants to use you to tell others.