sf660 - HE PUT THE AWE IN AWESOME (Isaiah 6 1-9a)

Isaiah 6:1-9a

Introduction

The Five Purposes of the Church – We exist to…

Demonstrate God’s Love – Ministry

Communicate God’s Word – Evangelism

Incorporate God’s Family – Fellowship

Educate God’s People – Discipleship

Celebrate God’s Presence - Worship

What is worship?

Is it a form or a style?

Is it a formula or a ritual?

Worship is the active response of a community of believers to the glory of the living God that properly attributes praise and honor to God for who He is and what He has done.

Worship is delighting in God.

Worship should be a great experience

Ø Marcel and the Train Wreck

Why should we worship?

We worship because God is worthy of worship!

Isaiah discovered what true worship is (Isaiah 6:1-9a)

True worship is centered in and on God.

When we understand who God is we will understand what worship is.

Isaiah paints us a portrait of our Awesome God!

1A. God is Awesome in His Glory (6:1-3)

1B. This is a Heavenly Vision (6:1)

His Position “on a throne”

His Prominence “lofty and exalted”

His Presence “filling the temple”

Revelation 4:2-3 (NASB) 2Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne. 3And He who was sitting was like a jasper stone and a sardius in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, like an emerald in appearance.

2B. This is Humbling Vision (6:2)

The seraphim covering their feet and faces symbolizes their humility

Ezekiel 1:26-28 "Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. {27} I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. {28} Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown…"

3B. This is a Holy Vision (6:3)

Exodus 15:11 (NASB) 11“Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders?

Leviticus 11:45 (NASB) 45‘For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

We must recognize the holiness of God.

2A God is Awesome in His Greatness (6:4-5)

1B. Isaiah Encountered God’s Greatness (6:4)

Deuteronomy 10:17 "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome…."

Psalms 147:5 "Great is our Lord and mighty in power…."

Jeremiah 10:6 "No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power."

Psalms 66:5 "Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"

When was the last time you encountered God?

2B. Isaiah Experienced God’s Greatness (6:5)

When we come into God’s presence, we realize not only His holiness and greatness but also our sinfulness

The contamination that our sin causes - “Woe is me.”

Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV) 6But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.

The condemnation that our sin brings - “I am ruined.”

(John 3:17-18) "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. {18} Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son."

The control that our sin has over us - “Unclean lips”

(John 8:34) "Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin."

3A. God is Awesome in His Grace (6-9a)

1B. After Confession Comes Cleansing (6-7)

God’s Presence and Power - “Altar”

God’s Purity - “Live Coal”

(Malachi 3:2) "But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap."

God’s Pardon - “Touched my mouth … guilt is taken…”

(Micah 7:18-19) "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. {19} You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."

(John 8:36) "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

2B. Then After the Cleansing Comes the Commissioning (8-9a)

Results in a change in Direction

Ø Moses (Exodus 3:2-6; 4:18)

Results in a change in Desire

Ø Jacob (Genesis 28:12-22)

(Philippians 1:23) "I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;"

Results in a change in Destiny

(Philippians 1:21) "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Application

What an Awesome God!

As Marcel would say “Come and see!”

To truly worship God you must know Him personally!!!

When we Encounter His Glory… then we can Experience His Greatness and Finally we can Enjoy His Grace.

He Put the Awe in Awesome
February 22, 1998 - Isaiah 6:1-9a

1A. God is Awesome in His Glory (1-3)

This is a _____________ Vision (1)

(Revelation 4:2-3) "At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. {3} And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne."

This is _____________ Vision (2)

(Ezekiel 1:26-28) "Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. {27} I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. {28} Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown…"

This is a ________________ Vision (3)

(Exodus 15:11) ""Who among the gods is like you, O LORD? Who is like you-- majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

(Leviticus 11:45 NIV) "I am the LORD who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy."

2A God is Awesome in His Greatness (4-5)

Isaiah ________ God’s Greatness (4)

(Deuteronomy 10:17) "For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes."

Isaiah ______________ God’s Greatness (5)

(Isaiah 64:6) "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away."