SF999 - A GOD ENCOUNTER (ISAIAH 6 1-9) - Handout
Isaiah 6:1-9a
Introduction
What is a God encounter?
A God encounter is true, genuine worship.
Is worship a form or a style?
Is worship 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.
A God encounter is a life changing event.
Why should we worship?
We worship because God is worthy of worship!
Isaiah encounters God!
True worship is centered in and on God.
When we understand who God is we will understand what worship is.
Isaiah describes for us what it means to encounter God!
1A. When You Encounter God You Will Have A Renewed Vision of Who God Is (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 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. 3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.
2B. This is Humbling Vision (6:2)
The seraphim covering their feet and faces symbolizes their humility
Ezekiel 1:26-28 And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. 27 Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. 28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.
Revelation 1:12-17 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; 15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; 16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. 17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
3B. This is a Holy Vision (6:3)
Exodus 15:11 Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Leviticus 11:45 For I am the LORD who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
We must recognize the holiness of God.
2A When You Encounter God You Will Encounter 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...
Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.
Jeremiah 10:6 Inasmuch as there is none like You, O LORD (You are great, and Your name is great in might)
Psalm 66:5 Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men.
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 But 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.”
Romans 3:10-12 As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.
The control that our sin has over us - “Unclean lips”
Romans 3:13-18 Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips; 14 "Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known. 18 "There is no fear of God before their eyes.
3A. When You Encounter God You Will Encounter His Grace (6:6-9a)
1B. After Confession Comes Cleansing (6:6-7)
God’s Presence and Power - “Altar”
God’s Purity - “Live Coal”
Malachi 3:2 But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap.
God’s Pardon - “Touched your lips … your iniquity is taken…”
Micah 7:18-19 Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. 19 He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.
John 8:36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
2B. After the Cleansing Comes the Commissioning (6:8-9a)
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.
1. Ask the group to define what it means to have an encounter with God. Discuss the nature of true worship.
2. What did we learn about God and His character from Isaiah 6?
3. Why did the seraphim cover their feet and faces?
4. Discuss what holiness means?
5. When we encounter God in His greatness what will be our response?
6. Ask, “Have you ever experienced God’s greatness?”
7. Ask, “What sins has God convicted you of last night?”
8. What does it mean to be commissioned by God?