In Service to a Holy, Holy, Holy God

read Isaiah 6:1-8

Realizing Who God Is

“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” -A.W. Tozer

When you think about God what is the first thing that comes to mind? What is His most important characteristic?

I’ll give you a hint, his most important characteristic is the only one mentioned thrice in the Old Testament. Holiness. God’s most important characteristic is His holiness. The way God does everything is set apart on how we do it. His love is holy, his anger is holy, his grace is holy, etc.

The way we are able to show the characteristics are only a glimpse at the fullness of how God shows it. The only way we are able to show any qualities is because we are made in the image of God. He has given us the ability to reflect the qualities he has, and if we are honest we are reflection full of cracks.

What does holy mean? it means to be set a part and also can carry a meaning of purity.

God’s ways are up here and ours are down here illustration

The passage says that the whole earth is full of his glory. God’s glory is evident everywhere, nut when we don’t see it, it is because we choose not to.

When we truly realize who God is it transforms our lives radically, not just a little. Your life will not look the same. When you truly understand God is holy you will begin to find yourself truly putting Him first. Understanding God’s holiness leaves you full of praise and wonder. When we realize who God is, the light of who He is begins to expose things about us. Making us realize we are far from holy, and in deep need of His love

Realizing Who We Are

As Isaiah experienced God’s holiness, Isaiah came to the realization of his sinfulness and unworthiness to be in the presence of God. “Woe is me” was like Isaiah saying I am going to die. Fire is often used to remove impurities from precious metals. Those impurities at a certain degree have to reacting in such a way it removes them from the gold, making the gold more pure. Isaiah realized his life was full of impurities and a part from God’s grace he would burn because of those impurities. Their has to be a reaction. But Isiah here admits his sin. If we truly confess our sins and submit to God He has taken those impurities and placed those impurities upon Christ to have them burned and destroyed.

Let us stop right here for another moment and take a spell to realize who God is. We also realize God is gracious and Holy. When is the last time you paused to think about truly what Christ went through to purify you? And the fact He is the God of the universe

Walking through the crucifixion: Flogged, mocked, crown of thorns, spit on, forced to carry a cross, and nailed to a cross. Not only did he face physical pain but also he faced spiritual pain unlike anything any of us have ever experienced. The fullness of wrath was poured out upon Him. The God of the universe done this all for me and you so that we may be made pure to worship and dwell with him for all eternity. The humility and control he shows. How many of us would have done that? He could have literally said stop with his divine authority and stopped it all.

If that does not humble you and make you feel loved and overwhelmed with blessedness. You need leave whatever sin you are dealing with alone because you are on a dangerous path. Knowing what God has done should drive you to worship, we don’t follow the Bible out of obligation or trying to earn salvation, but our of a heart of gratitude. Following Scripture is an act of worship. Following scripture is part of living a holy life. when I read of what Christ has done I want to live in that power and blessedness and live a life that shakes the foundations of this world we live in.

Only Christ has the power to purify your life.

Worship that Shakes the Foundations

The sounds of their worship shook the foundations of the temple. They spoke the truth of God and gave Him glory and when they done so the environment they were in could not but help to be impacted, it could not stay the same. Why is our praise not like that? Our praises shouldn’t be barely be able to heard out in the hallway, but it should be able to be heard out there on the road when someone is driving by with their window down. We shouldn't just be loud and passionate over football or our favorite song. We should be more passionate about Christ and His goodness. We get more excited over a touchdown than a baptism sometimes. We break out in Bon Jovi more often than Amazing Grace or How Great Thou Art. We can name the last 12 football coaches for Alabama or Auburn but can’t name 5 of the disciples. We can strike up a conversation up about football in a heartbeat with a stranger, but can’t say the first word about Jesus to a stranger.

More importantly if we truly realize the holiness of God and submit / surrender to Him we will walk with radical obedience that will leave our world changed for the better. Isaiah answered God’s call without question, without doubt and walked in radical obedience.

Radical Obedience

Isaiah 6:8 says, the Lord said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” And it shows Isaiah’s response as “Here I am! Send me.” He did not say where Lord, to do what Lord, what is the message Lord, Lord i need details, Lord i need a friend, Lord i need, i need, i need. God did not call us to be needy people but obedient people. God has called so many to do things, but so many have missed out on the calling because they were needy instead of obedient. God will provide what He needs to accomplish His purposes, but sometimes He is just waiting to provide after we take that first step of obedience. He is waiting to give the words to say in the moment sometimes to teach you faith.

When we walk in radical obedience people are going to get shaken up. Some will respond well, but most will not. Scripture makes that very clear.

Read Isaiah 6:9-13

Proclaiming an Unwanted Message

Isaiah gets the message He is to deliver.

Isaiah 1–39 (4) Hope in the Midst of Destruction (6:11–13)

Although some of Isaiah’s responsibilities might not seem very inviting, personal preferences and fear fade into the background when a person has had the privilege of seeing the glory of the Holy King.

A message we would all be a little hesitant about delivering. He pretty much was telling the people you are hearing the goodness of God but not listening. Today we live in a world not accepting the goodness of God very well, that is hostile to the message. But guess what? You are still called to proclaim the Gospel no matter the circumstances. You have no excuse. If we truly realize the holiness of God we will not be afraid to stand against evil in this world. You are called to preach a message that won’t make you popular. Most people will reject you, but you do not have the right to stop no matter the amount of rejection. Because one it is not your responsibility how the respond. Second what if number 1,000 was the one to say yes to Christ, but you stopped?

Never Give Up

Isaiah asked Lord How long. God did not say in a matter of months or days, or decades, but until no one is left. So will there ever be a time you have the right to stop proclaiming the Gospel and living a life of worship? No. Until the day you die you are called to proclaim God’s goodness to this lost and dying world. Never write off anyone. continue pressing forward. We have got to persevere until the end. Perseverance is not easy and we must depend on Christ. If you try to keep on till the end by your plan and your power you are going to fail.