"Have You Had a True Encounter with the one true God?"

Main Text:

Isaiah 6:1–8 (NASB)

1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke. 5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

There was a tragic death.

1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death...

2 Chronicles 26:3–5 (NASB)

3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. 4 He did right in the sight of the Lord according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5 He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the Lord, God prospered him.

2 Chronicles 26:9–16 (NASB)

9 Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and fortified them. 10 He built towers in the wilderness and hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowland and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil. 11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which entered combat by divisions according to the number of their muster, prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officers. 12 The total number of the heads of the households, of valiant warriors, was 2,600. 13 Under their direction was an elite army of 307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 Moreover, Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows and sling stones. 15 In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong. 16 But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the Lord his God, for he entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2. Even in the most difficult time, God is on the throne

1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.

2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

Many times we won’t see God until tragedy tricks. Many won’t see their need for God until the hit rock bottom. Jesus said...

Mark 10:25 (NASB)

25 “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

That’s how it was for Isaiah. The death of a well loved, good, godly king was hard to bear. In his grief and his sorrow, Isaiah went to the temple and there he saw God in the fullness of His glory.

The first response to seeing God as He really is will be…

“Wow!”

1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. 2 Seraphim stood above Him, each having six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.

Isaiah saw God for who He really is.

Who is God?

Father, Son, Holy Spirit

Holy, Holy, Holy

Creator

Giver of every good gift

The ruler of the universe

The only one who deserves all you have and all you are.

Isiah saw that and was like… “WOW!”

The second response to seeing God as He really is will be that see more clearly who you really are.

“Woe!”

5 Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

When you see God as He really is, you see more clearly who you really are.

Who are we?

Sinners

Helpless

Powerless

In need of a Savior.

When God shows you who you are and what you’ve done, you have a couple choices. You can take responsibility for it, confess your sin and repent from in by turning to Jesus Christ or you can feel bad about it and make excuses for it and make like you’re the victim.

Notice what Isaiah did...

When God sees us confess our sins and repent from our sins, He will forgive us and purify us from our sins.

“What?!?!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with it and said, “Behold, this has touched your lips; and your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven.”

Romans 6:23 (NASB)

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 John 1:9 (NASB)

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Once God extends mercy and forgives us of our sins and makes us holy and righteous, by His grace, through faith, He gives us a new life and a new purpose in this life...

“WooHoo!”

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

Psalm 51:12–13 (NASB)

12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.

13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

How about you? Have you seen God for who He really is? Do you know Jesus Christ? If you do, live in the joy of salvation and tell other people about Jesus. That is part of God’s purpose for your life.

If you don’t know Jesus, you can tonight. There are only two groups of people… the Saints and the Ain’ts. If you ain’t a saint… if you haven’t place your faith and trust in Jesus Christ, do so right now. You can pray a prayer like this…