A "For Prophet" Encounter

A "For Prophet" Encounter Spring Valley Mennonite; July 31, 2022; Isaiah 6:5-13 In further study this week of Isaiah 6 I found a parallel passage in Revelation 4 where the Apostle John also saw the Throne of God. We find there another type of heavenly being, different from the Seraphim, yet their message remains the same: Revelation 4:8 "The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within, And they do not rest day or night, saying: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" The great 18th century scholar Matthew Henry comments, "power, without purity to guide it, would be a terror to mankind1" My thoughts of this led to consider our enemy Satan, whose power is completely without any hint of purity, who certainly is a terror to man. Likewise are those in leadership who are without the inner guidance of God. "Power without purity to guide is a terror to mankind." We are continuing to examine the 6th chapter of Isaiah where Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord Jesus in all His glory and holiness. In this encounter with God the Son, Isaiah fell on his face with the words "Woe is me!" The task of being God's spokesman often entailed the pronouncement of judgment on both those oppressing God's Chosen, and upon the Chosen themselves when they turned their backs on God. His words in pronouncing doom on himself are at the same time revealing and convicting. I. A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS Look at verse 5 of chapter 6: "Woe is me, for I am ruined, for I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell among a people of unclean lips." Notice the personal pronouns-me and I-Isaiah is taking personal responsibility for his actions. He doesn't blame those around him, or those in leadership in the nation, he doesn't try and excuse his unholy actions in any way. Each person stands on his own before God. This is why we each must have a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Our sin is personal, and we need to individually ask forgiveness. It is popular in our culture to excuse our actions, blaming our wrong choices on anyone or anything other than ourselves. Our parents are to blame, or our circumstances, or the situation in which we grew up, or lack of opportunity, or poor education, or any number of other cop-outs which allow us to avoid taking responsibility for our bad actions. And while these things can place challenges in front of our achievement, none of these excuses will hold water when we stand before God. What a tragedy to go through life and only find out too late that I, and only I, am responsible for my wrong actions! Isaiah was possibly the most righteous man in Judah. After all, God chose him to be the prophet. But God knew that Isaiah couldn't stand and speak for Him until he truly understood His absolute holiness and absolute hatred of sin. That was one reason God allowed Isaiah to see Him in His absolute holiness. At that moment, Isaiah not only saw God, but he became aware that this Holy God saw him. At that moment, Isaiah was filled with self-awareness of his own unholiness. One of the unpleasant realities of driving a car is that occasionally something goes wrong and it stops running. The standard procedure is that we pull off to the side of the road, pop the hood latch and raise the hood. We may not have the slightest idea of what we are to look for, but that seems like the right thing to do. If this happens at night you stand the chance of getting grease on your hands. It isn't until you get into the light that you notice how dirty your hands are. The stronger the light, the worse it looks. I suppose if we lived in perpetual darkness, it wouldn't matter how dirty we were, for no one would notice. As my eyes have aged, I need help to read small print. I found this nifty magnifier which has a rechargeable light. It really works well! When Isaiah came into the brilliant light of God's holiness, his sin was revealed in startling clarity. As long as he was living in the shadows, his sin wasn't so apparent, and perhaps seemed small. In the magnified clarity of absolute holiness, his sin took on its true significance. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world..." Light reveals. People reject our Lord and His message of salvation because they love the darkness rather than the light. But those who come to the light find that there is cleansing from the stain of sin. That is what Isaiah found as he fell on his face before God. Isn't it interesting how he articulated his sin: "I am a man of unclean lips." One would think that he could have thought of other sins rather than saying bad words! Actually, Isaiah isn't confessing that he occasionally used profanity. In a Bible study on lips, mouth and tongue, I found over 600 separate uses of those terms and most of them are not referring to the physical parts of our anatomy. They pertain rather to the words which come out of our mouths. Isaiah is using a metaphor which refers to his deepest motivations which come out in his speech. One doesn't have to listen to someone's conversation for very long before much can be learned about them. Even casual conversation communicates much as to what is important to them and where their values lie. I would hope that as Christians, people wouldn't need to listen very long to us before our Christlikeness would become apparent. The Bible clearly connects what is in the heart with what comes out of the mouth. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when tempted in the wilderness, that man lives not by bread alone but by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God. God's words express His character. This connection is made throughout the Bible: our words reveal our inner character. This connection is spoken of in Psalm 34:12-13: "Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit." Proverbs 21:23 "He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles." Jesus summarized the issue when He addressed the Pharisees, as recorded in Matthew 12:34-37: "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned." Isaiah not only saw his own sin, but the sin of all Judah. "I dwell among a people of unclean lips." By their speech, the nation was demonstrating that God was no longer first in their hearts. Here is a thought for your consideration: If we evaluate what we hear from our culture, what do we find? Do we not find that God is far from us? It is not considered socially correct to mention Jesus Christ, except as a curse. Talking openly about one's Christian faith is seen as bad taste or "intolerant." Can anyone disagree that our speech condemns us as a godless nation? And while profanity is not primarily the focus of Isaiah's words on unclean lips, profanity is certainly an indication of what is in the mind and heart. Have you noticed how subtly profanity has become part of the dialogue on television? It is so common, we hardly notice it anymore! I wonder if the use of profanity is an "indicator sin" which appears when a nation is in spiritual decline? As Isaiah cried out in realization that he was condemned for his sinful heart, God mercifully dealt with his sin: in verses 6 and 7 we read of... II. THE CLEANSING OF THE PROPHET'S SIN (READ VV. 6-7) One of the angelic beings took a coal from the altar in the heavenly temple and touched Isaiah's mouth with the words, "Your iniquity is taken away and your sin is forgiven." We observe here a two-part transaction: Isaiah confessing his sin, and God forgiving his sin. The realization of his condition as a sinner, and articulating it was necessary before forgiveness could be extended. God did not leave Isaiah on his face but provided a means for dealing with his sin. In this instance, God took the initiative using a coal from the altar. In our time, since the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, forgiveness comes through the Cross. Notice that the forgiveness was not without personal pain. The lips and mouth are one of the most sensitive parts of the body. Think of a red hot coal touching your lips! Sin always causes pain in the long run. Yes, sin may be pleasurable for a short time but there are always consequences to sin. One never sins without hurting himself as well as hurting others. There is also pain involved in resolving the issues created by our sin. There is pain and humiliation if our sin is revealed to others. Yet this pain was a healing pain, a cleansing pain, as was the pain our sin caused Jesus on the Cross. 2nd Corinthians 7:10 adds a crucial element to this discussion. "For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret leading to salvation; but sorrow of the world produces death." Often, I have counseled people who are in pain as a result of their bad decisions. Because of their sins, they are filled with sorrow. But often that sorrow is only a reflection of the pain of the situation. They look for relief from the pain, not relief for the sin. That type of sorrow is like a child saying, "I'm sorry" when what is meant is "I'm sorry that I got caught and sorry that I may be be disciplined!" Feeling sorry only for the consequences of sin is the sorrow of the world; it produces only death. True repentance is sorrow over the sin, not over the pain of the consequence. God will leave us in the pain until true repentance is forthcoming, and even after repentance the pain of consequences may continue. And, every sin affects others in addition to ourselves. When a husband and wife sin against one another through thoughtless words or actions, it is painful to ask forgiveness. The longer hurts are allowed to fester, the greater the pain of correction. Years of neglect and sinful actions are not corrected quickly, and not without great effort. The reward is worth every bit of effort, but while the forgiveness may be immediate, the healing takes time. A tumor may be removed quickly in an operation, but it takes weeks for the incision to heal. The touch of the coal to Isaiah's lips speaks of the pain involved in resolving and overcoming the effects of sin. If we realize this principle that sin and pain are always connected, it should serve as a great deterrent to sin. When we observe our Lord Jesus Christ hanging on the cross enduring all the pain--not only the pain of the crucifixion--but when Jesus hung on that cross, God the Father turned His holy face away from His son. He could not look upon our sins which Jesus was bearing. This was the greatest pain Jesus suffered-- but He did it gladly for the joy our redemption would bring. At the cross the connection of pain and sin becomes crystal clear. III. THE OUTCOME OF CLEANSING (READ V. 8.) Notice the chain of events in this passage, for they illustrate a necessary order. First, Isaiah sees God in his absolute holiness. Second, Isaiah realizes own unholiness because of his sin and he falls down in despair agreeing with God that he is a Sinner-this is what the Bible calls "repentance), Thirdly, God responds by cleansing his sin. Lastly, God presents an opportunity for service in the Kingdom. It is a grave error to try and reverse the order of these events by trying to serve God before dealing with our sin. It's a fatal error to think that our service for God somehow atones for sins. It is an error to think if we just work hard enough in God's service then we will earn forgiveness. What a lie of Satan! Our enemy tells us that salvation is like the statue of Lady Justice: this is the lady standing blindfolded holding a great balance beam in her hand. This wrong view of God sees our good deeds on one side of the scale and our sins on the other. This lie tells us that when we die whichever side is heavier determines whether we go to heaven or hell. My friends, that picture was clearly concocted by the enemy of our souls and is responsible for the doom of millions of people. Titus 3:5 "He saved us not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit." Salvation is not earned; it is a free gift. Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." That is the good news of the gospel! We can never do enough good works to outweigh our sins. Our very nature is fallen, and we sin because we are sinners by nature. There is no way we can change our basic nature apart from being born anew by the Spirit of God. Salvation is by faith, not of works, not a result of good deeds or service; to think so is to fall into the trap and snare of the devil. And think of this: to attempt to secure salvation in any other way other than that which God has provided is to tell him that His way is inadequate. "I'll do it my way." Going our own way is one definition of sin, by the way. God made it very plain in Acts 4:12 "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." But when we realize we are sinners, agreeing with God about that fact, then God can cleanse us of the basic root problem and do the work of salvation in our hearts. Then-and only then- are we fit for his service. God presented to Isaiah the opportunity with the words, "Whom shall I send, and who will go with us?" Isaiah's response? "Here am I. Send me." God called Isaiah to perhaps the most difficult task on earth, yet the most rewarding. To speak for God is never easy, but it was especially difficult in a place and time where people were prosperous and complacent in their sin, so much like in our own present culture. God warned Isaiah that most people would not listen, but that his warnings of judgment would eventually come true. It was not to an easy task to which he was called. Yet God calls each believer to a life of difficulty, going against the flow, of standing against the crowd. Another of Satan's lies is that once one becomes a believer, all problems are behind you. The truth in Isaiah's life was that his problems had just begun! Yet consider this: everyone alive has problems of one sort or another. We live in a fallen world where things go wrong. Perhaps one might think that becoming a Christian and trying to live in a godly manner will create too many problems, but perhaps the choice boils down to how we will choose to deal with our problems; On our own, or with God's help? The believer in Jesus Christ who walks closely to his Lord has God as his strength and his shield. Do you realize that means that God is both our offense and our defense? He fights our battles for us, as well as being our shield, protecting us in the battle. The believer is called to warfare in this world, to fight the forces of evil and unrighteousness. In one sense, all believers are called to be God's spokesman. People read about God from our lives. The words of our lips are to demonstrate the new life within us. And while the life may be challenging, the retirement program is outstanding! Isaiah, the prophet of God, was broken before God when he saw God in His absolute and burning holiness. He humbly confessed his sin, and God cleansed him, making him suitable for service. Isaiah responded by a willingness to do whatever God asked of him. This morning, the same choices face us. God's burning holiness has not changed. When we see Him as he really is, we can turn away and remain in our sins, or we can respond as did Isaiah, realizing that we stand condemned in our unholiness. As we agree with God that we are sinners- and that we are fully dependent upon his mercy, then God reaches out and touches our lives with the cleansing made possible through the cross of Jesus Christ. There may be those who hear this message and understand their need for God's forgiveness, either for the first time or as a believer. Have you come before God, realizing your sin, and your need of cleansing? "Behold, today is the day of salvation." If you need the cleansing from your sins, you have a choice today. As God reveals your sinfulness, repent of that sin and claim the forgiveness God offers through Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross. The Christian life is not the easy way, but it is the only way which leads to peace and joy. It is also the only way that leads to heaven and eternal life. Jesus said to them, "I am the way, the truth and the life; No one comes to the father except through me." 1 Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry's commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1089). Peabody: Hendrickson. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2