Embracing God's Holiness: From Reverence to Mission
Summary
The holiness of God stands at the very center of our faith, shaping not only our understanding of who He is, but also how we are to live in response. Isaiah’s vision in chapter 6 offers a powerful reminder that God is not merely a companion or a distant friend, but the Lord who is “holy, holy, holy,” whose glory fills the whole earth. In a culture that often trivializes or domesticates God, we are called back to a posture of reverence and awe. The seraphim in Isaiah’s vision, covering their faces and feet, model a response of deep respect and readiness before the consuming fire of God’s presence. Even these fiery beings cannot look directly upon Him, reminding us that God’s holiness is utterly unique and unapproachable apart from His grace.
Isaiah’s immediate reaction to this vision is not pride or presumption, but a profound awareness of his own sinfulness and unworthiness. “Woe is me, for I am lost,” he cries, recognizing that in the light of God’s holiness, all pretense falls away. This is the necessary starting point for every encounter with God: a humble confession of our need. Yet, God does not leave Isaiah in his guilt. Through the burning coal from the altar, Isaiah’s sin is atoned for—an Old Testament foreshadowing of the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ. Salvation is God’s initiative, not ours; it is His holiness that both exposes our need and provides the means for our cleansing.
Once cleansed, Isaiah hears the call of God: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” His response—“Here I am, send me”—flows naturally from his encounter with God’s holiness and grace. This is the pattern for all who have been redeemed: worship leads to confession, confession to cleansing, and cleansing to commission. We are not called to complacency, but to active participation in God’s mission, wherever He places us. The question is not whether God is calling, but whether we are listening and willing to respond. Each of us is invited to press into God’s holiness, to worship Him in reverence and awe, and to step forward in obedience, saying, “Here I am, send me.”
Key Takeaways
- Reverence for God’s Holiness Must Shape Our Lives
True worship begins with a deep reverence for God’s holiness, not a casual familiarity. When we lose sight of His utter otherness, our faith becomes shallow and self-centered. Recovering awe before God transforms not only our worship, but also how we live and love others, reminding us that He is worthy of all honor and praise. [24:11]
- The Nearness of God’s Holiness Exposes Our Need
Drawing close to God inevitably reveals our own sinfulness and inadequacy. Like Isaiah, we must be willing to see ourselves in the light of His perfection, confessing our unworthiness rather than hiding behind excuses or self-justification. This honest reckoning is the doorway to true transformation. [45:26]
- Cleansing and Forgiveness Are God’s Initiative
Isaiah’s cleansing comes not from his own effort, but from God’s gracious action—a burning coal from the altar, a symbol of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. Our salvation is always God’s work, received by faith, not earned by merit. This truth humbles us and fills us with gratitude, knowing that God alone justifies and makes us new. [50:57]
- Encountering God’s Holiness Leads to Mission
The pattern in Isaiah 6 is clear: worship leads to confession, confession to cleansing, and cleansing to commission. Once we have tasted God’s grace, we are called to respond in obedience, offering our lives as a “blank check” for His purposes. God’s call may lead us into difficult places, but His holiness compels us to go. [52:58]
- Ongoing Obedience Flows from Continual Awe
It is easy to drift from reverence into complacency, but returning to the vision of God’s holiness rekindles our passion and willingness to serve. When we lose the “heat” of His presence, we must press back in, allowing His Spirit to renew our devotion and readiness to say, “Here I am, send me,” wherever He leads. [58:21]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[23:21] - Introduction: The Holiness of God
[24:11] - Recovering Reverence in Our Generation
[25:28] - Worship and Reverence in Daily Life
[27:13] - Responding to God’s Holiness
[28:23] - Reading Isaiah 6:1-8
[29:36] - The Downfall of King Uzziah
[32:40] - The Train of God’s Robe: A Glimpse of Holiness
[34:42] - God’s Supremacy Over Earthly Kings
[36:12] - The Seraphim: Fiery Beings in God’s Presence
[38:08] - The Role and Posture of the Seraphim
[40:20] - The Song of “Holy, Holy, Holy”
[42:51] - Creation Declares God’s Glory
[45:26] - Isaiah’s Confession and Our Need
[49:47] - The Burning Coal: Cleansing and Atonement
[52:58] - The Call and Commission of Isaiah
[54:57] - Our Response: Here I Am, Send Me
[58:21] - Personal Testimony and Application
[01:01:22] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[01:04:44] - Choir and Benediction
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Holiness of God (Isaiah 6:1-8)
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### Bible Reading
Isaiah 6:1-8
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### Observation Questions
1. In Isaiah’s vision, what specific actions do the seraphim take in response to God’s holiness, and what might these actions signify? ([39:07])
2. How does Isaiah react when he sees the Lord and hears the seraphim’s proclamation? What does he say about himself and his people? ([45:26])
3. What is the significance of the burning coal that the seraphim brings to Isaiah, and what does the seraphim say after touching Isaiah’s lips? ([50:57])
4. After Isaiah is cleansed, what question does God ask, and how does Isaiah respond? ([52:58])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do the seraphim, who are themselves “fiery” beings, cover their faces and feet in God’s presence? What does this teach us about the nature of God’s holiness? ([39:07])
2. Isaiah’s immediate response to God’s holiness is a deep awareness of his own sinfulness. Why is this the “necessary starting point” for every encounter with God, according to the sermon? ([45:26])
3. The burning coal from the altar is described as a foreshadowing of Christ’s sacrifice. How does this Old Testament image help us understand the nature of salvation in the New Testament? ([50:57])
4. The sermon describes a pattern: worship leads to confession, confession to cleansing, and cleansing to commission. Why is it important that commission (being sent) comes after cleansing? ([52:58])
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon warns that our culture often “trivializes or domesticates God.” In what ways have you noticed this in your own life or in the church? How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper sense of reverence and awe for God this week? ([24:11])
2. Isaiah’s confession was honest and humble. Is there an area in your life where you need to stop making excuses and instead bring your unworthiness before God? What would it look like to do that this week? ([45:26])
3. The burning coal represents God’s initiative in cleansing us. Are you tempted to try to “earn” God’s forgiveness or approval? How can you remind yourself that salvation is God’s work, not yours? ([50:57])
4. After his cleansing, Isaiah responds, “Here I am, send me.” Is there a specific way you sense God calling you to serve—either in the church, your workplace, or your community? What is holding you back from saying “yes”? ([52:58])
5. The pastor shared how returning to a vision of God’s holiness rekindles passion and willingness to serve. When was the last time you felt that “heat” of God’s presence? What practical steps can you take to press back into God’s holiness if you feel spiritually cold or complacent? ([58:21])
6. The sermon challenges us to offer our lives as a “blank check” to God. What would it look like for you to do this in a specific area of your life right now? ([59:24])
7. The pastor asked, “What spiritual gifting has God given you that you’re not using for the edification of this church?” Take a moment to reflect: is there a gift or passion you’ve been neglecting? How could you begin to use it for God’s purposes? ([01:00:06])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for a renewed sense of God’s holiness, honest confession, and a willingness to say, “Here I am, send me,” wherever God leads.
Devotional
Day 1: The Holiness of God: Reverence and Awe
To truly know God is to stand in awe of His holiness, recognizing that He is utterly set apart, perfect, and worthy of our deepest reverence. In a world that often reduces God to a casual companion, we are called to recover a sense of holy fear and adoration, letting His majesty shape our worship and daily living. When we remember that God is “holy, holy, holy,” we are reminded that His nature is unique and supreme, deserving of our worship not just on Sundays, but in every moment and place. Let your heart be stirred to worship the Lord in reverence and awe, for He alone is worthy. [24:11]
Isaiah 6:1-3 (ESV)
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed your view of God to become too casual or familiar? How can you intentionally cultivate a deeper reverence and awe for His holiness today?
Day 2: Responding to God’s Holiness with Humility
When Isaiah glimpsed the holiness of God, he was immediately confronted with his own unworthiness and sinfulness. True encounters with God’s holiness humble us, exposing our need for grace and leading us to repentance. Rather than shrinking back or justifying ourselves, we are invited to honestly confess our brokenness before the Lord, trusting that He meets us in our humility. Let your heart be open to see yourself as you truly are before God, and let that awareness draw you closer to His mercy. [45:26]
Isaiah 6:5 (ESV)
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
Reflection: When was the last time you were truly humbled by God’s holiness? What specific area of your life do you need to bring before Him in honest confession today?
Day 3: Cleansed and Forgiven by God’s Initiative
God does not leave us in our guilt and shame; He takes the initiative to cleanse and forgive. Just as the burning coal touched Isaiah’s lips and took away his guilt, so too does God, through Christ, offer us complete atonement and forgiveness. We do nothing to earn this grace—it is God’s gift, given freely out of His love and holiness. Rest in the assurance that your sins are forgiven, not by your own merit, but by the finished work of Christ. [50:57]
Isaiah 6:6-7 (ESV)
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”
Reflection: Is there any lingering guilt or shame you are holding onto? How can you receive and rest in God’s complete forgiveness for you today?
Day 4: Called and Commissioned to Serve
After Isaiah was cleansed, he heard God’s call and responded with willingness and obedience: “Here I am! Send me.” God’s holiness not only humbles and cleanses us, but also calls us into His service. Each of us is invited to respond to God’s call—whether in our church, our community, or wherever He leads—with a heart ready to say yes. Consider how God may be calling you to step out in faith and serve Him, trusting that He equips those He calls. [52:58]
Isaiah 6:8 (ESV)
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
Reflection: What is one specific way you sense God calling you to serve or step out in faith? What would it look like to say, “Here I am, send me” in that area today?
Day 5: Living Daily in Worship and Obedience
The holiness of God is not just a truth to be admired, but a reality to be lived out each day. We are called to worship God in spirit and truth, letting reverence for His holiness shape our actions, our love for others, and our willingness to obey. As you go about your daily life—at work, at home, in your community—let the awareness of God’s holiness move you to live as His ambassador, reflecting His glory in all you do. [01:01:22]
Psalm 111:10 (ESV)
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Reflection: How can you intentionally let the holiness of God shape your words, actions, and relationships today, so that others may see His glory through you?
Quotes
If we never understand the bad news of the gospel, we will never understand the good news of the gospel. The closer we get to God, the more sinful that we feel because of his holiness. But that's okay because in Christ we share in his righteousness. [00:46:46] (24 seconds)
The seraphim touches Isaiah's lips with the burning coal of salvation, and he is made clean. His sins are forgiven. His guilt has been taken away. and in this image is a sin atonement. You know, what a beautiful foreshadow of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus. [00:51:13] (17 seconds)
Our God is an awesome God. A consuming fire of holiness. Isaiah's salvation is instantaneous. He is justified, made not guilty, cleansed from his sins, he's forgiven. [00:51:57] (20 seconds)
But when we lose the reverence and awe of God, we try to reduce him in our minds and in our hearts. Our worship is then affected. How we love others is then affected. How we live our lives is then affected. [00:49:15] (19 seconds)
If we never understand the bad news of the gospel, we will never understand the good news of the gospel. The closer we get to God, the more sinful that we feel because of his holiness. But that's okay because in Christ we share in his righteousness. [00:46:46] (24 seconds)
Holiness is the Lord's glory, which as the Creator fills the earth. His majesty can be seen as creation. As Psalm 91 says, the heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaim his handiwork. This is a call to worship the Lord because he is the one true holy God, the one who created all things. [00:42:51] (26 seconds)
My life is a blank check. My life belongs to you. Lord, cash it. As often as you want, I will do my best to walk in obedience with you in all that I do, knowing I would stumble, knowing that I would fail. But his grace would cover me. [00:58:21] (20 seconds)
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