Embracing God's Holiness: From Reverence to Mission

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

• 1. 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]
• 2. 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]
• 3. 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]
• 4. 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]
• 5. 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
• [61:22] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
• [64:44] - Choir and Benediction

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])

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])

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])