Encountering God's Holiness: A Call to Humble Service

Devotional

Day 1: Encountering the Majesty of God's Holiness

Isaiah's vision of God's holiness reveals the vast chasm between divine purity and human sinfulness. In Isaiah 6, the prophet is confronted with the overwhelming majesty and moral purity of God, which starkly contrasts with his own sinfulness. This encounter strips away any sense of self-righteousness, leaving Isaiah acutely aware of his unworthiness. He cries out, "Woe to me! I am ruined!" recognizing that even his righteous deeds are tainted in the presence of a holy God. This realization is crucial for anyone who seeks to serve God, as it prepares the heart for true service by fostering humility and dependence on divine grace. [05:48]

Isaiah 57:15 (ESV): "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to acknowledge your unworthiness before God, allowing His holiness to transform your heart and actions today?

Day 2: The Necessity of Divine Cleansing

Before Isaiah could serve as a prophet, he needed to be cleansed of his sinfulness. This cleansing, symbolized by the coal from the altar, points to the atoning work of Christ. The seraph's act of touching Isaiah's lips with a coal signifies the purification and atonement that only God can provide. This divine cleansing is essential for equipping us to serve God effectively, as it removes the barrier of sin and prepares us to respond to His call with humility and confidence. The cleansing of Isaiah foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who reconciles God's justice and mercy, allowing us to stand forgiven and justified. [19:55]

Psalm 51:7-10 (ESV): "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."

Reflection: What specific sins or burdens do you need to bring before God today, asking for His cleansing and renewal in your life?

Day 3: Reconciliation of Justice and Mercy

God's forgiveness is not arbitrary; it is grounded in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This reconciliation of justice and mercy allows us to stand justified before God, highlighting the necessity of the cross for true atonement. The narrative of Isaiah's cleansing serves as a powerful reminder of God's grace, as it points to the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, who bridges the gap between divine justice and mercy. Through His atoning work, we are able to experience forgiveness and justification, enabling us to live in the freedom and confidence of being reconciled to God. [23:36]

Romans 3:25-26 (ESV): "Whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

Reflection: How does understanding the reconciliation of God's justice and mercy through Christ's sacrifice impact your view of forgiveness and grace in your own life?

Day 4: Living Daily in the Truth of the Gospel

The gospel is not just for unbelievers; it is essential for believers to live in its truth daily. It reassures us of our acceptance and justification, enabling us to serve God with confidence and gratitude. As we grow in our understanding of God's holiness and our own sinfulness, we are continually reminded of the depth of the gospel and the grace we have received. This ongoing awareness moves us to live in gratitude, not just in words but in a life of service, as we respond to God's call with a heart transformed by His love. [39:23]

Colossians 1:21-23 (ESV): "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister."

Reflection: What practical steps can you take today to live more fully in the truth of the gospel, allowing it to shape your actions and attitudes?

Day 5: Gratitude as a Response to Grace

True gratitude arises from understanding the depth of God's grace. It compels us to serve willingly, not out of obligation, but from a heart transformed by the realization of what Christ has done for us. This gratitude is not born out of guilt but from a profound appreciation for the grace we have received, leading us to say, "Here am I. Send me," with love and thankfulness. As we reflect on the gospel and the cleansing we have received, we are moved to live a life of service, motivated by gratitude and a desire to share God's love with others. [41:21]

2 Corinthians 9:12-13 (ESV): "For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others."

Reflection: How can you express your gratitude for God's grace today in a tangible way, serving others with a heart of thankfulness and love?

Sermon Summary

In Isaiah 6, we encounter a profound vision of God's holiness that compels us to reflect on our own spiritual state. Isaiah's vision reveals the transcendent majesty and infinite moral purity of God, which starkly contrasts with human sinfulness. This encounter with God's holiness leads Isaiah to a deep awareness of his own unworthiness, prompting him to cry out, "Woe to me! I am ruined!" Despite being a righteous man, Isaiah recognizes his own sinfulness in the presence of a holy God, likening himself to a moral leper. This realization is crucial for anyone who seeks to serve God, as it strips away self-righteousness and prepares the heart for true service.

The narrative of Isaiah's cleansing is a powerful reminder of God's grace. A seraph touches Isaiah's lips with a coal from the altar, symbolizing the atonement and cleansing that only God can provide. This act foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who reconciles God's justice and mercy, allowing us to stand forgiven and justified. It is through this divine cleansing that Isaiah is prepared to respond to God's call, "Whom shall I send?" with humility and confidence, saying, "Here am I. Send me!"

This passage challenges us to continually grow in our understanding of God's holiness, our own sinfulness, and the depth of the gospel. As we do so, we are moved to gratitude, not just in words but in a life of service. This gratitude is not born out of obligation but from a profound realization of what Christ has done for us. It is this gratitude that compels us to say, "Here am I. Send me," not out of guilt, but out of love and thankfulness for the grace we have received.

Key Takeaways

1. righteousness, preparing us to serve God with humility. Recognizing our unworthiness is the first step toward true spiritual growth and service. [05:48]
2. The Necessity of Cleansing: Before Isaiah could serve as a prophet, he needed to be cleansed of his sinfulness. This cleansing, symbolized by the coal from the altar, points to the atoning work of Christ. Only through divine cleansing can we be equipped to serve God effectively.

3. God's Justice and Mercy Reconciled: God's forgiveness is not arbitrary; it is grounded in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. This reconciliation of justice and mercy allows us to stand justified before God, highlighting the necessity of the cross for true atonement.

4. Living in the Gospel: The gospel is not just for unbelievers; it is essential for believers to live in its truth daily. It reassures us of our acceptance and justification, enabling us to serve God with confidence and gratitude.

5. Gratitude as a Response to Grace: True gratitude arises from understanding the depth of God's grace. It compels us to serve willingly, not out of obligation, but from a heart transformed by the realization of what Christ has done for us.

** [05:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:15] - Introduction to Isaiah 6
[00:33] - Responding to God's Holiness
[01:09] - The Eternal Song of the Seraphs
[01:44] - Reactions to God's Presence
[02:59] - Isaiah's Vision and Realization
[04:01] - The Transcendent Majesty of God
[05:28] - Isaiah's Double Realization
[07:20] - Isaiah's Cry of Woe
[09:08] - The Significance of Unclean Lips
[11:21] - The Sin of Self-Righteousness
[13:09] - Personal Encounter with God's Holiness
[15:43] - The Call and Cleansing of Isaiah
[19:18] - The Symbolism of the Coal
[23:36] - Justice and Mercy Reconciled
[30:31] - Grace Enables Humility and Confidence
[34:40] - The Ever-Deepening Cycle of Awareness
[39:23] - Living in the Gospel
[41:21] - Gratitude and Willing Service
[42:12] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

The seraps having sinless Natures see the Holiness of God and they react with awe and adoration. Isaiah experiences the same thing but he feels it as a sinner and so he cries out woe is me. Now the fact is Isaiah was a righteous man he was about to receive his commission as a prophet to the nation. [00:07:16]

Before God can use Isaiah as a prophet Isaiah must first of all see himself as a sinner in the presence of a holy God. Isaiah is uniquely the prophet of Woe a number of times through throughout his prophecy he pronounces wo in the nation of Judah the nation of Israel the surrounding nations. [00:10:03]

He must be stripped of any vestiges of self-righteousness and dear friends let me say this as lovingly as I can but I in my opinion the greatest sin in the evangelical church today is not the sin of adultery although that is rampant it is not the sin of materialism though that pervades us like an infectious disease. [00:11:02]

If you and I are going to be effective for God we have to be stripped of our self-righteousness. I do not know how effective I am God God only knows that but I do remember that early on in my Ministry I had a kind of a mini Isaiah 6 experience it happened like this. [00:13:00]

Isaiah was completely devastated Isaiah had so to speak come apart at the seams but God does not leave him in this situation God has a deliberate reason for bringing Isaiah to this position where he is devastated where he says woe is me because now Isaiah is in a position to receive the cleansing action. [00:20:07]

God cannot do this God cannot subvert his Justice in order to favor his Mercy Mercy and Justice must come together mercy and Justice must be reconciled if you please so how is this how does God do this well this is suggested to us Us by the fact that the coal was taken from the altar. [00:23:30]

There is no forgiveness without the cross there is no atonement without the sacrifice of Jesus Christ there is no Assurance of Salvation without looking to the lamb that was slain Isaiah himself later on in this book he would address this issue in that beautiful 53rd chapter all we like sheep have gone astray. [00:25:56]

Grace enables us to be both humble and confident when we think about who we are a part from Christ it humbles us and then when we think about what Christ has done for us and what he has promised to do for us and his assurance that his grace is sufficient for us it gives us the confidence. [00:30:34]

We need the gospel every day of Our Lives not to be saved but to reassure ourselves that we are that we are accepted that we are Justified that we do have peace with God that we do stand before him clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ and so we need to be growing in our awareness. [00:39:37]

Then this should result in an Ever growing gratitude a gratitude which is not limited to just saying thank you Father I'm so grateful but rather a gratitude that responds as Isaiah did when he said 'lord here am I send me' notice that Isaiah did not say how much is the salary what are the benefits. [00:41:21]

You respond here my Lord send me when you realize what Jesus Christ has done for you when you realize deep down in the very depths of your soul that your guilt is taken away and your sin is atoned for and that you have a right relationship with God today that's why the Apostle Paul in that wonderful verse. [00:41:48]

When you believe that and when you live by that every day then your heart response will be Lord here am I send me shall we pray father there's no one that is able to do an really adequate job with this passage of scripture it is so profound so Transcendent so amazing to us. [00:42:56]

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