WEBVTT 00:00:00.860 --> 00:00:05.820 Well, coming face-to-face with a ceiling pouring water out is one thing. 00:00:06.660 --> 00:00:10.640 Coming face-to-face with a grizzly bear in the wilderness is kind of another thing. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.720 It's kind of a life-changing encounter, don't you think? 00:00:15.540 --> 00:00:20.320 I personally have not had that happen, and it's not going to happen as far as I can help it. 00:00:21.780 --> 00:00:28.760 But being in an accident or having some kind of a medical emergency that brings you within an inch of your life, 00:00:28.760 --> 00:00:35.560 where you're seeing death squarely in the face, that's a different kind of encounter. 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:40.120 You can walk away from that with a new perspective on life. 00:00:40.280 --> 00:00:42.620 It's a life-changing event. 00:00:43.480 --> 00:00:47.579 Or maybe looking into your child's eyes for the first time. 00:00:47.579 --> 00:00:53.219 Maybe it's a child you just gave birth to or a child you adopted or it's your grandchild that you're seeing for the first time. 00:00:53.219 --> 00:00:59.740 You look inside in that child's face and this changes everything. 00:01:01.399 --> 00:01:02.739 Life-changing encounters. 00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:10.060 A life-changing encounter is when you come face-to-face with something and as a result, you're not the same. 00:01:11.539 --> 00:01:13.859 You've been permanently changed. 00:01:13.859 --> 00:01:24.680 And this morning, we're going to look at a life-changing encounter between Isaiah and the holy God of the Bible. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:35.079 As a result of this particular encounter that we read of in Isaiah 6, Isaiah was never the same. 00:01:36.219 --> 00:01:37.859 He was permanently changed. 00:01:38.819 --> 00:01:40.159 He was transformed. 00:01:40.159 --> 00:01:46.079 In fact, we'll see in the text, he went from despair to delight. 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:51.979 So for us this morning, this is what it means. 00:01:52.719 --> 00:01:58.259 When you personally encounter the holy one, the God of the Bible, 00:01:59.439 --> 00:02:02.719 you too will never be the same. 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:12.360 And my prayer for us as a church as we enter 2015 is that we would personally encounter the holy one. 00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:18.439 And that we would corporately encounter the holy one again and again. 00:02:19.020 --> 00:02:19.919 And again and again. 00:02:20.419 --> 00:02:23.840 And as we see him with eyes of faith, 00:02:24.159 --> 00:02:27.719 he will change us by his grace. 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:35.340 We will be transformed from one degree of glory to another. 00:02:37.180 --> 00:02:40.620 So if you haven't, turn in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 6. 00:02:40.699 --> 00:02:43.099 And I'm going to read Isaiah 6, 1 through 8. 00:02:43.099 --> 00:02:52.459 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up. 00:02:53.240 --> 00:02:55.719 And the train of his robe filled the temple. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:02:59.000 Above him stood the seraphim. 00:03:00.240 --> 00:03:01.479 Each had six wings. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:02.959 With two he covered his face. 00:03:03.159 --> 00:03:04.879 And with two he covered his feet. 00:03:04.939 --> 00:03:05.759 And with two he flew. 00:03:05.759 --> 00:03:07.819 And one called and said, 00:03:08.379 --> 00:03:13.159 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts. 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:19.419 The whole earth is filled with his glory. 00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:24.280 And the foundations of the threshold shook at the voice of him who called. 00:03:24.899 --> 00:03:27.359 And the house was filled with smoke. 00:03:27.360 --> 00:03:28.160 And I said, 00:03:29.380 --> 00:03:30.600 Woe is me! 00:03:31.580 --> 00:03:33.480 For I am lost. 00:03:34.540 --> 00:03:36.640 For I am a man of unclean lips. 00:03:36.720 --> 00:03:39.240 And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. 00:03:39.400 --> 00:03:42.660 For my eyes have seen the King. 00:03:43.540 --> 00:03:44.660 The Lord of hosts. 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:47.280 Then, 00:03:48.500 --> 00:03:50.300 one of the seraphim flew to me, 00:03:50.420 --> 00:03:54.120 having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:56.640 And he touched my mouth and said, 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:58.439 Behold, this has touched your lips. 00:03:58.560 --> 00:04:00.060 Your guilt is taken away. 00:04:00.920 --> 00:04:03.219 And your sin atoned for. 00:04:04.200 --> 00:04:07.000 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 00:04:07.159 --> 00:04:09.300 Whom shall I send and who will go for us? 00:04:10.200 --> 00:04:11.040 Then I said, 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:13.099 Here am I. 00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:15.680 Send me. 00:04:17.759 --> 00:04:19.220 So this morning what we're going to do is 00:04:19.220 --> 00:04:22.959 we're going to walk through this life-changing encounter 00:04:22.959 --> 00:04:25.979 between Isaiah and his holy God. 00:04:27.739 --> 00:04:30.339 And as this encounter unfolds, 00:04:30.339 --> 00:04:32.279 it's going to unfold in kind of four moves. 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:33.779 The first is this. 00:04:33.879 --> 00:04:36.979 God reveals himself as holy, holy, holy. 00:04:37.979 --> 00:04:40.500 And then the second move is despair. 00:04:41.419 --> 00:04:42.899 Isaiah despairs. 00:04:43.819 --> 00:04:44.560 Woe is me. 00:04:45.500 --> 00:04:46.919 And then the third move, 00:04:47.419 --> 00:04:48.819 God purifies. 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:54.360 God cleanses Isaiah with a burning coal. 00:04:55.699 --> 00:04:57.279 Your guilt is taken away. 00:04:57.779 --> 00:04:58.480 It's good news. 00:04:59.480 --> 00:05:00.540 And then fourthly, 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:03.740 Isaiah moves from despair to delight. 00:05:04.639 --> 00:05:05.740 Having been cleansed, 00:05:06.459 --> 00:05:07.039 he says, 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:08.639 Here am I. 00:05:09.800 --> 00:05:10.519 Send me. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:12.680 I want to serve. 00:05:12.680 --> 00:05:19.540 When you personally encounter the holy God of the Bible, 00:05:20.180 --> 00:05:23.160 you'll never be the same. 00:05:25.400 --> 00:05:27.259 It's a life-changing encounter. 00:05:28.960 --> 00:05:31.500 So let's see this played out in Isaiah 6. 00:05:32.660 --> 00:05:34.500 First move is this. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:36.180 God reveals himself to Isaiah. 00:05:36.300 --> 00:05:37.460 This is verses 1-4. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:40.060 And Isaiah begins on a historical note. 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:41.879 In the year that King Uzziah died, 00:05:42.639 --> 00:05:46.079 the year was probably 740 B.C., 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:49.339 King Uzziah had become king in Jerusalem 00:05:49.339 --> 00:05:51.459 when he was just 16 years old. 00:05:51.560 --> 00:05:52.280 Can you believe that? 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:54.840 He reigned for 52 years, 00:05:54.939 --> 00:05:55.860 and during that reign, 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:58.800 Judah experienced tremendous growth, 00:05:59.480 --> 00:06:00.879 tremendous prosperity, 00:06:01.199 --> 00:06:03.340 and dominance as a nation 00:06:03.340 --> 00:06:04.699 with the nations around it. 00:06:04.699 --> 00:06:07.899 But with the prosperity, 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:11.060 Uzziah grew proud. 00:06:12.420 --> 00:06:14.159 And he made a grave mistake. 00:06:14.259 --> 00:06:14.899 In his pride, 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:17.439 he tried to do something 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:19.879 that God would only allow priests to do. 00:06:20.639 --> 00:06:23.039 And that was he tried to offer incense 00:06:23.039 --> 00:06:24.719 on the altar of incense 00:06:24.719 --> 00:06:26.060 in God's holy temple. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:29.060 And so when Uzziah tried to do this, 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:30.899 Azariah, the high priest, 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:31.099 said, 00:06:31.180 --> 00:06:32.519 No, you cannot come in here. 00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:34.439 And then 80 other priests 00:06:34.439 --> 00:06:36.680 had Azariah's back and said, 00:06:36.779 --> 00:06:37.799 You cannot come in here. 00:06:38.959 --> 00:06:40.139 And you know what Uzziah did? 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:41.139 He raged. 00:06:42.680 --> 00:06:44.299 And in his rage, 00:06:44.459 --> 00:06:46.219 God struck him with leprosy 00:06:46.219 --> 00:06:47.000 on his forehead. 00:06:48.620 --> 00:06:49.620 And as a result, 00:06:50.120 --> 00:06:51.899 Uzziah, this king, 00:06:52.199 --> 00:06:55.779 was excluded out of God's presence. 00:06:56.740 --> 00:06:58.019 He could never come back to the temple 00:06:58.019 --> 00:06:59.060 while he was a leper. 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:02.360 God had struck him. 00:07:03.720 --> 00:07:05.319 Permanently excluded him. 00:07:06.019 --> 00:07:07.319 And so Isaiah begins, 00:07:07.439 --> 00:07:08.160 Isaiah 6, 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:08.920 with the news 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:13.180 that the leper king is dead. 00:07:14.519 --> 00:07:17.959 This unholy king is dead. 00:07:20.180 --> 00:07:21.519 But there's another king. 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:24.759 Holy, 00:07:25.479 --> 00:07:26.500 living, 00:07:27.599 --> 00:07:28.319 divine, 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:31.079 seated on a throne in heaven 00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:33.740 who is reigning on high. 00:07:33.859 --> 00:07:35.099 He is Adonai, 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:36.759 the Lord. 00:07:38.219 --> 00:07:40.019 And the year that King Uzziah died, 00:07:40.099 --> 00:07:41.939 I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne. 00:07:42.859 --> 00:07:43.879 High and lifted up. 00:07:44.979 --> 00:07:46.759 What Isaiah sees is God 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:48.719 sitting on His throne in heaven. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.400 High and lifted up. 00:07:51.520 --> 00:07:52.860 Reigning over the whole earth. 00:07:55.020 --> 00:07:56.820 We read that the train of His robe 00:07:56.820 --> 00:07:58.060 filled the heavenly temple. 00:07:59.540 --> 00:08:00.600 I remember as a boy 00:08:00.600 --> 00:08:02.640 watching the live broadcast 00:08:02.640 --> 00:08:05.140 of this wedding ceremony 00:08:05.140 --> 00:08:06.300 of Prince Charles 00:08:06.300 --> 00:08:07.540 and Princess Diana. 00:08:07.960 --> 00:08:09.040 I think it was 1981. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:10.660 I was just two. 00:08:11.920 --> 00:08:12.900 Just kidding. 00:08:12.899 --> 00:08:16.719 And I can still see 00:08:16.719 --> 00:08:17.759 in my mind's eye 00:08:17.759 --> 00:08:19.899 that amazingly long 00:08:20.439 --> 00:08:21.579 white train 00:08:21.579 --> 00:08:23.699 of Princess Diana's wedding dress. 00:08:24.419 --> 00:08:24.799 I mean, 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:26.099 it stood in sharp contrast 00:08:26.099 --> 00:08:28.579 to the big red runner 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:30.979 and it seemingly filled 00:08:30.979 --> 00:08:32.459 St. Paul's Cathedral 00:08:32.459 --> 00:08:33.720 in London. 00:08:33.939 --> 00:08:34.799 It was majestic. 00:08:35.799 --> 00:08:37.240 All eyes were on her. 00:08:38.220 --> 00:08:39.299 She was bigger than life. 00:08:39.299 --> 00:08:43.379 The train of God's robe 00:08:43.379 --> 00:08:46.740 fills the heavenly temple. 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:50.139 It's a picture of the fullness 00:08:50.139 --> 00:08:51.240 of God's presence 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:52.279 and it's a picture 00:08:52.279 --> 00:08:53.299 of His majesty. 00:08:56.179 --> 00:08:57.419 Isaiah is in the presence 00:08:57.419 --> 00:08:58.219 of the King 00:08:58.219 --> 00:09:00.620 of the whole earth. 00:09:02.539 --> 00:09:03.439 And in verse 2, 00:09:04.599 --> 00:09:06.199 Isaiah's gaze shifts 00:09:06.200 --> 00:09:07.700 and we follow Him 00:09:07.700 --> 00:09:09.300 as His gaze shifts. 00:09:09.520 --> 00:09:10.620 His eyes move 00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:11.720 from the one on the throne 00:09:11.720 --> 00:09:13.540 to the angels above Him. 00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:15.520 They're called seraphim. 00:09:16.600 --> 00:09:17.460 It's plural. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:19.259 Singular is seraph. 00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:20.940 It literally means 00:09:20.940 --> 00:09:22.000 flaming one. 00:09:22.140 --> 00:09:22.360 I mean, 00:09:23.220 --> 00:09:24.600 they must have been 00:09:24.600 --> 00:09:26.040 an amazing sight 00:09:26.040 --> 00:09:27.680 in and of themselves. 00:09:28.780 --> 00:09:30.300 Each had six wings. 00:09:31.920 --> 00:09:32.640 With two, 00:09:32.720 --> 00:09:33.640 they covered their faces. 00:09:33.900 --> 00:09:35.080 It's a picture of reverence. 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:37.340 Their eyes are not worthy 00:09:37.340 --> 00:09:38.379 to behold the one 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:39.620 sitting before them. 00:09:41.020 --> 00:09:42.080 With two wings, 00:09:42.160 --> 00:09:43.220 they covered their feet. 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:44.500 Do you remember 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:45.340 in Exodus 3? 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:46.960 Moses, 00:09:47.800 --> 00:09:49.100 hears someone calling him 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:49.940 from a burning bush, 00:09:50.680 --> 00:09:51.379 walks up 00:09:51.379 --> 00:09:53.340 and God calls out to him. 00:09:53.379 --> 00:09:53.600 Do you remember 00:09:53.600 --> 00:09:54.259 what God says? 00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:56.800 Take off your shoes. 00:09:57.720 --> 00:09:58.960 Take off your sandals 00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:00.020 for you are standing 00:10:00.020 --> 00:10:01.240 on holy ground. 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:03.940 These seraphim 00:10:03.940 --> 00:10:05.520 are in the holy presence 00:10:05.520 --> 00:10:07.360 of the Holy One. 00:10:08.060 --> 00:10:09.180 The God of the nations. 00:10:09.320 --> 00:10:10.260 The King of the nations. 00:10:10.420 --> 00:10:11.320 They cover their faces. 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:12.480 They cover their feet 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:14.200 in His presence. 00:10:17.200 --> 00:10:18.600 But it's what they're calling 00:10:18.600 --> 00:10:19.420 to one another. 00:10:20.860 --> 00:10:22.160 It's what they're saying 00:10:22.160 --> 00:10:23.060 to each other 00:10:23.060 --> 00:10:25.000 that becomes the focal point 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:25.640 of the passage. 00:10:25.639 --> 00:10:29.319 Holy, holy, holy, holy 00:10:29.319 --> 00:10:31.899 is the Lord of hosts. 00:10:33.019 --> 00:10:34.120 The whole earth 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:35.659 is full of His glory. 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:38.220 Holy, holy, holy. 00:10:41.220 --> 00:10:42.600 In the presence of God, 00:10:42.659 --> 00:10:44.179 these six winged angels 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:46.120 are calling out, 00:10:46.519 --> 00:10:48.019 holy, holy, holy. 00:10:48.019 --> 00:10:48.220 Holy. 00:10:50.439 --> 00:10:52.000 We see a very similar thing 00:10:52.000 --> 00:10:52.720 taking place 00:10:52.720 --> 00:10:53.799 at the end of our Bibles 00:10:53.799 --> 00:10:55.139 in Revelation chapter 4, 00:10:55.360 --> 00:10:55.840 verse 8. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.199 The apostle John 00:10:59.199 --> 00:10:59.980 is given a vision 00:10:59.980 --> 00:11:02.220 of the heavenly throne room too. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:05.419 And what does he hear? 00:11:06.240 --> 00:11:09.199 He hears six winged angels 00:11:09.199 --> 00:11:10.559 crying out, 00:11:11.019 --> 00:11:12.379 holy, holy, holy 00:11:12.379 --> 00:11:13.759 is the Lord God Almighty. 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:16.559 The angels in God's presence 00:11:16.559 --> 00:11:17.779 continually declare 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:19.019 that God is holy. 00:11:19.500 --> 00:11:20.739 Don't make the mistake 00:11:20.739 --> 00:11:22.979 that what Isaiah experienced 00:11:22.979 --> 00:11:24.359 and John experienced 00:11:24.359 --> 00:11:26.359 are isolated events. 00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:32.819 Hundreds of miles away from here, 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:33.979 there's a big waterfall. 00:11:35.679 --> 00:11:36.619 Niagara Falls. 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:43.239 Just as millions of gallons of water 00:11:43.239 --> 00:11:46.019 are pouring over Niagara Falls, 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:48.599 right now, 00:11:49.739 --> 00:11:50.859 so too, 00:11:51.359 --> 00:11:53.159 right now, 00:11:53.679 --> 00:11:54.479 the words 00:11:54.479 --> 00:11:57.539 holy, holy, holy 00:11:57.539 --> 00:11:59.179 are pouring out 00:11:59.179 --> 00:12:00.759 from the lips of seraphim 00:12:00.759 --> 00:12:01.699 in the presence 00:12:01.699 --> 00:12:03.000 of our holy God. 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:06.579 When he went to bed last night, 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:10.079 the seraphim were calling out, 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:10.879 holy, holy, holy. 00:12:11.779 --> 00:12:13.239 When he woke up this morning, 00:12:13.939 --> 00:12:15.799 the seraphim are calling out, 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:17.679 holy, holy, holy, holy. 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:17.799 Holy. 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:20.539 This afternoon during the Packers game. 00:12:21.719 --> 00:12:23.500 Holy, holy, holy. 00:12:29.099 --> 00:12:30.199 Our God 00:12:30.199 --> 00:12:33.439 is constantly being exalted 00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:34.679 for His holiness. 00:12:34.679 --> 00:12:35.679 God's holiness. 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.739 So what is it? 00:12:39.179 --> 00:12:40.559 What is holiness? 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:45.519 God's holiness is that which defines 00:12:45.519 --> 00:12:47.559 all of who He is. 00:12:49.479 --> 00:12:53.179 God's holiness defines all His other attributes. 00:12:53.179 --> 00:12:57.099 It's kind of a summary of His complete existence, 00:12:57.399 --> 00:12:58.939 of His very nature. 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.959 His holiness is the crown jewel of His attributes. 00:13:04.319 --> 00:13:05.620 God's love is a holy love. 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:07.859 God's justice is a holy justice. 00:13:08.079 --> 00:13:09.599 God's wisdom is a holy wisdom. 00:13:10.599 --> 00:13:13.479 God's holiness is His defining characteristic. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.659 It sets Him apart. 00:13:15.059 --> 00:13:16.799 It summarizes all of who He is 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:18.379 and all of what He does. 00:13:18.379 --> 00:13:19.519 God is holy. 00:13:21.399 --> 00:13:23.059 Now that word holy 00:13:23.059 --> 00:13:26.080 is the only word in your Bible 00:13:26.080 --> 00:13:28.720 that when describing God, 00:13:29.419 --> 00:13:30.519 there's no other word 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.700 repeated three times. 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:35.519 Nowhere in Scripture do we read 00:13:35.519 --> 00:13:36.659 that God is love, love, love. 00:13:37.740 --> 00:13:39.539 Or God is just, just, just. 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.360 Or God is wise, wise, wise. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:43.159 Or God is mighty, mighty, mighty. 00:13:43.320 --> 00:13:43.899 Is God loving? 00:13:44.039 --> 00:13:45.080 Oh, yes He is. 00:13:45.899 --> 00:13:46.740 Is God just? 00:13:46.980 --> 00:13:47.960 Oh, wonderfully so. 00:13:47.960 --> 00:13:49.900 Is God wise beyond our comprehension? 00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:51.360 Is God mighty? 00:13:51.480 --> 00:13:52.680 He is omnipotent. 00:13:53.900 --> 00:13:56.080 But the only word repeated three times 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.660 to describe God is holy. 00:13:58.660 --> 00:14:00.540 Holy, holy, holy. 00:14:00.680 --> 00:14:03.940 And that repetition is emphatic. 00:14:05.100 --> 00:14:07.700 God wants us to know Him 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:10.540 foremost as holy. 00:14:14.019 --> 00:14:17.000 And what that word essentially means is 00:14:17.000 --> 00:14:19.019 to be set apart. 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:21.379 To be distinct. 00:14:23.259 --> 00:14:25.220 God is unique in all that He is. 00:14:26.100 --> 00:14:28.340 He is qualitatively different 00:14:28.340 --> 00:14:30.419 in all that He is. 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:33.120 What sets God apart 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:34.799 is His moral purity. 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:35.960 The sum of His nature. 00:14:36.139 --> 00:14:37.039 God is truth. 00:14:38.120 --> 00:14:39.159 God is just. 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:40.899 God is rightness. 00:14:41.080 --> 00:14:42.059 God is goodness. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.600 God is love. 00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:44.740 God is life. 00:14:44.740 --> 00:14:45.120 God is love. 00:14:45.120 --> 00:14:46.060 All these characteristics 00:14:46.060 --> 00:14:48.419 are summed up by the word holy. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.820 And God's holiness burns white hot. 00:14:58.519 --> 00:15:02.120 God's holiness is not some kind of cold truth. 00:15:04.120 --> 00:15:07.820 God's holiness is a burning reality. 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:11.080 God is not simply true. 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:12.940 It's overwhelmingly real. 00:15:14.260 --> 00:15:20.040 Hebrews 12.29 describes God as a consuming fire. 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:24.440 He's a consuming fire of moral purity. 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:27.680 And here in Isaiah, 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.920 God has experienced, 00:15:30.140 --> 00:15:32.120 or Isaiah has experienced God's holiness 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.020 in a palpable way. 00:15:35.020 --> 00:15:37.960 All of Isaiah's senses must have been stretched to the limit. 00:15:39.460 --> 00:15:43.300 He was completely overwhelmed by being God's holy presence. 00:15:43.480 --> 00:15:46.120 He was encountering the Holy One, 00:15:46.260 --> 00:15:48.060 the King of the whole earth. 00:15:48.059 --> 00:15:50.079 He saw Him. 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:54.779 And He heard the seraphim. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:56.679 But not only did He hear the seraphim, 00:15:57.239 --> 00:16:00.500 He felt what the seraphim were saying. 00:16:01.919 --> 00:16:02.839 Did you notice that? 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:05.779 The foundations of the house, 00:16:05.879 --> 00:16:06.759 the heavenly temple, 00:16:07.239 --> 00:16:11.399 shook as the angels declared God is holy, holy, holy. 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:14.439 Smoke filled the temple. 00:16:14.439 --> 00:16:17.739 We see smoke throughout our Bibles. 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.899 In Exodus 19, 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:23.120 when God reveals Himself on Mount Sinai to His people, 00:16:23.419 --> 00:16:25.259 it's accompanied with smoke. 00:16:25.379 --> 00:16:26.220 It's a theophany. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.639 God's showing Himself. 00:16:28.180 --> 00:16:28.940 Showing up. 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:33.940 Mount Sinai shook as it was wrapped in smoke 00:16:33.940 --> 00:16:37.700 while God descended on it as a fire. 00:16:40.639 --> 00:16:43.060 God is a consuming fire of holiness. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:47.379 And God's holiness can scare people. 00:16:48.500 --> 00:16:49.440 It can threaten us. 00:16:51.299 --> 00:16:53.700 Because God's holiness exposes us. 00:16:54.899 --> 00:16:56.860 It shows us for who we really are. 00:16:56.860 --> 00:17:01.019 And that is what we see happening in Isaiah 6-5. 00:17:02.379 --> 00:17:05.200 God reveals Himself as holy, holy, holy. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:09.640 And the next development is despair. 00:17:10.860 --> 00:17:11.960 Isaiah despairs. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.400 6-5. 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.900 Woe is me, for I am lost. 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:17.860 Woe is me. 00:17:19.019 --> 00:17:22.640 Now up until this point in Isaiah, 00:17:23.580 --> 00:17:26.539 that word woe has already been used eight times. 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:27.539 Woe is me. 00:17:27.539 --> 00:17:30.399 Every time it was God speaking. 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:33.839 Woe to you, wicked. 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:37.740 Woe to you, drunkards. 00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:42.759 Woe to you who call good evil and evil good. 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:46.639 Woe to you who are adding room after room. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.139 Who are adding garden after garden. 00:17:49.140 --> 00:17:58.140 Woe to you who take themselves as the final kind of law on all things. 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:00.860 We're proud. 00:18:00.859 --> 00:18:01.859 Woe to you who are adding room after room. 00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:02.859 Woe to you who are adding room after room. 00:18:02.859 --> 00:18:10.039 It's worth noting that the very first word that the prophet Isaiah speaks in the book of Isaiah is the word woe. 00:18:12.119 --> 00:18:13.419 But it's not to others. 00:18:14.899 --> 00:18:16.039 It's to Himself. 00:18:17.619 --> 00:18:19.319 Woe is me. 00:18:19.319 --> 00:18:19.379 Woe is me. 00:18:21.539 --> 00:18:22.619 Now let's be honest. 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:24.939 In our day, we usually don't use the word woe. 00:18:25.559 --> 00:18:26.159 Woe is me. 00:18:26.220 --> 00:18:27.000 I forgot the milk. 00:18:29.480 --> 00:18:30.439 Woe is me. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:31.339 Woe is me. 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:35.899 So when Isaiah says in response to God's overwhelming holiness, 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:38.139 Woe is me, for I am lost. 00:18:38.939 --> 00:18:40.740 Let me help you understand what he's saying. 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:43.220 Oh no. 00:18:45.339 --> 00:18:46.579 My life is over. 00:18:47.819 --> 00:18:48.599 I'm done. 00:18:48.599 --> 00:18:49.819 That's what he's saying. 00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:54.639 God's holiness has exposed him for who he is. 00:18:54.959 --> 00:18:57.119 And he thinks he's ruined. 00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:03.699 He's profoundly aware that he cannot stand and live in the presence of the Holy One. 00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:06.039 He thinks his life is over. 00:19:07.519 --> 00:19:09.740 And we see why he thinks he's a goner. 00:19:10.159 --> 00:19:11.480 Woe is me, for I am lost. 00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:14.279 For I am a man of unclean lips. 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:17.519 And I live in the midst of a people of unclean lips. 00:19:17.519 --> 00:19:20.579 For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:29.779 At this moment in Isaiah 6, Isaiah is profoundly aware of his own sinfulness. 00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:33.619 We can say he's having an existential moment. 00:19:35.839 --> 00:19:36.920 He's despairing. 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:40.980 He thinks his life is over. 00:19:40.980 --> 00:19:43.539 Did you notice the word unclean? 00:19:45.080 --> 00:19:48.640 I'm a man of unclean lips and I live in the midst of a people of unclean lips. 00:19:48.779 --> 00:19:52.500 God's holiness, his moral purity, exposes moral impurity. 00:19:53.060 --> 00:19:55.340 Moral uncleanliness. 00:19:55.339 --> 00:19:56.599 Sin. 00:19:56.599 --> 00:19:56.639 Sin. 00:19:59.159 --> 00:20:06.439 What we see happening here is a man being convinced of his own sinfulness by being in the presence of a holy God. 00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.359 And this is no accident. 00:20:09.699 --> 00:20:13.980 God purposefully revealed himself to Isaiah this way. 00:20:13.980 --> 00:20:19.059 And despite what Isaiah is feeling, God is not seeking to destroy him. 00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:22.640 God is actually seeking to purify him. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:26.180 Before the wonder comes the woe. 00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:32.579 Isaiah must first be convinced of his utter sinfulness in light of God's holiness. 00:20:32.579 --> 00:20:36.639 And so God allows him to despair. 00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.619 For a little bit. 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.659 What's the significance of unclean lips? 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:51.559 Well, Jesus' words in Matthew 12 may help us. 00:20:51.659 --> 00:20:54.159 I read this morning in my devotions too out of Luke 6. 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:54.839 Jesus says, 00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:57.859 Out of the abundance of one's heart, the mouth speaks. 00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:02.179 Isaiah's pronounced awareness of his own unclean lips and of the unclean lips of his people. 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:05.119 Reveals their unclean hearts. 00:21:07.539 --> 00:21:09.899 Giving themselves to things that are not God. 00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:15.559 You get some sense of how they are grieving the Holy One in the earlier chapters. 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:18.759 Wanton materialism. 00:21:19.299 --> 00:21:20.759 Calling evil good and good evil. 00:21:20.939 --> 00:21:21.899 Wise in their own eyes. 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.599 Binge drinking. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.939 I love dimly lit bathroats. 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:30.279 Do you know why? 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:37.799 Because when I look in the mirror of a dimly lit bathroom, I think I look great. 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.279 No flaws. 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:54.119 But when I have to look at myself in the mirror, with a bright light shining on me, I see things that make me cringe. 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:56.980 Things I don't want to see. 00:21:56.980 --> 00:22:01.500 I see myself as I truly am. 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:11.980 When you encounter the Holy One, the consuming fire of holiness, you will become very aware of who you really are. 00:22:11.980 --> 00:22:12.599 Sin. 00:22:12.599 --> 00:22:12.700 Sin. 00:22:12.700 --> 00:22:12.980 Sin. 00:22:12.980 --> 00:22:14.819 Sin. 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:26.039 God's holiness is like a bright light of moral purity that makes sinners starkly aware of our own sinfulness. 00:22:26.740 --> 00:22:28.720 And it makes us cringe. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:35.860 When you see yourself in light of God's holiness, it's the right response. 00:22:37.000 --> 00:22:37.980 It's true. 00:22:37.980 --> 00:22:47.740 Isaiah, having encountered the Holy One, profoundly aware of his own sinfulness, cries out, woe is me, for I am lost. 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:48.940 I am lost. 00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:51.140 The NIV reads, I am ruined. 00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:53.460 I'm undone. 00:22:53.460 --> 00:23:03.319 What Isaiah instinctively knows is that he cannot stand alive in the presence of the Holy One without being ruined. 00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:09.900 He is completely dependent on God's mercy. 00:23:13.500 --> 00:23:18.279 What God is really doing here is loving Isaiah. 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:23.879 He is loving Isaiah by exposing Isaiah's sinfulness. 00:23:24.019 --> 00:23:27.519 Now you may be thinking, now that does not sound loving to me. 00:23:28.359 --> 00:23:31.359 I mean, Isaiah is having an eternal crisis. 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.980 You think that's loving? 00:23:34.639 --> 00:23:35.460 God does. 00:23:36.839 --> 00:23:38.639 God wants good for Isaiah. 00:23:38.879 --> 00:23:43.079 And the best thing for Isaiah is to share in God's holiness. 00:23:43.660 --> 00:23:45.420 To be holy as God is holy. 00:23:45.420 --> 00:23:51.420 The very thing that is threatening Isaiah is the very thing that God wants for Isaiah. 00:23:53.740 --> 00:23:58.140 Which means Isaiah must first be confronted by his own sinfulness. 00:23:59.779 --> 00:24:01.420 Isaiah really was sinful. 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:08.600 And he really did need to see himself in light of God's holiness. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:12.180 So that he could be purified. 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:15.160 Before the wonder comes the woe. 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.940 And the same is true for us. 00:24:18.080 --> 00:24:22.160 We must first see our sinfulness through the light of God's holiness. 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:26.120 Before we experience God's gracious cleansing. 00:24:27.320 --> 00:24:28.880 Here's a way to think about conviction. 00:24:29.580 --> 00:24:30.519 Conviction of sin. 00:24:30.980 --> 00:24:34.900 Conviction of sin is a fierce kindness of God. 00:24:36.019 --> 00:24:37.360 He's being kind to you. 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:41.759 He's helping you to see yourself as he sees you. 00:24:42.459 --> 00:24:43.740 It's a fierce kindness. 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:45.819 It's a loving kindness. 00:24:46.379 --> 00:24:49.899 Because if you don't think you're dirty, you're not going to think you're going to need to be made clean. 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:57.639 So God in his kindness and in his holiness shows Isaiah and us how dirty we are. 00:24:57.640 --> 00:25:01.400 And we need, we see our need for cleansing. 00:25:04.200 --> 00:25:08.900 And more often than not, when God exposes a sinner this way, it's overwhelming. 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:13.340 You come to an end to yourself. 00:25:15.340 --> 00:25:16.820 And that's exactly where God wants you. 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:21.019 So God reveals himself as holy, holy, holy. 00:25:22.779 --> 00:25:23.759 Isaiah despairs. 00:25:23.899 --> 00:25:24.419 Woe is me. 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:29.259 But God doesn't sit around doing nothing. 00:25:31.379 --> 00:25:32.259 God's at work. 00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:34.700 His grace is at work. 00:25:35.059 --> 00:25:36.879 Verses 6 and 7. 00:25:37.619 --> 00:25:42.019 While Isaiah is experiencing internal turmoil, 00:25:42.779 --> 00:25:44.700 God is graciously at work. 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:45.500 Look at verse 6. 00:25:45.500 --> 00:25:48.420 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, 00:25:48.900 --> 00:25:50.940 which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:25:54.019 Well, why did that seraph lie to him? 00:25:55.220 --> 00:25:55.900 Do you know why? 00:25:56.859 --> 00:25:57.960 God sent him. 00:25:59.660 --> 00:26:04.980 God in his grace sent the angel to Isaiah. 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:10.880 The Holy One sent a holy angel with a holy coal to make Isaiah holy. 00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.740 To cleanse him. 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:16.539 The old-fashioned word is to consecrate him. 00:26:18.700 --> 00:26:27.740 To cleanse him so that Isaiah could actually stand in the presence of the Holy One without fear. 00:26:28.839 --> 00:26:29.819 This is grace. 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:32.559 Unmerited favor. 00:26:33.700 --> 00:26:34.180 Undeserved. 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:38.079 God initiating the cleansing of the sinner. 00:26:38.079 --> 00:26:43.039 Why is he carrying this coal? 00:26:43.039 --> 00:26:44.960 Well, he was sent from God. 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:52.139 For that coal to be alive means that it was glowing hot. 00:26:52.359 --> 00:26:56.519 And for that coal to be coming from the altar in heaven means that it was holy. 00:26:56.519 --> 00:27:04.879 So God is sending this coal which is alive and holy with this angel to Isaiah for a reason. 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:08.160 God's going to cauterize Isaiah. 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:10.440 Do you know what it means to cauterize something? 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:14.099 You burn something to make it clean. 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:18.000 It's going to burn away all impurities. 00:27:18.759 --> 00:27:20.019 He's going to cleanse Isaiah. 00:27:20.019 --> 00:27:24.160 And so with that live holy coal when it touched Isaiah's lips. 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:25.819 You know what Isaiah would have experienced? 00:27:26.680 --> 00:27:27.500 Searing pain. 00:27:29.019 --> 00:27:30.599 And internal relief. 00:27:31.619 --> 00:27:34.180 Because he had been cleansed by the Holy God. 00:27:35.059 --> 00:27:38.079 He had been made holy in God's sight. 00:27:39.660 --> 00:27:41.480 What kind of cleansing is this? 00:27:41.539 --> 00:27:42.599 Look at verse 7. 00:27:42.599 --> 00:27:44.699 Your guilt is taken away. 00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:46.399 And your sin atoned for. 00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:50.899 Isaiah's unclean lips symbolize Isaiah's unclean heart. 00:27:51.240 --> 00:27:53.500 He was really guilty before a holy God. 00:27:53.719 --> 00:27:55.659 And God really did cleanse him. 00:27:56.939 --> 00:27:59.419 And with the touching of this coal to Isaiah's lips, 00:28:00.000 --> 00:28:03.419 Isaiah was pronounced fully forgiven. 00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.619 Completely cleansed. 00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:08.799 His sin had been atoned for. 00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:11.439 He had been consecrated. 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:14.900 Set apart for the Holy One. 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:18.940 God made Isaiah holy by His grace. 00:28:20.920 --> 00:28:23.620 We need to be forgiven like Isaiah needed to be forgiven. 00:28:23.759 --> 00:28:27.120 We need to be cleansed as Isaiah needed to be cleansed. 00:28:27.220 --> 00:28:31.039 And God in His grace has made a glorious provision for us. 00:28:32.080 --> 00:28:33.539 It's not a coal though. 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:38.240 God's provision for our sinfulness 00:28:38.240 --> 00:28:43.579 is alive and holy Savior. 00:28:45.579 --> 00:28:50.480 And we learn about this Savior in the Gospel message. 00:28:50.980 --> 00:28:54.099 The good news about Jesus Christ. 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:57.259 God sent Jesus who lived a holy life. 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:59.180 A life that none of us ever could live. 00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:04.140 And then Jesus died in the place of sinners. 00:29:04.640 --> 00:29:06.560 He bore our ruin. 00:29:08.640 --> 00:29:10.600 And then He was raised from the dead. 00:29:12.200 --> 00:29:17.360 All to make sinners holy in God's sight. 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:21.819 Jesus is a living and holy Savior. 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:26.740 And today, when God touches the heart of a sinner 00:29:26.740 --> 00:29:29.379 with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:33.379 and when that Gospel message is met with faith, 00:29:33.380 --> 00:29:38.040 yes, sinfulness will be exposed. 00:29:38.840 --> 00:29:40.760 But there will be fullness of forgiveness. 00:29:42.280 --> 00:29:44.400 Cleansing that comes through Jesus. 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:47.580 The making of a sinner holy. 00:29:48.420 --> 00:29:51.540 God through Christ in His grace 00:29:51.540 --> 00:29:53.260 makes sinners holy. 00:29:53.259 --> 00:29:56.400 Have you been touched? 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:01.519 Have you been touched? 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.519 By the Gospel? 00:30:05.379 --> 00:30:07.460 By the living and holy Savior? 00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:11.720 Have you experienced the internal despair 00:30:11.720 --> 00:30:13.519 over your own sinfulness? 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:16.440 That's God's fierce kindness to you. 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:20.200 He's just exposing your sinfulness 00:30:20.200 --> 00:30:21.500 so He can purify you. 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:24.220 Have you experienced the relief 00:30:24.220 --> 00:30:26.240 of having been forgiven and cleansed by Jesus? 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.339 No, you haven't. 00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:27.900 You know what you do? 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:30.119 You cry out to Jesus. 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:35.740 You call out to God to cleanse you through Christ. 00:30:36.420 --> 00:30:38.579 If you're plagued by past sinfulness, 00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:40.259 cry out to Jesus. 00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:42.160 He cleanses you. 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.460 What you see here happening 00:30:45.460 --> 00:30:48.920 with this coal being sent in the hands, 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:50.180 the tongs of an angel 00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:51.820 is God's grace. 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:54.019 Undeserved. 00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.120 Unmerited. 00:30:56.140 --> 00:30:57.660 God didn't wait too long. 00:30:57.900 --> 00:31:00.019 Yes, He let Isaiah despair 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:02.460 so that Isaiah could understand 00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:04.539 his need to be cleansed. 00:31:05.600 --> 00:31:06.940 And then God cleansed him. 00:31:09.100 --> 00:31:10.759 The last move I want you to see 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:13.660 is where all this kind of ends up 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:14.380 in verse 8. 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:17.660 Isaiah is no longer despairing. 00:31:18.600 --> 00:31:19.480 He's delighted. 00:31:20.680 --> 00:31:21.280 Here am I. 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.320 Send me. 00:31:24.600 --> 00:31:26.400 The joy of being made holy. 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:31.340 Now this angel has just told Isaiah 00:31:31.340 --> 00:31:32.440 that his guilt is forgiven 00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:33.860 and his sin has been cleansed. 00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:36.960 And then Isaiah hears God speak. 00:31:38.240 --> 00:31:40.920 This is Isaiah's commissioning as a prophet. 00:31:40.920 --> 00:31:41.960 Whom shall I send? 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:43.620 And who will go for us? 00:31:44.799 --> 00:31:45.319 Us. 00:31:46.039 --> 00:31:47.079 Who's the us? 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:50.180 Most likely a veiled reference 00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.900 to the Trinity. 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:54.039 Whom shall I send? 00:31:54.100 --> 00:31:55.140 And who will go for us? 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:57.059 God's looking for a volunteer. 00:31:58.559 --> 00:31:59.400 Here's the scene. 00:31:59.799 --> 00:32:01.660 God in His heavenly throne room. 00:32:02.019 --> 00:32:03.240 Isaiah is there watching. 00:32:03.480 --> 00:32:04.279 And God's kind of like, 00:32:04.960 --> 00:32:06.360 who's going to go for us? 00:32:06.360 --> 00:32:06.940 I wonder. 00:32:06.940 --> 00:32:07.299 Hmm. 00:32:09.860 --> 00:32:11.079 Who shall we send? 00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:18.200 Isaiah responds. 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:19.940 Here am I. 00:32:21.079 --> 00:32:21.840 Send me. 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.180 What a change. 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:27.079 Isaiah is no longer despairing. 00:32:28.880 --> 00:32:30.079 He's no longer thinking, 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:31.480 woe is me for I am ruined. 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:32.160 Do you know why? 00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:35.279 He's no longer condemned by his sin. 00:32:36.380 --> 00:32:37.920 He's no longer despairing 00:32:37.920 --> 00:32:39.259 under the holy gaze of God. 00:32:39.259 --> 00:32:41.180 God has completely forgiven him 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.879 and cleansed him. 00:32:41.980 --> 00:32:43.579 And God has graciously delivered him 00:32:43.579 --> 00:32:44.220 from his sin. 00:32:44.960 --> 00:32:47.660 God made him able to stand 00:32:47.660 --> 00:32:49.119 in his holy presence 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:50.359 by his grace. 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:51.539 That's what God has done. 00:32:52.200 --> 00:32:53.700 That's why Isaiah is saying, 00:32:54.900 --> 00:32:55.279 here am I. 00:32:55.379 --> 00:32:55.640 Send me. 00:32:56.799 --> 00:32:57.519 No fear there. 00:33:01.119 --> 00:33:02.960 Isaiah has encountered God 00:33:02.960 --> 00:33:04.400 in his holiness 00:33:04.400 --> 00:33:06.440 and grace. 00:33:06.440 --> 00:33:08.120 And grace. 00:33:11.240 --> 00:33:12.700 By God's grace, 00:33:14.519 --> 00:33:15.720 Isaiah is never the same. 00:33:17.240 --> 00:33:18.640 He's permanently changed. 00:33:19.940 --> 00:33:23.420 He has had a life-changing encounter with God 00:33:23.420 --> 00:33:26.180 and all through the rest of Isaiah, 00:33:26.180 --> 00:33:30.900 25 times Isaiah references God 00:33:30.900 --> 00:33:32.220 as the Holy One. 00:33:34.720 --> 00:33:35.759 He was mocked. 00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:38.100 He no longer fears death. 00:33:38.180 --> 00:33:39.860 Rather, he wants to live for the Holy One. 00:33:39.920 --> 00:33:40.440 How about you? 00:33:42.920 --> 00:33:44.779 Do you want to live for God like Isaiah? 00:33:45.580 --> 00:33:46.240 Here am I. 00:33:46.380 --> 00:33:46.860 Send me. 00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:50.900 Have you experienced Christ 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:53.460 so you know what it means to not fear? 00:33:53.460 --> 00:33:58.900 At the beginning of the year here, 00:33:59.340 --> 00:34:01.140 I want to ask you to join with me in something. 00:34:03.140 --> 00:34:04.240 Will you join me 00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:07.059 in regularly asking our Holy God 00:34:07.059 --> 00:34:09.740 to grow us in holiness? 00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:13.340 To make us holy as he is holy. 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.800 To share in his holiness. 00:34:15.119 --> 00:34:17.059 To purify us. 00:34:17.280 --> 00:34:19.099 God commands his people everywhere. 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:21.039 Be holy for I am holy. 00:34:21.039 --> 00:34:24.259 So Christ the King Church this year, 00:34:24.980 --> 00:34:27.300 let's purpose together in prayer 00:34:27.300 --> 00:34:28.759 and when we're together 00:34:28.759 --> 00:34:31.480 to strive together for holiness. 00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:34.340 To live lives that are set apart. 00:34:34.500 --> 00:34:36.460 That's why Jesus died for us. 00:34:39.039 --> 00:34:41.239 Next Sunday, we return to Ephesians. 00:34:42.719 --> 00:34:44.820 The Holy God of Isaiah 6 00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:46.420 is the Holy God of Ephesians. 00:34:46.420 --> 00:34:50.619 And just to prime the pump a little bit, 00:34:52.300 --> 00:34:53.800 Ephesians 1.1 says that 00:34:53.800 --> 00:34:56.519 Paul, an apostle Christ Jesus 00:34:56.519 --> 00:34:57.579 by the will of God 00:34:57.579 --> 00:35:00.360 to the saints who are in Ephesus. 00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:05.539 Saints literally means holy ones. 00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:08.420 To the holy ones in Ephesus. 00:35:09.700 --> 00:35:11.559 It's who we are in Christ. 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.760 Holiness is our calling. 00:35:13.760 --> 00:35:15.700 God shows us in Christ 00:35:15.700 --> 00:35:17.340 before the foundation of the world 00:35:17.340 --> 00:35:19.800 that we should be holy 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:22.780 and blameless before him. 00:35:24.040 --> 00:35:25.120 It's who we are. 00:35:25.540 --> 00:35:26.860 It's what he's called us to. 00:35:29.000 --> 00:35:32.700 And holiness is how we are in Ephesians. 00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.920 Ephesians 4.1 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:36.320 Therefore, I therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, 00:35:36.460 --> 00:35:37.780 urge you, holy ones, 00:35:38.280 --> 00:35:40.780 to walk in a manner worthy of the calling 00:35:40.780 --> 00:35:41.820 to which you've been called, 00:35:41.820 --> 00:35:44.519 to be holy and blameless before him. 00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:47.360 Because that's why Christ died for you. 00:35:48.720 --> 00:35:51.440 So next week, we're back in Ephesians 5. 00:35:52.120 --> 00:35:55.480 And we will see what everyday holiness 00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:57.720 looks like for a Christian. 00:35:59.400 --> 00:36:01.000 Let me close by saying this. 00:36:02.280 --> 00:36:04.539 When you encounter the Holy God of the Bible, 00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:07.039 you will never be the same. 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:10.279 Because by his grace, 00:36:10.980 --> 00:36:13.519 his amazing grace, 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:17.360 he has made you holy in Christ. 00:36:17.539 --> 00:36:17.960 Let's pray. 00:36:17.960 --> 00:36:17.980 Let's pray. 00:36:17.980 --> 00:36:28.980 God, we come to you before you 00:36:28.980 --> 00:36:30.940 and recognize that you are the Holy One. 00:36:32.800 --> 00:36:35.119 And from your throne of holiness 00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:38.059 flows a river of grace. 00:36:39.760 --> 00:36:41.659 You've made us alive in Christ 00:36:41.659 --> 00:36:43.179 so that we can walk in holiness. 00:36:43.179 --> 00:36:43.380 Amen. 00:36:43.380 --> 00:36:43.440 Amen. 00:36:43.440 --> 00:36:43.500 Amen. 00:36:43.500 --> 00:36:43.539 Amen.