WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.099 Before we turn to our time of prayer, I want to concentrate our prayer tonight on the country of Ukraine. 00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:13.939 And before I do, I just wanted to share a little insight that I was given. 00:00:15.419 --> 00:00:21.660 As Rachel and I work with Mission to the World, we had a Zoom meeting on Friday night 00:00:21.660 --> 00:00:29.839 with some other MTW missionaries who work and live in Ukraine and have very close connections with the church there. 00:00:30.019 --> 00:00:34.600 So I just wanted to share some information as we pray specifically for them. 00:00:35.820 --> 00:00:41.579 The missionaries that we know there have all moved west to the city of Lviv, 00:00:42.200 --> 00:00:45.879 where most of them are set up to help provide humanitarian aid. 00:00:46.600 --> 00:00:50.799 But also spoke specifically of those two. 00:00:50.899 --> 00:00:54.859 There was actually a pretty good group from Kiev, the capital, and Odessa. 00:00:55.460 --> 00:00:59.780 And they spoke there briefly about their knowledge of the church there and the needs of the church. 00:01:00.360 --> 00:01:04.600 And really some points of encouragement even that I wanted to make known as we pray. 00:01:05.159 --> 00:01:10.600 They said about a third of the church, those within the church, have left to try to seek shelter elsewhere. 00:01:11.300 --> 00:01:16.379 About a third are there staying, whether travel is too hard or they're there to serve. 00:01:16.500 --> 00:01:18.600 And about a third are enlisted to fight. 00:01:18.599 --> 00:01:24.199 And they said really the neat thing that's happened for those that have remained in the church 00:01:24.199 --> 00:01:26.619 is that they've been able to use their church. 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:30.879 A couple of them actually are on a ground floor or a basement level where they meet. 00:01:31.419 --> 00:01:35.500 And so during these bombing raids, they've had people come down into their church building 00:01:35.500 --> 00:01:41.560 where they have stayed and sought refuge for a few hours at a time, several times a day. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:45.799 And so to see blessing come from that, to see people coming into the church building 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:51.060 where they are served by believers, served tea and food as they wait to be able to go back into their buildings 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:53.659 has really been just a neat testimony. 00:01:54.420 --> 00:01:59.280 Also to see how they've been able to serve through providing food and provision to those in need. 00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:05.780 And so let's just focus our prayer for them tonight, continue to remember them in need. 00:02:06.200 --> 00:02:10.139 I got an email last night that said the pastor in Kiev is still there 00:02:10.139 --> 00:02:14.719 and had every intention of preaching at their church this morning. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:21.219 So I haven't heard anything since, but we can know that there are believers in Ukraine 00:02:21.219 --> 00:02:25.580 that continue to meet together and continue to praise the Lord despite their circumstances. 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:28.000 So let's pray together this evening. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:35.800 Lord, we thank you again for this opportunity to meet together this evening. 00:02:35.939 --> 00:02:42.280 We know that it is a blessing to have the Sabbath, a day set apart for rest, 00:02:42.460 --> 00:02:47.199 a day set apart for worship, to remember your goodness and your involvement in our lives. 00:02:48.379 --> 00:02:54.240 And Lord, we recognize the ease in which we can meet the blessings of this building, 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:58.580 the blessings of fellowship without persecution, without the threat of war, 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:02.979 Lord, we thank you for the opportunity for our youth to meet tonight. 00:03:03.740 --> 00:03:08.319 We thank you for all the activities that we have throughout the week where we can build community 00:03:08.319 --> 00:03:13.479 and share life with one another and dig into your word together. 00:03:15.039 --> 00:03:19.300 And Lord, we know that that is a blessing that comes from you 00:03:19.300 --> 00:03:24.320 and that there are believers around the world who don't have such luxury of meeting together openly, 00:03:24.560 --> 00:03:29.260 who may not have church building, who may be under threat of persecution and even war. 00:03:29.380 --> 00:03:32.480 So Lord, tonight we pray and we lift up the church in Ukraine. 00:03:34.260 --> 00:03:37.439 We know, Lord, that you are sovereign and in control. 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:47.280 And so Lord, we pray through this fighting and this war that you may strengthen the faith of believers throughout Ukraine. 00:03:48.560 --> 00:03:52.079 We pray that they may be a great testimony to their neighbors, 00:03:52.579 --> 00:03:56.319 that they may offer physical aid, 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:59.719 but also spiritual aid to many who are hurting, 00:03:59.919 --> 00:04:01.680 who are many who are confused and scared. 00:04:02.459 --> 00:04:07.439 Lord, we think especially of the church in Lviv, in Kiev, 00:04:08.060 --> 00:04:12.120 these places that there is humanitarian crisis, 00:04:12.859 --> 00:04:16.259 there is a real threat of life and injury. 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:22.259 But Lord, we thank you for the blessing that their church building still remains, 00:04:22.719 --> 00:04:26.719 that they can open up the doors to allow people their safe haven, 00:04:27.480 --> 00:04:32.339 that they can offer tea and food and shelter and clothing to those in need. 00:04:33.699 --> 00:04:38.719 So Lord, we pray that you give them energy for the task ahead, 00:04:38.939 --> 00:04:43.519 that you give them boldness in being able to share faith with their fellow Ukrainians. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:50.219 Lord, give them great resolve in standing up for what is right and in the fight against evil. 00:04:51.839 --> 00:04:54.500 Lord, we pray that you grant them safety, 00:04:54.599 --> 00:04:58.159 not only the church, but many in Ukraine who are willing to stand for freedom, 00:04:59.339 --> 00:05:01.279 who are willing to fight the oppressor. 00:05:03.539 --> 00:05:06.180 Lord, we think of the many families and individuals, 00:05:06.379 --> 00:05:09.139 women and children who are seeking to flee the country, 00:05:09.339 --> 00:05:11.359 to seeking safe haven in other countries. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:16.840 And we ask, Lord, for great response from other countries to receive these people, 00:05:16.920 --> 00:05:18.420 to provide humanitarian aid. 00:05:19.900 --> 00:05:25.900 Lord, we pray for many governments who have difficult decisions to make, 00:05:27.199 --> 00:05:31.480 that may make these decisions with great wisdom, with great compassion. 00:05:33.400 --> 00:05:35.819 And Lord, we even pray for the government of Russia. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:39.480 We pray for great repentance. 00:05:41.399 --> 00:05:46.000 We pray for a turning from what is evil to the turning of what is good. 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:48.480 We pray that you may convict. 00:05:49.699 --> 00:05:52.100 We pray that you may assert your power, 00:05:52.659 --> 00:05:56.420 that you may show yourself strong and sovereign over all. 00:05:56.420 --> 00:06:00.199 We know that countries rise and fall, 00:06:00.800 --> 00:06:02.660 but the word of the Lord stands forever. 00:06:04.340 --> 00:06:06.199 And so we pray with that hope tonight. 00:06:06.340 --> 00:06:09.600 May that be the hope of your church around the globe. 00:06:11.520 --> 00:06:13.639 Thank you again for the blessing of meeting tonight. 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:15.740 And as we consider your holiness, 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:21.280 may that be a truth that sinks in deep into our hearts. 00:06:21.279 --> 00:06:27.019 As we consider your character, God, 00:06:27.119 --> 00:06:31.339 to recognize how far we are, 00:06:32.419 --> 00:06:34.299 how far we fall from your glory. 00:06:35.779 --> 00:06:37.899 And so we come confessing our sins, 00:06:38.019 --> 00:06:39.339 knowing that you are quick to forgive, 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:42.599 knowing that you give us the righteousness of Christ. 00:06:42.739 --> 00:06:45.119 So may that bring us great joy this evening. 00:06:46.459 --> 00:06:48.779 Lord, we ask that you open our ears, 00:06:48.779 --> 00:06:51.739 that you soften our hearts to the receiving of your word. 00:06:53.679 --> 00:06:55.759 May it be beneficial to us all tonight. 00:06:55.899 --> 00:06:57.959 We pray that you guide and direct me, 00:06:58.059 --> 00:06:59.099 fill me with your spirit, 00:06:59.699 --> 00:07:01.479 that your truth may go forth in power. 00:07:02.419 --> 00:07:04.219 We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:07:08.819 --> 00:07:10.219 As I should have mentioned at the beginning, 00:07:10.319 --> 00:07:12.399 for those who haven't been with us the last few weeks, 00:07:12.679 --> 00:07:14.939 the evening service is a little bit different 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:17.319 than what you may normally be used to. 00:07:17.319 --> 00:07:20.159 That service itself is somewhat abridged 00:07:20.159 --> 00:07:23.800 in order to allow us time to meet after the service, 00:07:23.879 --> 00:07:24.540 after the sermon, 00:07:24.659 --> 00:07:26.379 to have a time of discussion, 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:29.339 to think about these doctrines that we've been going through 00:07:29.339 --> 00:07:31.639 and how they apply to our everyday life. 00:07:31.719 --> 00:07:33.600 So after the sermon this evening, 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:36.100 we'll sing one more song and we'll break into groups. 00:07:36.620 --> 00:07:38.980 We'd love to have those who are willing and able to stay. 00:07:39.060 --> 00:07:41.759 If you have to leave, certainly we understand that. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:43.980 But we'll be dividing into three groups 00:07:43.980 --> 00:07:45.480 in different parts of the sanctuary. 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.959 So feel free to huddle up in any group 00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:50.519 if you are able to do so. 00:07:51.599 --> 00:07:52.699 So as I mentioned tonight, 00:07:52.740 --> 00:07:55.699 we're going to be considering the holiness of God. 00:07:56.159 --> 00:07:59.459 And we'll be looking specifically at Isaiah chapter 6. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:02.199 But before we turn to Isaiah 6, 00:08:02.579 --> 00:08:04.779 I wonder if you've ever had an experience 00:08:04.779 --> 00:08:07.480 that you've wanted to share with people, 00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:11.400 but you just don't have the words to do it justice. 00:08:12.140 --> 00:08:13.540 You know whatever you're going to say 00:08:13.540 --> 00:08:14.720 is just not going to capture 00:08:14.720 --> 00:08:17.220 just the experience that you had 00:08:17.220 --> 00:08:19.960 or maybe something you saw. 00:08:20.060 --> 00:08:22.000 I think a lot of times when we go on holiday, 00:08:22.120 --> 00:08:23.700 we come home with pictures and stories 00:08:23.700 --> 00:08:24.819 and we want to share with other people, 00:08:24.939 --> 00:08:27.120 but it just doesn't completely translate. 00:08:27.240 --> 00:08:28.879 Or maybe we may give a disclaimer 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:29.960 when we show our picture and say, 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:31.879 this is great, but man, you should have been there. 00:08:31.960 --> 00:08:33.980 You should have seen how wonderful 00:08:33.980 --> 00:08:36.639 or how incredible the scenery was. 00:08:37.840 --> 00:08:39.460 I think there's probably been those stories 00:08:39.460 --> 00:08:42.200 of those who have gone up to the highlands here in Scotland. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:43.659 I think often of the United States, 00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:45.539 that story is repeated. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:46.639 I've heard it over and over again 00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:47.899 when people have gone to the Grand Canyon. 00:08:48.039 --> 00:08:49.279 I've never been there myself. 00:08:50.000 --> 00:08:52.300 But people show me pictures, family or friends, 00:08:52.399 --> 00:08:53.980 and they say, man, this just doesn't do it justice. 00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:56.659 How vast it is, how wide it is, 00:08:56.700 --> 00:09:00.080 how deep it is, the vibrant colors that you see. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:04.820 And so I feel that I'm in a similar position tonight, 00:09:05.240 --> 00:09:08.200 that I have this impossible task 00:09:08.200 --> 00:09:11.860 of discussing with you the holiness of God. 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:13.440 And the thing is, the more that I feel like 00:09:13.440 --> 00:09:17.139 I've prepared and studied this text, 00:09:17.420 --> 00:09:20.120 the less equipped I feel to be able to communicate 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:23.460 the truth of this doctrine of the holiness of God. 00:09:23.460 --> 00:09:27.040 Really, there's nothing I can say. 00:09:27.139 --> 00:09:28.840 There's no emotion that I can express that. 00:09:28.900 --> 00:09:31.220 I really feel like I can properly convey to you 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:32.820 the depth and the richness 00:09:32.820 --> 00:09:35.480 and the glory of the holiness of God. 00:09:35.560 --> 00:09:37.920 But that will be my task tonight. 00:09:38.379 --> 00:09:40.220 And so when we think about the holiness of God, 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:42.600 you know, it's really not a controversial topic 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:43.200 within the church. 00:09:43.280 --> 00:09:44.780 I don't think there's anyone here 00:09:44.780 --> 00:09:46.759 that would question the holiness of God. 00:09:46.820 --> 00:09:48.639 That's something we see in the scriptures. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:50.980 That's something we talk about and sing about often. 00:09:52.220 --> 00:09:54.000 But the thing is, I don't know how often 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.480 we really just meditate on that fact. 00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:59.259 How well we really know what it means 00:09:59.259 --> 00:10:02.039 when we say that God is holy. 00:10:03.480 --> 00:10:05.379 And so that's what I want us to think about tonight. 00:10:06.360 --> 00:10:08.879 I want us, even though we recognize the limitations 00:10:08.879 --> 00:10:11.799 of our human mind and the human language, 00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:14.559 for us to consider the holiness of God 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:16.659 and what that means for his people. 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:20.939 And so let's turn in the text, Isaiah 6. 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:25.159 We're going to be looking at the first eight verses. 00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:27.559 It should be on the screen behind me. 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:30.480 In the year that King Uzziah died, 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.639 I saw the Lord high and exalted, seated on a throne. 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:36.500 And the train of his robe filled the temple. 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:40.059 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings. 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:42.579 With two wings they covered their faces. 00:10:43.459 --> 00:10:44.799 With two they covered their feet. 00:10:44.799 --> 00:10:46.059 And with two they were flying. 00:10:47.120 --> 00:10:48.559 And they were calling to one another, 00:10:48.779 --> 00:10:51.939 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:54.839 The whole earth is full of his glory. 00:10:55.980 --> 00:10:58.679 At the sound of their voices, the doorposts 00:10:58.679 --> 00:11:01.319 and the threshold shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 00:11:01.899 --> 00:11:03.839 Woe to me, I cried, I am ruined. 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:06.079 For I am a man of unclean lips 00:11:06.079 --> 00:11:08.439 and I live among people of unclean lips. 00:11:08.759 --> 00:11:11.579 And my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty. 00:11:11.580 --> 00:11:16.440 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, 00:11:16.540 --> 00:11:18.700 which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:21.540 And with it he touched my mouth and said, 00:11:21.680 --> 00:11:23.700 See, this has touched your lips. 00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:25.560 Your guilt is taken away. 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:27.100 Your sin atoned for. 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:29.900 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 00:11:30.040 --> 00:11:31.100 Whom shall I send? 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:32.860 And who will go for us? 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:35.159 And I said, Here am I. 00:11:35.320 --> 00:11:35.759 Send me. 00:11:36.860 --> 00:11:38.120 This is the word of the Lord. 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:40.080 Will you pray with me again? 00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:43.940 Lord, as we consider your holiness, 00:11:46.340 --> 00:11:49.800 we see it seems to be an impossible task 00:11:49.800 --> 00:11:53.900 and personally feel so ill-equipped to do it. 00:11:54.360 --> 00:11:56.120 So we pray, Lord, by your grace, 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.540 you will give us understanding 00:11:57.540 --> 00:12:00.340 that we may have your wisdom 00:12:00.340 --> 00:12:04.340 to understand the depth of your glory and your might. 00:12:05.460 --> 00:12:09.060 May we be overwhelmed by the reality of your holiness this evening, 00:12:09.140 --> 00:12:09.700 we pray, Lord. 00:12:10.440 --> 00:12:11.820 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:16.020 So what I want to do to this evening 00:12:16.020 --> 00:12:17.960 as we consider the holiness of God 00:12:17.960 --> 00:12:19.440 is consider a few things. 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:21.060 First, I want us to think about 00:12:21.060 --> 00:12:24.040 what does that really mean, the holiness of God? 00:12:24.080 --> 00:12:26.060 I want to define that term for us 00:12:26.060 --> 00:12:28.160 and consider where we see it in Scripture. 00:12:28.320 --> 00:12:31.520 So what does it really mean when we say that God is holy? 00:12:32.000 --> 00:12:34.820 I want to consider and look at those features of holiness. 00:12:35.740 --> 00:12:37.140 How do we describe it? 00:12:37.180 --> 00:12:38.660 What effect does it have 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:40.299 in God's character? 00:12:41.419 --> 00:12:43.740 And secondly, I want to look at the response of man. 00:12:43.819 --> 00:12:46.480 What does that mean to us as believers 00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:48.620 when we say that God is holy? 00:12:48.719 --> 00:12:50.459 How does that affect our lives? 00:12:50.719 --> 00:12:52.219 How are we to acknowledge it 00:12:52.219 --> 00:12:53.919 and receive it and pursue it? 00:12:53.919 --> 00:12:57.459 And so let's look first then at the holiness of God. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:00.419 I think when we think about holiness often, 00:13:00.639 --> 00:13:02.500 we may think about it in very simple terms 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:04.139 where we think about purity 00:13:04.139 --> 00:13:06.620 or personal righteousness. 00:13:06.620 --> 00:13:08.460 that when something's holy, 00:13:08.460 --> 00:13:10.299 we think of it as being perfect. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:13.080 And while that's true, 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:15.940 that is part of the meaning of this word. 00:13:16.299 --> 00:13:17.480 There's a primary definition 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:20.060 that I think sometimes we don't always appreciate 00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:21.080 that we see in the Scriptures. 00:13:21.519 --> 00:13:24.139 This Hebrew word for holiness means to be separate, 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:26.340 to be cut off, 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:28.000 to be different. 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.220 And so that which is holy 00:13:30.220 --> 00:13:32.100 is that which is other. 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:35.100 Something that is truly distinct and separate. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:36.279 So when we call God holy, 00:13:36.460 --> 00:13:38.279 we're saying that he is different 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:40.919 and totally unique from anything else. 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:42.240 He has no equal. 00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:44.279 There is this absolute otherness 00:13:44.279 --> 00:13:46.059 that he possesses. 00:13:46.919 --> 00:13:48.419 And so we see this word holiness, 00:13:48.659 --> 00:13:50.820 it's used not only to describe God 00:13:50.820 --> 00:13:51.840 in the Old Testament, 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:53.259 but we see it elsewhere used. 00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:55.039 If we look back in the Bible 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:56.639 when we think about the Ten Commandments, 00:13:56.699 --> 00:13:57.579 the Fourth Commandment, 00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:01.000 remember the Sabbath to keep it holy. 00:14:02.360 --> 00:14:03.779 God set apart the Sabbath. 00:14:03.899 --> 00:14:05.379 He set apart this day as a day of rest 00:14:05.379 --> 00:14:06.559 that is supposed to be distinct 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:10.500 and different than the six other days of the week. 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:13.000 If we think of the term holiday, 00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:16.579 it's a compound word for holy day. 00:14:17.259 --> 00:14:18.579 It's a day of celebration 00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:19.939 or a day of remembrance, 00:14:20.059 --> 00:14:21.480 a day that is supposed to be different 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:24.139 and distinct than all the other days of the year. 00:14:25.039 --> 00:14:27.000 If you think about Solomon's temple 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:28.459 that was built, 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:30.139 there was this inner portion of the temple 00:14:30.139 --> 00:14:32.079 that was called the holy place. 00:14:32.259 --> 00:14:34.219 It was a place that was supposed to be different 00:14:34.219 --> 00:14:34.980 from the rest of the temple, 00:14:35.079 --> 00:14:37.159 a place that only the priests went to. 00:14:37.219 --> 00:14:38.259 And within the holy place, 00:14:38.419 --> 00:14:39.659 there was the altar of incense, 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.339 but then you actually had the holy of holies, 00:14:41.399 --> 00:14:43.779 an even more special set apart place. 00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:46.059 And so we see in this text, 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:49.699 it talks about the death of King Uzziah, 00:14:49.700 --> 00:14:53.680 and it was actually part of what led to his death 00:14:53.680 --> 00:14:57.620 was him not recognizing this distinctness of God 00:14:57.620 --> 00:14:59.900 and this uniqueness of this place in the temple 00:14:59.900 --> 00:15:03.000 because he and his pride went into this holy place 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:06.320 to offer a sacrifice at the table of incense himself 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:08.360 rather than allowing the priests to do it. 00:15:08.420 --> 00:15:11.460 As a result, the Lord struck him with leprosy, 00:15:11.560 --> 00:15:13.820 which quickly led to his death. 00:15:14.860 --> 00:15:17.300 And so we see in the illustrated in the gospel 00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:18.699 what this holiness really means. 00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:19.899 It's this separateness. 00:15:20.219 --> 00:15:22.419 It's the fact that God is wholly uncommon 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:24.099 from all of his creation. 00:15:25.479 --> 00:15:27.199 And so then if we turn back at this passage, 00:15:27.839 --> 00:15:30.519 we have this vision from the prophet Isaiah. 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:33.500 And we don't really know how he's having this vision. 00:15:33.679 --> 00:15:35.319 It's not really explained to us, 00:15:35.339 --> 00:15:38.959 but we see as if it's a peak that he gets into heaven, 00:15:39.019 --> 00:15:40.819 as if God pulled back the curtain slightly 00:15:40.819 --> 00:15:45.719 for him to be able to see the throne room of God. 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:47.700 And so what does he see? 00:15:47.820 --> 00:15:51.100 At the very beginning, the Lord high and exalted. 00:15:51.960 --> 00:15:52.700 Now I want to stop there 00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:54.519 because I want to point out a difference here. 00:15:54.580 --> 00:15:57.560 We see the Lord is different from the Lord 00:15:57.560 --> 00:16:00.320 that we see later on in this passage. 00:16:00.460 --> 00:16:03.420 This is capital L, lowercase o-r-d. 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:08.259 Later on in verse 3, it's capital L, capital O, capital R, capital D. 00:16:08.320 --> 00:16:09.860 There's a difference in those two Lords there. 00:16:10.160 --> 00:16:11.860 When we see the capitalized Lord, 00:16:11.920 --> 00:16:13.700 we know that's the name of God. 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:16.060 It's Yahweh. That's his proper name. 00:16:16.620 --> 00:16:19.720 But here in verse 1, it's not the capital L-O-R-D. 00:16:19.840 --> 00:16:21.620 It's capital L, lowercase o-r-d. 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:24.280 And so that's not referring to the name of Jesus. 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:27.360 That's referring to his title, Adonai, the Lord. 00:16:27.759 --> 00:16:28.800 He is king. 00:16:28.920 --> 00:16:31.000 He is the sovereign ruler. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.960 It's a title that's almost nearly used 00:16:34.960 --> 00:16:37.400 in reference to God in the Old Testament. 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:40.819 And so there's no doubt here what Isaiah is seeing 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:44.299 is the Lord God, the sovereign one, 00:16:44.399 --> 00:16:47.299 seated on his throne in heaven high and exalted. 00:16:48.559 --> 00:16:50.980 And so next we get a description of what he's wearing, 00:16:51.360 --> 00:16:53.639 the train of his robe filling the temple. 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:56.559 I don't know if you've ever met anyone 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.179 that has a big personality, 00:16:58.299 --> 00:17:00.259 maybe an extrovert or someone that's very loud. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:03.799 You may have heard them described as saying 00:17:03.799 --> 00:17:05.279 their personality just fills the room. 00:17:06.779 --> 00:17:07.680 When they come to the room, 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:10.079 everyone knows that that person is there, right? 00:17:10.339 --> 00:17:11.779 That's literally what we see, 00:17:11.940 --> 00:17:13.879 a literal sense of this in here. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.220 His train fills the temple. 00:17:15.379 --> 00:17:16.920 It's a display of his immense, 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:19.140 unrivaled majesty. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:22.319 It shows his transcendence and his supremacy 00:17:22.319 --> 00:17:24.200 that fills the whole temple. 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:28.539 And so then we see after that, 00:17:28.660 --> 00:17:30.100 this image of the seraphim, 00:17:30.640 --> 00:17:33.019 these kind of bizarre angelic beings 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:34.620 with six wings. 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.480 And we're not told much about them 00:17:36.480 --> 00:17:38.259 other than two wings cover their face, 00:17:38.360 --> 00:17:39.600 two wings covering their feet, 00:17:40.220 --> 00:17:41.700 and with two they fly. 00:17:43.080 --> 00:17:44.819 So we know that they're created by God. 00:17:44.900 --> 00:17:46.400 They're created to serve constantly 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.640 in the presence of God. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:50.380 And yet still they have to use these wings 00:17:50.380 --> 00:17:53.700 to shield their eyes from the glory of God. 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.380 It's something that they don't get used to. 00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:57.200 It's something that is wholly different 00:17:57.200 --> 00:17:58.380 from who they are. 00:18:00.059 --> 00:18:01.500 And so it kind of may remind us 00:18:01.500 --> 00:18:03.500 of other times in the Old Testament 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:06.200 where we see this shielding of the face from God. 00:18:06.240 --> 00:18:07.380 If you think of the story of Moses, 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:10.700 he's helped bring the Israelites out of Egypt. 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:13.059 He's received the law on Mount Sinai. 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:15.039 And he asked God, 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.440 show me your glory. 00:18:18.100 --> 00:18:18.880 And how does God respond? 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:20.140 He says, you can't see my face 00:18:20.140 --> 00:18:22.319 for man shall not see me and live. 00:18:23.700 --> 00:18:25.140 But we see what God does, right? 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:28.900 He puts Moses in the cleft of this rock. 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:32.460 And he tells him he's going to pass by him. 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:33.160 And as he does, 00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:35.299 he covers Moses with his hand. 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:36.200 And as he passes, 00:18:36.380 --> 00:18:37.460 he removes his hand 00:18:37.460 --> 00:18:39.860 to allow Moses to see his backside. 00:18:40.980 --> 00:18:43.059 For that's all that Moses could possibly 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:45.420 be able to see and live. 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:48.160 And we know that after this encounter, 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:50.320 Moses goes back to his people, 00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.160 the people of Israel, 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:51.980 and he says, 00:18:52.060 --> 00:18:54.400 he describes that his face is shining 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.860 because he had been in the presence of God. 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:58.380 So much so that he had to wear a veil 00:18:58.380 --> 00:18:59.980 because he was scaring the other people. 00:19:00.279 --> 00:19:01.019 He wouldn't approach him 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.100 because his face was so bright. 00:19:05.120 --> 00:19:07.320 And so this is very similar 00:19:07.320 --> 00:19:09.580 to what we see in this passage of Isaiah. 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:11.759 But it's not only the image of God 00:19:11.759 --> 00:19:12.960 that Isaiah witnesses here, 00:19:12.960 --> 00:19:15.220 but it's the announcement of the seraphim themselves. 00:19:16.140 --> 00:19:17.100 Where they say, 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:21.579 holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty. 00:19:21.740 --> 00:19:24.819 The whole earth is full of his glory. 00:19:26.180 --> 00:19:28.640 And so this is that word that we talked about, 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:31.160 holy, to be distinct, 00:19:31.700 --> 00:19:33.360 to be unlike any other. 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:35.660 And this is the problem that we have 00:19:35.660 --> 00:19:37.180 with our finite minds 00:19:37.180 --> 00:19:38.319 and our finite languages 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:41.680 that we can't fully be able to comprehend 00:19:41.680 --> 00:19:43.820 or describe an infinite God. 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.680 Whether it's in English or in Hebrew 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:46.580 or any other language, 00:19:46.660 --> 00:19:47.759 the best way that we can do it 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:49.860 is basically by form of repetition. 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:53.620 So we see here the holiness of God 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:54.600 repeated three times. 00:19:54.759 --> 00:19:56.580 Holy, holy, holy. 00:19:56.660 --> 00:19:57.920 And this is the only time we see 00:19:57.920 --> 00:19:58.880 in the whole Bible 00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:00.200 the characteristic of God 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:01.180 repeated three times. 00:20:02.140 --> 00:20:03.220 Nowhere in the Bible does it say, 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:05.180 God is love, love, love. 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:07.940 Or gracious, gracious, gracious. 00:20:08.080 --> 00:20:09.259 Certainly those things are true. 00:20:09.259 --> 00:20:11.599 But the emphasis on his holiness here, 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:13.700 not just simply holy or holy, holy, 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:16.079 but holy, holy, holy. 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:20.460 I think this difficulty even goes beyond 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.960 just language too. 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:26.279 It's difficult for us to be able to comprehend 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:29.779 with our minds the holiness of God. 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:31.200 I think often when we think about God, 00:20:31.259 --> 00:20:32.740 we're tempted to think about God 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:34.379 as being on the same plane as us. 00:20:34.460 --> 00:20:36.759 God is maybe just a bigger, better version 00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.819 of us as humans here. 00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:42.500 But this vision illustrates the fact 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:45.559 that this is not a correct way of viewing it. 00:20:45.599 --> 00:20:47.559 Even though the passage starts with King Uzziah 00:20:47.559 --> 00:20:48.879 and says in the year that he died, 00:20:49.420 --> 00:20:50.460 Isaiah is not making the point 00:20:50.460 --> 00:20:51.819 where this is an earthly king 00:20:51.819 --> 00:20:52.700 who did some bad things, 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.680 but this is someone better we can turn to. 00:20:54.759 --> 00:20:56.980 No, this is the king of the universe, 00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.519 holy and set apart, 00:20:58.779 --> 00:21:01.619 completely distinct from any earthly king. 00:21:01.619 --> 00:21:04.719 And so likewise, 00:21:04.879 --> 00:21:07.000 when we think about God's holiness, 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:10.399 there's a different way we need to think about it 00:21:10.399 --> 00:21:11.439 because it's different than 00:21:11.439 --> 00:21:15.359 how we may ascribe attributes to a man. 00:21:16.719 --> 00:21:19.000 And so if I pick on Bob for a second, 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:21.019 we may say that, well, Bob is wise. 00:21:21.179 --> 00:21:22.139 And I think most of us, 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.939 probably most of us can agree to that fact. 00:21:25.079 --> 00:21:26.579 And when we say that, 00:21:26.619 --> 00:21:29.059 we're saying, well, Bob typically has good judgment. 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:33.099 He is deep understanding in certain things. 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:35.899 And so we feel comfortable calling Bob wise, 00:21:36.059 --> 00:21:39.200 but his existence is not dependent on Bob being wise 00:21:39.200 --> 00:21:43.000 because Bob could gain more wisdom or lose wisdom 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:45.319 and that doesn't affect his being. 00:21:46.419 --> 00:21:49.599 Bob will not cease to exist if Bob ceases to be wise. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:51.019 Right? 00:21:51.079 --> 00:21:51.700 In the same way, 00:21:51.779 --> 00:21:54.539 Bob's wisdom may not necessarily relate 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.839 to any of his other attributes. 00:21:55.839 --> 00:21:59.119 Bob may lose his wisdom, 00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:00.579 but he'll still be a friendly, 00:22:01.179 --> 00:22:02.359 affable human being, right? 00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:06.879 It's not the same when we think about this attribute of God, 00:22:06.939 --> 00:22:07.899 especially his holiness, 00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:10.539 because God's holiness never changes. 00:22:11.419 --> 00:22:13.659 He can't be more or less holy. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:18.779 He is and will forever be holy to the fullest 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:21.379 because if he were to lose his holiness, 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:23.339 then he ceases to be God. 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:25.720 And similarly, 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:27.119 when we talk about his holiness, 00:22:27.359 --> 00:22:29.199 it doesn't operate in isolation. 00:22:30.099 --> 00:22:33.019 His holiness influences and affects 00:22:33.019 --> 00:22:35.139 all the other attributes of God. 00:22:35.199 --> 00:22:36.779 So when we talk about God's love 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:39.339 or his mercy or his power, 00:22:40.319 --> 00:22:42.439 we talk about in such ways 00:22:42.439 --> 00:22:45.899 that God's fully holy in his love. 00:22:47.139 --> 00:22:49.339 His mercy is holy mercy. 00:22:50.199 --> 00:22:52.639 His power is a holy power. 00:22:52.640 --> 00:22:55.140 And so when we think about God, 00:22:55.220 --> 00:22:56.400 he's not just a bundle 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:58.920 of independent individual attributes. 00:22:59.600 --> 00:23:01.180 When we think about God's holiness, 00:23:01.340 --> 00:23:02.460 it is not simply an attribute. 00:23:02.660 --> 00:23:05.180 It is the essence of who he is. 00:23:05.500 --> 00:23:08.240 It reveals to us everything that he does 00:23:08.240 --> 00:23:10.480 and all that he is. 00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:13.060 And so these are qualities 00:23:13.060 --> 00:23:14.980 that are celebrated elsewhere in the Old Testament. 00:23:15.820 --> 00:23:17.580 If we look at the song of Hannah 00:23:17.580 --> 00:23:19.600 at the beginning of 1 Samuel 2, 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:22.119 she sings, 00:23:22.219 --> 00:23:24.339 there is no one holy like the Lord. 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:26.579 There is no one besides you. 00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:28.399 There is no rock like our God. 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:31.439 Moses and the people of Israel, 00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:33.919 they sing this in Exodus 15. 00:23:34.099 --> 00:23:36.339 Who among the gods is like you, Lord? 00:23:37.199 --> 00:23:38.059 Who is like you, 00:23:38.159 --> 00:23:39.579 majestic in holiness, 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:41.279 awesome in glory? 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:41.899 Holy, 00:23:41.899 --> 00:23:42.279 holy, 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:42.859 holy, 00:23:42.859 --> 00:23:45.779 holy, 00:23:45.779 --> 00:23:45.859 holy, 00:23:45.859 --> 00:23:46.940 holy, 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:48.039 holy, 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:50.639 to the greatest degree, 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:54.579 unchanging and infinite forever. 00:23:54.579 --> 00:23:59.019 And so what does that mean for us then? 00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:01.699 If this is the God of the universe 00:24:01.699 --> 00:24:02.579 who is holy, 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.059 holy, 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:03.419 holy, 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:04.699 what is the response of man? 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:08.079 If God is the reigning king 00:24:08.079 --> 00:24:09.759 and is holy in all he does, 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:11.240 how does that affect us 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:13.740 as followers of Christ? 00:24:15.159 --> 00:24:15.699 Well, unfortunately, 00:24:15.819 --> 00:24:16.720 I think most of us, 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:18.359 most in society, 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.839 if they believe in God at all, 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.319 they probably have a tendency 00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:24.339 to shrink their concept of God, 00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:27.279 to lessen God's attribute. 00:24:27.399 --> 00:24:29.359 Maybe they think that makes God 00:24:29.359 --> 00:24:30.899 more relatable to them 00:24:30.899 --> 00:24:32.099 if they make a God 00:24:32.099 --> 00:24:33.379 that's more like themselves. 00:24:35.039 --> 00:24:36.059 Because the thing is, 00:24:36.200 --> 00:24:36.720 holiness, 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:37.659 the holiness of God 00:24:37.659 --> 00:24:39.059 has serious implications 00:24:39.059 --> 00:24:40.039 in our lives 00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:41.079 because it's a standard 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.519 that we ourselves can't achieve 00:24:42.519 --> 00:24:44.159 and most people recognize that. 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:44.599 Right? 00:24:44.619 --> 00:24:45.799 If you ask a person on the street, 00:24:45.859 --> 00:24:46.519 you go up to them and say, 00:24:46.519 --> 00:24:47.679 are you a good person? 00:24:48.839 --> 00:24:50.240 Probably most of them will say yes. 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:50.939 Right? 00:24:51.000 --> 00:24:51.939 Yeah, I do good things. 00:24:51.940 --> 00:24:52.900 I think I'm a pretty good person. 00:24:52.980 --> 00:24:54.019 But if we were to ask the person, 00:24:54.100 --> 00:24:55.160 are you a holy person? 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:57.440 I doubt very much 00:24:57.440 --> 00:24:58.620 that many people would say, 00:24:58.920 --> 00:24:59.900 yeah, I'm a holy person. 00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:02.140 They'd probably say no. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.900 And they'd probably be pretty okay 00:25:03.900 --> 00:25:04.559 with saying no. 00:25:05.180 --> 00:25:06.380 Because it's not a standard 00:25:06.380 --> 00:25:07.660 that many people use anymore. 00:25:07.759 --> 00:25:09.039 It's not a term that they know. 00:25:09.140 --> 00:25:10.600 It's an archaic standard 00:25:10.600 --> 00:25:12.799 that they don't live up to anymore. 00:25:14.220 --> 00:25:15.600 People are very comfortable 00:25:15.600 --> 00:25:17.180 with their imperfections 00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:20.640 because their standard is relative. 00:25:21.940 --> 00:25:23.680 Because we like to judge ourselves 00:25:23.680 --> 00:25:24.720 based on others. 00:25:24.799 --> 00:25:24.940 Right? 00:25:24.940 --> 00:25:25.960 We can always find someone 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:27.440 who's worse than we are. 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.980 We might have done something wrong, 00:25:30.080 --> 00:25:31.320 but did you see what that person did? 00:25:31.360 --> 00:25:32.460 They're far worse than me. 00:25:34.320 --> 00:25:35.580 John Calvin puts it this way. 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:38.759 So long as we do not look beyond the earth, 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:40.380 we are quite pleased 00:25:40.380 --> 00:25:41.380 with our own righteousness, 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:43.100 wisdom, and virtue. 00:25:43.740 --> 00:25:44.960 We address ourselves 00:25:44.960 --> 00:25:46.480 in the most flattering terms 00:25:46.480 --> 00:25:49.680 and seem only less than demagogues. 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:54.000 And so if we keep our eyes from God, 00:25:54.140 --> 00:25:56.220 if our standard is one another, 00:25:56.400 --> 00:25:58.220 then we have this false sense of security 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.940 that we can kind of perpetuate. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:03.340 We can maintain this level of pride 00:26:03.340 --> 00:26:04.120 and arrogance, 00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:05.060 and that's what we see 00:26:05.060 --> 00:26:06.100 in the world around us. 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:07.640 Because society really places 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.799 no importance on holiness. 00:26:09.220 --> 00:26:10.380 That's not a level 00:26:10.380 --> 00:26:12.000 or a standard for success 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:12.700 for everyone to say, 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.539 I want to be holy. 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.759 I want to be holy in my work. 00:26:15.820 --> 00:26:17.360 I want to be holy in my relationships. 00:26:17.359 --> 00:26:19.279 You say that on the street corner, 00:26:19.419 --> 00:26:20.519 people are going to look at you 00:26:20.519 --> 00:26:21.159 like you're crazy. 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.659 But when we look back at the text here, 00:26:24.699 --> 00:26:26.479 we see just how central 00:26:26.479 --> 00:26:29.000 God's holiness is to our lives. 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:31.019 How it can't be something 00:26:31.019 --> 00:26:32.979 that we overlook or simply minimize. 00:26:33.179 --> 00:26:34.279 Because look at verse 5. 00:26:34.519 --> 00:26:35.819 This is the response of Isaiah 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:37.519 when he has encountered this holy God. 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.079 He says, 00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:54.059 Isaiah is rightly terrified. 00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:56.639 He is expecting his own destruction. 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:58.599 And why is that? 00:26:59.619 --> 00:27:03.199 One, he has seen the true vision of God, 00:27:03.200 --> 00:27:04.799 and because of that, 00:27:05.140 --> 00:27:09.259 he has a true and accurate vision of himself. 00:27:10.840 --> 00:27:13.299 He understands the gap that exists 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:16.559 between his humanity and God's divinity, 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.779 his corruption and God's holiness. 00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:21.980 And so this is a pattern we see 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.819 throughout the Bible, 00:27:23.600 --> 00:27:26.200 that when people come into the presence of God, 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:29.259 they do so with trembling and great fear. 00:27:29.259 --> 00:27:32.259 If we go back to the creation story 00:27:32.259 --> 00:27:33.259 and we think about Adam and Eve, 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.160 when they've sinned, 00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:37.160 they recognize their nakedness. 00:27:37.660 --> 00:27:38.420 And what do they do? 00:27:38.460 --> 00:27:39.299 They hide from God. 00:27:39.379 --> 00:27:40.960 They're fearful of his presence. 00:27:43.700 --> 00:27:44.519 The prophet Habakkuk, 00:27:44.980 --> 00:27:47.240 he's seen the suffering of Israel 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.240 and he asked God, 00:27:48.599 --> 00:27:50.619 how long, O Lord, must I cry for help, 00:27:50.680 --> 00:27:51.319 but you don't listen? 00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.900 And God responds to him. 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:56.039 He states that judgment is coming 00:27:56.039 --> 00:27:58.619 and he says that the Lord is in his holy temple. 00:27:58.619 --> 00:28:00.579 Let all the earth be silent before him. 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:03.139 And he tells Habakkuk, 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:05.699 the holy justice that is to come. 00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:08.099 And this is Habakkuk's response 00:28:08.099 --> 00:28:08.959 when he hears this. 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:11.439 He said, I heard and my heart pounded. 00:28:11.699 --> 00:28:13.759 My lips quivered at the sound. 00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:15.339 Decay crept into my bones 00:28:15.339 --> 00:28:16.439 and my legs trembled. 00:28:18.579 --> 00:28:20.239 We even see this in the New Testament 00:28:20.239 --> 00:28:23.259 when Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, 00:28:23.399 --> 00:28:24.239 is out fishing all night 00:28:24.239 --> 00:28:25.079 and he hasn't caught a thing. 00:28:25.819 --> 00:28:26.859 And Jesus instructs him, 00:28:26.939 --> 00:28:27.879 go further out in your boat. 00:28:28.619 --> 00:28:29.739 Put your nets on the other side 00:28:29.739 --> 00:28:30.399 and what happens? 00:28:30.899 --> 00:28:31.939 Completely filled with fish 00:28:31.939 --> 00:28:34.219 to the extent that it almost sinks two boats. 00:28:35.500 --> 00:28:37.419 And what is Peter's immediate response? 00:28:37.579 --> 00:28:39.419 He falls at Jesus' knees 00:28:39.419 --> 00:28:41.139 and says, go away from me, Lord. 00:28:41.199 --> 00:28:42.379 I am a sinful man. 00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:47.099 See, when we experience the holiness of God, 00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:48.219 we can't fool ourselves 00:28:48.219 --> 00:28:49.439 into thinking that our morality 00:28:49.439 --> 00:28:51.819 or our good efforts make us safe 00:28:51.819 --> 00:28:54.439 because our unworthiness 00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.599 and our depravity 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:57.759 is laid out before God. 00:29:01.639 --> 00:29:02.639 And so likewise, 00:29:02.759 --> 00:29:03.439 the holiness of God, 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.480 it also exposes 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.500 the seriousness of our sin. 00:29:07.419 --> 00:29:08.579 That's the whole purpose 00:29:08.579 --> 00:29:11.019 of this vision that Isaiah is having. 00:29:11.099 --> 00:29:12.460 That God is commissioning him 00:29:12.460 --> 00:29:13.919 to tell the people of Israel 00:29:13.919 --> 00:29:15.179 the judgment that is coming 00:29:15.179 --> 00:29:17.079 because of their rebellion. 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:18.980 God in his holiness 00:29:18.980 --> 00:29:20.059 can't overlook sin. 00:29:20.199 --> 00:29:21.519 He hates sin. 00:29:21.619 --> 00:29:22.779 It is a personal affront 00:29:22.779 --> 00:29:23.980 to his own holiness. 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.279 And so when we see 00:29:26.279 --> 00:29:27.559 these redemption stories 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.079 in the Bible 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:29.019 where people have sinned 00:29:29.019 --> 00:29:30.279 and they've turned back to God 00:29:30.279 --> 00:29:31.460 asking for mercy, 00:29:31.599 --> 00:29:32.500 begging for forgiveness, 00:29:33.000 --> 00:29:34.659 it's very interesting 00:29:34.659 --> 00:29:36.399 how they characterize 00:29:36.399 --> 00:29:37.179 their own sin. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:38.359 When King David 00:29:38.359 --> 00:29:40.359 has sinned against the Lord, 00:29:40.419 --> 00:29:41.460 he's committed adultery 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:41.939 and murder. 00:29:41.940 --> 00:29:43.880 we see in Psalm 51, 00:29:44.960 --> 00:29:45.340 he says, 00:29:45.500 --> 00:29:47.580 Against you and you only 00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:48.539 have I sinned 00:29:48.539 --> 00:29:50.580 and done evil in your sight. 00:29:52.460 --> 00:29:53.940 When we think of the story 00:29:53.940 --> 00:29:54.799 of the prodigal son, 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:57.580 the son who has left his father, 00:29:58.759 --> 00:29:59.840 he's dishonored his father, 00:29:59.900 --> 00:30:01.120 he's squandered his inheritance 00:30:01.120 --> 00:30:02.480 and decides to come home 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:03.360 and ask for forgiveness. 00:30:03.960 --> 00:30:05.200 And what's the first thing 00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:06.120 he says to his father? 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:08.100 Father, I have sinned against heaven 00:30:08.100 --> 00:30:10.120 and against you. 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:13.019 So we need to recognize 00:30:13.019 --> 00:30:15.279 when we serve a holy God 00:30:15.279 --> 00:30:17.399 that every one of our sins 00:30:17.399 --> 00:30:19.659 is a sin against God himself. 00:30:19.719 --> 00:30:20.979 No matter how big or small, 00:30:21.279 --> 00:30:22.639 whether it's an isolated incident 00:30:22.639 --> 00:30:24.179 or it's a pattern of bad behavior, 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:25.579 it is a rebellious act 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:27.099 against a holy God 00:30:27.099 --> 00:30:28.179 that's deserving of judgment. 00:30:30.819 --> 00:30:31.879 I think often we just, 00:30:31.979 --> 00:30:33.119 we try to lessen 00:30:33.839 --> 00:30:35.059 the significance of our sin. 00:30:35.139 --> 00:30:36.159 We want to minimize it, right? 00:30:36.159 --> 00:30:37.619 Or justify it or ignore it. 00:30:40.119 --> 00:30:41.419 How often do we, 00:30:41.619 --> 00:30:42.119 as believers, 00:30:42.519 --> 00:30:44.779 truly grieve our sin? 00:30:46.959 --> 00:30:48.479 How often have we wept 00:30:48.479 --> 00:30:50.039 over our sin? 00:30:51.679 --> 00:30:53.799 Paul Tripp says this. 00:30:54.359 --> 00:30:54.639 He says, 00:30:54.739 --> 00:30:55.619 we cannot repent 00:30:55.619 --> 00:30:57.179 of what we have not confessed. 00:30:57.739 --> 00:30:58.799 We cannot confess 00:30:58.799 --> 00:30:59.779 what we have not grieved 00:30:59.779 --> 00:31:00.779 and we cannot grieve 00:31:00.779 --> 00:31:01.899 for what we have not seen. 00:31:01.900 --> 00:31:05.540 So let it be our prayer then 00:31:05.540 --> 00:31:06.400 that we see 00:31:06.400 --> 00:31:07.940 the seriousness of our sin, 00:31:08.420 --> 00:31:10.100 that it is open rebellion 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:11.820 against a holy God. 00:31:13.160 --> 00:31:14.160 Because when we do, 00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.740 the passage shows us 00:31:15.740 --> 00:31:16.400 what happens. 00:31:16.500 --> 00:31:17.000 In verse 6, 00:31:17.060 --> 00:31:17.640 it goes on, 00:31:17.640 --> 00:31:18.880 then one of the seraphim 00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:19.500 flew to me 00:31:19.500 --> 00:31:20.680 with a live coal in his hand, 00:31:20.759 --> 00:31:21.420 which had been taken 00:31:21.420 --> 00:31:22.480 with tongs from the altar. 00:31:22.880 --> 00:31:23.240 And with it, 00:31:23.259 --> 00:31:24.100 he touched my mouth 00:31:24.100 --> 00:31:24.480 and said, 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:24.860 see, 00:31:25.040 --> 00:31:26.280 this has touched your lips. 00:31:26.340 --> 00:31:27.800 Your guilt is taken away 00:31:27.800 --> 00:31:29.220 and your sin atoned for. 00:31:29.220 --> 00:31:31.440 And so we see 00:31:31.440 --> 00:31:32.779 while God is holy 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:33.700 in his justice, 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:35.500 he is also fully holy 00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.360 in his mercy. 00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:39.000 Isaiah thought 00:31:39.000 --> 00:31:40.319 his life was over, 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:42.579 but he receives 00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:44.279 the purifying touch of God 00:31:44.279 --> 00:31:44.940 and is forgiven. 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:45.660 His guilt 00:31:45.660 --> 00:31:47.220 is totally removed. 00:31:48.539 --> 00:31:50.360 And so this is foreshadowing 00:31:50.360 --> 00:31:51.220 of the mercy 00:31:51.220 --> 00:31:51.960 that is to come. 00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:53.000 It's Isaiah himself 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:54.039 who prophesies later 00:31:54.039 --> 00:31:55.160 in Isaiah 53 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.960 of the coming Savior, 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:57.160 one who is going to bear 00:31:57.160 --> 00:31:58.579 the sins of his people, 00:31:58.660 --> 00:31:59.160 who is going to 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:00.120 make intercession 00:32:00.120 --> 00:32:01.680 for the transgressors. 00:32:04.560 --> 00:32:05.580 So I mentioned earlier 00:32:05.580 --> 00:32:06.060 when we were talking 00:32:06.060 --> 00:32:07.120 about the holiness of God 00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:08.160 that it doesn't change, 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.120 that it goes on forever. 00:32:09.259 --> 00:32:10.820 So we see the holiness of God 00:32:10.820 --> 00:32:11.980 being continued 00:32:11.980 --> 00:32:13.400 through the life 00:32:13.400 --> 00:32:14.759 of Jesus Christ, 00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.580 the Son of God, 00:32:16.580 --> 00:32:17.500 who not only lived 00:32:17.500 --> 00:32:18.720 a sinless life, 00:32:18.800 --> 00:32:20.000 but also fully 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:21.000 in conformity 00:32:21.000 --> 00:32:21.700 with the holy 00:32:21.700 --> 00:32:22.580 and perfect will 00:32:22.580 --> 00:32:23.279 of the Father. 00:32:23.600 --> 00:32:25.060 If we look at John 6, 38, 00:32:25.200 --> 00:32:25.800 it says this, 00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:26.820 For I have come down 00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:27.279 from heaven 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:28.799 not to do my will, 00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.539 but to do the will 00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:30.559 of him who sent me. 00:32:31.180 --> 00:32:31.940 And this is the will 00:32:31.940 --> 00:32:32.639 of him who sent me, 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:34.039 that I shall lose none 00:32:34.039 --> 00:32:35.160 of all those 00:32:35.160 --> 00:32:35.920 he has given to me, 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:37.059 but raise them up 00:32:37.059 --> 00:32:37.779 on the last day. 00:32:38.599 --> 00:32:39.680 For my Father's will 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.399 is that everyone 00:32:40.399 --> 00:32:41.399 who looks to the Son 00:32:41.399 --> 00:32:42.339 and believes in him 00:32:42.339 --> 00:32:43.579 shall have eternal life, 00:32:43.619 --> 00:32:44.759 and I will raise them up 00:32:44.759 --> 00:32:45.480 on the last day. 00:32:45.480 --> 00:32:48.160 You see, 00:32:48.200 --> 00:32:49.460 it was the holy will 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.240 of the Father 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:51.860 who sent his Holy Son 00:32:51.860 --> 00:32:53.680 to be a holy sacrifice 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:54.759 for the forgiveness 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:55.420 of our sins. 00:32:56.980 --> 00:32:58.400 It's through his blood 00:32:58.400 --> 00:32:58.900 that we have 00:32:58.900 --> 00:32:59.880 the righteousness of Christ 00:32:59.880 --> 00:33:01.140 and that we get to share 00:33:01.140 --> 00:33:02.079 in the holiness 00:33:02.079 --> 00:33:03.380 of God. 00:33:05.579 --> 00:33:06.839 And so that may seem 00:33:06.839 --> 00:33:07.880 like a fitting ending 00:33:07.880 --> 00:33:08.680 for the evening, 00:33:08.680 --> 00:33:09.819 to be able to rejoice 00:33:09.819 --> 00:33:10.940 that sinners 00:33:10.940 --> 00:33:11.700 have been given 00:33:11.700 --> 00:33:13.079 the holiness of God 00:33:13.079 --> 00:33:14.120 through the blood 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:15.099 of Christ. 00:33:16.679 --> 00:33:17.419 But I don't want 00:33:17.419 --> 00:33:17.859 to stop there 00:33:17.859 --> 00:33:18.579 because the holiness 00:33:18.579 --> 00:33:20.119 of God has another 00:33:20.119 --> 00:33:21.439 implication for the life 00:33:21.439 --> 00:33:21.879 of the believer. 00:33:22.819 --> 00:33:23.819 Because when we turn 00:33:23.819 --> 00:33:24.439 to the New Testament 00:33:24.439 --> 00:33:25.639 over and over again, 00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.659 we see repeated 00:33:26.659 --> 00:33:27.359 a command 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:29.759 for us to be holy. 00:33:31.219 --> 00:33:31.799 Let's look at 00:33:31.799 --> 00:33:32.299 a couple of verses. 00:33:32.439 --> 00:33:33.299 1 Peter 1, 00:33:33.699 --> 00:33:35.419 14 through 16. 00:33:35.539 --> 00:33:36.379 As obedient children, 00:33:36.500 --> 00:33:37.199 do not conform 00:33:37.199 --> 00:33:38.199 to the evil desires 00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:40.159 you had when you lived 00:33:40.159 --> 00:33:40.819 in ignorance, 00:33:41.539 --> 00:33:43.199 but just as he 00:33:43.199 --> 00:33:44.000 who called you 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:44.539 is holy, 00:33:45.000 --> 00:33:45.920 so be holy 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:46.700 in all you do. 00:33:47.440 --> 00:33:48.079 For it is written, 00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:49.019 be holy because 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:49.680 I am holy. 00:33:51.299 --> 00:33:52.319 Hebrews 12, 00:33:52.819 --> 00:33:53.519 verse 14. 00:33:53.640 --> 00:33:54.339 Make every effort 00:33:54.339 --> 00:33:55.240 to live in peace 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:55.880 with everyone 00:33:55.880 --> 00:33:57.240 and to be holy. 00:33:57.359 --> 00:33:58.180 Without holiness, 00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.839 no one will see 00:33:59.839 --> 00:34:00.460 the Lord. 00:34:02.660 --> 00:34:03.619 And so we may 00:34:03.619 --> 00:34:04.759 be a little confused. 00:34:04.900 --> 00:34:05.720 We may ask ourselves, 00:34:05.799 --> 00:34:06.180 well, why, 00:34:06.279 --> 00:34:07.039 if we have already 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:08.079 received the holiness 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:09.119 of God through 00:34:09.119 --> 00:34:10.380 the blood of Christ, 00:34:10.460 --> 00:34:11.440 are we then instructed 00:34:11.440 --> 00:34:13.700 to make an effort 00:34:13.700 --> 00:34:14.639 to be holy? 00:34:16.079 --> 00:34:16.800 And so I think 00:34:16.800 --> 00:34:17.679 we need to recognize here 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.320 these verses 00:34:18.320 --> 00:34:19.720 aren't talking about 00:34:19.720 --> 00:34:20.679 salvation. 00:34:21.300 --> 00:34:22.340 We are not saved 00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.200 by our works. 00:34:23.559 --> 00:34:24.820 Holiness is not a condition 00:34:24.820 --> 00:34:25.780 of our salvation, 00:34:26.000 --> 00:34:27.639 but it is a part 00:34:27.639 --> 00:34:28.380 of our salvation 00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:29.059 that we receive 00:34:29.059 --> 00:34:29.559 by faith. 00:34:31.320 --> 00:34:31.940 And so, 00:34:32.039 --> 00:34:33.119 though we receive 00:34:33.119 --> 00:34:33.639 our holiness 00:34:33.639 --> 00:34:34.360 through Christ, 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.400 we are also called 00:34:35.400 --> 00:34:36.960 to pursue it. 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:39.619 If we look at the 00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:40.079 very beginning 00:34:40.079 --> 00:34:40.800 of 1 Corinthians, 00:34:40.940 --> 00:34:41.519 Paul addresses 00:34:41.519 --> 00:34:42.099 his audience 00:34:42.099 --> 00:34:42.860 and he says this, 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:43.659 to the church 00:34:43.659 --> 00:34:44.300 in Corinth, 00:34:45.000 --> 00:34:46.380 to those sanctified 00:34:46.380 --> 00:34:47.280 in Christ Jesus 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:47.840 and called 00:34:47.840 --> 00:34:48.599 to be holy people. 00:34:49.159 --> 00:34:50.260 That word sanctified 00:34:50.260 --> 00:34:51.099 means to those 00:34:51.099 --> 00:34:51.760 who have been 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:52.320 made holy. 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.420 So he's saying 00:34:53.420 --> 00:34:54.000 the church, 00:34:54.380 --> 00:34:54.800 you have been 00:34:54.800 --> 00:34:55.539 made holy 00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.340 by Christ 00:34:56.340 --> 00:34:58.159 and you are now 00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:58.820 called 00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.880 to be holy 00:34:59.880 --> 00:35:00.579 in your lives. 00:35:02.920 --> 00:35:03.639 I don't know 00:35:03.639 --> 00:35:05.179 if any of you 00:35:05.179 --> 00:35:06.119 are big sports fans, 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.239 but I've enjoyed 00:35:07.239 --> 00:35:07.880 the last few weeks 00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:08.420 being able to watch 00:35:08.420 --> 00:35:09.339 Six Nations rugby 00:35:09.339 --> 00:35:10.920 and now that I've been 00:35:10.920 --> 00:35:11.559 in Scotland 00:35:11.559 --> 00:35:12.480 for a year and a half, 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.440 I feel like I can rightly 00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:14.699 say that I'm a Scottish fan 00:35:14.699 --> 00:35:15.279 and can cheer 00:35:15.279 --> 00:35:16.480 for the home team. 00:35:17.699 --> 00:35:18.819 And as I do, 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.759 as I identify 00:35:19.759 --> 00:35:21.239 as a Scottish fan, 00:35:22.239 --> 00:35:23.359 it's natural then 00:35:23.359 --> 00:35:24.039 to want to watch 00:35:24.039 --> 00:35:24.539 the games. 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:25.619 It's natural 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:26.359 to want to cheer 00:35:26.359 --> 00:35:27.099 the team on, 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.079 to celebrate 00:35:28.079 --> 00:35:28.779 when they win 00:35:28.779 --> 00:35:29.799 and to feel bad 00:35:29.799 --> 00:35:30.519 when they lose. 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:32.079 And so yesterday 00:35:32.079 --> 00:35:32.519 when Scotland 00:35:32.519 --> 00:35:33.119 played France, 00:35:33.159 --> 00:35:33.539 if I decided, 00:35:33.619 --> 00:35:34.039 well, you know, 00:35:34.099 --> 00:35:35.500 I may root 00:35:35.500 --> 00:35:36.099 for France today, 00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.359 and they got 00:35:36.359 --> 00:35:36.779 a better chance 00:35:36.779 --> 00:35:37.019 of winning. 00:35:38.400 --> 00:35:39.339 And I told you that, 00:35:39.380 --> 00:35:39.799 you'd probably 00:35:39.799 --> 00:35:41.259 very much doubt 00:35:41.259 --> 00:35:42.380 the sincerity 00:35:42.380 --> 00:35:44.940 of my fanhood 00:35:44.940 --> 00:35:46.579 for my being 00:35:46.579 --> 00:35:46.980 a fan 00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:47.619 or a fanatic 00:35:47.619 --> 00:35:48.599 of Scotland. 00:35:48.880 --> 00:35:49.739 And so it's similarly 00:35:49.739 --> 00:35:51.159 as believers. 00:35:51.719 --> 00:35:52.579 If we call 00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:53.579 ourselves Christians, 00:35:53.839 --> 00:35:55.079 if we don't yearn 00:35:55.079 --> 00:35:56.500 for this holy life 00:35:56.500 --> 00:35:57.179 that is pleasing 00:35:57.179 --> 00:35:57.739 to God, 00:35:58.059 --> 00:35:58.739 we certainly 00:35:58.739 --> 00:35:59.799 need to question 00:35:59.799 --> 00:36:01.839 whether our faith 00:36:01.839 --> 00:36:02.500 in Christ 00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.559 is actually genuine. 00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:05.179 because true 00:36:05.179 --> 00:36:06.159 salvation brings 00:36:06.159 --> 00:36:06.920 a desire 00:36:06.920 --> 00:36:08.039 to be holy. 00:36:08.380 --> 00:36:08.799 We should 00:36:08.799 --> 00:36:09.579 naturally want 00:36:09.579 --> 00:36:10.659 to imitate 00:36:10.659 --> 00:36:11.679 the God 00:36:11.679 --> 00:36:12.219 in which we 00:36:12.219 --> 00:36:13.440 claim to follow. 00:36:15.059 --> 00:36:15.880 And so we need 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.619 to ask ourselves, 00:36:16.719 --> 00:36:16.900 really, 00:36:16.980 --> 00:36:17.759 is this our desire? 00:36:17.880 --> 00:36:18.299 I think a lot 00:36:18.299 --> 00:36:18.920 of times we can 00:36:18.920 --> 00:36:19.360 get caught up 00:36:19.360 --> 00:36:19.739 with talking 00:36:19.739 --> 00:36:20.239 about loving 00:36:20.239 --> 00:36:21.199 others and serving 00:36:21.199 --> 00:36:22.279 and being gracious 00:36:22.279 --> 00:36:23.079 and those things 00:36:23.079 --> 00:36:23.619 are wonderful 00:36:23.619 --> 00:36:24.119 and needed. 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:26.320 But how often 00:36:26.320 --> 00:36:26.960 do we truly 00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:28.579 look and think 00:36:28.579 --> 00:36:29.519 about our need 00:36:29.519 --> 00:36:30.179 for holiness? 00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:30.759 Because oftentimes 00:36:30.759 --> 00:36:31.500 we think it may 00:36:31.500 --> 00:36:31.980 just be too 00:36:31.980 --> 00:36:32.460 unattainable, 00:36:32.460 --> 00:36:32.720 right? 00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.699 God's holy, 00:36:33.780 --> 00:36:33.960 yes, 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:34.760 I can't be holy 00:36:34.760 --> 00:36:35.240 in this life, 00:36:35.300 --> 00:36:35.900 so let's like 00:36:35.900 --> 00:36:36.720 just try to be 00:36:36.720 --> 00:36:37.720 good and love. 00:36:38.179 --> 00:36:38.539 No, 00:36:38.619 --> 00:36:39.559 we are called 00:36:39.559 --> 00:36:40.740 to holiness. 00:36:40.960 --> 00:36:41.480 How does that 00:36:41.480 --> 00:36:42.159 apply in our 00:36:42.159 --> 00:36:42.860 everyday lives? 00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:45.460 We need to think 00:36:45.460 --> 00:36:46.159 how are we 00:36:46.159 --> 00:36:47.240 to pursue holiness 00:36:47.240 --> 00:36:48.159 in our parenting? 00:36:48.519 --> 00:36:49.079 How are we 00:36:49.079 --> 00:36:49.940 to pursue holiness 00:36:49.940 --> 00:36:52.000 in our marriage, 00:36:52.840 --> 00:36:53.519 in our work, 00:36:53.619 --> 00:36:54.240 in our study, 00:36:54.880 --> 00:36:56.340 in our finances, 00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:57.420 in our free time? 00:36:59.500 --> 00:37:00.059 These are 00:37:00.059 --> 00:37:01.039 important questions 00:37:01.039 --> 00:37:01.480 that we need 00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:02.380 to ask as the 00:37:02.380 --> 00:37:03.240 church because 00:37:03.240 --> 00:37:04.140 the fact is 00:37:04.140 --> 00:37:05.420 that this life 00:37:05.420 --> 00:37:06.260 of holiness, 00:37:06.260 --> 00:37:07.420 it requires 00:37:07.420 --> 00:37:07.820 effort. 00:37:09.500 --> 00:37:10.119 And the thing 00:37:10.119 --> 00:37:10.840 is we're not 00:37:10.840 --> 00:37:11.980 told to do 00:37:11.980 --> 00:37:12.380 this alone. 00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:12.880 We don't receive 00:37:12.880 --> 00:37:13.260 the righteousness 00:37:13.260 --> 00:37:13.840 of Christ for 00:37:13.840 --> 00:37:14.460 salvation and 00:37:14.460 --> 00:37:15.180 he shoots out 00:37:15.180 --> 00:37:15.559 the door and 00:37:15.559 --> 00:37:15.760 say, 00:37:16.019 --> 00:37:16.320 good luck, 00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:16.980 do your best. 00:37:18.640 --> 00:37:19.000 No, 00:37:19.119 --> 00:37:20.039 we are indwelt 00:37:20.039 --> 00:37:21.140 by the Holy 00:37:21.140 --> 00:37:21.720 Spirit. 00:37:21.920 --> 00:37:23.240 Romans 8 says 00:37:23.240 --> 00:37:23.599 that the Holy 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:24.220 Spirit lives 00:37:24.220 --> 00:37:24.980 in us 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:26.220 and controls 00:37:26.220 --> 00:37:26.800 us. 00:37:28.700 --> 00:37:29.079 And so I was 00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:29.519 thinking about that, 00:37:29.539 --> 00:37:29.900 I was kind of 00:37:29.900 --> 00:37:30.640 convicted because we 00:37:30.640 --> 00:37:31.539 say Holy Spirit a 00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.559 lot and we use 00:37:32.559 --> 00:37:33.480 it as a name 00:37:33.480 --> 00:37:34.440 and really don't 00:37:34.440 --> 00:37:35.219 always think of 00:37:35.219 --> 00:37:35.779 the significance 00:37:35.779 --> 00:37:36.059 of it, 00:37:36.099 --> 00:37:36.460 at least I 00:37:36.460 --> 00:37:36.800 don't, 00:37:37.440 --> 00:37:37.940 that he is 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.480 called the 00:37:38.480 --> 00:37:39.920 Holy Spirit. 00:37:41.559 --> 00:37:42.320 It's not only a 00:37:42.320 --> 00:37:42.619 name, it 00:37:42.619 --> 00:37:43.239 describes who 00:37:43.239 --> 00:37:43.960 he is. 00:37:44.840 --> 00:37:45.539 He's not the 00:37:45.539 --> 00:37:46.199 loving spirit, 00:37:46.300 --> 00:37:46.900 the encouraging 00:37:46.900 --> 00:37:47.639 spirit, he is 00:37:47.639 --> 00:37:48.340 those things. 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:50.320 But he is, 00:37:50.579 --> 00:37:50.800 first of all, 00:37:50.860 --> 00:37:52.679 the Holy Spirit. 00:37:52.960 --> 00:37:53.559 It says this in 00:37:53.559 --> 00:37:55.219 Philippians 2.13, 00:37:55.219 --> 00:37:56.079 continue to work 00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:56.759 out your salvation 00:37:56.759 --> 00:37:57.799 with fear and 00:37:57.799 --> 00:37:58.599 trembling for it 00:37:58.599 --> 00:38:00.159 is God who 00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:01.119 works in you 00:38:01.119 --> 00:38:01.939 to the will, 00:38:02.139 --> 00:38:02.819 to will and 00:38:02.819 --> 00:38:03.779 to act in order 00:38:03.779 --> 00:38:04.480 to fulfill his 00:38:04.480 --> 00:38:05.000 good purpose. 00:38:05.279 --> 00:38:05.980 So the Holy 00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:06.819 Spirit is the 00:38:06.819 --> 00:38:07.579 same God that 00:38:07.579 --> 00:38:08.219 we see in the 00:38:08.219 --> 00:38:09.039 vision that 00:38:09.039 --> 00:38:09.859 Isaiah has, 00:38:10.000 --> 00:38:10.679 with the same 00:38:10.679 --> 00:38:11.659 majesty and the 00:38:11.659 --> 00:38:13.359 authority of 00:38:13.359 --> 00:38:14.159 God on his 00:38:14.159 --> 00:38:14.419 throne. 00:38:14.500 --> 00:38:15.339 That is who 00:38:15.339 --> 00:38:16.599 indwells us to 00:38:16.599 --> 00:38:17.000 give us the 00:38:17.000 --> 00:38:17.879 desire and the 00:38:17.879 --> 00:38:18.439 ability to be 00:38:18.439 --> 00:38:18.679 holy. 00:38:20.739 --> 00:38:21.419 And so that 00:38:21.419 --> 00:38:22.019 brings us then 00:38:22.019 --> 00:38:22.459 back to our 00:38:22.459 --> 00:38:23.239 passage in Isaiah. 00:38:23.239 --> 00:38:24.459 because this 00:38:24.459 --> 00:38:25.019 pursuit of 00:38:25.019 --> 00:38:25.399 holiness, 00:38:25.779 --> 00:38:26.279 though it is a 00:38:26.279 --> 00:38:27.139 personal thing 00:38:27.139 --> 00:38:27.939 in relation to 00:38:27.939 --> 00:38:29.000 our relationship 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:29.500 to God, 00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:30.179 it goes beyond 00:38:30.179 --> 00:38:30.399 that. 00:38:30.479 --> 00:38:30.979 Verse 8, 00:38:32.039 --> 00:38:32.399 And then I 00:38:32.399 --> 00:38:33.139 heard the voice 00:38:33.139 --> 00:38:33.899 of the Lord 00:38:33.899 --> 00:38:34.219 saying, 00:38:34.419 --> 00:38:35.079 Whom shall I 00:38:35.079 --> 00:38:35.839 send and 00:38:35.839 --> 00:38:36.339 who will go 00:38:36.339 --> 00:38:36.899 for us? 00:38:37.699 --> 00:38:38.239 And I 00:38:38.239 --> 00:38:38.500 said, 00:38:38.500 --> 00:38:41.059 Here am I, 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:42.159 send me. 00:38:44.539 --> 00:38:45.079 Isaiah, 00:38:45.239 --> 00:38:45.619 whose lips 00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:46.119 had just been 00:38:46.119 --> 00:38:46.719 touched by the 00:38:46.719 --> 00:38:47.379 burning coal, 00:38:48.619 --> 00:38:49.259 whose sins 00:38:49.259 --> 00:38:49.919 had been atoned 00:38:49.919 --> 00:38:50.139 for, 00:38:50.239 --> 00:38:51.099 now readily 00:38:51.099 --> 00:38:52.199 volunteers to 00:38:52.199 --> 00:38:52.479 go. 00:38:52.480 --> 00:38:53.240 It's this 00:38:53.240 --> 00:38:53.880 incredible 00:38:53.880 --> 00:38:54.599 transformation 00:38:54.599 --> 00:38:55.900 of emotion 00:38:55.900 --> 00:38:56.639 from fear 00:38:56.639 --> 00:38:57.260 and trembling 00:38:57.260 --> 00:38:58.079 to joy 00:38:58.079 --> 00:38:59.320 and eagerness. 00:39:00.840 --> 00:39:01.659 I think this 00:39:01.659 --> 00:39:02.400 may be best 00:39:02.400 --> 00:39:03.300 displayed in 00:39:03.300 --> 00:39:03.760 children, 00:39:04.179 --> 00:39:04.740 this quick 00:39:04.740 --> 00:39:05.420 change of 00:39:05.420 --> 00:39:05.760 emotion. 00:39:07.099 --> 00:39:07.820 I saw this 00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:08.260 yesterday. 00:39:09.219 --> 00:39:09.800 If I can tell 00:39:09.800 --> 00:39:10.360 a story about 00:39:10.360 --> 00:39:10.599 Henry, 00:39:10.679 --> 00:39:11.340 he was playing 00:39:11.340 --> 00:39:12.119 football yesterday 00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:13.400 and he was 00:39:13.400 --> 00:39:14.519 on defense, 00:39:15.300 --> 00:39:15.740 the game was 00:39:15.740 --> 00:39:16.380 nearing the end 00:39:16.380 --> 00:39:16.840 and he took a 00:39:16.840 --> 00:39:17.500 ball straight to 00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:17.900 the face. 00:39:19.059 --> 00:39:19.519 And as the 00:39:19.519 --> 00:39:20.199 tears welled up 00:39:20.199 --> 00:39:20.679 in his eyes, 00:39:20.740 --> 00:39:21.199 you could tell 00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:22.079 the pain that 00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:22.279 he was 00:39:22.279 --> 00:39:22.779 experienced 00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.079 and he 00:39:23.079 --> 00:39:24.019 wanted to 00:39:24.019 --> 00:39:24.599 just crumble. 00:39:24.920 --> 00:39:25.719 He focused 00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.819 that energy. 00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:28.719 He kind of 00:39:28.719 --> 00:39:29.539 went to the 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:30.119 next level 00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:31.059 and ran 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:31.539 up the field, 00:39:32.059 --> 00:39:32.460 made a couple 00:39:32.460 --> 00:39:33.099 tackles and 00:39:33.099 --> 00:39:33.559 within 30 00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:34.059 seconds had 00:39:34.059 --> 00:39:34.559 scored the 00:39:34.559 --> 00:39:35.239 game-tying 00:39:35.239 --> 00:39:35.539 goal. 00:39:36.279 --> 00:39:36.900 We see this 00:39:36.900 --> 00:39:37.420 transformation 00:39:37.420 --> 00:39:38.539 from weeping 00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:40.319 to rejoicing 00:39:40.319 --> 00:39:42.319 and all because 00:39:42.319 --> 00:39:43.239 of the work 00:39:43.239 --> 00:39:44.900 of Christ. 00:39:46.219 --> 00:39:46.500 And so 00:39:46.500 --> 00:39:47.440 nothing in our 00:39:47.440 --> 00:39:48.019 lives should 00:39:48.019 --> 00:39:48.900 produce greater 00:39:48.900 --> 00:39:49.980 joy in us 00:39:49.980 --> 00:39:50.340 than to be 00:39:50.340 --> 00:39:50.639 able to 00:39:50.639 --> 00:39:51.539 share the 00:39:51.539 --> 00:39:52.039 message of 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:52.679 God's grace. 00:39:53.519 --> 00:39:54.199 How his 00:39:54.199 --> 00:39:55.320 holy justice 00:39:55.320 --> 00:39:56.039 is coupled 00:39:56.039 --> 00:39:56.440 with his 00:39:56.440 --> 00:39:57.420 holy mercy 00:39:57.420 --> 00:39:58.340 in order to 00:39:58.340 --> 00:39:59.159 provide salvation 00:39:59.159 --> 00:39:59.880 for his people 00:39:59.880 --> 00:40:00.480 who are deserving 00:40:00.480 --> 00:40:00.920 of death. 00:40:04.019 --> 00:40:04.820 And so to be 00:40:04.820 --> 00:40:05.199 honest, 00:40:05.920 --> 00:40:06.679 I don't know if 00:40:06.679 --> 00:40:07.179 we always share 00:40:07.179 --> 00:40:07.679 that eagerness 00:40:07.679 --> 00:40:08.340 that Isaiah 00:40:08.340 --> 00:40:09.699 had to 00:40:09.699 --> 00:40:10.400 volunteer to 00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:11.619 go and to 00:40:11.619 --> 00:40:11.980 share this 00:40:11.980 --> 00:40:12.380 message. 00:40:14.179 --> 00:40:14.579 Oftentimes 00:40:14.579 --> 00:40:15.179 we're good at 00:40:15.179 --> 00:40:15.659 showing up. 00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:17.159 We'll sit and 00:40:17.159 --> 00:40:17.760 we'll sing and 00:40:17.760 --> 00:40:18.199 we'll listen. 00:40:18.199 --> 00:40:21.199 oftentimes we 00:40:21.199 --> 00:40:21.739 can be more 00:40:21.739 --> 00:40:22.480 consumers than 00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:22.719 we are 00:40:22.719 --> 00:40:23.319 participants. 00:40:24.399 --> 00:40:24.839 But what 00:40:24.839 --> 00:40:25.379 would it look 00:40:25.379 --> 00:40:26.219 like if we 00:40:26.219 --> 00:40:26.899 the church 00:40:26.899 --> 00:40:27.759 truly were 00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:28.980 ambassadors of 00:40:28.980 --> 00:40:29.399 the holy 00:40:29.399 --> 00:40:29.739 God? 00:40:30.839 --> 00:40:31.480 If we 00:40:31.480 --> 00:40:32.039 desired to 00:40:32.039 --> 00:40:33.079 live lives 00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:33.619 that were so 00:40:33.619 --> 00:40:34.960 distinct and 00:40:34.960 --> 00:40:35.939 separate from 00:40:35.939 --> 00:40:36.579 the world that 00:40:36.579 --> 00:40:36.719 it would 00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:37.480 naturally attract 00:40:37.480 --> 00:40:37.980 the attention 00:40:37.980 --> 00:40:38.439 of others? 00:40:39.960 --> 00:40:40.699 If we had 00:40:40.699 --> 00:40:41.379 the desire to 00:40:41.379 --> 00:40:41.939 show the 00:40:41.939 --> 00:40:42.899 glory of God 00:40:42.899 --> 00:40:43.539 that Isaiah 00:40:43.539 --> 00:40:44.399 saw in this 00:40:44.399 --> 00:40:46.159 vision of a 00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:47.179 God holy, 00:40:47.439 --> 00:40:47.779 holy, 00:40:47.780 --> 00:40:48.160 holy, 00:40:48.320 --> 00:40:48.720 sitting on 00:40:48.720 --> 00:40:49.160 his sovereign 00:40:49.160 --> 00:40:49.500 throne. 00:40:51.260 --> 00:40:52.060 And so may 00:40:52.060 --> 00:40:54.400 that be our 00:40:54.400 --> 00:40:55.300 challenge and 00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:55.820 our charge 00:40:55.820 --> 00:40:56.180 tonight. 00:40:57.400 --> 00:40:58.180 That we may 00:40:58.180 --> 00:40:59.620 marvel and 00:40:59.620 --> 00:41:01.420 meditate on 00:41:01.420 --> 00:41:01.820 the holiness 00:41:01.820 --> 00:41:02.360 of God. 00:41:03.700 --> 00:41:04.460 That we may 00:41:04.460 --> 00:41:05.320 receive it 00:41:05.320 --> 00:41:05.900 through Christ 00:41:05.900 --> 00:41:06.260 and that we 00:41:06.260 --> 00:41:07.180 may pursue it 00:41:07.180 --> 00:41:07.540 through the 00:41:07.540 --> 00:41:09.180 Spirit and 00:41:09.180 --> 00:41:09.560 that we may 00:41:09.560 --> 00:41:10.100 share it with 00:41:10.100 --> 00:41:10.480 those around 00:41:10.480 --> 00:41:10.780 us. 00:41:10.780 --> 00:41:12.620 Let's pray. 00:41:12.620 --> 00:41:12.680 Amen. 00:41:12.680 --> 00:41:12.740 Amen. 00:41:12.740 --> 00:41:12.780 Amen. 00:41:12.780 --> 00:41:12.840 Amen. 00:41:12.840 --> 00:41:13.240 Amen. 00:41:13.240 --> 00:41:14.740 Amen. 00:41:14.740 --> 00:41:14.760 Amen. 00:41:14.760 --> 00:41:14.780 Amen. 00:41:18.580 --> 00:41:19.300 Holy, 00:41:19.580 --> 00:41:19.980 holy, 00:41:20.140 --> 00:41:20.860 holy Lord 00:41:20.860 --> 00:41:21.519 God Almighty. 00:41:23.940 --> 00:41:24.940 We confess 00:41:24.940 --> 00:41:25.840 that so often 00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:26.420 we don't 00:41:26.420 --> 00:41:27.200 recognize 00:41:27.200 --> 00:41:30.300 how holy 00:41:30.300 --> 00:41:30.920 and set 00:41:30.920 --> 00:41:31.440 apart and 00:41:31.440 --> 00:41:32.140 distinct you 00:41:32.140 --> 00:41:32.700 are from 00:41:32.700 --> 00:41:33.080 us. 00:41:33.079 --> 00:41:38.039 and so Lord we ask for the truth 00:41:38.039 --> 00:41:39.559 of this gospel message tonight 00:41:39.559 --> 00:41:40.500 to sink in deep 00:41:40.500 --> 00:41:42.980 to not only show us who you are 00:41:42.980 --> 00:41:44.719 but to show us who we are 00:41:44.719 --> 00:41:48.779 fallen, depraved, unworthy 00:41:48.779 --> 00:41:54.460 but yet you have extended your love 00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:55.619 and your grace toward us 00:41:55.619 --> 00:41:57.179 you have given us your holiness 00:41:57.179 --> 00:41:58.380 through the blood of Christ 00:41:58.380 --> 00:42:04.119 and so God may that be something 00:42:04.119 --> 00:42:05.380 that we're grateful for 00:42:05.380 --> 00:42:08.079 that we desire to worship you for 00:42:08.079 --> 00:42:09.840 and also to be able to pursue 00:42:09.840 --> 00:42:11.280 that holiness in our lives 00:42:11.280 --> 00:42:13.240 to know that we are empowered by your spirit 00:42:13.240 --> 00:42:15.619 may that be our desire this week 00:42:15.619 --> 00:42:18.760 and the days and months ahead 00:42:18.760 --> 00:42:21.240 especially thinking of the activities 00:42:21.240 --> 00:42:21.900 of this church 00:42:21.900 --> 00:42:23.519 how we desire to bring people in 00:42:23.519 --> 00:42:25.300 how we desire to reach our community 00:42:25.300 --> 00:42:29.740 may be done by the power of your Holy Spirit 00:42:29.740 --> 00:42:32.060 we pray this in Jesus name 00:42:32.060 --> 00:42:32.940 Amen 00:42:32.940 --> 00:42:38.539 and now we're going to sing our final hymn 00:42:38.539 --> 00:42:39.980 Holy, Holy, Holy 00:42:39.980 --> 00:42:41.680 we stand together