An Encounter With The King Series

New Hope Christian Fellowship

Wednesday Night Service

Given on February 13, 2008

"An Encounter with the King"

Isaiah 6:1-13

Sterling C. Franklin

Handout:

When God commissions us, these things often follow:

(1) An encounter with God (1-4 -> 5)

a. We see our own inadequacy (cf. John 15:5)

b. We realize His sufficiency (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:9)

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

(2) A response of Humility and Submission (5)

a. God resists the proud (cf. James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:6)

b. God gives grace to the humble (cf. James 4:6, 1 Peter 5:6)

(3) The LORD sends purification and preparation (6-7)

a. Who can stand in His presence? (Psalm 15, 24:3-6)

b. Faithful is He who calls you… (1 Thess. 5:24)

The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.

(4) An Obedient willingness to Go (8)

a. “Here am I, send Me” (Isaiah 6:8)

b. He has commanded us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20)

(5) Acceptance of a task, regardless of how difficult (9-13)

a. Nothing is too difficult for the LORD (Luke 1:37, Jeremiah 32:17)

Luke 1:37: 37 For nothing is impossible with God."

Jeremiah 32:17: 17 "Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

b. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)

Scripture Reading

Theme: Who may abide in God’s presence?

Translation used for major texts: NIV

Psalm 15

1 A psalm of David. LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?

2 He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart

3 and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman,

4 who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts,

5 who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things will never be shaken.

Psalm 24:3-6

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place?

4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false.

5 He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior.

6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. Selah

== Prayer ==

Context: Historical Period – Year of King Uzziah’s death: between 742 and 735 BC (NAC 186). Some take this to be Isaiah’s call to prophetic ministry. It may have just been a specific commissioning for the task of continuing the hardening that the people had already decided upon.

Text: Isaiah 6:1-13

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.

3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.

7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

9 He said, "Go and tell this people: "’Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’

10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed."

11 Then I said, "For how long, O Lord?" And he answered: "Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged,