An Encounter With The Enthroned Almighty

AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE ENTHRONED ALMIGHTY

Text: Isa.6: 1

Intro: For many years now, Isaiah chapter six has been one of my favorite passages of scripture. It seems that though I have read it perhaps hundreds of times over the last twenty years or so, there still seems to be something new that can be learned from this passage. It’s like looking at a famous, but familiar painting, like the Mona Lisa, and discovering some characteristic never before perceived. It’s like becoming aware of a different aspect of your mate’s personality, which was previously an unknown, even after years of marriage.

Of course, the possibility of discovering something new from God’s Word is inherently characteristic. But I believe it is especially true of those passages of scripture dealing with God Himself. Though He is the God of the Ages, the Ancient of Days, He is ever new; He is ever now; He is beyond our complete comprehension.

You see folks, the point of our being in church today is not so much to learn the Word of God as it is to learn the God of the Word. God wants to reveal Himself to you in a fresh and forthright way today. He wants you to see Him as He is, in all His glory and holiness.

“But what is gained from a fresh glimpse of God?” you might ask. Perhaps much more than we have time to discuss. But in short, a fresh glimpse of God always results in a fresh look at ourselves—our unworthiness and neediness before Him. And if we respond rightly, it will also result in surrender and service to God. Dear folks, in a day when Christians and churches are cold, calloused, and corrupt, we desperately need a fresh look at God. It is imperative that we have a fresh encounter with the God of our salvation, not for regeneration, but for revival.

It’s my prayer, that during this worship service, we will take a fresh look at God. It’s my hope that we will be willing to examine ourselves honestly, as the Holy Spirit turns on the heavenly searchlight in our hearts. Then, may we respond with surrender and commitment to the God Who loves us.

Theme: Isaiah’s encounter with God affected:

I. THE SIGHT OF ISAIAH

A. He Saw The Holiness Of God’s Person.

1. He saw God enthroned.

Isa.6: 1a “…I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne…”

NOTE: It is rather significant that Isaiah mentions the fact that, it was after king Uzziah died that he had this encounter with God. Uzziah was the king who pridefully tried to usurp the place of the priests by attempting to personally offer a sacrifice on the temple altar. For his insolence, he was stricken with leprosy. Allegorically, we can apply this fact with the following statement: A proper perception of God begins with the death of pride. Leprosy is often viewed in scripture as a type of sin. Practically speaking, the disease always made one ceremonially unclean. This is the reason the priests physically ushered Uzziah out of the temple.

2. He saw God exalted.

Isa.6: 1b “…I saw…the Lord…high and lifted up…”

NOTE: When Isaiah saw God in all His holiness, it changed how he viewed the world, and everything around him. C.S. Lewis once noted:

How little people know who think that holiness is dull. When one meets [the] real thing, it is irresistible.

C.S. Lewis, Letters to an American Lady, New Bible Commentary, p. 28.

3. He saw God encompassed.

Isa.6: 1c “…his train filled the temple…”

NOTE: [1] The word “train” is defined in the margin as “skirts.” The reference is to that which shrouded God’s person. Most scholars agree that this is a reference to the Shekinah (“to settle, inhabit, or dwell”—Refers to the glorious presence of God—Taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhinah) glory of God, which prevented mortal eyes from viewing the total essence of the person of God, which no man can behold and live (Ex.33: 20).

[2] Notice that God’s glory “filled the temple.” In other words, the glory of God permeated and pervaded every part of the temple. Folks, we need to grasp this truth with our minds and hearts today. God’s glory should encompass and energize every aspect of our lives, both spiritual and secular.

2a. God’s glory ought to be the ultimate goal of every song sung in our services.

2b. God’s glory ought to be the ultimate goal of every request we make in prayer.

2c. God’s glory ought to be the ultimate goal of every sermon preached from this pulpit, and every lesson taught within these walls.

2d. God’s glory ought to be the ultimate goal of every matter of business conducted by this church.

[3] What’s my point? Simply this. God does not want to be merely a part of our life; He wants to be our life.