"Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lord Almighty"

Cornerstone Church July 30/31, 2011

“HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD ALMIGHTY!”

Isaiah 6:1-8

“During the dark days of World War II, William Temple, then Archbishop of Canterbury, in a radio address to the people of England declared,

‘This world can be saved from political chaos and

collapse by one thing only, and that is worship.’

Doesn’t that sound preposterous? Dr. Ray Pritchard wrote. Dr. Pritchard then said, listen to his definition of worship:

‘To worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.”

Dr. Pritchard went on to say, ‘If that is what worship really is, perhaps the Archbishop was correct.’ “ONLY WORSHIP CAN SAVE US.” And we will never worship as long as we are bored with God. And God will bore us until we get a glimpse of His holiness.”

Dr. Ray Prichard, Sermon Notes, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, Isaiah 6

America and the world are once again faced with Dark Days of uncertainty.

Will the US Debt Crisis lead to the collapse of our economic system?

Are we on the Road to Armageddon?

Will our country be attacked again?

Will I lose someone I know?

Will the “Moral Meltdown” continue until total meltdown – The China Syndrome?

What about the catastrophic disasters, suffering and famine in our world?

Is this the end of time?

Questions prompt us to look for answers!

Our pursuit for answers should lead us to seek God!

The Word of God has the answers to the greatest questions asked by people.

QUESTIONS LIKE:

Why am I here?

Where am I going?

Is there life after death or is this all there is?

Is God real?

Is God knowable?

Does God love me or care?

Is God really in control of HIS Creation?

Isaiah the Prophet lived during a time just like our days.

Let us learn from God’s Word where a prophet found hope in the midst of dark days!

Turn to Isaiah 6:1-8

OUTLINE:

THE REASON FOR THE UNCERTAIN TIMES – Isaiah 6:1a

THE HOPE FOR ISAIAH IN THE MIDST OF UNCERTAIN TIMES – Isaiah 6:1b-8

THE REASON FOR THE UNCERTAIN TIMES

Isaiah 6:1a

“In the year that King Uzziah died,”

UZZIAH THE KING

Uzziah – a great King of the Southern Kingdom of Judah (8th Century BC)

2 Chr. 26:3-5 NIV Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jecoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done. He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

Uzziah was King for 52 Years (over 5 decades) – death (740 BC)

He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD!

He feared God (as did Joash, Amaziah, Jotham, Hezekiah)

He led the Southern Kingdom to prosper spiritually and nationally

It was a time like King David’s rule!

Uzziah was victorious over the Philistines and other neighboring people

He rebuilt their defenses (walls and towers) and Military

He dug new wells

The Land was producing crops

WATCH OUT!

2 Chr. 26:16 NIV But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God, and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

2 Chr. 26:21 NIV King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house — leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.

This was a time that Tiglath-Pilesar III of Assyria was ascending in power and beginning his imperialistic campaigns.

It was a time of spiritual decline as well

Isa. 1:4 NIV Ah, sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt, a brood of evildoers, children given to corruption! They have forsaken the LORD; they have spurned the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on him.

Isa. 1:10 NIV Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

Isa. 1:21 NIV See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her — but now murderers!

God was upstream and saw their continued spiritual and moral deterioration

The future captivity of the 10 Northern Kingdom Tribes of Israel by Assyria (722 BC)

The deportation of the 2 Southern Kingdom Tribes of Judah to Babylon (606 - 586 BC)