Introduction

Greetings, beloved brothers and sisters in Christ. It is always a joy to gather together in His name, to sit at the feet of our Lord and learn from His Word. Today, we find ourselves in the prophetic pages of Isaiah, chapters 6 and 7, a text that reveals to us a God who is ever-present, a God who calls us to penance, and a God who brings forth purity.

As we turn to these sacred pages, let's remember the words of the great preacher Charles Spurgeon, who once said, "Visit many good books, but live in the Bible." Today, we are not just visiting, but living, breathing, and dwelling in the Word of God.

So, let's immerse ourselves in the Scripture passage for today: "In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.' At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. '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.' Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.' 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!'...Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." (Isaiah 6:1-8; 7:14)

Presence and Penance

We stand on holy ground as we encounter the presence of the Almighty, witness the penance of the prophet, and marvel at the prophecy of a coming Savior. We are about to embark on a profound discovery of God's holiness, our own need for repentance, and the glorious promise of salvation.

Before we proceed, let's bow our heads in prayer. Father, we thank you for your Word, for it is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. We ask that you open our hearts and minds to understand and receive what you have for us today. May your Spirit guide us into all truth. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition. Now, dear friends, let's turn our attention to our first main point: Presence and Penance. What does it mean to encounter the presence of God? And how does Isaiah's penance speak to us today?

1. Presence and Penance

We are immediately struck by the vivid imagery of a God who is high and exalted, seated on a throne. This is not a distant, detached deity, but a God who is present, active, and involved in the world He created. His robe fills the temple, signifying His majesty and authority. Above Him, seraphim, heavenly beings of the highest order, cover their faces and feet in reverence and fly in His presence. They cry out, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

In the midst of this divine spectacle, we find Isaiah, a mere mortal, standing in awe. Struck by the holiness of God, he is immediately aware of his own sinfulness. He cries out, "Woe to me! 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."

The presence of God transforms Isaiah. When we encounter God, we are confronted with our own sinfulness, just like Isaiah. But God does not leave us in our sin. In His mercy, He provides a way for us to be cleansed and made right with Him. In Isaiah's case, a seraphim flew to him with a live coal taken from the altar. With this coal, he touched Isaiah's mouth, symbolizing the purification of his sin. Despite our sin, God reaches out to us, offering forgiveness and restoration. This is the beauty of penance. It's not just about recognizing our sin; it's about receiving God's grace and forgiveness.

But God's presence and our penance lead us to a higher calling. After Isaiah's lips are cleansed, he hears the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" Now purified, Isaiah is ready to answer God's call. He responds, "Here am I. Send me!" This is the ultimate purpose of God's presence and our penance: to prepare us for service in God's kingdom.

Finally, we see in Isaiah's vision a foreshadowing of the ultimate act of God's presence and penance: the coming of Jesus Christ. The Lord gives Isaiah a sign: "The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Immanuel means "God with us." In Jesus, God's presence takes on human flesh, and through His death and resurrection, our penance is made complete. This is the glorious promise of the gospel.

Prophecy of Purity

The first aspect we notice in this prophecy is the promise of a sign from the Lord Himself ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO