The Reality of the Living God
Griffith Baptist Church – 10/15/06
A.M. Service
Text: Isaiah 6:1-9
Introduction:
Most people are not given to change.
Many of us are like the man who went to the psychiatrist’s office with a fried egg on the top of his head, a strip of bacon draped over each ear, and a sausage link in each nostril. “I need to talk to you, doc,” he said, “It’s about my brother.”
In order for God to work in our lives, He has to clean out all that hinders.
It is not about the other guy, it is about our own lives
Revival checklist (questions):
1. When was the last time you gave someone the gospel?
2. What is your view on church?
3. When was the last time you visited the altar?
4. When was the last time this altar was full?
5. How long has it been since you wept for the lost?
6. Where is God in the priorities of your day?
7. If you were being tried for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?
We are in desperate need of revival
Our church is in need of revival
Just look around you.
Churches today:
• Want more entertainment than worship
• Want sermonettes instead of preaching
• Want less time with God and more time with the world
• Want fast food religion
When it comes to God, there are no shortcuts
1. Isaiah saw his Lord: It was a time of reverence – 6:1
A. He needed to see God.
B. He saw God in all His majesty. God was “high and exalted.”
C. He saw God in His power. “The train of his robe filled the temple.”
D. He saw God in His holiness.
i. The seraphs, cover themselves in humility.
ii. When they sing, they begin with, “Holy, holy, holy.”
iii. The seraphs’ song underscores the fact that we have a holy God.
iv. In our desire to stress the love of God, we should never rob Him of His awesomeness.
E. Psalm 46:10 - Be still, and know that I am God: . . .
F. Ecclesiastes 12:13 - Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
2. Isaiah saw his sin: It was a time of repentance – 6:5
A. In his book I Surrender, Patrick Morley writes that the church’s integrity problem is in the misconception “that we can add Christ to our lives, but not subtract sin. It is a change in belief without a change in behavior.” He goes on to say, “It is revival without reformation, without repentance.” Quoted in John The Baptizer, Bible Study Guide by C. Swindoll, p. 16
B. This is a natural reaction after coming to terms with the holiness of God.
i. When we capture a vision of God, we must be willing to see ourselves as we really are, even if it grieves us.
C. It is a refreshing thing to see that Isaiah mentioned his own sin before he mentioned the sin of his neighbors.
i. Isaiah saw his own sin and said, “I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips.”
3. Isaiah saw his cleansing: It was a time of restoration – 6:6-7
A. God did not deny Isaiah’s sinfulness, but he did provide an escape.
i. A seraph took a coal from the altar, where the sacrifice for sin was made, and seared Isaiah’s lips, sterilizing them.
B. There was no reason for Isaiah to continue to feel unworthy. He had been made pure.
C. Job 23:10 - But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
4. Isaiah saw his mission: It was a time of recognition – 6:8-9
A. When God says, “Go!” we go.
i. There is no debating.
ii. We don’t say, “There he is, send him.”
iii. Obedience - 1 John 2:3-6 - 3And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
B. We don’t worry about how the people will respond.
i. Isaiah was warned ahead of time that the people would not respond as they should.
ii. It doesn’t matter what people do, we must be faithful.
C. God sent the people a message not because they wanted it, but because they needed it.
i. The message Isaiah would bring his people was the message he had received.
ii. There is forgiveness and purpose with God, if you will just turn your life over to his care and authority.
