TOPIC: GOD’S HOLINESS
Text: Isaiah 6:1-13
vv. 3, “…they were calling to one another: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
Introduction:
Yesterday I was in San Pablo to facilitate the 2nd Bayanihan Church Planting Network; part of the lesson understands the lies that Satan does to ensnare us so that we not are used by God mightily. Some of this lies are: hindi ko kaya, wala akong magagawa, walang makikinig sa akin, etc. These are lies that Satan put into our hearts and minds so that His mission will not be fulfilled. Isaiah 6:1-13 show us the key to be able to fulfilled His mission that He place before us. Let us pray first.
I want to propose that God’s holiness is the key to a successful fulfillment of God’s mission!
1. Understanding God’s Holiness
The vision is dated, for the greater certainty of it – vv. 1-4. It was in the year that king Uzziah died, who had reigned, for the most part, as prosperously and well as any of the kings of Judah, and reigned very long, above fifty years. About the time that he died, Isaiah saw this vision of God upon a throne; for when the breath of princes goes forth, and they return to their earth, this is our comfort, that the Lord shall reign for ever, Psa_146:3, Psa_146:4, Psa_146:10. Israel’s king dies, but Israel’s God still lives. From the mortality of great and good men we should take occasion to look up with an eye of faith to the King eternal, immortal. King Uzziah died under a cloud, for he was shut up as a leper till the day of his death. As the lives of princes have their periods, so their glory is often eclipsed; but, as God is ever living, so his glory is everlasting. King Uzziah dies in a hospital, but the King of kings still sits upon his throne. Isaiah saw the Lord sitting, Psa_29:10. See the sovereignty of the Eternal Monarch: he sits upon a throne - a throne of glory, before which we must worship, - a throne of government, under which we must be subject, - and a throne of grace, to which we may come boldly. This throne is high, and lifted up above all competition and contradiction and the train of His robe filled the temple – when we fully understand God’s holiness we were able also to understand that His holiness is in every place. “For where two or three gather in my name, I am in their midst.” Psalm 99:9, “Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.” Rev. 15:4, “Who will not fear you, O Lord, and bring glory to your name? For you alone are holy.” When Moses understands it, he removed his sandals for he knows that even that place in the mountain is holy because God’s holiness filled every place Ex. 15:11, “Who among the gods is like you O Lord? Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” That is also what Paul understands that even the road to Damascus was filled by God’s holiness. Isaiah understands it completely when suddenly he saw God’s holiness, His glory that filled the temple and seeing the seraphim humbly declaring God’s holiness continuously.
His understanding of God’s holiness also brought him to understand his sinfulness. It is normally the results of understanding God’s holiness that we see our sinfulness before God. “Kawawa ako, marumi ang aking labi.” (v. 5a)
2. Experiencing God’s Holiness
Read vv. 5-7, 13. From these verses we can see that understanding God’s holiness is one part but experiencing it in our lives is another thing. It is impossible to understand His holiness deeper in our life without experiencing it in our life. Isaiah experienced God’s holiness in his life:
First in v. 4 – he experience the shaking of the doorposts of the temple. When we understand God’s holiness, it will shake our life from anything that is not part of what the Lord builds in our life.
Second in v. 5 – he experienced humility and brokenness before God. Isaiah 51:17, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.” Eze. 11:19, “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.” Eze 18:31, “Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit.” Eze. 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27, “And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Seeing God in the Bible means to “drop dead”. When we experienced His holiness in our life it must bring our life to death.
Third in v. 6-7 – he experienced the touch of God in his life. God touch and cleans him from all uncleanness. That is why Isaiah said after encountering God’s holiness he said, “Kawawa ako, marumi ang aking labi.” (v. 5a). We cannot stand God’s holiness when we encounter Him for he is like a refiners fire Zecc. 13:9, “Ang mga ito’y pararaanin ko sa apoy upang dalisayin, tulad ng pagdalisay sa pilak at ginto.” Malachi 3:3, “Darating siya para humatol at dadalisayin niya ang mga saserdote, tulad ng pagdalisay sa pilak at ginto. Sagayon magiging karapat-dapat silang maghandog kay Yahweh.” This is what also Peter & Paul experience Luke 5:8, “Nang makita iyon ni Simon Pedro, siya’y nagpatirapa sa paanan ni Jesus at nagsabi, ‘Lumayo po kayo sa akin, Panginoon sapagkat ako’y makasalanan.” And we know that after this we can see a different Simon. It also happen to Moses in the mountain of Sinai, Exodo 3:6, “Tinakpan ni Moises ang kaniyang mukha pagkat natatakot siyang tumingin sa Dios.” Moses also knew that to see God’s holiness means death. This is also the experience of Paul in the road of Damascus in Acts 9:1-19. Paul saw the holiness of God and because of this he became blind for three days (v. 9) he couldn’t see, but then God have Ananias prayed for him and in vv. 17-18, may tila kaliskis na nalaglag sa kaniyang mata at dahil doon muli siyang nakakita but this time with new vision from God.
Fourth in v. 8-13 – he experienced a changed life. It is impossible after seeing and understanding God’s holiness and yet no change. Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, etc is totally new after encountering God’s holiness in their life. A change life was able to hear from God, was able to know the will of God, was able to experience God in a new dimension (height, aspect).
3. Living Out God’s Holiness
vv. 8-12. Here Isaiah suddenly has clear hearing of God’s voice not only that but it also gives him a more focus direction. Notice that earlier Isaiah saw himself, his sinfulness, his focus is on his weakness, his shortcoming, his sins, etc. But then here the focus is not anymore with himself but to God and his will, his purpose, his plans. He also started to see other people that needed to give warning regarding God’s judgment. Notice also that his focus is also changed from himself towards others, he’s not concern anymore of what people will say, or even if he will be rejected, even to the danger he might face. His focus now here is God and His heart, His plans and His will.
Not only that he got more focused life and direction but he is willing to take action, to step out and do God’s will, to do God’s command. Vision without an action is just a dream. Here Isaiah clearly declares to the Lord, “Lord here I am send me!” God commanded our steps and even our stops (ILL. Israel in the wilderness – guided by pillar of cloud in the morning and pillar of fire in the night they stop and move depend on the pillars.) Love and
Conclusion:
Isaiah, Moses, Abraham, Jacob, Peter, Paul, and others understand God’s holiness that also bring them to experiencing it their life in a new level that also leads the to step out in passion and obedience to God. God’s holiness brought a changed life to them, a life able to hear from God, a life boldly stepping out for God – how about you what the holiness brought into your life?
Actions
"I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou doest know;
But how much I love Thee, my actions will show."
