7 June 2009
Trinity Sunday
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Fortress Chapel
Contingency Operation Site (C.O.S.) Sykes
Tall-afar, Iraq
BIG IDEA: When believers are in the presence of God, they are humbled and realize their “lips are unclean”.
REFERENCES: Isaiah 6:1-7 (ESV); Job 42:5-6 (ESV) I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes; Acts 28:25-26 (ESV) And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive; John 12:39-41 (ESV) Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them. Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him; Matthews 15:18-20 (What defiles a person) ESV – Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone; Mark 7:14-23 (ESV) What Defiles a Person – Note: Mark makes it clear that Jesus spoke this parable – and the one in Matthews 15 - making “all food clean”; Colossians 3:7-8 (ESV) In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth; James 3:1-12 (ESV) Control What You Say – The Apostle James tell us that a Christian Speech is another test of maturity. Note: The size of a thing does not determine its value or power. When God gave us the faculty of speech, He gave us a tool to build with; but it can also become a weapon of destruction; The tongue is a flame: it can, through lies and gossip and heated words, set a whole family or church on fire; James 1:26 (ESV) If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless; Matthews 12:34b (ESV) For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks; Proverbs 16:27 (ESV) A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire; Note: On the Day of Pentecost, believers received tongues of fire from heaven; but it’s also possible for the tongue to be “set on fire from hell”; Proverbs 18:20-21 (ESV) From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits; Matthews 26:69-75 (ESV) – Peter denies Jesus; 1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 6:1-8 (ESV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 6:1-8 (ESV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Isaiah 6:5 (ESV) And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that in the presence of God, all believers are humbled and realize they have “unclean lips”.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “I Have a Filthy Mouth”
VI. INTRODUCTION:
“I Have a Filthy Mouth” is the sermon title for today. Most of you are aware that our Contemporary Worship Services conduct monthly Men and Women Fellowships.
This past Wednesday, we conducted our Women Fellowship for the Month of June. It was entitled, Ministry of Submission: “How to Conduct Ageless Beauty Ministry”.
Many of our lady Warriors and civilians showed-up to participate. Fun and learning was had by all in attendance. Likewise, on last evening, we also conducted our Monthly Men Fellowship.
The topic for the Male Warriors was dubbed, “What Every Husband Should Know: How to Get Your Prayers Answered”.
If for whatever reason you missed your monthly fellowship, please see either 1SG Vital or CW3 Watts for additional information. I’m sure they can feel you in on all of the details.
But, I can tell you, now, that God met us here and blessed us!
I think both groups would probably attest to that and the fact that I’m a big fan of the Apostle Peter – especially the men.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 1: In fact, I shared with the men that one of my favorite Biblical Personalities of all time is the Apostle Peter.
a. This is because I can identify with Peter the most. I’m married and Peter was married.
b. Like Peter, I love my mother-in-law and have asked the Lord to heal her body and He has done so.
c. Peter was impulsive.
d. He was passionate about doing the work of Christ and oftentimes preceded to do God’s work before God was ready for him do so or against God’s advice.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 2: Like Peter, I too have been guilty of being impulsive about the “things of God”.
a. Like Peter, I too have been guilty of Not Watching and Praying.
b. And who can ever forget the incident where the Romans Soldiers came to apprehend Jesus in the Garden when one of the Romans’ Soldiers grabbed Jesus, - Peter pulled his sword and cut-off the Soldier’s ear (Luke 22:50-51)?
c. And what about the incident that occurred shortly afterwards, in which Peter denied Christ 3 times before the cock crowed?
d. Man, I can’t tell you how many times I have denied Christ (with my actions) in some formed or fashion. Yet, every time I asked him for forgiveness – He forgave me!
e. Matthews’ 26 account of Peter’s denial shares with us that when he was asked the third time if he knew Christ he “cursed and use bad language.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 3: In fact, Peter often uttered things from his lips that he probably should not have.
a. I can identify!
b. I too have said things that I now wish I hadn’t said. I’m not alluding to profanity – because I don’t use bad language. But, instead of building-up a brother, I’ve been guilty of tearing down a brother with my words. Words are powerful weapons!
c. Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) tells us that both death and life lies in the power of the tongue and those that love it will eat its fruits.
d. Jesus – himself – said in Matthews 18:20 that what comes out of the mouth of a man proceeds from the heart and that defiles him.
e. The Good Book says, in Matthews 12:34b that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Of course, the phase “out of the abundance of the heart” is a metaphor for saying that “man will eventually speak the thoughts that live in his mind or conscious.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 4: James the brother of Jesus reminds us in James 3:1-12 that the size of a thing does not determine its value.
a. He goes on to say that our speech is another way of testing our Christian maturity because we must control what we say.
b. Our tongue is a flame: it can, through lies, gossip, swearing, and heated words, set a whole family or church on fire.
c. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless (James 1:26 ESV);
d. Many of you may recall, last week was Pentecost Sunday, and I preached “DRUNK” (for those of you that were not present, the sermon title was “DRUNK”).
e. For on the Day of Pentecost, believers received tongues of fire from heaven;
f. … but I stand here today, on Trinity Sunday, to remind everyone that just as the 120 believers received tongues of fire from heaven; it’s also possible for the tongue be “set on fire from hell”.
g. Can you help me say, “I have a Filthy Mouth”? Perhaps, you’re never utter a profane word in your life; but you’re participated in gossip that murder a brother or sister. If, so you too have a “Filthy Mouth”.
h. For the Good Book says in Proverbs 16:27 (ESV) A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire;
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 5: In our text today, we find ourselves witnessing the Call and Commission of one of the greatest prophets that have ever lived – The Prophet Isaiah.
a. We are given the privilege – for whatever reason to witness this Holy Occasion.
b. Now, if you don’t mind utilizing your “sanctified imagination” for just a little while … come walk with me into the time-warp of Biblical History.
c. Over there you we see Isaiah (as a little boy) playing with his cousin WHO WOULD SOMEDAY BE KING U-ZZIAH.
d. Look at them at play in the sand. Aren’t they a couple of handsome fellows? Now, let’s fast forward many years into their future.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 6: Here we find ourselves witnessing the notification.
a. As you can attest to – there dressed in Class A’s is a chaplain and a casualty assistance officer.
b. They have just left Isaiah’s home notifying him of the King’s death.
c. Isaiah knew it was imminent and based on the Kings’ disobedient to God – barring a miracle - that U-zzaiah was going to die.
d. For God had afflicted him with a terminal case of leprosy.
e. Because although he had started out as a great king; his latter reign was displeasing to God.
f. Still, as a cousin, Isaiah (no doubt) had been praying for him. Perhaps, he had made some promises to others of what God would do on his behalf.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 7: Perhaps he was looking for a miracle. Perhaps he had uttered and said some things to King U-zziah that he should not have said.
a. Yet, after receiving such notice, he went for a stroll.
b. He needed some alone time with God. And I believe that it was in the midst of His quality time with God that he was shown a Vision, received his Call and Commissioned to do God’s Work.
c. For the Good Book tells us – here in Chapter 6 – that in was in the year that King U-zziah died that Isaiah saw the Lord seated on a high and exalted throne, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
d. Isaiah said that there were Angels hovering above him - called Sera-phim.
Each of the Sera-phim had 6 wings.
e. Two of the wings covered their faces. For the Angels could not stand to look directly at the glowing “face of God”.
f. Two of their wings covered their feet.
g. For like Moses – standing before the burning bush – they too had to always be conscientious of their feet being covered in the presence of the Most High God.
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
MOVE 8: Because they weren’t worthy to in His presence; and 2 of the wings were used for flying and hovering at God’s command.
a. Isaiah said that the Angels called back and forth to one another … saying … HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the God of the Angel-Armies.
b. Somebody said that the reason why the Angels uttered 3 Holies is because One was for the God the Father; One was for God the Son; and One was for God the Holy Spirit.
c. God allowed Isaiah to get a peek of the Trinity – our Triune God. And as Angels uttered the Holies: Holy, Holy, Holy – the foundations trembled at the sound of the angelic voices. Then Isaiah said that he saw smoke fill the house.
d. Now, my brothers and my sisters, the Good Book says - in John 12:39-41 - that Isaiah saw the Glory of the Lord.
e. Well, it was at that moment … that Isaiah was filled with fear and awe … Because it was at that moment that he realized that he was about to meet the Glory of the Lord for himself.
f. And we can hear him saying … Every word that I have every spoken from my mouth is tainted and filthy.
g. I’m not worthy! “I have a Filthy Mouth.” The people that I live amongst are the same way.
h. Like me, they also use words to tear-down, belittle and destroy one another. I’m not worthy to be in your presence!
i. Then … all of a sudden … one of those Angelic Seraphim flew directly to me with a “hot coal” that he … had … taken from God’s Altar. He touched my mouth with that “fiery coal” and said:
******* TAKE 5 BEATS *******
CELEBRATION:
Look this fiery coal has touched your lips. Gone is the guilt of sin because it’s been wiped-out! Your filthy mouth have been cleansed and purified!
And then the Good Book says that Isaiah heard the voice of God Himself say … Whom should I send … to tell others about my goodness?
Whom should I send … to tell Soldiers that I’m merciful?
Whom should I send … to tell civilians that I’m merciful?
Whom should I send … to tell Iraq and foreign nationals of my goodness?
Who will go for the Father? Who will go for the Son? Who will go for the Holy Spirit?
Isaiah said: I’ll Go! SEND ME!
