A. INTRODUCTION
1. King Uzziah was originally used of God. “The people of Judah then made 16-year-old Uzziah ... their king ... he ruled 52 years ... he obeyed Me, the Lord ... as long as Zechariah was alive, Uzziah sought Me and I gave him success” (2 Chronicles 26: 1-5). “He built fortified towns ... at the corner angle ... dug many cisterns ... great livestock ... Uzziah had a well-trained army” (26:9-11).
2. Uzziah sinned. “Uzziah became proud of his power ... entering My temple to burn incense on the altar” (26:16).
3. God judged him. “Azariah the priest said ... this isn’t right” (26:18). “Just then leprosy suddenly appeared on his forehead” (26:19).
4. Isaiah a member of Uzziah’s court.
B. SEVEN STEPS OF TOUCHING/ENCOUNTERING GOD
1. God can/will encounter you when your dreams collapse.
a. When you buy into a person’s dream, you buy into their leadership. When Uzziah sinned, Isaiah’s dreams died.
b. Organizational and financial strength is not spiritual strength.
c. When your dreams collapse go to God for a new vision.
d. Your dreams begin with seeing God lifted high in your life.
2. You are never so important that you can break God’s rules in serving Him.
a. Uzziah thought he was important to God. “When Uzziah became strong, he became so proud of his accomplishments that he acted corruptly, and he sinned against God” (26: 16, Amplified Bible).
b. God dealt with Isaiah’s potential pride. “I am doomed because I am a sinful man just like everyone around me” (Isaiah 6:5).
3. When you have an inflated opinion of your self-importance, God encounters you to show you your sin. “Isaiah saw Me, the LORD, sitting on a high throne . . . the temple was filled with smoke, a sign of My presence” (26:1).
a. Isaiah testified, “I am doomed ... because I am a sinful man” (26:5).
b. Isaiah saw his new king. “I have seen the king” (26:5).
4. When you are cleansed of sin, you are equipped for service. “How terrible it is for me ... because I am a sinful man” (Is. 6:5).
a. Isaiah was physically qualified to serve an earthly king, but not spiritually qualified to serve the heavenly King.
b. God wants you to deal with sin before He will use you. “This has touched your lips ... you are no longer guilty, your sins are forgiven” (Isaiah 6:7).
5. God encounters you by manifesting His presence. Isaiah began, “I saw the Lord” (Isaiah 6:1, KJV).
a. The Word of God and the presence of God speak together (never contradictory). “I heard the voice of the Lord” (Isaiah 6:8).
b. God asks you a question, but He leaves the answer up to you. “Whom shall I send as a messenger for me?” (Isaiah 6:8).
c. God asks the same question today. How will you answer? If you don’t know, find His presence.
6. You must faithfully carry out your task whether or not you are successful. Paul quoted this passage, “You Jews will hear the gospel, but will not understand, you will see the truth of Jesus, but you are spiritually blinded. For your heart is hardened and your spiritual ears are shut up, and your spiritual eyes are blinded. Because you refuse to believe” (Acts 28: 26-27).
a. When people reject the truth they know, it loses its influence.
b. The more they reject the greater their inability to receive truth.
c. When you completely love darkness, light hurts your eyes.
7. God is more interested in your faithfulness then your success. God sent Isaiah on a mission that would fail. He asked, “How long?” (Isaiah 6:11).
a. Expect resistance, persecution, and rejection. “A great forsaking in the midst of the land” (Isaiah 6:12, KJV).
b. There is fruit (results) when you can’t see it. “Just as a stump remains when a tree is cut down, so the Holy Spirit will be like a stump that will grow again” (Isaiah 6:13).
C. SEVEN LESSONS
1. You will get a fresh dream when you touch/encounter God.
2. Encountering God teaches you must serve Him on His terms.
3. You will see and understand your sinfulness and weakness when you encounter/touch God.
4. You will deal with your sin when you encounter/touch God.
5. You must come to God’s sanctuary to encounter/touch Him.
6. When encountering/touching God, He will give you a task to accomplish.
7. Your fruit or success in ministry is not measured in immediate results, but in the long-term view.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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