Busan,South Korea
Wednesday, 25 August 2004
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
BIG IDEA: GO TO CHURCH WHEN YOU COME HOME FROM A
MEMORIAL SERVICE.
REFERENCES: II Chron. 26:19-21; John 12:41; I Kings 22:19; II Kings2:11; II Kings 15
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 6:1-8
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Isaiah 6:1-8
III. READ THE TEXT: Isaiah 6:1 (In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. )
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that THERE IS NO BETTER TIME TO HAVE AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD THAN WHEN YOU ARE COMING HOME FROM A MEMORIAL SERVICE.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “WHERE DO YOU GO AFTER YOU
COME HOME FROM A MEMORIAL SERVICE?”
INTRODUCTION:
... WHERE DO YOU GO WHEN YOU’RE FEELING WEAK AT THE KNEES AND YOUR SOURCE OF STRENGHTH HAS DRIED UP?
I submit to you this afternoon ... that ...THIS IS NOT A GOOD TIME TO RUN FROM THE LORD;
THIS IS THE TIME ... we SHOULD RUN TO THE LORD.
... (Inter-faith Healing Service @ WINN ARMY COMMUNITY HOSPITAL)
I RECALL THE SUNDAY FOLLOWING the terroist attacks on September 11, 2001. America’s churches noted perhaps the largest attendance in years. People were crowding into church buildings everywhere.
For you see ... the number of people attending services in some places (even hospital chapel services) was even larger than at Christmas or Easter. This is because buried somewhere in the instinctual emotions of man, there is a drive in the soul that cries, “I have to find God.” Trust comes easier after a tragedy.
****************TAKE 5 BEATS*****************
MOVE 1: The one place we all need to go when when the weight of life and crisis becomes too heavy to bear ... IS THE CHAPEL or the church.
a. ... Times of crisis are opportune times for us to invite other people INTO the presence of God as well.
b. For people in pain are often just looking for directions to run to the Building with THE STEEPLE.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS*************
2. Therefore, let us consider where Isaiah went after CRISIS/TRAGEDY visited his life.
a. For you see there is no better time to go TO CHAPEL than when WE are coming home from a MEMORIAL SERVICE.
b. Why? Because often ... it’s only after SOMEONE significant in our life has died that WE CAN TRULY SEE THE KING OF GLORY.
c. The only CURE for UZZIAH SYNDROME is an ISAIAH EXPERIENCE WITH GOD THAT WE WILL NEVER GET OVER.
d. Most of us never make it to the point, of an Isaian Experience, BECAUSE WE GET ANGRY WHEN WE ARE CONFRONTED WITH THE TRUTH.
*****************TAKE 5 BEATS*************
3. We get angry instead of yielding to SORROWFUL REPENTANCE.
a. Therefore, I’m convinced that what we need is burning lips and a hot heart.
b. One coal from his altar will cure our ARROGANCE.
*************TAKE 5 BEATS************
4. How many times had Isaiah been to CHAPEL, and satified his soul with the religious process of going through the program or ORDER OF WORSHIP?
a. HOW OFTEN HAD HE GONE TO CHURCH IN CALMER TIMES AND BEEN SATISFIED BY MONOTONE CITATIONS OF HIS PASTOR?
b. Did Isaiah have any hint of the divine potential waiting just beyond the veil for those whose desperation brought them face to face with THE LORD, HIGH AND LIFTED UP?
******************TAKE 5 BEATS************
5. It’s more than COINCIDENTAL THAT ISAIAH retreated to the CHAPEL after King Uzziah ’s death.
a. As a prophet, we may assume Isaiah had been to the CHAPEL many times.
b. The day came, however, during a time of crisis, when Isaiah entered the doors of the CHAPEL with a different attitude..
c. After the Memorial Service, Isaiah didn’t go to the Chapel for the smoke of the incense and sacrifice.
d. He wasn’t just waiting to see who was singing in the choir this week.
e. And ... He wasn’t anticipating the sounds of his monotone pastor.
f. Isaiah came to CHAPEL AFTER THE MEMORIAL SERVICE because he was DESPERATE FOR GOD.
******************Take 5 BEATS**************
6. Someone significant in HIS LIFE (or unit) had just died. Isaiah ’s royal cousin was dead.
a. You know ... someone he had (no doubt) played ball with when he was younger.
b. A cousin that perhaps had an UGLY Jump Shot ...
c. A cousin that perhaps when they were kids had a “PIMP” in his Walk like PFC Jonathan Beverly
d. Now ... my brothers and sisters ...“The wisest thing we can do personally is to take advantage of our on tenderness in the aftermath of crisis and tragedy.
e. Like a child running to a parent, we need to turn to Him who is the Source of all strength and allow Him to draw us to Himself.
************TAKE 5 BEATS************
7. There is no better time to have an ENCOUNTER WITH GOD THAN
WHEN WE ARE GOING HOME FROM A MEMORIAL SERVICE.
a. WHEN I READ ISAIAH’S ACCOUNT OF HIS ENCOUNTER WITH GOD IN
THE CHAPEL IN ISAIAH 6, IT ALMOST SEEMS AS IF GOD SET HIM UP
FOR A PERSONAL AND PRIVATE MEETING.
b. I CAN ALMOST HEAR GOD SAYING ... ISAIAH ... I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO COME TO CHAPEL AFTER THE MEMORIAL SERVICE ...
***********TAKE 5 BEATS****************
CELEBRATION:
... IF WE LISTEN CAREFULLY ... THIS AFTERNOON ... PERHAPS WE TOO CAN HEAR GOD SAYING SOMETHING SPECIAL TO US ... AS WELL ...
