Send Me Series

Major League #1

Send Me

Dr. Marty Baker | Isaiah 6:1-8 | June 16, 2024

Good morning. Happy Father’s Day and Welcome to Stevens Creek Church. We are so glad that you are here. I want to welcome all of you in our South Campus and also in our Grovetown Campus.

I like to start with something funny.

Did you hear about the two good ol' boys, Buck and Skeeter, who met in a small group at church? These fellas loved baseball. They weren’t just baseball fans; they were baseball fanatics. In the summer, if they weren't working or at church, they were watching baseball.

One day, Buck and Skeeter were talking about the afterlife. They wondered if there'd be baseball in heaven. Buck said, "Everything's perfect in heaven …"Surely there's baseball!"

They made a pact: whoever kicked the bucket first would contact the other and let him know whether they had baseball.

Tragically, at the end of the summer, Buck passed away. His friend Skeeter was heartbroken but clung to their pact, hoping for a sign from Buck.

A few weeks later, Skeeter had a vivid dream. Buck appeared, "I've got good news and bad news."

"Tell me the good news first," Skeeter said. "The good news is, there's baseball in heaven! The fields are immaculate, the games are exhilarating, and every player gives their all. It’s everything we dreamed of and more."

"That's amazing!" Skeeter said. "What's the bad news?" "The bad news is, you're scheduled to pitch next Tuesday."

Today we are starting a brand-new series called Major League. Just as Major League Baseball showcases top players, this series will spotlight the major prophets of the Old Testament—Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Over the coming weeks, we will explore the lives, messages, and enduring legacies of these four remarkable prophets.

The major prophets are the hall-of-famers in the Old Testament. The term "major" has nothing to do with the achievement or importance of the prophets, the title major prophets developed over the years because of the length of their books.

Today, we're diving into the Book of Isaiah which was written about 700 years before Jesus was born. It's famous for its detailed predictions about the coming Messiah, its powerful vision of God's holiness, and its messages of judgment and redemption.

Isaiah was a statesman who delivered messages to both common people and royalty. Isaiah prophesied for 60 years during the reign of 4 kings.

In Isaiah chapter 6, we are introduced to the first king and his name is Uzziah. That’s confusing. The Major Prophet is Isaiah with an “I”. The King is Uzziah with a “U”.

I know that you may be saying, “Marty, this is a lot of history, does this even relate to me?”

King Uzziah’s reign was marked by political turmoil, moral decline, and widespread falling away from the faith.

To be fair, King Uzziah was one of the better kings in the Bible. When you think of the most notable kings, there's King David, King Solomon, and then Uzziah. He ruled wisely for over 40 years, turning Jerusalem into a fortified city and giving the people a strong sense of security.

Great leaders protect their nation and make their people feel safe. Great Dads protect their families and make their families feel safe.

But his story has a tragic end. In 2 Chronicles 26:16, it says, "When he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction." Uzziah got too full of himself, claimed priestly rights, and was struck with leprosy by God, and spent his remaining years in disgrace.

When King Uzziah died, his death brought national mourning and uncertainty.

Isaiah was struggling after the King passed away. He was confused, hurt, and worried about what was going to happen next.

In times of change, you question everything. You may wonder, what am I supposed to do now? What’s my purpose?

Maybe some of you feel that way now. Your world has changed and you are trying to figure out your next step. Some of you feel like you have lost your purpose. You are confused. You are hurt. You are worried.

You are like Isaiah. He went to the Temple because He needed direction, he needed comfort, He needed peace. Isaiah went to the Temple. He ran towards the presence of the Lord.

Big Idea for today’s message:

When life seems out of control, don’t lose hope, remember God is sovereign.

Turn in your Bibles to Isaiah 6. I am going to read the passage and then we will look at each verse individually.

Isaiah 6:1-4

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.

2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.