Answering God’s Call to Engage the Culture Isaiah 6:1-8 Feb 11/12, 2017 FOLLOWING THE MESSAGE 1) 6:1 Judea and Israel are in cultural decline. Judah, under Uzziah and others, kept up appearances by retaining an apparent conformity to God’s Word (Truth), but gradually fell into serious cultural decline, both in a moral and spiritual sense (Isaiah 3:8-26). Even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God (Romans 1:21-28). 2) 6:1 Even in cultural decline, and even when earthly rulers die, our God sits high on His Throne, exalted. 3) 6:2 Even the heavenly beings humble themselves before a Holy God. 4) 6:3 Holy, Holy, Holy—God is immensely holy and pure, separate and apart from a fallen world. This is an Old Testament representation of the Trinity. 5) 6:3 The whole earth is full of His glory—All of God’s creation evidences his glory. So why do we so often fail to give Him the glory deserving of a Holy God?
9) 6:8 God has a heavenly commission for Isaiah, calling him to engage a culture that for the most part had rejected God and His Word. Humbled and forgiven, with sins atoned for, Isaiah responds to God’s forgiving grace, “Here am I. Send me!” Embracing Your Destiny When God Calls You to Engage the Culture: 1. Have them see evidence of a humble heart beating for Jesus. 2. Humbly bring all aspects of our life under God’s dominion. Submit fully to God. 3. Choose your beliefs well. Choose God’s Truth. 4. Persevere and support each other through trials that come when you answer God’s call. HEBREW WORDS v. 6:1 lofty: rum—to be high or exalted, set apart v. 6:3 glory: Kabod (from Kabad)—abundance, honor, glory v. 6:4 trembled: nua—quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter, shaken v. 6:5 woe: oy—woe! An impassioned expression of grief and despair.
6) 6:4 The Holiness of the all-powerful God shakes things up! Here, our Holy God reveals His power through quaking tremors and billowing smoke. 7) 6:5 Isaiah finds himself, a sinful human being, in the presence of the all-powerful Holy God (see 6:1-4). The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Isaiah fearfully humbles himself in His presence. Becoming aware of our sin humbles us and prepares us for the necessary cleansing and purging of our sin. 8) 6:6-7 Here Isaiah’s humble confession leads to forgiveness. The heavenly being touching Isaiah’s lips with the burning coal powerfully illustrates God’s cleansing. Isaiah’s sins are atoned for, and his guilt is taken away. He is now ready to answer God’s call.
TODAY’S SONGS “O Praise the Name (Anastasis)” words and music by Marty Sampson, Benjamin Hastings, and Dean Ussher © 2015 Hillsong Music Publishing “Psalm 34 (Taste and See)” words and music by Shane Barnard and Shane Everett © 2015 Songs From Wellhouse (BMI) “Love Come Down” words and music by Todd Fields, Casey Darnell, and Heath Balltzglier © 2014 Ava Truth Music | Music At North Point | Music At Northpoint (Simpleville Music, Inc.) | Robinson Lane Music | Seems Like Music | Simple Tense Songs | Songs At North Point “Take My Life and Let It Be” words by Frances Ridley Havergal; music by Henri Abraham Cesar Malan Public Domain CCLI #431630
