The Conversion of Isaiah
By Pastor Matt Black
June
11, 2006
Lord's Day Evening
Isaiah 6:1-8
Introduction: Open your Bibles to the book of Isaiah chapter 6. The title of tonight’s message is “The Conversion of Isaiah”.
[Read Isaiah 6:1-13]
Some day we shall meet God. It will be an awesome occasion when we shall stand before him for judgment. Should we find ourselves there with no covering for our sins, it will be to hear the Lord casting us away from His presence. If, however, our sins have been washed “as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18) it will be to hear Christ bid us welcome: to enjoy the glory of heaven for ever. Forgiveness is something we must secure before we die if we are to make sure of heaven. The purpose of Isaiah 6 is, party, to inform us that the prophet was a forgiven man.[1]
The chapter opens up with a precise reference for the date. It was “the year that king Uzziah died”, which would be 739 B.C. It was probably also the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) on the Jewish calendar. This would be the day that the high priest entered the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifice—a sacrifice that was a picture and shadow of the “Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). This was the day that the when the live coal was taken off the altar into the Holy of Holies (within the vail), and the blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:12-14).
Isaiah had a lot to reflect on this year. In the north, the Assyrian nation was expanding. A new king, Tiglath Pileser III was now on the throne. Judgment against Judah where Isaiah lived was all but assured.
Also in the north that same year, the wicked king Israel’s northern kingdom, Jeroboam, had died. The winds of change were blowing throughout the known world. With the deaths of both Jereboam and King Uzziah, anarchy began to reign in both Israel in the north, and Judah (where Isaiah was) in the south. Assyria was increasing, and this is around the time that Rome was founded.
Uzziah, though he was a good king that loved and served the Lord, was dying of leprosy. Uzziah had come to the throne at the age of 16 and had reigned over Judah for 50 years. Sadly toward the end of Uzziah’s life, he dishonored the Lord, and trespassed into the Lord’s temple to offer incense for himself at the altar of incense in the Temple. So Uzziah died of leprosy for trying offer his own offering instead of letting the priests, who were a picture of Jesus Christ our high priest, offer for him. We cannot come to God on our own! We need a mediator. There is “one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
Isaiah comes to this very Temple, the Temple of the Lord, and he is seemingly lifted out of time and into eternity. This evening we come to Isaiah’s testimony as he graduates not to heaven yet, but to serve the Lord with the power of heaven on earth. As we read, it is clear that Isaiah has an amazing experience to relate to us that utterly devastated him. He was never the same man again.
So let us read about this graduation ceremony in the life of Isaiah. We read in verse one, “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.” Isaiah first of all is introduced to the Lord of glory.
We see first, that the greatest graduation is right into the presence of God. That is exactly where we find Isaiah.
I. We must first have a vision of God in His MAJESTY. Here it is written that Isaiah “saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne.” The first class we all need to take if we are going to graduate to God’s presence is that of God’s majesty!
Before we go further, we need to identify who this was that Isaiah saw on the throne. Turn over to John 12 and verse 40.
John is quoting this chapter in Isaiah, and he says, in verse 40 that God had left these unbelieving Jews in their sins. He says here in verse 40, “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” Remember he is speaking of the Lord Jesus’ ministry among them and why they would not believe. So he says in verse 41, speaking of Jesus Chirst, “These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of him.”
This is Jesus Christ. He is not some prophet or some good man. Oh, he was a prophet, and He was a good man, but He was more than that! He was God in the flesh! He is the one seated on the throne. He is the one Isaiah says is the “high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy” (Isaiah 57:15).
The world today wants to make God like a man. He wants to take God down from heaven, and make Him one of us. God is NOT LIKE US!
Deuteronomy 4:39, “Know therefore this day, and considerate in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.”
A. God is HIGH--He is on the Throne!! “I saw the Lord HIGH and lifted up”
Isaiah is speaking of seeing God not geographically, but in his authority! Jesus is the name above all names! He is high and lifted up, He is the judge of the whole earth! It is “At the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW. . . and THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS that JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)
So the class in God’s majesty, we need to see God as High, but not just high. Many people fear God, but they try to bring Him down and as if He is like us. They say that God will just forgive them for their sins, as if he can just excuse sin. God does not just excuse sin! He is holy!
B. God is HOLY. “Holy, holy, holy”
Imagine if you could go up to heaven, and listen to what the angel’s had to say! Wouldn’t you want to know what Micheal was saying to Gabriel? Well, here was a man who heard what the angel’s said. Listen! “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory!”
God’s holiness speaks of His separateness, His brightness, the fact that as God He is unapproachable. That is the message these angels brought.
These angels flying around the throne of God are called seraphs. A seraph is a “burning one” These angels are aflame with God’s glory.
Notice they:
1. Covered their face: They showed that God is holy, and He is dreadful in His majesty. He is God, and he is to be feared.
2. Covered their feet. In covering their feet, they disavowed any intension to choose their own path.
3. Did fly: they showed readiness to do whatever the Sovereign Lord commanded.
Yes God is mercy, He is kindness, He is goodness, and He is love! Yet above all that God is, He holds one attribute higher than all the rest--HIS HOLINESS!
I John 1:5 “God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Transition: Yes God is high, and holy, but when we think of Him in that way, He seems so far away!
Illustration: Before my twin sister came to Christ she used to call me in to the room whenever there was a song about God. “From a Distance, God is watching us” the song said, but God is NOT “from a distance!”
C. God is HERE. "The whole earth is full of His glory"
You can see God in creation!
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
But this knowledge alone will not save!
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Look at verse 4, “And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.”
The posts of the door start shaking with angels crying HOLY, and the whole temple is filled with smoke! We see the cloud of God’s presence that blinded the Egyptian army that is against all God’s enemies standing against Isaiah. God is about to Judge!!
So we see God’s dreadful majesty! Then we look to our guilt and misery!
II. We must then have a vision of our Guilt and Misery.
A. Man’s DESTINY. “Woe is me, for I am undone.” Literally he says, “I am on my way to destruction, I am perishing.” Like to undo a building you destroy it.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
B. Man’s DEPRAVITY. “I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”
MAN IS UTTERLY DEPRAVED!
Look at Romans 3:10-18:
10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
17 And the way of peace have they not known:
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Every part of man is sinful and wicked: his throat, his lips, his mouth, his feet, mind, his heart, his eyes. We are UTTERLY WICKED outside of Christ!
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
III. We must then experience God’s Mercy.
Man’s DELIVERANCE. “Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin is purged.”
This altar is the altar of burnt offering (Leviticus 9:24) which was kindled by the Lord, and burnt continually day and night. Our only hope for deliverance is in the blood of Jesus Christ.
Heb. 10:4 "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins."
Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
I John 2:2 “And he is the propitiation [satisfaction for] our sins: and not for ours only, but also, for the sins of the whole world.”
1 John 1:7 The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Revelation 1:5 Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
IV. Finally we graduate to God’s Mission!
“Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah sees God and realizes his condition, and he says, "Here am I Lord, you saw me--I'm a man of unclean lips, I am perishing, Here I am--I don’t have much talent, but HERE AM I LORD, SEND ME!"
You need to bow to the Lord! You need to say whatever He wants you to say. Here we realize that if Christ is not Lord, then He is not Saviour!
Conclusion: Have you graduated to see a vision of God in your life? You can gain everything in this life! You can have graduated and gained everything in this life, and lose in the end!
Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
Special Music: Joy Beckett (Senior)--piano
--Senior’s Testimonies: We are delighted to have two seniors graduating today. We are delighted with what God is doing in their lives. I’ve asked Stephen Larsen first, and then Joy Beckett to come and share a bit of how God is working at this time in their lives.
Stephen Larsen
Joy Beckett
Presentation of Diplomas:—at this time as we award the graduates their diplomas of graduation, I would like to have the graduates come with their parents to the platform: Mr. and Mrs. Gustavo Rizo, Mr. and Mrs. Jim Vinci, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Larsen, and Mr. and Mrs. George Beckett.
Daniel Alexander Rizo is graduating from Kindergarten
Daniel Rizo was born in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on February 28, 2001. Daniel likes to play, he likes boots and horses, and wants to be a cowboy when he grows up. His favorite subject in school is Mathematics. Let’s join Daniel’s parents in congratulating him for a job well done!
Joshua David Vinci is graduating from the eighth grade.
Joshua Vince was born in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1991, and saved in 1999 at the age of 8 years of age. He has been home schooled all of his life, and his parents plan to continue home schooling him through high school if this is the Lord's will. This year was definitely the hardest and most challenging because of the number of subjects and volume of material - Theology, Pre-Algebra, Science, Spelling, Christian Literature, U.S. Constitution, Civics, Grammar, and Book Reports. Dad is especially glad the school year is over! Joshua has been taking trumpet lessons and also has worked his way to a blue belt in Tae Kwondo. Joshua has completed the eight grade requirements of Christian Liberty Academy. We want to join Joshua’s parents in a word of congratulations to Joshua for all his hard work.
High School Graduates
Stephen Michael Larsen
Stephen is 17 years old and was born on July 12, 1988. He has a unique schooling experience in that he has attended Christian school, Public School, and Home School. He is graduating today from Larsen Christian High School. Please join Stephen’s parents in congratulating Stephen for a job well done!
Joy Elyse Beckett
Joy Beckett was born April 29, 1988 and has been a member of Tabernacle since Sept 2000. Her parents, George and Jayne have home schooled Joy and her sister Jewel from their earliest years to now. Joy's most important life event was when she received Christ as her Savior at age 4 1/2 . Along with her favorite school subjects of history, nutrition, and early childhood development, she enjoys reading, piano, bike riding, writing devotionals and short stories, serving with her church family, and spending time with her parents and sister. We want to praise God and join Joy’s parents in a word of congratulations for her hard work in reaching this goal in her life.
Charge to the Graduates
At this time, let me charge the graduates with the great responsibility that they have. My charge to you comes from 2 Timothy chapter 4. Paul says to Timothy, “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom.” Your parents have invested in you, they have discipled and trained you. You may just be going into the first grade, or into high school, or it may be very soon, and you will be going on to college. You are accountable, not just to Mom and Dad, but before God and the Lord Jesus Christ. You will give an account to Him at his appearing and kingdom.
But Paul says in verse 7 of this chapter, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8). You have all started out wonderfully. You have everything on your side. You have Christian parents that love you, a church that loves you and has trained you in godliness, and you have succeeded thus far in your lives. But my hope is not that you will simply begin well. My charge to you is that you would end better than you started! That you would “count not yourself to have apprehended: but this one thing you should do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,” as Paul said, “14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14).
Let us dedicate these graduates to the Lord’s use.
[Dedicatory prayer]
Pictures Taken: At this time before we have our closing hymn, if you would like to get a picture of this group, you may come forward and do so.
Closing Hymn: 7 Come Thou Fount of Every
Closing prayer and blessing for food