Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
How do we get to the point of saying, "send me"? - go through the process that Isaiah did.
1. Be aware of our complacency. Isa 6:1
2. Spend some time with God. Isa 6:2-4 Be in awe of God's Holiness.
3. Be honest about our sinfulness. Isa 6:5
4. A fresh understanding of God's grace. Isa 6:7 Every sin is forgiven through God's grace. We are made clean through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
The only logical response to all of this is, "Here am I, send me!"
This decision to be sent by God is not a one time decision, it is a decision we need to make daily. Gal 5:16-17, 24; Lk 9:23; Gal 2:20
This is not easy. Isa 6:9-13.
This is not a search for information, but an amazing invitation to you and I from God. Acts 17:25
2 reasons we don't answer the call:
1. Selfishness and self centeredness.
2. Fear.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
UNDONE by a question
Sunday, October 15, 2017
UNDONE by Grace
Isa 6:1-8
1. Your sin is atoned for. v6-7. Atoned - the work that Christ did in life and death to earn our salvation. Isa 53:4-6, Rom 3:21-26 there is a righteousness apart from the law, God loves us, He is just, He wants to save us from our sin. Jesus was the sacrifice of atonement for us. 1 Jn 4:9-10, 2 Cor 5:21, Col 2:13-14. We are dead in our sins, spiritually bankrupt. Jesus paid the price for our sin, and wiped our record clean.
2. Our guilt was taken away. v7 There's good guilt (from God) and bad guilt (worldly). 2 Cor 7:10 Godly sorrow brings repentance. False guilt is from Satan. 1 Pet 5:8. Rom 8:1 no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. God is always ready and willing to extend forgiveness for our sin.
Sunday, October 8, 2017
Tibor Miklos
God + disable = God is able!
We are in a comfort zone, we leave the comfort zone, we are in a tunnel, we come out of the tunnel and arrive someplace new, and then we are in a comfort zone again.
What if we are stuck in a tunnel for the rest of our lives (disease, blindness, etc)? Isa 50:10-11, Rom 11:29. Phil 4:11 - learn to be content. Phil 4:6 God is close to us. 1 Jn 4:9.
Pray for Tibor, he wants to be healed, but knows God had called him to be blind and to use his disability for His Kingdom.
Sunday, October 1, 2017
UNDONE by my sin
Isa 6:1-8
v5 "Woe" We need to come to the point of being undone and broken before God.
We need to see our own sinfulness, and then realize that the Holy, holy, holy, God still loves us.
Sin - a failure to conform to God's Word, in action, lack of action, attitudes, by nature. To miss God's mark. Choice to do wrong, choice to leave good undone.
Consequences - spiritual death Rom 6:23, Eph 4:30 we can grieve the Holy Spirit, Prov 3:11-12 sin strains our relationship with God.
Origin of sin - Gen 2:16-17, 3:6-7, Ps 58:3. We were all born with a sinful nature. No one had to teach us how to sin.
Personal sin - Rom 7:18
Repentance - a heartfelt sorrow for sin, a renouncing of it, and a sincere commitment to forsake our sin and walk in obedience.
Oh God forgive us!
Sunday, September 24, 2017
UNDONE by God's Holiness
Isa 6:1-8
Our view of God (what we truly believe) affects every area of our lives.
v1 "I saw the Lord" the ruler, the one in charge. If I saw God, everything would change. "Seated on the throne" God was sitting, completely in control. No worries, God is on the throne. "The train of his robe filled the temple" the length of the train is a symbol of the majesty, power and importance of the person. God does what he wants, he's the boss. Isa 46:10.
v2 Seraphim - burning ones. Ministering to God himself, covering faces and feet is a sign of the holiness of God and the place. Ex 3:3-5 Holy ground.
v3 "Holy, holy, holy" repetition is a marker of importance. Isa 40:25 there is no one like God. You can't measure God on man's chart at all. "The whole earth is full of his glory." God's glory is all around us. Rev 4:8-11. "Holy, holy, holy" will be the cry of heaven.
v4 "the doorposts and thresholds shook" Heaven's worship is going to be loud sometimes. "The temple is filled with smoke" as if God said you can't handle any more.
v5 "WOE" calamity has fallen.
Sunday, September 17, 2017
UNDONE by my complacency
Isa 6:1-8
Complacency: a feeling of contentment and self satisfaction, especially when coupled with unawareness of danger.
Revival: renewed interest after a period of indifference or decline. Opposite of complacency.
*Move from complacency to revival.
v1 In the year that King Uzziah died... 2 Chron 26:1-5, 16-21.
1. We are not exempt from complacency. I am not exempt from complacency. We naturally drift away from God.
2. It is very possible to look religious and still be complacent. Isa 1:10-15. The form of their worship was correct, the heart of worship was not. Mt 15:7-9.
3. Our culture is bent toward spiritual complacency. 2 Chron 26:16 Uzziah's pride led to his downfall. Complacency is a deadly for of spiritual growth.
4. At some point, God will shake us from our complacency. God loves me enough to not let me stay in this place of complacency. 2 Chron 26:23. The message on Uzziah's tombstone: He had leprosy. Wow. That is haunting. That is NOT what I want my life to be like!
What do I do? Be saved. Admit my complacency. Cry out to God for help.
Sunday, August 27, 2017
Jas 5:7-12
Jas 5:7-12 Patience
- Be patient. v7-8. Be long-fused. Mt 5:10-11, following Jesus is hard. 2 Tim 3:12.
- Be patient, God is accomplishing something in you. v7, the farmer plants the seed, trusts God, and waits for rain. We are in control of absolutely nothing, God is in control. We must do what we need to do, and then trust God. It's a process. Don't give up, God will reap a harvest in your life. Gal 6:9.
- Be patient with each other. Don't grumble against one another, v9, 12. No drama, just say yes or no. Ps 15:4.
- Be patient even when our circumstances are unfair or unjust. v10, remember the prophets and their suffering.
- Be patient because He loves you more than you can possibly understand. v11, remember Job's perseverance and what the Lord finally brought about. Job 1:21, 13:15. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, and He loves us unconditionally.
- Be patient. Jesus is coming back! v8. 2 Tim 4:8; Rom 8:18; 2 Cor 4:17; Rev 21:4.