Sinners: Saved and Sent

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Intro:  Morgan Freeman will be back as God in Evan Almighty.  Who’s afraid of him?

Big Idea: God saves sinners & sends them as messengers of salvation.

Context:  Isaiah received visions from God during a very turbulent time in Judah’s history.  They were threatened by Israel (the northern kingdom) and Syria.  Their uneasy alliance with Assyria threatened their existence as a nation.  3 steps as story unfolds- mirrors Simeon’s “?”.

I. The God of holiness reveals we are sinners.  Isaiah 6:1-5: God is silent.

-         Uzziah sought God, & Judah prospered, but pride isolated him (leprosy)(2 Chron. 26).

-         Uzziah was either near death, or dead.  What would happen w/out their King?

-         Isaiah gets a glimpse of the true Sovereign (Adonai) over Judah (Ps 110). Superimposed.

-         God’s greatness is on display.  He is high & lifted up.  He is Lord of Armies.

-         The hem of his robe fills the temple-palace!  His glory fills the earth!

-         The angels can’t even look at Him- He is the holiest being.

-         With the smoke & shaking pillars it must be like a rock concert- overwhelming.

-         Isaiah’s response?  “Oye vay!”  I am going to die (Is. 64:6).

-         God’s glory reveals Isaiah’s sinfulness & sin.  He’s like everyone else.  Ill. CSI

-         Did he worship idols, criticize God?  He’s exposed!  Shared in the sins of his people.

1 The LORD (YHWH) says to my Lord (Adonai): “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”  Psalm 110 (NIV)

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.  Isaiah 64 (NIV)

“I’m a worshipper of the Almighty.  That’s enough to keep anyone humble.”  Chris Tomlin

Transition: God’s holiness humbles us as sinners, revealing who we REALLY are.

II. The God of holiness saves sinners from sin’s penalty.  Isaiah 6:6-7: Angel acts & declares

-         1st word for ‘sin’: deed & its consequences- guilt & wrath.  Ill Jadon’s wet bed

-         God initiates the removal of Isaiah’s sin (clean sheets).  God turns aside from His wrath.

-         Isaiah also missed the mark/target or way/path.  Ill. Wrong road- wrong destination.

-         His transgression was covered over- atoned for by using a substitute.  What substitute?

-         Jesus was/is the True Substitute: His death removed God’s wrath & our transgression.

-         God’s just wrath is satisfied.  The cause for his wrath (sin) is covered over.

-         This is not “God getting over it”, but God putting things right thru Jesus.

25 God presented him (Jesus) as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.  Romans 3 (NIV)

Transition: Only a holy God can save us from our sin & God’s wrath.

III. The God of holiness sends saved sinners as His messengers.  Isaiah 6:8-13: God speaks.

-         God wants a messenger.  A humble & forgiven Isaiah is willing.  Change of heart!

-         The message is not pleasant and they will be unresponsive.

-         Insensitive ears won’t listen & understand the message he brings.  Ill. Don’t hear Amie

-         They see, but don’t.  They become increasingly blinded (2 Cor. 4).  Ill. Fridge

-         Hard hearts will get harder when they reject the message.  Ill. The Sex is great!

-         By human standards, this was not an “effective ministry.”  Ill. Effective track record

-         Religious people are the most difficult to reach.  Ill. Pharisees/Bible Belt/immunity

-         God must dig out their ears, open their eyes and give them a heart of stone.

-         Isaiah is stunned- “How long, Adonai?”  Affirms God’s sovereignty in this (Romans 9).

-         Israel, through oppression & exile, would become a mere stump.

-         They would experience God’s glory expressed against their sin in discipline.

-         The stump is not the end.  The stump will bloom from holy seed.  Ill. Charlie

-         That Holy Seed is Jesus, thru whom the nations are blessed, whom we preach.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  Matthew 28 (NIV)

3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing.  4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4 (NIV)

Conclusion: God showed up & Isaiah was not the same.  He is humbled, Christ is exalted, and he is made holy.  This is what sermons must do.  Look for a pastor who gets this, because you need to be humbled, see the Savior exalted, and grow in holiness.  Will your response be like Isaiah, or the people to whom he preached?  Listen & live; ignore & perish!

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