Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Isaiah's Vision (Part II)


“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 6:1)

II – THE PLACE OF THE VISION - 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 6:1).
“And his train filled the TEMPLE.” “And the TEMPLE was filled with glory.”Isaiah went to the TEMPLE.
Isaiah’s life was shaken. To Isaiah, King Uzziah was his hero and he was grieving. Isaiah took his sorrow to the right spot (the Temple).

LESSON:
1. Isaiah took his disappointment at Uzziah’s death into the SANCTUARY of God, and he came out with a glowing vision that altered the whole of his life.
2. God can transform our adversity, if we take it to Him at His appointed meeting place.
3. Poem: “MY CHURCH”

A room of quiet, A temple of Peace;
A home of faith, where doubting cease;
A house of comfort, where hope is given;
A source of strength, to help us to heaven;
A place of worship, a place to pray;
I found all this in my Church Today.

“How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.” (Psalm 84:1-4).

We can meet God anywhere at anytime, but we know that going to church building helps us step aside from the busy mainstream of life into a place where we can quietly meditate and pray.
We find joy, not in the beautiful building, but in the praying, singing, teaching, preaching and fellowship that take place in the church.

5. Illustration: “JUST SUPPOSE”
Just suppose the Lord would begin tomorrow to make people sick as they claim to be on Sunday.
Just suppose the Lord should take away the children whom the parents use as an excuse for staying away from church. Just suppose the Lord should make people as poor as they claim to be when asked to help finance the church.

III – THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE VISION -“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 6:1).
“I saw the Lord.” The center of the stage is no longer occupied by King Uzziah but by King Uzziah’s God.
The center of the stage is no longer occupied by King Uzziah but the King of Kings fills the picture.
As we noted, Isaiah went to the temple all disturbed about the future – but when he saw God in his majesty and purity – he saw that God was Great! He saw that God was absolutely all sufficient and adequate.
Illustration: To the query: “Why is there but one God?..A child answered: “Because God fills every place, and there’s no room for another one.”
Lesson: God is great, that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him, and so little that He can dwell in my heart. SONG: How big is God, How big and wide His vast domain, To try to tell this lips can only start. He’s big enough to rule this mighty universe. He’s small enough to rule within my heart.

Illustration: “Oliver Cromwell’s Secretary”
Oliver Cromwell’s secretary was dispatched to the continent on some important business.
He stayed one night at a seaport town, and tossed on his bed, unable to sleep.
According to an old custom, a servant slept in his room, and on this occasion slept soundly enough.
The secretary at length awakened the man who asked how it was that his master could not rest.
“I am so afraid something will go wrong with the embassage”, was the reply.“Master”, said the servant, “May I ask a question or two?”“Did God rule the world before we were born?” - “Most assuredly He did.” “And will He rule if after we are dead?” “Certainly He will.”
“Then, Master, why not let Him rule the present too?” The secretary’s faith was stirred, peace was the result and in a few minutes both he and his servant were sound sleep.
Challenge:
Trust the past to God’s mercy, the present to God’s love and the future to God’s providence. A quiet conscience sleeps in thunder. Rather than saying, “God, here is my problem”, we should put the problem into proper perspective by saying, “Problem, here is my GOD!”

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