Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
female announcer: TODAY ON TOUCHING LIVES...
Merritt: THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT YOU
IS HOW YOU SEE GOD.
BECAUSE HOW YOU SEE GOD
IS GONNA DETERMINE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT YOU.
IN FACT, I'LL PUT IT THIS WAY.
IF YOUR VIEW OF GOD IS WRONG,
YOUR VIEW OF LIFE IS WRONG.
announcer: WITH HOPE AND ENCOURAGEMENT FOR LIFE,
THIS IS TOUCHING LIVES WITH JAMES MERRITT.
Merritt: IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR VIEW OF GOD IS.
IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MY VIEW OF GOD IS.
THE ONLY VIEW OF GOD THAT REALLY MATTERS IS WHAT HIS VIEW IS.
WHAT MATTERS IS NOT HOW YOU SEE GOD OR HOW I SEE GOD.
WHAT REALLY MATTERS IS HOW DOES GOD SEE GOD?
BECAUSE WHAT YOU AND I THINK ABOUT GOD
REALLY OUGHT TO BE BASED ON WHAT GOD THINKS ABOUT GOD.
SO IN JUST A MOMENT,
I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO TURN TO A PASSAGE--
MATTER OF FACT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND GIVE YOU A HEAD START.
IT'S IN ISAIAH.
IT'S IN THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
AND I KNOW FOR SOME OF YOU,
THAT'S ALREADY SCARED YOU TO DEATH,
'CAUSE SOME OF YOU, "IS THAT EVEN A BOOK IN THE BIBLE?"
WELL, IN ALMOST ANY BIBLE,
ISAIAH'S ALMOST IN THE DEAD MIDDLE OF THE BIBLE.
SO IF YOU GET TO PSALMS AND PROVERBS
AND KEEP GOING EAST ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE BOOKS,
YOU'LL HIT THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT A PASSAGE IN JUST A MOMENT
THAT TELLS US UNEQUIVOCALLY
WHAT OUR PICTURE OF GOD OUGHT TO BE.
THE TITLE OF THIS SERIES IS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
NOW, THIS ENTIRE SERIES IS BASED ON THE PREMISE
THAT GOD DOES WANT TO HAVE A PERSONAL,
ETERNAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
AND BY THE WAY, YOU MAY BE SAYING, "WAIT A MINUTE.
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT GOD
"WANTS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME?
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT THAT GOD EVEN CARES ABOUT ME?
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD EVEN KNOWS WHO I AM?
HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD REALLY HAS A PLAN FOR MY LIFE?"
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE-- I KNOW IT FOR A LOT OF REASONS,
BUT THERE'S ONE STATEMENT JESUS MADE,
AND WHEN JESUS MADE THIS STATEMENT,
THAT'S ALL I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT WHAT GOD WANTS FOR ME.
THE DISCIPLES CAME TO JESUS ONE TIME--
YOU REMEMBER THIS STORY--
AND THEY WATCHED HIM PRAY
AND THEY LISTENED TO HIM PRAY.
AND PROBABLY THE FIRST TIME THAT JESUS EVER PRAYED,
THEY LOOKED AT EACH OTHER, AND THEY WENT, "WHOA."
NEVER HEARD ANYBODY PRAY LIKE THAT.
NEVER HEARD ANYBODY CONNECT WITH GOD LIKE THAT.
NEVER SEEN ANYBODY TOUCH GOD LIKE THAT.
SO THEY BEGAN TO-- THEY HAD WATCHED JESUS PRAY,
AND THEY'D HEARD JESUS PRAY,
SO FINALLY, THEY COULDN'T STAND IT ANY LONGER.
THEY COME TO JESUS AND THEY SAY, "LORD,
"WOULD YOU TEACH US TO PRAY THE WAY YOU PRAY?
"WE PRAY, BUT OUR PRAYERS ARE NOT LIKE YOUR PRAYERS.
"WE DON'T TOUCH GOD THE WAY YOU TOUCH GOD.
WE DON'T CONNECT WITH GOD THE WAY YOU CONNECT WITH GOD."
AND JESUS SAID, "SURE."
AND HE GIVES THEM THE LORD'S PRAYER.
AND HE STARTS OFF AND SAYS, "OKAY,
"HERE'S HOW YOU APPROACH GOD, ONE-ON-ONE CONNECT WITH GOD.
"YOU BEGIN BY SAYING, 'OUR'"...
- FATHER.
Merritt: "FATHER."
NOW, HAD YOU BEEN ONE OF THOSE DISCIPLES,
YOU'D HAVE BEEN HAVING THE BIG ONE.
YOU PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HIT THE GROUND.
BECAUSE THOSE JEWISH DISCIPLES LOOKED AT JESUS AND SAID--
PROBABLY JUST SAID, EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT IN THE TEXT,
I COULD SEE-- "WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.
"STOP RIGHT THERE. WAIT A MINUTE.
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THE GOD THAT SPLITS SEAS
"AND THE GOD THAT FLOODS THE WORLD
"AND THE GOD THAT WRITES COMMANDMENTS ON TABLETS
"AND THE GOD THAT DESTROYS ENTIRE ARMIES,
"YOU MEAN TO TELL US WE ARE TO RELATE TO THAT GOD
THE SAME WAY THAT A CHILD RELATES TO A FATHER?"
JESUS SAID, "THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I'M TELLING YOU."
THIS GOD WANTS TO HAVE AN UP CLOSE, PERSONAL,
FATHER/CHILD RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT YOU
IS HOW YOU SEE GOD.
BECAUSE HOW YOU SEE GOD
IS GONNA DETERMINE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT YOU.
IN FACT, I'LL PUT IT THIS WAY.
IF YOUR VIEW OF GOD IS WRONG,
YOUR VIEW OF LIFE IS WRONG.
IF YOUR VIEW OF GOD IS WRONG,
YOUR VIEW OF SUCCESS IS WRONG.
IF YOUR VIEW OF GOD IS WRONG,
YOUR VIEW OF WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS WRONG.
AND IF YOU REALLY WANT TO GET DEEP,
IF YOUR VIEW OF GOD IS WRONG,
YOUR VIEW OF YOU IS WRONG.
SO THIS IS A REALLY, REALLY VITALLY IMPORTANT SERIES.
NOW, THIS IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO TAKE OUT THE DOOR
WHEN WE WALK OUT OF HERE.
I WANT YOU TO WRITE THIS DOWN.
IF GOD IS REAL...
IF GOD IS REAL,
THEN THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE
IS TO HAVE A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE REAL GOD.
AND IT'S VITALLY IMPORTANT
THAT YOU SEE GOD THE WAY THAT GOD SEES HIMSELF.
AND WE'RE GONNA FIND, IN JUST A MOMENT,
IN AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE OVER 2,000 YEARS AGO
IN THE LIFE OF A PROPHET BY THE NAME OF ISAIAH--
TOOK PLACE ACTUALLY ABOUT 2,500 YEARS AGO.
WE'RE GONNA FIND OUT THE KIND OF GOD THAT WE HAVE TO RELATE TO,
BECAUSE HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.
THE REASON WHY I'M STARTING OFF
WITH THIS PARTICULAR MESSAGE IS THIS.
I'M GONNA BE TELLING YOU OVER THE NEXT FOUR WEEKS
"HOW DO YOU GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH GOD?
"HOW DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
"HOW DO YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
THAT'S CLOSER THAN THE ONE YOU HAVE WITH YOUR WIFE,
"THAN YOUR HUSBAND, THAN YOUR SON, YOUR DAUGHTER,
"YOUR MOM, YOUR DAD, YOUR BROTHER,
"YOUR SISTER, YOUR BEST FRIEND?
HOW DO YOU REALLY HAVE THAT KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?"
WELL, IT WON'T DO YOU ANY GOOD
IF YOU'RE TRYING TO RELATE TO THE WRONG GOD TO BEGIN WITH.
SO THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO ESTABLISH THIS MORNING IS,
"WHO IS THE REAL GOD THAT WE'RE TRYING TO CONNECT TO
TO BEGIN WITH?"
SO TO DO THAT, WE'RE GONNA LOOK AT WHAT ISAIAH SAID
ABOUT HOW TO RELATE TO THE RIGHT GOD IN A REAL WAY.
ISAIAH CHAPTER 6.
WE'RE GONNA PICK UP IN VERSE 1.
HERE'S THE FIRST THING I WANT YOU TO WRITE DOWN.
HE SAYS, NUMBER ONE,
WHEN I GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH GOD,
I WILL SEE GOD FOR WHO HE REALLY IS.
I WILL SEE GOD FOR WHO HE REALLY IS.
NOW, ISAIAH BEGINS BY TELLING US THE EXACT YEAR
THAT THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE IN HIS LIFE.
LISTEN TO ISAIAH 6:1.
NOW, YOU SAY, "WAS THAT AN IMPORTANT YEAR?"
IT WAS IF YOU WERE KING UZZIAH.
[laughter] A BIG TIME.
I MEAN, THAT WAS A BIG YEAR, RIGHT?
SO HE SAYS, THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED.
BUT WHY DID HE WRITE THAT DOWN?
WHY DID HE EVEN PUT THAT IN THE TEXT?
WELL, LET ME TELL YOU WHY THIS YEAR WAS SO IMPORTANT.
BECAUSE THIS WAS THE YEAR
THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED IN ISAIAH'S LIFE
THAT WAS SO HUGE AND SO IMPORTANT
AND SO LIFE-CHANGING,
HE COULD POINT TO THE EXACT DATE, THE EXACT DAY,
THE EXACT TIME, THE EXACT HOUR, THE EXACT MINUTE.
HE COULD TELL YOU WHEN IT HAPPENED;
HE COULD TELL YOU EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.
NOW, YOU'VE GOT TO UNDERSTAND THE BACKGROUND OF THE STORY,
AND YOU'LL UNDERSTAND WHY HE PUT THIS DATE DOWN.
BACK IN BIBLE DAYS,
THERE WAS A KING WHO REIGNED IN JUDAH,
AND HIS NAME WAS UZZIAH.
NOW, HE WAS ONE OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL KINGS OF JUDAH
BECAUSE HE DID SOME VERY WONDERFUL THINGS.
HE STRENGTHENED THE FENCE OF JERUSALEM.
HE MADE IT INTO A VERY STRONG CITY,
SO THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY
ABOUT SOMEBODY COMING AND CONQUERING THEM.
HE LED THEM INTO ECONOMIC PROSPERITY.
I MEAN, EVERYBODY WAS DOING WELL.
YOU KNOW, THE ECONOMY WAS GROWING.
EVERYBODY WAS REALLY DOING SUPER GOOD.
AND SO BASICALLY, THEY HAD THE THREE BASIC THINGS
ANYBODY WANTS TO HAVE WHEN THEY'RE LIVING IN A NATION.
THEY HAD PEACE.
THEY HAD PROSPERITY. THEY HAD SECURITY.
THEY HAD PEACE.
THEY WEREN'T AT WAR WITH ANYBODY.
THEY HAD PROSPERITY.
EVERYBODY'S DOING GOOD. THEY HAD SECURITY.
DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYBODY COMING IN
AND CONQUERING THE LAND.
WELL, IN THIS CULTURE, WHENEVER A KING DIED,
THAT WAS A BIG DEAL.
BECAUSE THAT WAS WHEN A NATION
WOULD BE AT ITS MOST VULNERABLE.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A QUICK SUCCESSION OF RULERS LIKE WE DO.
BECAUSE SOMETIMES THERE WAS A SON TO TAKE OVER.
SOMETIMES THERE WASN'T.
AND EVEN IF THERE WAS,
IT DIDN'T ALWAYS WORK OUT REAL WELL
WHEN THE SON TOOK OVER
'CAUSE HE WASN'T AS GOOD AS HIS DAD.
SO THEY'RE KIND OF IN THIS CRISIS MODE RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE THERE'S AN ENEMY ON THE HORIZON NAMED ASSYRIA.
AND ASSYRIA HAS A LARGE ARMY, MUCH LARGER THAN JUDAH DOES.
MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN JUDAH HAS.
AND SO THEY KNOW THAT THE KING IS DEAD.
THEY'VE BEEN WATCHING THIS WHOLE SITUATION UNFOLD.
SO THIS GIANT CLOUD OF FEAR
HAS BLOCKED OUT THE SUNSHINE OF JOY,
AND NOW THESE PEOPLE ARE REALLY IN A PANIC.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHO TO TURN TO.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE TO TURN TO,
BECAUSE THEIR LEADER HAS DIED.
AND THEN THIS HAPPENS.
VERSE 1.
NOW, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE TIMES THAT YOU READ THE BIBLE,
AND YOU'RE TEMPTED TO KIND OF BLOW THROUGH THAT.
AND KIND OF SKIP OVER THAT.
LIKE NOT A BIG DEAL.
IF I HAD YOUR BIBLE, I'D PUT A BIG CIRCLE AROUND THAT.
AND LET ME TELL YOU WHY.
GO BACK ALL THE WAY TO GENESIS AND GO ALL THE WAY TO ISAIAH,
AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'LL FIND?
NO ONE HAD EVER SEEN THAT BEFORE.
MOSES HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
JOSEPH HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
DANIEL HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
JEREMIAH HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
EZEKIEL HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
SOLOMON HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
DAVID HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
NOBODY HAD NEVER SEEN THIS PICTURE OF GOD EVER.
AND HERE'S ISAIAH FOR THE FIRST TIME
BEING ALLOWED TO SEE SOMETHING NO ONE ELSE HAD EVER SEEN.
HE SEES THE CREATOR GOD OF THE UNIVERSE,
THE KING OF KINGS, THE LORD OF LORDS,
AND HE'S SITTING ON A THRONE.
AND NOT JUST AN EARTHLY THRONE,
BUT AN ETERNAL THRONE.
AND THEN HE GOES ON TO TELL US THE KIND OF KING THAT HE SAW.
VERSE 1.
NOW, PUT ALL THIS IN CONTEXT.
WHAT DID HE JUST SAY?
"IN THE YEAR THAT KING UZZIAH DIED,
I SEE ANOTHER KING."
AND HERE'S WHAT HE'S TRYING TO GET US TO UNDERSTAND.
THERE ARE TWO KINGS IN VERSE 1 FOR A REASON.
YOU'VE GOT A MORTAL KING; YOU'VE GOT AN IMMORTAL KING.
YOU'VE GOT A KING WHO HAS DIED; YOU'VE GOT A KING WHO CAN'T.
YOU'VE GOT A HUMAN KING; YOU'VE GOT A DIVINE KING.
YOU'VE GOT ONE KING THAT'S DISPENSABLE.
SOMEBODY CAN TAKE HIS PLACE.
YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER KING THAT'S INDISPENSABLE.
NOBODY CAN TAKE HIS PLACE.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN ISAIAH'S LIFE TO FOCUS ON
WAS NOT THE KING WHO HAD BEEN BURIED
BUT THE KING WHO COULD NEVER BE BURIED.
AND WHAT ISAIAH SAW THEN
IS WHAT GOD WANTS US TO SEE RIGHT NOW,
BECAUSE, REMEMBER, THESE WERE TROUBLED DAYS FOR ISAIAH.
AND THESE WERE TROUBLED DAYS FOR THE NATION OF JUDAH.
A GOOD KING HAS DIED. THEY'RE WITHOUT A LEADER.
THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE A SHIP WITHOUT A RUDDER.
ASSYRIA'S ON THE HORIZON.
THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
AND WHEN THINGS ARE LOOKING DOWN,
GOD SAYS TO ISAIAH, "ISAIAH, LISTEN.
"YOU NEED TO GO TO THE PEOPLE AND TELL THEM SOMETHING.
WHEN THINGS ARE LOOKING DOWN, LOOK UP."
WHEN THINGS LOOK HOPELESS, THEY'RE NOT.
WHEN THINGS ARE AT THEIR WORST, THAT'S OKAY.
GOD IS AT HIS BEST.
AND WHEN ISAIAH SAW THE REAL GOD,
HE SAW CLEARLY WHAT WE NEED TO SEE TODAY.
HE SAYS, "LOOK, I SEE A GOD ON THE THRONE.
"HE'S GOT HIS HAND ON THE THROTTLE.
HE IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL."
WHAT ISAIAH SAW WAS THIS.
IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS,
THERE IS A SOVEREIGN GOD ON THE THRONE OF THIS UNIVERSE
WHOSE HAND IS ON THE THROTTLE,
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE.
HE'S GOT EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL.
SO WHEN PLANES FLY INTO TOWERS,
AND THE DOCTOR SAYS, "YOU HAVE CANCER,"
AND THE BOSS SAYS, "WE'RE DOWNSIZING.
YOUR JOB IS NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE."
THE THING YOU NEED TO REMEMBER IS,
THERE IS A GOD WHO'S HIGH AND LIFTED UP.
HE'S SITTING ON THE THRONE. HE'S IN CONTROL.
HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING. HE'S NEVER MADE A MISTAKE.
HE'S GOT EVERYTHING EXACTLY WHERE HE WANTS IT.
NOW, THE STORY CONTINUES.
NOW, I'M NOT EXAGGERATING WHEN I TELL YOU
THAT WHAT I JUST READ FOR YOU
IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PICTURE OF GOD
IN ALL OF THE OLD TESTAMENT,
AND IN MY OPINION,
MAYBE THE MOST IMPORTANT PICTURE OF GOD
IN ALL OF THE BIBLE,
BECAUSE NOW WE LEARN WHAT MAKES GOD REALLY GOD.
BECAUSE THESE ANGELIC CREATURES, THESE SERAPHIM,
THEY'RE CALLING OUT CONTINUOUSLY,
"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD OF HOSTS."
THEY DON'T SEE A MAN UPSTAIRS.
THEY DON'T SEE A HOMEBOY GOD.
THEY DON'T SEE GOD IS MY BUDDY GOD.
THEY DON'T SEE A BELLHOP GOD.
THEY SEE A GOD WHO IS HOLY.
WE DON'T HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT GOD ANYMORE.
EVEN THOUGH 7 OUT OF EVERY 12 REFERENCES
TO THE NAME OF GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
REFERS TO GOD AS HOLY.
EVEN THOUGH THE ADJECTIVE "HOLY"
REFERS MORE TO GOD IN THE OLD TESTAMENT
THAN EVERY OTHER ADJECTIVE OF GOD PUT TOGETHER.
THE CHIEF ATTRIBUTE OF GOD IS NOT LOVE.
IT'S NOT MERCY.
IT'S NOT GRACE.
THE CHIEF ATTRIBUTE OF GOD IS HOLINESS.
AND THE CENTRAL MEANING OF THAT HEBREW WORD FOR HOLINESS
IS A WORD THAT LITERALLY MEANS "TO SEPARATE."
IT'S--IT COMES FROM A SEMITIC ROOT THAT MEANS "TO CUT."
IT'S THE PICTURE OF CUTTING AN OBJECT IN HALF
AND SEPARATING ONE PIECE FROM THE OTHER PIECE.
IN OTHER WORDS, HOLY IS SOMETHING
THAT IS SO SEPARATE AND SO SET APART,
IT'S SO DIFFERENT FROM EVERYTHING ELSE,
IT'S GOT TO BE TREATED JUST THAT WAY.
AND WHAT THESE SERAPHIM ARE TELLING US IS THIS.
THE GOD THAT WE WORSHIP IS NOT A GOD
THAT'S JUST KIND OF A CUT ABOVE US.
HE IS AN ETERNITY REMOVED FROM US.
HE IS SOMETHING WE'RE NOT.
HE IS HOLY. WE'RE NOT.
AND HE'S SO FAR DIFFERENT
AND SO FAR DISTINCT FROM EVERY OTHER CREATURE,
HE OUGHT TO BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY
THAN ANY OTHER CREATURE.
BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF A KIND.
YOU CAN'T COMPARE HIM WITH ANYTHING ELSE OR ANYONE ELSE.
'CAUSE THERE'S NO ONE ELSE LIKE HIM.
THERE'S NOTHING ELSE LIKE HIM.
THERE'S NO ONE LIKE THIS GOD.
HE'S HOLY.
THEREFORE, YOU BETTER SEE HIM DIFFERENTLY,
YOU BETTER TREAT HIM DIFFERENTLY,
YOU BETTER RELATE TO HIM DIFFERENTLY
THAN YOU DO ANYONE ELSE OR ANYTHING ELSE.
AND BY THE WAY, DO YOU KNOW WHY THE WORD "HOLY"
IS REPEATED THREE TIMES?
I MEAN, HERE'S WHAT HE SAW.
THERE'S SERAPHIM UP THERE.
THEY'RE STANDING BEFORE THE THRONE.
"HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS."
WHY DO THEY KEEP SAYING IT?
WHY DO THEY SAY IT THREE TIMES?
IT'S NOT BECAUSE GOD'S DEAF.
IT'S NOT BECAUSE HE CAN'T HEAR.
IN HEBREW POETRY,
REPETITION WAS THE WAY THAT YOU EMPHASIZE SOMETHING.
YOU KNOW, IF WE WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING,
WE'LL UNDERLINE IT.
WE'LL ITALICIZE IT.
WE'LL PUT IT IN BOLD PRINT.
WE'LL PUT IT IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
WE USE AN EXCLAMATION POINT.
THEY DIDN'T DO THAT BACK IN THE DAY.
BACK IN THE DAY, IN HEBREW LANGUAGE,
IF YOU WANTED TO REALLY EMPHASIZE SOMETHING
AND RAISE IT TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL,
YOU WOULD REPEAT IT.
AND IT'S NOT COINCIDENTAL
THAT ONLY ONCE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE
DO YOU READ OF ANYTHING EVER REPEATED ABOUT GOD,
AND YOU READ IT RIGHT HERE.
GOD IS "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY."
THAT IS THE ONLY CHARACTER ATTRIBUTE OF GOD.
OF ALL THE THINGS THAT GOD IS--
IS GOD MERCIFUL? YES.
IS GOD LOVING? YES.
IS GOD GRACIOUS? YES.
IS GOD LOVING KIND? YES.
BUT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT GOD IS,
WHAT REALLY MAKES GOD IS, HE IS "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY."
AND REMEMBER, HOW I SEE GOD
DETERMINES HOW I RELATE TO GOD.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TOLD IN THIS VERSE, VERSE 3...
NOW, YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.
HIS GLORY DOESN'T JUST FILL THE TEMPLE.
IT FILLS THE ENTIRE EARTH.
AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY I THINK ISAIAH PUT THAT IN THERE.
THERE IS NOTHING MORE DISGUSTING OR DISHONORING TO GOD
THAN WHEN WE TRY TO PUT GOD IN OUR LITTLE BOX
OR WE TRY TO SAY, "OKAY,
"THIS IS THE KIND OF GOD THAT I THINK HE IS,
AND THIS IS THE GOD OF GOD THAT I WANT HIM TO BE."
BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES TO GOD,
YOU NOT ONLY HAVE TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX,
YOU CAN'T HAVE A BOX.
GOD DOESN'T FIT THE BAPTIST BOX.
HE DOESN'T FIT THE METHODIST BOX.
HE DOESN'T FIT THE CATHOLICS' BOX.
HE DOESN'T FIT THE LUTHERAN BOX.
HE DOESN'T FIT THE PRESBYTERIAN BOX.
HE DOESN'T FIT ANYBODY'S BOX.
"HIS GLORY FILLS," THE BIBLE SAYS, "THE ENTIRE EARTH."
SO IF I'M GONNA RELATE TO GOD THE RIGHT WAY,
I'VE GOT TO SEE GOD THE WAY HE REALLY IS.
NOW, THAT RAISES A QUESTION.
WELL, HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU'VE REALLY SEEN GOD
THE WAY HE REALLY IS?
IT'S REAL SIMPLE.
WHEN I SEE GOD THE WAY HE REALLY IS,
I WILL SEE ME THE WAY I REALLY AM.
NOW, AS SOON AS ISAIAH SEES THIS REAL GOD,
NOTICE HIS REACTION IN VERSE 4.
THIS IS AN AMAZING THING.
WHEN ISAIAH SEES GOD THROUGH THE WINDOW OF HIS HOLINESS,
THAT WINDOW BECOMES A MIRROR, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE SEES HIMSELF IN HIS SINFULNESS.
BECAUSE WHEN YOU SEE HOW HOLY GOD IS,
YOU SEE HOW UNHOLY YOU ARE.
WHEN YOU SEE HOW RIGHTEOUS GOD IS,
YOU SEE HOW UNRIGHTEOUS YOU ARE.
YOU WILL NEVER SEE YOURSELF FOR WHAT YOU REALLY ARE
UNTIL YOU SEE GOD FOR WHO HE REALLY IS.
BECAUSE, SEE, MOST OF US LIVE IN TWO EXTREMES.
WE'RE EITHER FULL OF GOD AND EMPTY OF OURSELF,
OR WE'RE FULL OF OURSELF, AND WE'RE EMPTY OF GOD.
AND WHEN ISAIAH SAW WHO HE REALLY WAS,
HE DIDN'T LIKE THE PICTURE.
LOOK WHAT HE SAYS IN VERSE 5.
KNOW WHAT THAT WORD "RUINED" MEANS?
IT'S A WORD THAT MEANS "TO COME UNRAVELED."
IT'S LIKE A LITTLE FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY I HEARD ABOUT ONE TIME.
HIS PARENTS TOOK HIM TO FLORIDA FOR VACATION.
HE GOT SUNBURNED FOR THE FIRST TIME.
NEVER HAD THAT SUNBURN IN HIS LIFE.
HE COMES BACK HOME, YOU KNOW HOW SUNBURN AFFECTS YOU,
YOU KNOW, YOUR SKIN STARTS TO PEEL OFF.
HE DIDN'T KNOW THAT.
SO ABOUT TWO DAYS LATER,
THIS BIG STRIP OF SKIN JUST CAME RIGHT OFF HIS ARM.
HE RAN TO HIS MOTHER IN THE KITCHEN.
HE WAS SCARED TO DEATH. HE SAID, "MAMA, LOOK AT ME.
I'M FIVE YEARS OLD. I'M COMING APART ALREADY."
[laughter]
WELL, THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SEE GOD THE WAY YOU SEE GOD.
WHAT ISAIAH SAID WAS, "GOD, HERE I AM, A PROPHET.
"HERE I AM, A CALLED MAN OF GOD,
"AND YET, WHEN I FINALLY SEE THE WAY YOU ARE,
"I'M COMING APART!
"I'M NOT HALF THE MAN-- I'M NOT 1/3 OF THE MAN--
"I'M NOT 1/10 OF THE PERSON-- AND I'M CERTAINLY
"NOT THE PERSON PEOPLE THINK THAT I AM.
"I AM A MAN OF UNCLEAN LIPS.
"I AM DIRTY.
"ALL MY SO-CALLED INTEGRITY AND GOODNESS AND DECENCY
IS NOTHING COMPARED TO YOUR HOLINESS."
BECAUSE WHEN GOD IS HIGH AND LIFTED UP,
WE WILL GET LOW AND TAKEN DOWN.
AND SO HERE'S WHAT HAPPENS. WATCH THIS.
WHEN WE GET HONEST IN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD,
LOOK WHAT HAPPENS. THIS IS SO COOL.
WHEN WE GET HONEST WITH GOD, HE GETS MERCIFUL WITH US.
LOOK AT VERSE 6.
NOW, HERE'S A PERFECT ILLUSTRATION OF THAT TRUTH.
GOD LOVES THE SINNER, BUT HE HATES THE SIN.
PERFECT ILLUSTRATION.
BECAUSE WHAT ISAIAH HATES IN HIMSELF,
GOD SAYS, "YOU KNOW WHAT, ISAIAH, I HATE IT TOO.
"BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
"I LOVE YOU MORE THAN I HATE YOUR SIN.
"SO I TELL YOU WHAT I'M GONNA DO FOR YOU, ISAIAH.
"I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR SIN PROBLEM.
"I'M GONNA-- YOU SAID YOU'RE DIRTY?
"YOU'RE RIGHT. YOU ARE DIRTY.
"I'M GONNA CLEAN YOU UP.
"YOU KNOW YOU DESERVE JUSTICE, BUT I'M GONNA GIVE YOU MERCY.
"YOU KNOW YOU DESERVE WHAT'S COMING TO YOU,
"BUT I'M NOT GONNA GIVE YOU WHAT'S COMING TO YOU.
I'M GONNA GIVE YOU WHAT'S NOT COMING TO YOU."
AND THAT'S THE WAY GOD OPERATES.
AND THE ONE THING THAT HAS TO HAPPEN
FOR YOU AND ME TO HAVE A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS GOD IS,
WE GOT TO GET REAL WITH GOD.
AND THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY TO SOME OF YOU THIS MORNING.
THERE'S SOME OF YOU IN THIS ROOM, AND YOU WONDER,
"WHY DON'T I HAVE A VIBRANT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD?
"WHY DON'T I REALLY HIT ON ALL EIGHT CYLINDERS?
"WHY DON'T I HAVE WHAT THAT PERSON HAS?
"WHY DON'T I HAVE THE JOY IN MY LIFE I OUGHT TO?
WHY IS IT THAT SOMETHING'S NOT RADICALLY DIFFERENT WITH ME?"
I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
BECAUSE YOU'VE NEVER GOTTEN REAL WITH GOD.
YOU'VE NEVER REALLY SEEN GOD FOR THE WAY GOD REALLY IS,
AND THEREFORE, YOU'VE NEVER SEEN YOU FOR THE WAY YOU REALLY ARE.
YOU SAY, "OKAY, HOW DO YOU KNOW
WHEN YOU SEE YOU THE WAY YOU REALLY ARE?"
REAL SIMPLE.
IT'S LIKE A CHAIN-REACTION.
WHEN I SEE GOD THE WAY GOD REALLY IS,
I'LL SEE ME FOR WHO I AM REALLY AM.
AND WHEN I SEE ME FOR WHO I REALLY AM,
I WILL SEE OTHERS THE WAY THEY REALLY ARE.
NOW, WATCH THIS. THIS IS SO COOL.
VERSE 8.
NOW, LOOK WHAT HAPPENS TO ISAIAH.
HE'S GOTTEN REAL WITH GOD, GOD'S GOTTEN REAL WITH HIM.
NOW THEY'RE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, ISAIAH IS SO CLOSE TO GOD,
HE'S EAVESDROPPING ON A CONFERENCE CALL
WITH THE TRINITY.
'CAUSE YOU DO UNDERSTAND GOD'S NOT TALKING TO HIMSELF.
HE DOESN'T SAY, "WHO WILL GO FOR ME?"
HE SAID, "WHO WILL GO...
FOR US?"
WELL, GOD'S NOT SCHIZOPHRENIC.
WHO'S HE TALKING ABOUT?
GOD THE FATHER, GOD THE SON, GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AND ISAIAH'S LISTENING TO THIS THREE-WAY CONVERSATION.
"WHO WILL GO FOR US?"
BECAUSE ONCE YOU SEE GOD FOR WHO GOD REALLY IS
AND YOU SEE YOU FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE,
YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'LL DO?
YOU WILL SURRENDER EVERYTHING YOU ARE
TO EVERYTHING HE IS.
SO WHAT DOES ISAIAH SAY?
WHAT YOU'D EXPECT HIM TO SAY.
AND THAT IS SO REFRESHING,
BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT I'VE FOUND IN MY MINISTRY?
CAN I JUST BE HONEST?
WHEN MOST PEOPLE HEAR GOD SAY, "WHO WILL GO FOR US?
WHO CAN I SEND?"
YOU KNOW WHAT MOST PEOPLE SAY?
THEY DON'T SAY, "HERE AM I. SEND ME."
THEY SAY, "THERE HE IS. SEND HIM.
"UGH. SEND THE PASTOR.
"SEND LARRY. SEND BRUCE. SEND CAROL.
"SEND MY SMALL GROUP LEADER.
"SEND MY DEACON.
DON'T SEND ME."
ISAIAH SAYS, "OH, NO, NO, NO.
"I GET IT, GOD.
YOUR WISH IS MY COMMAND."
BECAUSE THE MEASURE OF THE DEPTH
OF YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD
IS SURRENDER.
BECAUSE LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING.
THE DEEPER YOU GO IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO GOD,
THE MORE YOU WILL SURRENDER WHO YOU ARE TO WHO HE IS.
SO YOU TELL ME HOW MUCH YOU'RE SURRENDERING TO GOD;
I'LL TELL YOU HOW DEEP YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD IS.
BY THE WAY, YOU SAY, "OKAY,
"HOW DO I KNOW THAT I'M REALLY WHERE I NEED TO BE THEN?
HOW DO I KNOW I'M REALLY SURRENDERED?"
YOU READY? THIS IS AN AMAZING THING.
HERE'S HOW YOU'LL KNOW YOU'RE HITTING ON
ALL EIGHT CYLINDERS WITH GOD.
YOU READY?
THIS'LL BE WORTH COMING TO CHURCH FOR RIGHT HERE.
YOU'RE NOT REALLY RELATING, REALLY, TO THE REAL GOD
AND YOU HAVEN'T GOTTEN REAL WITH GOD
AND GOD HASN'T GOTTEN REAL WITH YOU
UNTIL YOU ARE SO SURRENDERED TO GOD
YOU WILL DO ANYTHING THAT GOD TELLS YOU TO DO,
EVEN IF IT MEANS YOU WILL FAIL
OR EVEN IF IT MEANS YOU WILL DIE.
NOW, WHEN YOU GET TO THAT POINT,
NOW YOU'RE HITTING ON ALL EIGHT CYLINDERS.
'CAUSE I WANT YOU TO NOTICE WHAT GOD DID.
THIS IS REALLY KIND OF INCREDIBLE.
YOU SEE, GOD COMES TO ISAIAH.
HE SAYS, "ISAIAH, YOU SEE HOW YOU ARE WITHOUT ME, YES?
"WELL, THAT'S THE WAY OTHER PEOPLE ARE WITHOUT YOU.
"YOU NEED TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE WHERE YOU WERE.
"THEY NEED A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH ME JUST LIKE YOU DID.
"THEY NEED TO BE CLEANSED JUST LIKE YOU DID.
"AND IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SURRENDER TO ME,
"THEN YOU'RE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IS IN YOUR POWER
TO HELP PEOPLE DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO."
"WELL, YES, LORD, I AM."
ALL RIGHT, KEEP READING. LISTEN TO THIS.
NOW, I WANT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
EVERY TIME I'VE READ THAT IN MY LIFE,
IT JUST ABSOLUTELY-- IT NOT ONLY BLOWS ME AWAY,
IT REALLY KIND OF SCARES ME.
'CAUSE DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT GOD JUST SAID TO ISAIAH?
HERE'S WHAT HE SAID TO ISAIAH.
"ISAIAH, YOU REALLY ARE SURRENDERED TO ME?"
"YES, LORD, I AM."
"YOU'RE WILLING TO DO WHATEVER I ASK YOU TO DO?"
"YES, LORD, I REALLY AM."
HE SAYS, "OKAY, HERE'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO DO.
"I WANT YOU TO GO TELL THE PEOPLE
"EVERYTHING I WANT YOU TO TELL THEM,
"BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA LISTEN.
"AND, ISAIAH, I WANT YOU TO GO AND PREACH TO THE PEOPLE,
"AND YOU PREACH EXACTLY WHAT I TELL YOU TO PREACH,
"BUT THEY'RE NOT GONNA RESPOND.
"AND, ISAIAH, I WANT YOU TO GO
"AND KNOCK ON EVERY DOOR OF EVERY HOUSE,
"BUT THEY'RE GONNA SLAM THE DOOR IN YOUR FACE.
ISAIAH, ARE YOU WILLING TO DO THAT?"
"HERE AM I, LORD. SEND ME."
NOW, YOU GOT TO ASK A QUESTION.
YOU GOT TO BE ASKING THIS QUESTION.
WHY WOULD ISAIAH AGREE TO THAT?
WHY WOULD ISAIAH TAKE THAT JOB?
WHY IN THE WORLD WOULD ISAIAH PUT HIMSELF THROUGH THAT?
HERE'S WHY.
'CAUSE ISAIAH FINALLY UNDERSTOOD HOW THIS WORKS.
ALL GOD WANTS OUT OF ME AND MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM--
YOU READY?
ALL HE WANTS IN MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
IS TO BE FAITHFUL.
HE DOES NOT CALL ME TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
FAITHFULNESS IS MY PART.
SUCCESS IS GOD'S PART.
AND THAT LEAVES ME JUST TO GIVE YOU
A LITTLE PARENTHETICAL THOUGHT.
'CAUSE I SEE IT ALL THE TIME.
DON'T EVER GAUGE A PASTOR
OR A SPIRITUAL LEADER OR A MINISTRY
BY HOW BIG IT IS OR HOW FAST IT'S GROWING.
BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ISAIAHS OUT THERE,
AND THEY'RE PREACHING THEIR REAR ENDS OFF
AND THEY'RE AS FAITHFUL AS FAITHFUL CAN BE
AND THEY LOVE GOD JUST AS MUCH
AS THE PASTORS OF THE LARGEST CHURCHES IN THE WORLD.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, IN THEIR SEASON OF LIFE,
GOD HAS PLACED THEM IN A PLACE
WHERE HE KNOWS THEY'RE JUST NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
AND THAT'S WHY YOU NEVER READ IN THE BIBLE
WHERE GOD REWARDS SUCCESS.
YOU READ WHERE GOD REWARDS FAITHFULNESS.
SO ALL GOD WANTS OUT OF YOU AND ME IS SIMPLY THIS.
WHEN I SAY, "WHO WILL GO FOR ME?"
YOU SAY, "HERE AM I. SEND ME."
NOW, WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
SO I'MA WRAP ALL THIS UP.
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN?
"OKAY, GOD IS HOLY. WHAT'S THE BIG POINT?"
HERE'S THE BIG POINT.
BECAUSE GOD IS HOLY, WE OUGHT TO BE HOLY.
BECAUSE WE WANT TO BE LIKE HIM.
AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT PETER SAID IN 1 PETER 1.
NOW, LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THAT MEANS,
AND WE'RE GONNA WRAP THIS UP.
I WANT YOU TO APPLY THIS
RIGHT WHERE YOU'RE SITTING RIGHT NOW.
YOU REALLY WANT TO GET UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH GOD,
I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING THAT.
YOU SAY, "I REALLY DO.
"I WANT TO BE AS CLOSE TO GOD AS I POSSIBLY CAN.
I WANT TO BE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL."
WHEN YOU SEE GOD FOR WHO GOD REALLY IS
AND YOU SEE YOU FOR WHO YOU REALLY ARE,
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL DO.
YOU WILL TAKE YOUR LIFE, AND YOU WILL SAY,
"HERE I AM. SEND ME."
MOM AND DAD, YOU'LL TAKE YOUR CHILDREN, AND YOU'LL SAY,
"HERE THEY ARE. USE THEM."
YOU'LL TAKE YOUR MONEY, AND YOU'LL SAY,
"HERE IT IS.
"USE IT FOR YOUR GLORY...
AND USE IT FOR YOUR HONOR."
THIS GOD IS SO HOLY--
LET ME TELL YOU HOW HOLY THIS GOD IS.
HE IS SO HOLY, HE SENT HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST,
TO DIE FOR THE ONE THING
THAT WILL KEEP US FROM BEING HOLY
AND KEEP US FROM BEING RIGHT
AND RELATED TO HIM WHO IS HOLY AND THAT'S SIN.
AND HE RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD
TO PROVE THAT THROUGH HIM,
WE CAN HAVE A REAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
THAT WILL LAST FOR ALL ETERNITY.
AND THEN, THEN
WE WILL SEE GOD MORE CLEARLY...
THAN EVER.
announcer: WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A CLEAR PICTURE
OF WHO GOD REALLY IS,
WE CAN FEEL UNWORTHY OR INTIMIDATED
IN OUR EFFORTS TO GET TO KNOW HIM ONE-ON-ONE.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO TAKE THOSE FIRST STEPS
BUT AREN'T QUITE SURE WHERE TO BEGIN,
WE'D LIKE TO PRAY WITH YOU AS YOU BEGIN THIS NEW JOURNEY.
CALL TOUCHING LIVES AT 800-413-1131 TODAY.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN SPEND SO MUCH TIME LEARNING ABOUT GOD
FROM OTHER PEOPLE'S RELATIONSHIPS WITH HIM
THAT YOU MAKE THE MISTAKE OF SEEING HIM
ONLY THROUGH THE EYES OF OTHERS.
BUT GOD DOESN'T WANT A THIRD PARTY
TO COME BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU.
HE WANTS YOU TO KNOW HIM AS HE IS FOR YOURSELF.
LEARN TO SEE GOD CLEARLY
WITH THE SERIES UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY AT TOUCHINGLIVES.ORG
OR CALL 800-413-1131.
CDs: $25. DVDs: $45.
NOW, A LOOK AT THE NEXT TOUCHING LIVES.
Merritt: FIFTH AMENDMENT.
REMEMBER WHAT IT SAYS?
"NO PERSON SHALL BE COMPELLED IN ANY CRIMINAL CASE
TO BE A WITNESS AGAINST HIMSELF."
THAT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT,
AND YET, THE BIBLE SAYS,
SPIRITUALLY, THERE IS NO FIFTH AMENDMENT.
YOU CAN'T PLEAD THE FIFTH WITH GOD.
announcer: THERE WILL NEVER BE A RELATIONSHIP MORE IMPORTANT
THAN THE ONE WE HAVE WITH THE ONE TRUE GOD.
THIS IS THE VERY REASON WE WERE CREATED:
TO BE IN FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM.
BECAUSE OF THE FAITH-FILLED PRAYERS
AND GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR DONORS,
THE MINISTRY OF TOUCHING LIVES CONTINUES TO SHARE
THIS VITAL MESSAGE OF HOPE AND LOVE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
- ♪ TOUCHING LIVES ♪