June 11, 2006

Forgotten Lives

What is Worship?

Isaiah 6:1-8

Opening Words: There are sixty-six books in the Bible, thirty-nine in the Old Testament. The New Testament is dominated by Jesus, our Lord and Savior. The Old Testament consists of a variety of lives. Each one played a small part in God’s plan for the salvation of the world. Most of those lives are forgotten. So what I would like to do this summer is take some time and look at those forgotten lives. I have called this thirteen part sermon series I have called Forgotten Lives.

We begin with the life of the greatest writing prophets, Isaiah. His name literally means “The Lord Saves.” His ministry began in the year 740 BC. He was a married man with two sons. He spent most of his life in Jerusalem and was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea and Micah. With this little piece of background let us hear the first eight verses from chapter number six of Isaiah.

Introduction

The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do. Napoleon's massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church. The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us." The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left. I tell you that story for one reason. Every once in a while something special happens when you worship God but what is worship?

What is worship to you? It is different for everyone. Some people make contact with God in the traditional worship setting. It is the combination of the organ, liturgy and message. Some people make contact with God in a contemporary worship setting. It is the sincere heart and the personal relationship with Jesus that brings that service alive. Some people make contact with God outside the church building. It is not outstanding music or preaching that matters. It is the sound of the rustling leaves and the sounds of the birds that makes us feel small and God so big. Some tell me they worship God when they are alone. What is worship to you? Worship is different for everyone. This is what makes the ministry so challenging. God is so vast it is impossible to capture Him in one setting. However, I will say this: worship is anytime we make contact with God.

William Temple, the renowned archbishop of Canterbury, once defined worship as quickening the conscience by the holiness of God, feeding the mind with the truth of God, purging the imagination by the beauty of God, opening the heart to the love of God, and devoting the will to the purpose of God. When was the last time you made contact with God?

Body

In today’s scripture lesson, the great writing prophet made contact with God! We are in chapter number six of Isaiah. According to verse one it is 740 years before the birth of Christ. That was when King Uzziah died. The king had sat on the throne for 52 years. He was both a godly and powerful king, who was struck down with leprosy. The time for political change had come. Not everyone likes change. Perhaps, that is why Isaiah had this vision. People have always turned to God when sudden change comes. Isaiah makes contact with God and we have the opportunity to learn from his experience. So this morning let us look at three words that will help you enhance your time in worship. So if you are ready for your three responsibilities in worship say, “Amen!” What is worship?

Rediscover

The first thing you need to do to enhance your worship experience is rediscover the Holiness of God. In verses two through four we are told that God is truly holy! He is high and exalted. The train of his robe filled the temple. He is surrounded by seraphs, each one calling him holy! The ground is shaking and the room is filled with smoke! There is a great amount of symbolism in these verses but together they say one thing. God is holy! One of the reasons that worship does not speak to people is that they have forgotten that God is holy! They have demoted God to our level.

Alfred the Great was the nineteenth century king who saved England from conquest of the Danish. At one point during his wars with the Danes, Alfred was forced to take refuge in the hut of a poor Saxon woman. The woman didn’t recognize her famous visitor. One day the woman was leaving her house and asked the king to keep an eye on the cakes that were baking in the oven. The king said he would watch them but his mind was on other things. His plate was full. He was at war! Suddenly, he smelled something burning and discovered the cakes were ruined. Upon her return she discovered her burned cakes. She looked at the king and called him an old fool. She didn’t know she was talking to the king!

Have you forgotten when you come to church, who God really is? He isn’t the big guy upstairs. He isn’t an old man an old man in the rocking chair. God is not your friend. God is holy! In the creed we said I believe in God the father almighty maker of heaven and earth! In other words, He is the all-knowing all-powerful God, who created this world from nothing at all. Worship is not a responsibility. Worship is a privilege. You will never experience true worship until you put God back in His place of honor and enter His presence with respect. If you believe God is all-knowing and all-powerful say, “Amen!” What is worship? First, worship is rediscovering God’s holiness.

Recognize

The second thing you need to do is recognize your own unholiness. When Isaiah finds himself confronted with this all-powerful and all-knowing God what does he do? Verse five says that Isaiah recognized his limitations. It says, “Woe to me!” Isaiah cried. I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and live I live among people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” Isaiah first rediscovered God’s holiness and then recognized his unholiness. When was the last time you stop to recognize your unholiness? It is only when you compare yourself to God that it becomes painfully clear.

I love this story! A scorpion one day asked a turtle to carry him on its back across a river. "Are you mad?" said the turtle. "You’ll sting me while I’m swimming and I’ll drown!" "My dear turtle, if I were to sting you, you would drown and I would go down with you. Now where is the logic in that!?" "You’re right!" cried turtle. "Hop on" The scorpion climbs on and halfway across river gives the turtle a mighty sting. As both sink to bottom the turtle asks the scorpion why he stung him. The scorpions response? "It’s just the way God made me."

How did God make us? God created us with an imperfection. The Bible tells us we are all sinners and we have all fallen short of the glory of God! The problem is we don’t see it. I am not so sure we believe it! The reason is we spend so much time comparing our good lives against the truly evil in our world.

The name al-Zarqawi has dominated the news in the last few days. He was killed by an American air attach this week. His violent was symbolic of his entire life! He was responsible for the deaths of so many in his terrorist activities. In the past three and a half years we are told that he was involved in the death of 790 people. He was a bad man. Next, to him we look good. However, next to this holy God we don’t look so great. Our imperfections become obvious to the world. It is like painting just one room in your house. Suddenly, all the other rooms begin to look stale. Who are you comparing yourself against? Our holy God or the al-Zarqawi’s of our unholy world? You will never experience true worship until you compare yourself to God. You need to recognize your unholiness! And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” What is worship? First, worship is rediscovering God’s holiness. Second, worship is recognizing your unholiness.

Respond

The third thing you need to do is respond to God’s Holiness and your unholiness. Once Isaiah rediscovered God’s holiness and his unholiness, he then responded. First, he repented. Hot coals were placed in his lips. Second, he offered himself to God. The worship didn’t end with the benediction. The worship continued for the rest of his life! Isaiah wanted to make a difference for God in his world. Once you rediscover God’s holiness and recognize your unholiness then you will want to make a difference for God in your world. And all of God’s people said, “Amen!” I end with a quick story.

Conclusion

In the state of Kansas during the 1870s there was a little boy. He lived his entire life on the farm and was so excited to discover that the circus was coming to his town! He had never seen a circus! On the magic day he went to town and he experienced the circus parade. He saw the tigers and the elephants. He saw the clowns and the high wire entertainers. He saw the clowns and heard the band. When the parade was over he was so excited! He ran home to tell his parents. It was his first circus. He didn’t understand he had just seen the promotional parade and missed the actual circus!

When you come to worship what do you experience? You get a bulletin. You hear the music. You hear a little scripture and message. You see friends but have you really experienced God? Worship is making contact with God. Are you like that Kansas farm boy? You think you have experienced the circus but you really missed it. Perhaps, you think you are experiencing worship but you are really missing it because you have never experienced God.

The old prophet can teach us something! First, we need to rediscover God’s holiness. Second, we need to recognize our unholiness. Third, we need respond

By living lives that are pleasing to God. And, all of God’s people said, “Amen!”