Isaiah 6:1-8 (This is the account of Isaiah's calling as a prophet of
God.)

 Well here we are back in the book of Isaiah.  I'll bet your wondering
why there seems to be so many references to Isaiah during this season of
Epiphany.  Remember, we said we were going to look at the Old Testament
sections because they would reveal something about our Savior Jesus.  But
why does it seem we are always in the book of Isaiah?
 The answer is simple.  Isaiah was given clearer and more prophecies
about the Savior than any of the other prophets of God.  The reason for
that is the time and circumstances of Isaiah's ministry.  Isaiah came at
a pivotal point.  Should the people of God hear what Isaiah has to say
and should the people of God repent of the evil in their life, especially
repent of putting God out of their lives, then their lives would end up
much different.  They would not have to endure what God was already
threatening.  They would not have to endure economic hard times, not have
to be conquered by other nations and not have to be a people rejected of
God.  It was a critical time.  So critical that God, through his prophet
Isaiah, kept offering clearer and clearer promises of the Savior to come.
 It was these promises, these pictures of God's grace that God had hoped
would turn the hearts of this stubborn people.  But alas, they did not
hear and listen.  All the bad things that I mentioned they could have
avoided came true.  Such a pivotal time it was, a time of God's offering
his grace and love.  A grace and love rejected.
So in truth we have been looking at Isaiah a lot.  For that matter, of
the six Sunday's of Epiphany four have readings from Isaiah.  That is
also why Isaiah, in the list of the major prophets is always considered
the first.  He more than any other, was given such wonderful promises of
our Savior.  Given them, so that he might share the coming grace and
mercy of God with his people that the Gospel of peace might change their
hearts.
My question for you today is this: "Do you see Jesus in this text?"
Before you answer I'm going to tell you that in this case Isaiah is not
serving as a "type" of Christ, in other words, what is happening to
Isaiah here is not a picture of what would be with Jesus.  So back to my
question, "Do you see Jesus in this text?"
That's what we are going to do, we are going to learn more about Jesus
through these words.  We are going to see the marvel and majesty of him
who is our Eternal Savior.  Our theme will be: THE GLORY OF GOD.  1st.
God's glory in what is seen.  2nd. God's glory in what is done.  3rd.
This is our Lord.
Just listen again to what it was that Isaiah saw.  "I saw the Lord seated
on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the
temple.  Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they
covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they
were flying.  And they were calling to one another: 'Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.'  At the sound
of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was
filled with smoke."
Isn't that just an awesome picture?  To see the Lord Almighty seated on
his throne and as the text says the Lord is high and exalted.  That means
his glory, majesty, power and might is seen.  Somehow Isaiah is made
aware of the total, unending, and eternal power of God as he is sitting
on his throne.
But there is even more.  Look at the seraphs.  To tell you the truth,
Isaiah is the only one of God's prophets who describes these heavenly
creatures that he calls seraphs.  Other prophets see and describe other
heavenly beings but again Isaiah is the only one to describe these
beings.  And what do you notice about them other than the fact that they
have six wings?  Please note that these heavenly creatures give testimony
to the great and totally powerful nature of God.  They do that in three
ways.  First, their faces are covered.  Here they are in the presence of
God and God is so holy and awesome that even heavenly creatures cover
their faces before him.  In Exodus 33 we learn that no one, unless God
permits it, may see the face of God and live.  What we learn here is that
God is so awesome that even heavenly, holy creatures don't look directly
at him.
The same message is also found in the seraphs covered feet.  It is
suggested by some that the message given here is that even the heavenly
creatures of God realize that nothing can be done before God that is
worthy of God.  It is rather clear that God's majesty and power is
overwhelming.
Then there is the song that is sung among these creatures.  "Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory."  Here
is a song of pure praise and glory, a song that exalts and gives God his
due.  Note the threefold "holy" in recognition of the Trinity of God.  It
is such a glorious moment that we are told that at the sound of this song
the heavenly temple shook and smoke filled the room.  If in hearing these
words you are not moved by the power and majesty of God then I think you
have a faith problem.  Just reading these words puts a sense of fear and
majesty in our hearts.
And if all of this is not enough, then please note Isaiah's reaction and
what happens.  We read, "Woe to me!' I cried.  'I am ruined!  For I am a
man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my
eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.'  Then one of the seraphs
flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs
from the altar.  With it he touched my mouth and said, 'See, this has
touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'"
I want to tell you that Isaiah, like the heavenly creatures, recognizes
his unworthiness to be before the Lord.  His cry is a cry of fear and
terror at the sight he sees.  No wonder!  To be before the Holy and
perfect God, He who is eternal, almighty and all knowing.  Isaiah rightly
concludes that God hates and opposes all that is of sin, all that is
impure.  Thus his cry!  He realizes his personal sinfulness and indeed
the sinfulness of all of mankind.  And because of his sin he is
terrified.
But do you see the grace and mercy of God?  How the Lord sends a seraph
with a live coal from the altar of God to touch and to cleanse Isaiah of
his sins!  The Lord forgives Isaiah.  The Lord takes away Isaiah's guilt
and atones for his sin.  That message is clearly conveyed. 'See, this has
touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.'"
Here is the gracious truth of the Lord.  Compassionate, gracious, slow to
anger and abounding with love.  Such is what our God is!  He atones for
our sin.  He pays the price of our redemption.  Though we are totally
unworthy, totally deserving of nothing but death and damnation, God in
love forgives us.  That this action is of and from God is made clear.
The live coal taken from the altar represents God's cleansing fire.  How
God refines us and purifies us.  All the action is on God and what God
has done.  It is the pure and holy love that God has for us that cleanses
and purifies, that forgives and atones.
 Be sure and recognize the impact such love and grace of God has.  When
the Lord is seeking servants, as this text shows, Isaiah is right there
shouting for the privilege and permission to go and serve.  "Here am I.
Send me!"  Isaiah forgiven and cleansed of his sins now becomes a servant
of God.  Such is the power of God's grace and love.  God's children want
to serve.  God's children want to hear and learn, to share and witness.
This is not what we do to get forgiven but what we do because we are
forgiven.  I pray that we keep this truth in mind so that at all times we
give the praise and glory to God and his grace.  Such is the way of God
and his children.
 Now did you see Jesus?  That's why we are looking at this text.  We are
looking to learn and understand something about Jesus, to have Jesus and
his love revealed.  Did you see Jesus?
 Dear people, Jesus is the one in this text called "The Lord...the Lord
Almighty...the King, the Lord Almighty."  In other words Isaiah is before
Jesus!  He is seeing and being shown the wonder and marvel of our saving
God.  He is before Jesus and none other!
 Where do you get such things, Pastor?  You sure do have an active
imagination.
 Not an active imagination but the revelation of God's Word.  In the
Gospel of John, chapter 12 we hear this account.  "Even after Jesus had
done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not
believe in him.  This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:
'Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord
been revealed?'  For this reason they could not believe, because, as
Isaiah says elsewhere: 'He has blinded their eyes and deadened their
hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with
their hearts, nor turn-and I would heal them."  And then these telling
words, words that follow what is revealed in Isaiah, chapter 6.  "Isaiah
said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him."
 The God revealed in this text is Jesus.  Jesus, God's son and our
Savior.  Jesus who with his life and love forgives our sins and atones
for us.  Jesus who would endure eternal hell to pay the price for our
sins, Jesus who forgives because of his grace, Jesus to whom all things
in heaven and earth have been handed over...this is who we see sitting on
this throne before Isaiah.  The powerful, majestic, pure and holy
God...Jesus our God, yes, Jesus the King, the Lord Almighty!
 We have a tendency to forget that Jesus always was!  We have a tendency
to forget that Jesus is the true and only God, the holy and majestic one
before whom even the seraphs of God hide their faces and feet.  Because
we see Jesus lying in the manger or we see Jesus hanging on the cross,
not very glamorous or in any way "powerful" sights, we tend to forget who
and what Jesus is.  This text reminds us.  It reminds us to think of the
Transfigured Jesus, the ascended Jesus clothed with His power and
majesty.  It reminds us not to forget who and what Jesus is.
 He is the Almighty God.  He is pure and holy and He hates sin and evil.
You can run before Jesus thinking he owes you, thinking you are good
enough to stand in his presence or you can like Isaiah, realize your
unworthiness and with humility bow before the King.  And then, like
Isaiah, you will find that Jesus in grace forgives, Jesus atones for our
sins, Jesus cleanses us with his righteousness and Jesus lovingly grants
us the opportunity to serve.
 By the way, please note that Isaiah served by speaking the truth and
only the truth of God.  God's Word was the heart and core of Isaiah as he
went out to preach God's message.  He did not add, subtract, or detract
from God's Word as Jesus gave it to him.  Thanks be to God for that!
 Thank God for Jesus.  Thank Jesus as God for atoning us, forgiving us
and for calling us to serve.  May we join those seraphs in their praise
of Jesus: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full
of his glory!"  Amen.