Follow us with the 2013 Faithful Conference for Pastors and Leaders!View replays and read post summaries here on the blog. In this article, see the message “The Presence of God in the Life of Man”, by Clodoaldo Machado:
ENCOUNTER WITH GOD IMPACTS ON HUMAN LIFE
Isaiah 6. 1-8
Introduction.
At a time when there is a gospel that speaks so much of feeling God’s presence, what does it really mean to know that God is present, what happens to a person who has a real experience of God’s presence?
People who claim to have experienced God’s presence talk about how they felt; his pleasant emotions seem to indicate that God was really present.
First we must understand that God is always present
Isaiah 6. 1-8.
Isaiah, a leading prophet in Israel.
In chapter 6, Isaiah recounts his encounter with the Lord
The year of King Ozias’ death.
Oziah was a king who brought security to the people of Judah.
Brought prosperity to Judah
He was a friend of agriculture (2Ch 26. 10). He opened a lot of tanks because he had a lot of cattle, there were vineyards and farmers.
He had an army of 307,500 men trained in the war.
There were no threats from the enemies and there was no hunger
Despite all the security and prosperity, people were far from God. 2Cr. 27. 2
When Ozias grew strong, he was exalted in his heart by his own ruin 2 Cr. 26. 17.
When Isaiah died, he went to the temple
The nation had turned away from God, the king had died, but the Lord was still sitting on his high and sublime throne.
The human king was dead, but the eternal king was on his throne. There was no reason to panic, God is king.
Isaiah goes to the temple and sees the Lord
Seeing Lord Isaiah is deeply marked.
The Seraphim were above the Seigneur. La description of the six wings demonstrated their character.
With two wings, they covered their faces. No one can see the face of God and survive.
Two covered his feet. The place where God is holy, there are no feet worthy to touch him.
With two, they flew. They were suspended in the presence of God, an attitude of availability, of goodwill. It also indicates that no one is relaxed in the presence of God; it’s true reverence.
God’s presence shook the place. It was a terrible thing
No one is indifferent to God, all who have a true encounter with God are deeply affected.
Isaiah demonstrates that RENCONTRE WITH GOD CAUSES A DEEP IMPACT ON MAN’S LIFE.
Why did the encounter with God affect human life?
Why is it affected?
The Bible shows what happens when people have a real encounter with God.
Since the first sin, the reaction to God has always involved a certain degree of fear.
From Genesis to Revelation, we have frightening reactions to God’s presence.
Adam, Jacob, Manoa, Habakkuk, the disciples?
In true encounter with God, man sees his holiness.
Paul has deeply acknowledged his sin. Main of sinners 1 Ti. 1. 15.
When Isaiah saw God, Isaiah saw Isaiah
When we see God’s holiness, we see our sinful state.
Peter says that trials have a purifying effect on us and compares our faith with the gold that must pass through fire to be purified.
Peter wrote: I used each other, each according to the gift 1Pe. 4. 10 received.
Many want to serve, but know nothing of God’s holiness, of their own sin. Skip the first steps.
What did Isaiah do after that?
He spoke of God like few others. People need to hear about God’s holy character. Through Isaiah’s mouth, God defined Himself.
East. 44. 45. 46
He talked about the distance between God and us
But he also spoke of how God came to us through his son.
People need to know God, Isaiah went to talk about God and his saving purpose.
People need to know God as he really is
The embers point to the cross.
When the message of the cross touches the heart, it burns.
God’s holiness is revealed
Sin is revealed.
Sin is forgiven.
And the transformed one is called to serve
Before the cross, we must fear as Isaiah, and before the cross we are called to serve as Isaiah.