God wants to Ruin Your Life
I have posted on Isaiah 6 before, but Doug, the Worship Pastor at Woodlands Church, preached on it this past weekend. And it is to good not to post!
Link to what I had previously written: http://getoutoftheboat.blogspot.com/2005/04/holiness.html
Doug's Sermon:
God Wants to Ruin Your Life!
1. When we truly understand our sinfulness in light of Gods Holiness, we realize we are ruined!
Isaiah 6:1-5
Isaiah's Vision of the LORD
"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!' And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!'"
We have unclean lips, and we live among an unclean people!
God is High and Seated on the Throne, Exalted and Praised!!
This is the biggest "OH NO" Ever!!! It's a realization that Sin separates us from God! Nothing we can do will make up for it!
The only thing that can make up for it is: The Blood of Jesus Christ, we are cleansed by His blood!
Romans 5
Peace with God Through Faith
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Isaiah lived before Christ, but in His vision, God did for Him what Christ did for us!
Isaiah 6:6-7
"Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"
2. When we truly understand our Salvation in light of our sinfulness, we are ruined to all else!
Nothing else can satisfy our Soul!
Example: Say every morning that you wake up you have a cup of Folgers Coffee. It is your 5 minutes of Heaven!
Then you go on vacation, Folgers is no longer available! OH NO!!! But, you order a cup of authentic Columbian fresh ground coffee. It is the best Coffee you have ever tasted!
Now, your morning Folgers experience has been completely ruined!
Once we Taste God (through Jesus Christ) all else is ruined!
Psalm 34:8
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
Nothing else will satisfy again, because Jesus Christ is imperishable and precious!
1 Peter 1:13-25
Be Holy
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' And this is the word that was preached to you."
Sin is what separates us from being completely Satisfied in Christ!
Sin is like Spiritual Adultery -- Prostitution!
We sell ourselves out. We go for the quick fix, and in doing so we miss what is best for us!
But, God still comes running after us!
Read Psalm 37, 63, and 84!
Jesus didn't Save us for a list of Religious rules either. He saved us for Himself!
He wants us to be in an Intimate Love Relationship with Him!
Romans 14:17
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
These people were hung up on rules and regulations about food. Paul rebuked them because Jesus didn't Save us for a list of Religious rules! He saved us for Himself!
If Jesus hadn't given us Himself, we would be satisfied with cheap imitations!
3. When, by Faith we Surrender to Christ and recognize that He is Lord, we see "our" life as ruined!
The American Dream:
1. A nice life
2. A nice job
3. A nice spouse
4. Nice kids
5. A nice car or two or three
6. The cosmetically altered "perfect body"
7. A nice house
8. The perfect golf swing
9. Fame & Fortune
10. The ability to afford what I want
11. Every material desire met
12. A quiet, restful retirement
13. An easy and pain free death
Our life is not our own!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah's Commission from the LORD
"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"
From that moment on Isaiah did whatever God wanted him to do!
When you are Madly in Love with Jesus Christ -- Everything else dies to His plans for our lives! All of our plans -- die and His plans become our plans!!
It's a call to Holiness from us to ALL People!
Submitting our lives fully to God!
Jesus Described Heaven like this:
Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Are you willing to give up all that you have and follow Jesus?
My life has been ruined!
Believe it or not, my plans were to go into Music Theatre and try to make it on Broadway. Now that God got ahold of me, He has me on the path to becoming a pastor or missionary!!
I wouldn't trade Jesus Christ and the path that He has place before me for anything!
Has God ruined Your Life?
Will you let Him Ruin Your Life?
Ohhh, Taste and See! That the LORD is GOOD!
In Christ,
David
Link to what I had previously written: http://getoutoftheboat.blogspot.com/2005/04/holiness.html
Doug's Sermon:
God Wants to Ruin Your Life!
1. When we truly understand our sinfulness in light of Gods Holiness, we realize we are ruined!
Isaiah 6:1-5
Isaiah's Vision of the LORD
"In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!' And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: 'Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!'"
We have unclean lips, and we live among an unclean people!
God is High and Seated on the Throne, Exalted and Praised!!
This is the biggest "OH NO" Ever!!! It's a realization that Sin separates us from God! Nothing we can do will make up for it!
The only thing that can make up for it is: The Blood of Jesus Christ, we are cleansed by His blood!
Romans 5
Peace with God Through Faith
"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Death in Adam, Life in Christ
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned-- for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come. But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Ephesians 2:8-9
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Isaiah lived before Christ, but in His vision, God did for Him what Christ did for us!
Isaiah 6:6-7
"Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: 'Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.'"
2. When we truly understand our Salvation in light of our sinfulness, we are ruined to all else!
Nothing else can satisfy our Soul!
Example: Say every morning that you wake up you have a cup of Folgers Coffee. It is your 5 minutes of Heaven!
Then you go on vacation, Folgers is no longer available! OH NO!!! But, you order a cup of authentic Columbian fresh ground coffee. It is the best Coffee you have ever tasted!
Now, your morning Folgers experience has been completely ruined!
Once we Taste God (through Jesus Christ) all else is ruined!
Psalm 34:8
"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him."
Nothing else will satisfy again, because Jesus Christ is imperishable and precious!
1 Peter 1:13-25
Be Holy
"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, 'All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever.' And this is the word that was preached to you."
Sin is what separates us from being completely Satisfied in Christ!
Sin is like Spiritual Adultery -- Prostitution!
We sell ourselves out. We go for the quick fix, and in doing so we miss what is best for us!
But, God still comes running after us!
Read Psalm 37, 63, and 84!
Jesus didn't Save us for a list of Religious rules either. He saved us for Himself!
He wants us to be in an Intimate Love Relationship with Him!
Romans 14:17
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
These people were hung up on rules and regulations about food. Paul rebuked them because Jesus didn't Save us for a list of Religious rules! He saved us for Himself!
If Jesus hadn't given us Himself, we would be satisfied with cheap imitations!
3. When, by Faith we Surrender to Christ and recognize that He is Lord, we see "our" life as ruined!
The American Dream:
1. A nice life
2. A nice job
3. A nice spouse
4. Nice kids
5. A nice car or two or three
6. The cosmetically altered "perfect body"
7. A nice house
8. The perfect golf swing
9. Fame & Fortune
10. The ability to afford what I want
11. Every material desire met
12. A quiet, restful retirement
13. An easy and pain free death
Our life is not our own!
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Isaiah 6:8
Isaiah's Commission from the LORD
"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'"
From that moment on Isaiah did whatever God wanted him to do!
When you are Madly in Love with Jesus Christ -- Everything else dies to His plans for our lives! All of our plans -- die and His plans become our plans!!
It's a call to Holiness from us to ALL People!
Submitting our lives fully to God!
Jesus Described Heaven like this:
Matthew 13:44-46
The Parable of the Hidden Treasure
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field."
The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Are you willing to give up all that you have and follow Jesus?
My life has been ruined!
Believe it or not, my plans were to go into Music Theatre and try to make it on Broadway. Now that God got ahold of me, He has me on the path to becoming a pastor or missionary!!
I wouldn't trade Jesus Christ and the path that He has place before me for anything!
Has God ruined Your Life?
Will you let Him Ruin Your Life?
Ohhh, Taste and See! That the LORD is GOOD!
In Christ,
David
posted by Mark 1:17 at 2:04 PM
1 Comments:
good stuff brother!
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