February 7 sermon - Come Into God's Presence.

Come to God

RUMC

2/7/10

What did you first notice when you came in this morning?  Did you see your best friend?  Someone to whom you owe money?  Did you notice a cob web or a light bulb that is out and wonder why no one took care of it?  Did you look at one of the stained glass windows or the big cross up front or the canoe?

(start video)

How would you like to walk into church and see the hem of God’s robe?  That’s what happened to Isaiah.  The temple grounds were almost a square block.  The sanctuary itself was actually about the same size as our building if it was squared off.  Interestingly enough it was also about the same height as our steeple. It was no small building .He walked into the temple and it was filled with the hem of God’s robe.  Not the robe, not the bottom half of the robe.  But the hem of God’s robe filled the whole temple.  That would be a shock wouldn’t it?

(slide)Once he caught his breath he looked again and saw the seraphim.  Strange looking creatures.  Seraphim are the highest rank of the angels.  "Seraphim" means flaming ones. They had 6 wings.  With 2 they covered their face in order to not insult God by looking upon the divine face.  With two they covered their feet which sounds strange, but the Hebrew actually means lower parts--- which is a  polite way of saying they covered their private parts.  And with two they flew.  As they flew they echoed back and for holy--- holy--- holy--- holy.  Their one and only job is to attend to the throne of God and lead the heavenly worship.

The pivots (hinges of the massive gates of the temple) shook with the volume and the intensity and depth of the worship. And the house of the Lord was filled with smoke.  Smoke is often associated with the temple incense that carries the prayers of the people to God.

The Seraphim in the revelation to John are described this way.(slide) In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back.⁷The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. ⁸Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."

(SLIDE)So what would you do if you walked up to the church and were confronted with the hem and the seraphim and the shaking and the smoke?

Maybe you’d call Ghostbusters.  “Who you goanna call,--- ghost busters.”

Maybe you’d set up a gate and sell tickets on Ticketmaster.

As for Isaiah, he cried "Wo 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."

In other words, here I am sin in skin.  Transgression in the flesh- I am so unworthy that I am sure to die.  No unworthy creature like me can possibly stand in the presence of the holy and living God, and live.

Do you ever feel that way?

I do, sometimes!

I think that is the nature of worship.  Whether it is public or private worship, when we come into the presence of the perfect, almighty, wonderful eternal holy God; it is only right that we feel unworthy.  None of us is perfect and nothing but perfection can stand up the light of God’s holiness.

Communion seems to intensify the feeling. Being invited to the heavenly banquet table; being seated at the table with the Holy God himself, partaking of the very body and blood of Christ points out the depth of our sinfulness.

Do you ever feel unworthy to take communion?  Do you ever feel just too dirty to come to the table? 

I know some of you do.  I’ve heard some of you talk about it.

And it is a good question.  How can a lowly, filthy, sinful, human creature ever deserve to be at God’s table?  Take a step into my shoes and ask, "How can a lowly, filthy, sinful, human creature ever deserve to lead others to God’s table?  "How can a lowly, filthy, sinful, human creature ever deserve to raise the bread and raise the cup and say “this is the body?  This is the blood?”  I’ll never forget the first time I did that.  It was an overwhelming, humbling, and kind of frightening experience.  If I ever feel differently about it, “Woe is me.”

But let’s go back to the passage from Isaiah.

Isaiah felt unworthy like us.

But then something happened.  He didn’t ask for it.  He didn’t deserve it.  He didn’t study for it.  He didn’t expect it.   But the angel- the seraph took a coal- actually the Hebrew word means a hot rock--- from the altar and touched it to his lips.  Saying what--- do you remember?  Saying (slide)  "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 

"Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 

The Angel of course is talking about the stone touching Isaiah’s lips. But can’t the same be said for us.

We don’t ask for it.  We don’t deserve it.  We don’t study for it.  We don’t expect it.   But it happens through Jesus Christ.

·       Do you feel angry or hateful?"Now that God has touched your heart, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 

·       Do you find yourself doing things you know are not Godly? "Now that God has touched your hands, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 

·       Do you find your imagination going places you know are wrong? "Now that God has touched your mind, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 

·       Do you find yourself saying things that hurt others, or lying? "Now that God has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 

·       "Now that God has touched your life, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out." 

Oh I understand that you feel unworthy of God’s love.  That’s OK because you are.  So am I. Frankly it doesn’t matter how we feel today.

Part of the message of this Isaiah passage is that (to adopt a line from Shakespeare) “There are more things in heaven and earth, (My friends), Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”  In other words there is more to faith than our feelings.

First, you really are unworthy. 

Second God really does forgive. 

And finally God really does expect you to respond.

(slide)  When God asked in Isaiah, Whom shall we send?  Isaiah said “send me.  I’ll go.“

Today God still forgives and God still sends.  Today, God still seeks people who will say “Here I am--- send me.”  What do you say today? 

When you receive communion today you will hear the words from the call of Isaiah. 

(BREAD) "Now that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out

"Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

I ask you to respond in the spirit of Isaiah- if you will --saying

“Here I am, Lord, Send me.”