God Is Still On His Throne

Our nation is in a time of crisis not unlike the crisis the nation of Israel was facing in the book of Isaiah. They had compromised and become corrupted because of their sinful rebellion against God. God raised up Isaiah to confront them and plead with them to repent in order to avert His coming judgment. Isaiah knew they would eventually be invaded and taken into exile by the Babylonians. The looming question in his mind, as it may be in our minds, is, “What went wrong? Have the purposes of God somehow been thwarted or defeated? Is God still in control? Is He still on His throne?” And perhaps another question in his mind was “What kind of person is God looking for in a time of crisis like this?” These questions are answered in this chapter where Isaiah recorded how God had called and commissioned him to serve as a prophet. Like every prophet, God had to first prepare him for the job. And in the case of Isaiah, God prepared him by giving him a vision of His majestic holiness that overwhelmed him with a sense of his utter sinfulness. He was never the same after this awe-inspiring, life-changing encounter with God. Let’s consider the FOUR PHASES involved in awe-inspiring, life-changing encounter with God.

1. HOLINESS - CAPTIVATED BY GOD (vv. 1-4)
2. BROKENNESS - CONVICTED BY GOD (v. 5)
3. FORGIVENESS - CLEANSED BY GOD (vv. 6-7)
4. USEFULNESS - COMMISSIONED BY GOD (vv. 8-13)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” These questions are designed to help you apply today’s message to your life. We encourage you to thoughtfully answer these questions and discuss your answers with others. For more information about joining a Grow Group that uses these questions as the basis for weekly discussion, prayer, and accountability, please call the church office at (936) 582-1977.

1. Based on recent events in our nation or in your life, have you had a difficult time remembering and resting in the fact that God is still in control? Why or why not?
2. Read 2 Chronicles 26:16-21. How did Uzziah’s attitudes and actions demonstrate he had lost his sense of reverence and awe for God? Do any of your attitudes and/or actions show the same?
3. Read 1 Samuel 2:2 and Habakkuk 1:13. Based on these two verses, how would you define God’s holiness in relation to creation and corruption? How is holiness the premier attribute of God?
4. In light of God’s holiness, what specific sins are you convicted of that you need to confess to Him so you can experience His cleansing?
5. Read Isaiah 55:7 and 57:15. How do these verses encourage and comfort your heart in regards to God’s compassion, mercy, and forgiveness?
6. Are their any needs and/or opportunities you are aware of right now that you can make yourself available to God so He can use you to accomplish His purposes?
7. Praise God for His holiness and thank Him for clothing you in Christ’s holiness so you can enter His holy presence. Ask Him to cleanse you so He can use you. Ask Him to make you a modern-day Isaiah who boldly and faithfully proclaims to those around you that God forgives repentant sinners who place their faith alone in Jesus Christ for their salvation.

“This fits so perfectly for us, living in a world in crisis, asking the question, ‘How do we reach this world? What kind of people is God looking for?’ Broken; those who have a vision of Him as high and lifted up and sovereign and holy and all-glorious; those who are lost in wonder, love, and praise; those who are raptured by His majesty and His glory; those who know that the vast majority will never hear and never listen, but that God has His people, and are humbly willing to go even though they know they’re unworthy of such a calling. That’s us. And God will gather in His own people.”

John MacArthur, A Vision Of God In A Time Of Crisis