When Isaiah received his inaugural call as Prophet of Yahweh he encounter God in the temple following the death of the King of Judah. Isaiah saw the real KIng, the Sovereign Yah, on the throne of heaven. becoming conscious of being as witness of God's heavenly worship he is overcome with a sense of panic and awe. He cries out his awareness of his sin and God in grace fits him for worship and for hearing God call for Prophet Herald. Isaiah's experience is a Biblical patter for worship of God by his people.How should we approach God in worship? Hebrew 12: 28 tells us, Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.Isaiah 6 shows us a true example. Isaiah saw the Lord. The sequence of events function as a paradigm for Biblical Christian worship.

This message is based on Isaiah 6 and is a consideration of the call of Isaiah to be God's prophet, with a reading and explanation of the text. We see Isaiah's personal experience of encountering God in his holiness as Sovereign King of the universe resulting in his conviction of guilt and need for divine cleansing. Then from a position of a provided atonement he hears and answers the call of God to be his special prophet. What kind of commission is this when he is informed that people will not listen and repent so judgment is decreed-- But in the midst of wrath and judgment God remembers mercy in accord with his covenant promises to send the Seed who is Jesus the Messiah..

The main idea presented here is that -Yahweh himself is coming to his people.- This coming...-I. Is to be boldly announced.-II. Will be with power and authority.-III. Will be as the tender Shepherd of his flock.

Psalm 73 is a testimony of a true believer whose faith is put on trial. He believes that God is good to Israel but when he sees the prosperity and arrogance of the wicked he gives way to envy. His thoughts become a vexation of spirit. -Surely I keep myself pure for nothing.- He is tempted to share his doubts with others but God held him back. In retrospect he said, -If I had spoken like this I would have betrayed your children.- When he went into the presence God in his sanctuary he was granted an understanding of the divine perspective. When he compared the fate of the wicked with his own assurance of God's blessings he confessed his sin and is restored to the joy of those know the God of Israel.

The great theme of this passage is that the one action in history by each of two men affects a great many people. Two men, but two different men, with different actions - producing different results. -Adam's one trespass brought condemnation on all humanity- Jesus' -one act of righteousness- produced justification for many. The effect of Adam's devastating trespass was reversed through Christ's death and resurrection for all those upon whom the grace of God has been bestowed.

Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are reconciled to God through the person and atonement of Jesus and his resurrection from the dead. With justification comes many benefits.

What sentence or two would help someone know what the Christian faith is all about- Most would immediately cite John 3-16. However, Paul defines the heart of the faith in a few sentences in his letter to the Romans. Romans 4-20-25-English Standard Version-20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was -counted to him as righteousness.- 23 But the words -it was counted to him- were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

If you were ask for a verse in the Bible that expresses the gospel many would quote John 3-16 -For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Now this is a glorious and wonderful statement of truth but it does not contain the whole of the gospel. The sentence requires context which Jesus supplies by referring to the bronze snake on the pole in the wilderness -Numbers 21-5-9- Jesus explains more in John 12 when he speaks of the Son of Man being lifted up.

Paul in his great letter to the Romans expounds the righteousness of God in saving his people. Paul quotes this prophet in his statement of the theme of his letter to the Romans. --For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, -The righteous shall live by faith.- Romans 1-16-17 quoting Habakkuk 2-4.- in Romans 3-21 he explains that -the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.--Habakkuk, a prophet bears witness to God's righteousness and then furnishes an example of loving by faith in the true God. His prophecy is easily divided into 3 sections.-Chapter 1 The prophets complaint that wickedness and violence fills the land and God needs to do something. Why aren't you putting a stop to this evil of your people the Hebrews blatantly breaking the Mosaic covenant.--God answers- I am doing something. Something you would never imagine I am sending the Babylonians to judge my people and rid the land of their wickedness.--Habakkuk What- How could you- These people are the worst of the worst. How can the holy God use the greater evil to judge your people. I will go on the rooftop and wait for God to answer me. God answered and his answer fill the prophet with dread yet he had confidence in God . His responsive prayers demonstrates living by faith in the holy righteous God who is the God of our salvation.

Jesus tells a story that illustrates how a person can be declared justified, in right standing before God. It is found in Like 18-9-14. Two very different people with very different prayers- one an outstanding person zealous for God who does all the right things and avoids the obvious bad. He prays basically to himself about himself with a thank you to God for his help. He regards the other man with contempt.-The other man knows he is unworthy and has nothing to commend himself but with deep awareness of his sin, his person as a sinner, he calls upon God for mercy based on the atoning sacrifice. In essence he prays, God be my mercy seat--Literal translation of his prayer- And the tax-gatherer, having stood afar off, would not even the eyes lift up to the heaven, but was smiting on his breast, saying, God be propitious to me -- the sinner--What is the outcome- Jesus said only the repentant tax collector who call on God to show him undeserved mercy based on the atoning sacrifice. This is a picture of the great truth of salvation by grace alone in Jesus Christ alone received by faith only.-It puts flesh on the declaration of Romans 3-22-26