“Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31).
Danny Burnley“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
As pastors of our churches, one of our major goals is to lead those who enter the house of God into an encounter with God. The house of God should be a house of worship – a house of experiences. When the people depart, they should be able to say as the psalmist, “I was glad when they said unto me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord'” (Psalm 122:1).
In order for this to be a reality, we should observe Isaiah as he entered the temple of God. Isaiah, in chapter six, had at least five experiences within the temple that we should seek for our people as we enter our houses of worship.
He saw God. “I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up-” (6:1); “- Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (6:3).
As pastors, preach the precious word of God and proclaim Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords, having the same desire as those in John 12 who said, “Sir we would see Jesus” (KJV). If this would be our goal, our congregations would see God. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” If our priority in worship is for people to see Jesus, they will see God.
He saw himself. “Then said I, ‘Woe is me! For I am undone: because I am a man of unclean lips” (6:5). Isaiah was not concerned if he was in the midst of the “happy clappys” or the “frozen chosen.” After seeing the Lord, he saw himself. He realized that he was a sinner. The closer one gets to the sun, the brighter it shines. The closer one gets to the Son and sees the holiness of God, the more he realizes his sin. Until one sees himself as a sinner, he cannot be saved (Romans 3:23; 6:23).
He saw all mankind as sinners. “- and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (6:5). Isaiah did not see those around him from a self-righteous point of view, but, rather, from the holiness of God and for the need of others to know him. Until we see mankind in this condition, we will not go out to win the lost.
He heard God’s call. Then, after he saw God and after he saw himself, he said, “Also, I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, ‘Whom shall I send and who will go for us?'” (6:8). Once we can see the holiness of God and ourselves as sinners, we can then hear the call of God to salvation and to service. What an experience.
He surrendered to God’s call. “Then said I, here am I: send me” (6:8). Every God-called pastor understands these experiences because this has happened to each of us. Many who enter our places of worship do not know how to worship. “Ye worship ye know not what” (John 4:22); however, thank God they are there. May God help us to lead them into an encounter with God. Amen.