(90) God's Sovereignty Over History

Pick up the newspaper or turn on your favorite news channel on any given day and you’re sure to come across news of some international conflict, terrorist plot, or political unrest. You’ll see a world in upheaval.

You want to see change and so you vote for the candidates and policies you think will help bring about a better world. Sometimes you feel like your vote makes a difference, other times you wonder whether it’s worth voting at all. Everything just seems to be such a mess. Sometimes, if you know enough about what’s going on in the world, it seems like everything is totally out of control. It can be pretty depressing. And, it would be very depressing and truly hopeless if the events of history were in fact random events, the product of evil men in control, making decisions with evil intentions.

But history is not the succession of random events or the product of evil intentions. History is not out of control. God is in control. This is His-story. We live. We die. Governments come. Governments go. Nations rise and fall. God is behind it all.

From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. (Acts 17:26 NIV)

God started with one man, Adam, and from him He has created every nation. He has determined when each nation would exist and where they would exist. Kings, dictators, and presidents think they rule the world. They are wrong.

Daniel was a prominent government official in the empire of Babylon. He was also a great prophet of Jehovah who understood what was really happening in the world. Carefully consider Daniel’s perspective on world events.

"Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, For wisdom and power belong to Him. "It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men And knowledge to men of understanding.” (Daniel 2:20-21 NAU)

Bible scholar Gleason Archer explains what Daniel is saying in verse 21. “God determines when in history events are to take place (“times”) and how long each process or phase in history is to endure (“epochs”).” The New Living Translation of this verse also helps us get a better understanding of the significance of this verse. “He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.”
History is not moving along haphazardly. The events of history take place exactly according to the timing of God and last only as long as God has determined they would.

I know this presents lots of questions for us when we see all the evil in the world, but our questions must not lead us to alter the clear teaching of scripture. God is in control of all the events of history. Though this is confusing, think of the alternative and you realize any other solution is impossible. How could God declare the certainty of future events as He does all through scripture if He is not in control of history? How could we rely on the promises of God if God is not in control of the events of this world?

God is in control. He is sovereign over all the events of history, past, present, and future. And, He is orchestrating all these events to fulfill His great plan, to fulfill His purpose for His pleasure.

We can find calm, peace, and rest in the midst of political upheaval and a world that is filled with evil because our God is still on the throne of creation. God is in control!

You can find calm, peace, and rest in the face of troubling events in your life. You can find calm, peace, and rest in the face events that threaten your stability and even your life as you acknowledge and embrace the sovereignty of God over all of your life circumstances. Choose to submit to His plan, and find peace in the truth that He is orchestrating every event in your life for your highest good and His greatest glory. God is in control!

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Next:  (91) God's Sovereignty Over Man

(89) God's Sovereignty Over Nature - 2

This is an appropriate time to begin to consider the impact of these truths for you and me. Scripture emphasizes two very real and practical ways that our lives will be transformed when we fully appreciate the reality of God’s sovereign control over nature.

Realizing and embracing God’s wise control and direction of nature will build greater confidence when nature gets ugly & threatening. If I really believe that God’s all-wise, loving and benevolent hand is guiding all of nature, I will not be as quick to be controlled by fear and anxiety when nature seems to threaten life and well-being. This is the heart of the first few lines of Psalm 46.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

(Psalm 46:1-3 ESV)

How do I find peace and confidence when it looks to me like all nature’s fury is coming against me? I remind myself, no, I preach powerfully to myself, reminding myself that not one drop of rain, not one puff of wind, not one spark of lightning, not one minor tremor of the earth can occur except by God’s design. I remind myself that it is all according to His plan that is ultimately for my good and His glory. I take refuge in Him and His ever present help. I choose to trust God and entrust my life to His sovereign plan and care.

There is a second source of confidence found in God’s sovereignty over nature that also provides great comfort. We find it in Jesus’ most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount. We’ve already taken a glimpse at what Jesus teaches here, now let’s look at the fuller context and the lesson He teaches.

Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. (Matthew 6:26-30)

Jesus uses God’s sovereign care over some of the least significant aspects of the ebb and flow of nature to teach us a very important lesson. He moves from the insignificant of nature to the most significant in nature, humanity. He shows us that God meticulously cares for a single sparrow and the wild flowers. Then, He teaches us that God’s sovereign care in our lives far exceeds His sovereign care of nature in these small, insignificant details. He teaches us that God’s providential care for us extends even to a single hair on our heads!

What comfort! What cause for confidence! So, why worry? If God so perfectly and sovereignly cares for the rest of creation, don’t you think He will take care of you? Come on, think about it! Choose to embrace sovereignty. Choose to trust God.

God is in control . . . really, He is. And if God can perfectly sustain and orchestrate the grand symphony of the rest of creation, don’t you think He can take care of you and me?
 
Next: (90) God's Sovereignty Over History

(88) The Nature & Extent of God’s Sovereignty

When we set out to define and describe the sovereignly of God, we noted that “there is nothing whether within Himself or in all of creation that is outside God’s control and direction. God exercises control and direction over all creation without qualification or exception.” Let’s look more closely now at what scripture specifically says about three key areas of God’s sovereignty. First, God is sovereign over Nature.

It’s an exceptionally beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly with a few puffy clouds in the sky. The temperature is just right and there’s a peaceful, gentle breeze blowing. You take a dep breath of fresh air, smile, look up at the sky and say, “Thank You Lord!” Why do you do that? Because you recognize that this beautiful day is a gift from God. You are affirming God’s sovereign control of the weather.

We delight in God’s grace and mercy in nature as we experience it in the sunshine and rain that cause the brilliantly colored and fragrant flowers to bud and the delicious fruits and vegetables to grow. We are thankful that nature moves along giving us joy, pleasure and provision, even when we don’t notice.

He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,

and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

(Matthew 5:45 NAU)

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. . . . (28)See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. (29)Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

(Matthew 6:26-29)

Yes, God mercifully and graciously cares for His creation. The book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus Himself is the one who upholds all of creation by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3). Aren’t you grateful to know that God is in control of nature and nature is under control because He is God over nature?

But, what about when nature becomes threatening and fierce? What about when it rains on our picnic, or our garden wedding? What about when the flowers and fruit aren’t growing because of drought? What about when they are destroyed by storm or flood? What about when a city is virtually wiped out by a natural disaster? Do we still affirm God’s sovereign control and care of nature? Does God just send the sunshine and not the storm? What does scripture say about this?

O fire and hail, snow and clouds,

O stormy wind that carries out his orders.

(Psalm 148:8 NET)

For to the snow he says, 'Fall to earth,'

and to the torrential rains, 'Pour down.'

(Job 37:6 NET)

He causes the clouds to arise from the end of the earth,

makes lightning bolts accompany the rain,

and brings the wind out of his storehouses.

(Psalm 135:7 NET)

When he utters his voice, there is a tumult of waters in the heavens,

and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

(Jeremiah 10:13 ESV)

He makes the winds his messengers,

and the flaming fire his attendant.

(Psalm 104:4 NET)

For He commands and raises the stormy wind,

which lifts up the waves of the sea.

(Psalm 107:25 NKJ)

God is not just sovereign over the pleasant weather that makes for a delightful picnic in the park or a day at the beach. He is also sovereign over the fierce storms of hail, snow, stormy winds, tumults of water, blinding lightning, and hurricane force winds. All of nature moves at God’s command, fulfilling His perfect plan, devised according to His perfect knowledge and wisdom, to advance His perfect purpose.

Next:  (89) God's Sovereignty Over Nature - 2
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Abiding in God’s Shelter

Eagles are symbols of strength, boldness, power, and majesty, and for very good reasons. They have powerful wings, some as wide as seven feet which thrust them into the air to soar high in the sky. They have incredible endurance, being able to stay in the air for up to two hours. They are simply amazing to watch in flight. And if you are their prey, they are actually quite frightening as they swoop down with precision to attack.

And don’t dare think about messing with the mother eagle’s babies.  For along with the great power of flight comes the protection of her powerful wings for her chicks. She will fiercely defend her nest and her young, protecting them from danger and attack. Very few predators will come near the eagle's nest to attack the young because of the nest’s lofty position and those who do are in for the fight of their lives to get to those chicks. As long as they stay in the nest, close to their mother, they are safe.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High

will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

This I declare about the LORD:

He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;

he is my God, and I trust him.

For he will rescue you from every trap

and protect you from deadly disease.

He will cover you with his feathers.

He will shelter you with his wings.

His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

(Psalm 91:1-4 NLT)

Abiding in the presence of God provides safety and protection; it is a place of refuge. Like the eagle’s nest high in the rocky cliffs, the presence of God is a place of shelter. In fact, it is the shelter of “the Most High”. When we abide in His presence, we are safe because God is high and exalted in glory and authority above everything. In God’s presence we find rest because we abide in the shadow of a God who is all-powerful, stronger than any foe that might come against us.

Abiding in the presence of God means that I am looking for help and protection from God and God alone. “He alone is my refuge, my place of safety.” I don’t rely on my strength, thinking, or skills, or anyone else’s. In His presence, I know His perfect care and protection and I have no reason to look around for help anymore, for I trust in God alone. When I abide in the presence of His loving care and protection, I don’t even think about looking for another source of help. I am secure. I am at rest. I have peace.

Abiding in God’s sheltering presence does not mean that all the dangers and attacks cease. The hunters are still out there. The traps are still set. There are still other threats to life and vitality out there. But, in His presence, you know complete protection and rescue from whatever comes along to destroy. The threat of harm and death may be very real, but not as real as God’s presence. Not as real as His protection. Nothing, absolutely nothing can touch His beloved children except under His protection, except that He is allowing it for a very good reason. As the mother eagle will sometimes push the little eaglet out to stretch its wings or learn to face its foes, so God orchestrates challenges in our lives to strengthen us, to grow us up. But it is always under His care and protection. He will never let it get out of hand. He will never let us be destroyed. He is always there to cover us “with His feathers” and “shelter us with His wings”. The dangers and attacks may threaten, but they can never destroy.

How can we be so confident? How can we know that we are safe in His presence? Sometimes, it really looks and feels like we’re going down, we’re going to be defeated, we’re going to be wasted. How can I be so sure this is not going to end really, really bad?

“His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” God never broke a promise. Never. Never. Please let that sink in. God has never been unfaithful. God has never not kept His word. He is more faithful than the rising and setting of the sun each day. Believe your beliefs and doubt your doubts. No, totally and forcefully reject your doubts. Believe, even preach to yourself the truth that God never breaks a promise!

OK, that’s all well and good, God never beaks a promise. But give me a promise that I can cling to! These thoughts come to our minds – to my mind, and I am immediately convicted. How could I say, “Give me a promise I can cling to”? I know so many promises. You know so many promises. But the truth is, we really only need one. It is one that most Christians have memorized. We know it so well, it is so familiar, that we ignore that it’s there. This is the one verse of scripture that I am convicted by more than any other in all of scripture.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good

to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

(Romans 8:28 NAU)

You may wonder why I am convicted by this verse. Isn’t this a verse of comfort and confidence? Yes, it is, but I see how often I don’t believe it. I see my failure to trust God and believe His promise so clearly and unmistakably made in this verse. I see my anxiety, worry, and fear. And I am deeply convicted.

One promise is enough to give me peace and rest and confidence in the face of the worst life can throw at me. One promise is enough to be my armor and protection. But, let me share with you another.

Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny?

Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.

Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.

(Matthew 10:29-30 NET)

Here’s the point. Sparrows are virtually worthless. Yet, God’s sovereign care over His creation is so detailed and all-encompassing that not even one sparrow ever dies except by the will of God. God cares for the most minute events in His creation. And what about man, the glory of His creation? What about those specially created in the image of God? Those who are “crowned with glory and honor (Psalm 8:5)”? What about the objects of His divine love? Not one hair is outside of His providential care and protection. Not one hair!

This is huge! What a promise! Think about this. God’s providential care and protection extends even to every single hair on your head. If God’s care focuses on a single hair, don’t you think the huge challenges you think will overwhelm you are also under His care? Every hair is under His care. Certainly the big stuff is under His care too. Nothing, absolutely nothing can touch you except under the providential care of “your Father”. Your loving, merciful, gracious, faithful Father is orchestrating the events of your life – down to the loss of a single hair – according to His all-knowing, all-wise plan for your highest good and His highest glory!

This is what it means to abide in God’s presence. It is a place of calm, peace, shelter. I know I have come into God’s presence because I feel safe, I know rest, no matter what is going on around me. If I am still plagued with doubt, fear, and worry, I need to persist in concentrated meditation on the character of God particularly His sovereignty, knowledge, wisdom, power, goodness, and faithfulness. I need to concentrate my thoughts on the promises of God. I must not give up pursuing the intimate, personal presence of God until I am fully at the place of peace and rest, confident that all is well because He is my shelter, because He has promised that not a hair on my head is outside His providential care.

My Father, how sweet it is to abide in your presence. You are glorious, majestic, perfect, infinite. You are my rock, my refuge, my shelter, my sure defense. I know I am safe in your care. I know nothing can touch me either physically, emotionally, or spiritually as I abide here in your presence. In your presence, I gain perspective. I see that all is well, not because all is going according to my plan, but according to your plan. And, I confess, I embrace the truth that your plan is the perfect plan for my highest good and your highest glory no matter how it might look to me from my finite human perspective. I will choose to rest in your sovereign care and trust you. I love you, and I love the joy, the glory of fellowship with you in your presence.
 

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The Refuge of God’s Presence

We all need a place where we feel safe and secure, a place where we actually are safe and secure. But in a world that’s falling apart and is filled with fallen people, where can you really find such a place? .

Most of us go through times when life is running smoothly and we feel like we’re on the mountaintop with God. But soon, we can easily find ourselves in the valley with a mountain of trouble surrounding us on every side. For some, there is far more time in the valley than on the mountaintop, trouble just comes in waves one after the other. Life can get so tough you feel like you’re drowning..

Where can you go when you feel like you are being overwhelmed by trouble? Many people will resort to denial, trying to ignore the problems. “Don’t think about them and maybe they’ll go away.” Others try escapism. They try to run away from their problems and only end up finding more problems wherever they run.

But, there is an amazing place of refuge, not in denial or escape, but right in the face of the biggest mountains and the fiercest waves of trouble. It is the presence of God.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,

though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam,

though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

(Psalm 46:1-3 ESV)

These verses describe a calm, a peace, and a fearlessness in the face of life’s worst catastrophes. The whole world is falling apart all around, but there is no fear. How can this be? It comes from finding your refuge – your place of safety and protection, your shelter – in God. It comes from finding your strength in God. It comes from the very real presence of God.

"The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

(2 Samuel 22:47 NIV)

When I enter into and abide in the presence of God, the overwhelming problems of life don’t go away, but they are no longer overwhelming. When I enter into the place of intimate fellowship with God and get even a small glimpse of His glorious greatness, I become overwhelmed with Him, and my problems begin to diminish in my eyes. It’s not that the mountains of problems get smaller, it’s just that now I am standing on an even bigger, more awesome and stable mountain. Now, I look at those mountains from the grand vista of God’s awesome glory.

In God’s presence, I gaze at and contemplate on the God who has perfect knowledge of all my problems. I see a God who is perfect in His wisdom and plan for my life and my problems. I see an all-powerful, merciful and gracious God who can and will turn these mountains into stepping stones on which I rise to new heights of character and growth. And I see a God who is sovereign and faithful in caring for me as I walk through the valleys.

When thoughts of my problems swirl around in my head like a hurricane, it can be very difficult to focus my thoughts on the glories of God’s character. It takes determined, focused effort to concentrate and meditate on who God is. I must stick with it until I find refuge, until I find stability and peace in His presence.

How do I do it? I take one of God’s attributes at a time and focus my attention on it and meditate on it. I remind myself that God is sovereign – my problems may seem out of control to me, but God is in full control. I think of His infinite knowledge and wisdom and remind myself that He knows more about my problems than I do and He has a perfect, wise plan to use them for my good and His glory. I remind myself that God is good, gracious, merciful and faithful.

As thoughts of the problems come to my mind and I begin to get distracted and disturbed, I force myself to refocus on the character of God. Slowly, but surely, I begin to gain perspective. As I abide in His presence beholding glory, I actually begin to rest in His presence, find peace in His presence. Now that the threatening thoughts of my problems are far away, now that I am standing on the rock of God’s glory, now, I can begin to look at and think about my problems from God’s perspective. And I can do it calmly, peacefully, and with confidence because I am resting in Him. I am standing with unwavering stability on the Rock of my salvation. I must not be satisfied until I have found this place of safety, security, peace, and calm.

Are you facing problems that threaten to overwhelm you? God invites you, God longs for you to come into His presence. Sit down, curl up with Him in His strong arms, gaze upon His glory. Look intently at that wonder of who He is. Be overwhelmed by an infinitely awesome God.

Come into His presence. He wants to help you think straight, see clearly, find strength, wisdom, direction, hope, peace, stability. Listen to Him comfort you and speak to you. Come into His presence. He’s waiting for you.

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Entering God's Presence

“Father God, I love you . . . I worship you . . . you are so great, so glorious.” These words roll off my tongue in rapid succession, so quickly, so easily as I begin my time of prayer. And as soon as they do, I realize it comes too quickly, too easily. It barely has meaning. It’s just words with little heart.

I slow down. I think. I reflect. I meditate on the glory of God. And now, I begin to enter into the presence of God.

Here is what is in the heart of the one who truly knows and experiences the glory of God’s presence:

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple. . . . When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek." (Psalm 27:4,8 NAU)

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! 2I thirst for God, for the living God. I say, "When will I be able to go and appear in God's presence?" (Psalm 42:1-2 NET)

Do you hear and feel the desperation and determination in these verses? “One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek.” “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God! I thirst fo God . . .” This is passion. This is a desire that demands to be satisfied. It is unquenchable by anything else but personal, intimate, me and God alone in unity of heart, mind and soul fellowship! Nothing else will do. There is no stopping, no ending of the pursuit until there is an abiding in the presence of God. Desperation. Determination.

Discovering the intimate presence of God begins with a longing that has resided deep in the heart, that has been expressed to God, and a longing that will continue to be pursued, “all the days of my life.” There is a continual thirst, for once you have drunk from the well of God’s divine presence, you will be satisfied with nothing else. You may drink from other wells, but they will be so tasteless and unsatisfying that you will know there must be something more, something better, something you know you have tasted before and long for again.

But how is it cultivated? How do you come to taste of this soul-quenching presence of God? You “behold the beauty of the Lord”. Some translations replace the word “behold” with the word “gaze”. It is an intense look. It is contemplation and meditation. On what? On the “beauty” of the Lord. His splendor. His majesty. His glorious greatness. His divine character.

This is no casual approach to God! You can’t think you can carve out 15 minutes in your day, read a few verses, read a few paragraphs in a devotional, and then rattle off all your requests to God in the remaining time and expect to enter into and experience fellowship in the presence of God. It takes time! Time to empty your head of all the thoughts that compete with single minded focus on God. It takes time to focus your thoughts on the character of God. It takes time to get yourself quiet before Him to spend time with Him and hear from Him.

There’s a principle that runs through scripture, especially the messages of the prophets. It is this: “You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13).” Jesus repeated the same basic idea when He said the first and greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. You don’t get to the place of intimate fellowship in the presence of God by half-hearted effort. It comes through passionate pursuit that will not stop or be satisfied with anything else but to know, “I have met with God; I have been in the presence of God. And now, I go forth, living and walking in His presence.”

Lord, may I attempt to be satisfied with nothing else then to know your very real presence in deep, meaningful, intimate, personal fellowship with you in your presence. May I be desperate for and determined to gaze on, meditate on, and adore your beautiful majesty. Lord, keep me in your presence, always abiding, walking with you, mindful of your presence with me at all times. Help me to live in fellowship with you – true, life altering, thought governing, heart beating with your heart fellowship with you.

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Abiding in His Holy Presence

God reigns over the nations! God sits on his holy throne!

(Psalm 47:8 NET)

To abide in the presence of God is to abide in the presence of infinite holiness, righteousness and perfection. It is a very sacred place, a place where sin cannot abide. The one and only way anyone can be accepted into the presence of perfect holiness and not be immediately consumed is if they possess perfect holiness. And so, the only way to enter into this sacred place is through the shed blood of the glorious Christ, clothed in His perfect righteousness. It is because of the perfect righteous ness of Christ given to us that we are not just accepted into the holy presence of God, but are actually invited and welcomed. We are told to come boldly before Him. How astonishing!

The LORD our God has shown us his great glory and we have heard him speak from the middle of the fire. It is now clear to us that God can speak to human beings and they can keep on living. (Deuteronomy 5:24 NET)

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. (Hebrews 10:19 NLT)

How astonishing! How incredible! How glorious! I can enter . . . I am invited and welcomed to enter into the presence of the consuming fire of God’s holiness and live to tell about it!

And as I enter into His holy, sacred presence, I am broken by the gift of His grace that provides me with the righteousness of Christ. And, I see at once that my practice does not match up with my position. I am deeply humbled, deeply grieved over my sin. I see that it is not just the big sins that I commit that make me unworthy of His grace, Christ’s righteousness, this welcome into His presence. It is the very reality that every moment of every day I fall short of the standard, the true standard, His perfection, His holiness, His righteousness. In my best moments, I am imperfect, I think less of God than I should, I love Him less than I should. And I am deeply, deeply humbled and broken and filled with incredible awe and wonder that I can come into His holy presence and be forgiven, be welcomed, be embraced by pure holiness.

You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. (Psalm 90:8 ESV)

Abiding in the presence of His Holiness touches my heart and I come to see the ugliness of my sin. In the glorious light of His holiness I see the darkness of my sin. And I hate it! I want to forsake it. I want to be clean. I want to be pure. And I see so clearly why I desperately need His mercy and grace; why I so desperately need the righteousness of Christ. And I am so grateful. Grateful for His mercy that withholds condemnation in Christ. Grateful for His grace that welcomes me into His presence. Grateful for forgiveness.

Oh, holy God, forgive me! Cleanse me. Make me clean. Draw me into your holy presence where I see your holiness so clearly and am so overwhelmed that I am passionate about turning from sin, passionate about living a holy life, passionate about honoring your holiness, for you are holy.

May my words and my thoughts be pleasing in Your sight, my sheltering rock and my redeemer! (Psalm 19:14 NET)

 

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Abiding in the Presence of God

To all those who have asked or emailed me about when I will be blogging again, I hope to soon get back to regular posts to Soli Deo Gloria related to the character of God. But for now, I want to share with you how God has been working in my live to draw me deeper into an awe and wonder of His glory.

Lately, God has been teaching me so much about abiding in His presence. It has been and I expect it will continue to be a humbling and exciting journey.

You lead me in the path of life;

I experience absolute joy in your presence;

you always give me sheer delight.

(Psalm 16:11 NET)

Abiding in the presence of God is both a fundamentally doctrinal reality and a very personal experience. It is both factual and mystical. It is a matter of the intellect – thinking rightly about God, but also a matter of the heart and soul. It is experiencing God as the one who is infinitely transcendent and yet so wonderfully near and intimate. It is recognizing that God is present everywhere at all times and yet, so beautifully and uniquely present with me, right here, right now as if He were no where else.

Abiding in God’s presence is not a place entered into casually or in a rush but it is available at any time in just a moment.

When you truly enter into the intimate presence of God you know it, because it is unmistakably characterized by peace, harmony, joy, a deep sense of contentment, fulfillment, and soul satisfaction, awe, wonder, confidence, humility, abandonment, surrender, devotion, and love. Yes, it is the place of deep love and affection – you love deeply and you know you are deeply loved.

In the presence of God, in the place of real intimate fellowship with him, all fears, worries, desires, and temptations fade away because in that place, nothing else matters, nothing else can penetrate this sacred place but the beauty of his presence.

It is a place where your head clears of all the fog, and everything becomes crystal clear – everything that really matters that is, for all other thoughts and distractions are shut out.

But it’s not about how you feel – though it is wonderful – for when you start to focus on how you feel, you know it is all wrong. It is all about Him. It is all about delighting in Him, not for the peace, joy and delight that IT BRINGS but just for the peace, joy and delight that HE IS. There is great blessing in dwelling in the presence of God, but the pursuit is never motivated by the blessing alone, in and of itself. It is purely motivated by the blessing of Him, knowing Him, possessing and being possessed by Him.

God, draw me into the joy of your presence, the sheer delight, peace and majesty of your glory. May I find my life in you and you alone. Grant that I would be so overwhelmed by your glorious beauty, majesty, holiness, and infinite perfection that it cannot be contained, that it would overflow in praise and worship, in declaration of your glory to all and in all.

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(87) The Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

Having established the fact that God’s sovereign rule is purposeful and follows a definite plan, a question arises. What motivates and guides God’s purpose and plan? Many believers would ponder for a moment and then reply that God is ultimately motivated by His love for us. Ah, the warmth and encouragement of the love of God. But this is not what ultimately motivates God. Remember, God is not man-centered, God is and must be God-centered. God does not exist and God is not motivated to do what pleases us. God exists and is motivated in His sovereign rule by what pleases Him.

For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. (Psalm 135:5-6 NAU)

As God exercises His sovereign authority over history, He does whatever Hie pleases and whatever He pleases, He does. God is governed by what pleases Him. God acts according to what pleases Him. It can be, and we should want it to be no other way. Why? Because what pleases God is the highest good, the greatest wisdom, the best plan. God can only act to advance what is perfect, holy, righteous, just, and good because that is His nature. And this is what pleases Him.

Of course this raises some perplexing questions for us. We wonder how the existence of sin and evil fit in with these truths. How can God be sovereignly controlling history according to what pleases Him and yet, sin exists and evil prevails?

We will deal with these confusing questions and see how scripture answers these questions for us in due time. But for now, we will stay focused on the clear teaching of scripture that God works all things according to the purpose and counsel of His will (Eph. 1:10-11), and according to what pleases Him (Psalm 135:6). God is sovereign over all creation, He is in control, and He is ruling according to what pleases Him. Let’s not question or alter scripture because it is confusing to us when we look at the world around us.

This is true when it comes to you and I specifically. God’s love for us and all His thoughts and actions toward us and on our behalf are ultimately motivated by what pleases Him, not what pleases us.

So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12-13 NAU)

What a fascinating passage of scripture. We are commanded to work out our salvation; to put the reality of our salvation into practice in how we live our lives. Then, we are told that God is working in our lives to this end. He is working in us to give us the will or desire, and then, He is giving us the ability. And what is all this willing and working focused on? God’s good pleasure. God is constantly at work in us so that our exclusive focus and goal in life, and all our energies are poured into His good pleasure. God is not working to satisfy our desires and do what pleases us. He is working to change our desires so we will live to do what pleases Him.

Guess what? It really is true. It is, all about Him! God exercises His absolute, sovereign rule over all creation to bring about what pleases Him. And for this, we should be eternally grateful, for what pleases Him is infinitely better than what pleases us.

For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be glory forever. Amen.

(Romans 11:36 ESV)

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.

All glory to him forever! Amen.

(Romans 11:36 NLT)

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Next:  (88) The Nature & Extent of God’s Sovereignty

(86) The Purpose of God’s Sovereignty

There have been rulers down through history who exercised a high level of sovereign control over their people. Some have been quite maddening in their capricious, aimless and foolish decisions. In glaring contrast, God’s sovereign rule is not random, erratic, or whimsical. God’s sovereignty is purposeful and intentional. He has a definite, skillfully designed and targeted plan. We touched on God’s plans and purpose when we studied the immutability of God but it bears repeating and closer scrutiny.

But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever,

the purposes of his heart through all generations.

(Psalm 33:11 NIV)

Through the parallelism of Psalm 33:11, we see both the ancient and enduring nature of God’s purposes and plans. Scripture repeatedly speaks of God’s purposes and plans as existing and being initiated in eternity past. In fact, Paul refers to God’s plan for the Cross and the Church as being part of His “eternal purpose (Ephesians 3:11).” He describes this purpose more fully in chapter one.

He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, (9)He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him. . . . (11)also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will . . . (Ephesians 1:5,9,11 NAU)

The Cross and the Church are part of God’s plan and purpose decreed from before He created anything. It is all part of God’s kind intention or purpose for the redeemed. If the Cross and the Church are part of God’s plan and purpose from before creation, so also, the fall Satan and man and the entry of sin into His creation fits within God’s ultimate plan and purpose.

Before God created, there existed in the mind of God a purpose for all He would create and a plan for that creation to fulfill His purpose. Proverbs 16:4 states this clearly, “The LORD has made everything for his own purposes. (NLT)” In their classic commentary Carl Friedrich Keil, and Franz Delitzsch clarify what this verse is teaching us.

All is made by God for its purpose, that is, a purpose premeditated by Him, the world of things and of events stands under the law of a plan, which has in God its ground and its end.

God has a perfect, wise plan and purpose for His-story that He devised in eternity past. He set in motion from before creation and He is sovereignly steering or orchestrating that plan in time.

I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose. (Isaiah 46:9-10 ESV)

God states it very clearly. In fact, He links His identity as God to the truth that He has made the end of history known from the very beginning of history. Before there was any history or even creation, all of history was established in the mind of God. He declared much of His plan for history to man and states here that all He has purposed to do in time will in fact take place. God rules with a perfect, wise, eternal purpose and plan.
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Next: (87) The Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

(85) What does it mean to say that God is sovereign?

What does it mean when we say that God is sovereign? The word sovereign sums up what scripture teaches about God’s rule and control. Scripture teaches us that God alone is the autonomous, free, independent ruler of all creation, exercising absolute control and direction over all creation. Let me break this down for you.

• God rules. When you say this, you have said nothing more than that God is in fact, God. He is King. With His all-seeing eyes and all-knowing mind, His perfect wisdom, goodness, righteousness and justice, God rules over all He created. That is, He rules over all existence outside Himself, from the dawn of creation to eternity. God rules over it all.

• God is an autonomous ruler. Autonomous comes from the Greek. It means self-law. It describes God as being self-governing, subject only to Himself and free of any other law or constraint.

• God is a free ruler. This further emphasizes God’s ability to act without external restraint. There is nothing and no one that exists that God is obligated to obey. There is no force of nature or humanity that diectates, constrains, or restrains His rule.

• God is an independent ruler. This emphasizes the truth that God is without obligation to any other person or ruler. Not only is God free to act, He is not obligated to act in anyway by some moral code outside Himself. God does not owe anyone anything He must be obliged to pay back..

• God exercises absolute control and direction. Scripture clearly teaches that there is nothing whether within Himself or in all of creation that is outside God’s control and direction. God exercises control and direction over all creation without qualification or exception.

• God rules and exercises absolute control and direction over all creation.  This includes all existence, past, present and future, in heaven and on earth. His sovereign rule and control of creation is complete and without exception to the most minute, sub-atomic detail. As theologian R.C. Sproul puts it, “There is not one stray molecule in all the universe.”

For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, He does, In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps. (Psalm 135:5-6)

All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" (Daniel 4:35 )

The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19)

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Next: (86) The Purpose & Pleasure of God’s Sovereignty

(84) The Sovereignty of God - Introduction

Let me suggest to you what I believe is one of the top ten most used but most misunderstood mantras of Christianity, “God is in control.” Christians say it when they want to find stability and encouragement in the face of frightening circumstances like the news of a serious illness. We say it when we want to believe we will make it through a tough financial time. Often, we will use it to try to bolster the confidence of a family member or friend who is hurting.

Then, there are other times we want nothing to do with this statement. For many Christians, when you are hit hard by the evil that is so prevalent in the world, we don’t quickly affirm that God is in control of the evil actions of wicked men.

And then, we don’t gravitate toward embracing God’s control when things continually don’t go the way we like. We don’t mind God being in control of everything as long as it fits with how we think things should be. We don’t mind celebrating the sovereignty of God as long as He doesn’t interfere with how we think things should go.

The sovereignty of God is possibly the most debated and easily misunderstood and misapplied of all the attributes of God. We will take this study one step at a time, relying heavily on scripture as our guide and beginning with a narrow focus on God’s sovereignty as an essential aspect of His nature. It is critical that we start with this focus on God and His nature as sovereign so as not to cloud or pollute the nature of God by thoughts of what this means to us and our supposed personal sovereignty over our own lives. In other words, we must focus on what scripture reveals about God’s sovereignty first, and later, think about what this means for us and our lives.

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all.  Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. (1 Chronicles 29:11-12 ESV)

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Next: (85) What does it mean to say the God is sovereign?

(83) The Holiness of God - Conclusion

God is holy, one-of-a-kind, infinitely unique. He is unique in every aspect of His character. He is unique in His thinking and His actions. God is so unlike us, so inhuman.

Because God is infinitely unique, so different from us, we will have to make a conscious effort to appreciate and live according to His unique character. We will always need to be careful that our view of God, His character and ways has not slipped into a man-conceived idea of who God is. We must make sure our view of God does in fact reflect who God is as revealed in the scriptures. It may seem that once we have studied the scriptures and accurately understood God’s character that this exercise would be finished. It is not. We can easily slip into viewing God in accordance with what makes sense to us. We can easily adopt the view of our culture. And in both cases we will be wrong in our view of God. When you are conscious of it, you will be surprised at how quickly and easily your view of God slips from the truth presented in scripture.

In our humanness, we will naturally think in keeping with human thinking. We will naturally think in a way that makes sense from a human point of view. We will naturally do things the way every human does things. We will not naturally think and act in keeping with God’s unique character, thinking, and ways. Our thinking and actions needs to be brought in line with God’s unique thinking and ways.

So, we must consciously strive to understand God’s unique thoughts and ways, guided by His Word and His Spirit. Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique thinking. We will think differently than most people because God thinks differently.

Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique values. We will value different things and we will have different desires than most people because God’s values are different, God’s desires are different than man’s.

Understanding and living out the holiness of God will result in unique actions. We will act differently than most people because God’s ways are different than man’s.

Living out God’s holiness means we must consciously and carefully purge our lives from anything that is contrary to the character and ways of God.

So, I ask myself, “Am I thinking man’s way or God’s way?” “Am I looking at life from man’s viewpoint or God’s?” “Are my values and actions a reflection of God’s uniqueness?” “Am I really living a holy life?”

How about you? Does your life reflect a vital relationship with the holiness of God? Are you a person living out the reality of God’s holiness? Do you look at life differently, with new purpose and passion. Are you unique because you reflect the character of God? God is holy . . . unique . . . different . . . are you? Are you exclusively His?

Prayer of Commitment:

Holy God,

I want to know you in your holiness. I want to understand your uniqueness. Reveal to me how I have lowered you to the level of mankind. Show me how my view of you is less than what you really are. I want to demonstrate your holiness in my life. Help me to see where I am like man when you have redeemed me to be like you. Change my thinking. Change my values. Change my life in every way.

Make me holy, unique as you are.

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Next:  (84) The Sovereignty of God - Introduction

(82) Exclusively His

We like to think that our lives are ours to live as we want. We don’t like other people telling us what to do, how to live our lives. We have our ideas, we make our plans, and we set out to fulfill our plans. We don’t like it when someone or something frustrates our plans. And all this thinking flies in the face of what it means to live in recognition and response to the holiness of God.

Remember, holiness has to do with difference or uniqueness. It also has to do with distinction and separation. As we have seen, God is infinitely distinct, separate from all creation. He also applies this holiness to believers.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy. (Leviticus 22:32 NAU)

At the time of salvation, God makes us holy, He sets us apart from the mass of humanity to make us His people making us different, unique. Peter explains this change and what it means very clearly.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Peter refers to believers as a “chosen race.” The Greek word is genos and refers to the offspring of a person or people group, or a nationality. This may seem peculiar to us. After all, we are all from different races. But, Peter is thinking of the fact that God has chosen people from all races to become His people, forming a new and distinct group of people. In fact, by the second century, Christians are referred to as a “new race.” Perhaps in the time that Peter was writing, Christians were already being recognized as a distinct group of people who are separate and unique among the mass of humanity.

Second, Peter refers to us as a “royal priesthood.” This could also be translated as “the king’s priests.” Here believers are viewed as both royalty and priests. This is another statement of distinction from the world. Believers are part of God’s royal family and also serve as mediators between Him and those who remain outside the family of God.

Third, we are called a “holy nation.” The word for nation here is ethnos and again refers to a distinct people group. This is a people group that is “holy.” And again we see that we have been set apart. We are a distinct group of people in the world of humanity.

Finally, we are called, “A people for God’s own possession.” Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest explains that the Greek word that is translated “possession” literally means “to make around,” that is, to make something and then to surround it with a circle, thus indicating ownership. It speaks of the unique, private, personal ownership of the saints by God. Each saint is God’s unique possession just as if that saint were the only human being in existence.

Through three unique descriptions, Peter makes it clear that believers have been placed in a new position as God’s people, His possession. We are no longer like the average human being, we are different, set apart, unique. We are now part of a new race, a new priesthood, a new nation. We are now God’s people, part of His family. And so, our lives are not ours to live as we please. We belong to God. Peter continues and explains that God has a specific purpose for us as His people.

God chose us to be His people for a very specific purpose, to “proclaim the excellencies” or praise of the one who “called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.” In other words, God made us His people so that we would live, with exclusive purpose, to give Him glory. It is a reasonable expectation that we would live exclusively for the praise and glory of God because it is God who made us His people and gave us the gift of His mercy (v.10) .

Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:14 ESV)

Christ redeemed us “for Himself”, to be God’s possession. God has separated us to Himself. We have been set apart as His people, His possession, to live for His purposes EXCLUSIVELY! God expects His people to live as people who are distinctively different, unique, and set apart from the lost world in that we live our lives exclusively for His purposes, by His design, to fulfill His desires. This it what it really means to be holy.  Holiness is not jsut about moral purity.  It is about being different.  It is about living our lives in a way that is quite unique compared to the way unbelievers live.  Being holy means living my life as a child of God, according to God's desires alone, to fulfill His plans and purposes alone, for His praise and glory alone.  Holiness is about being distinctively and uniquely God's.

So, I must ask myself, “Am I really different in my values, desires and lifestyle?” “Does my thinking, planning, and choices in life reflect a unique, distinct and all encompassing demonstration of life lived for God and His glory?” "Am I really living a holy life?"  Or, in my values, desires, and lifestyle, do I look a lot like the average unbeliever in my community? Think about it. Does God really have all of you?
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Next: (83) The Holiness of God - Conclusion

(81) Living in Response to the Holiness of God

What exactly does it mean to honor the holiness of God? What exactly does it mean for us as believers to live holy lives? In order to answer these questions accurately, we need to briefly return to a few fundamental concepts as it relates to the meaning of holiness.

Remember, we have discovered from the root meaning of the Hebrew word qodesh that holiness means to be set apart from other things to be used exclusively for God’s purposes. Holiness at its core is about uniqueness, distinction.

The holiness of God means that God is unique, truly and absolutely one of a kind, infinitely separated from all that is common or profane, different from all we know, different even than what we can conceive. Holiness is a matter of difference, distinction, and uniqueness.

To live in response to the holiness of God is to pursue His uniqueness. It involves allowing Him to move us from our humanistic thinking, values, and ways. We must be careful not to reduce God to our thinking and concepts of God. We must diligently assure that our concepts of God match with His uniqueness as revealed in the scriptures.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. (Leviticus 22:32 NAU)

When I begin to think about the awesome uniqueness of God, I am struck with a series of questions, “Do I really see God as infinitely unique?” “Do I really treat God like He is the one -and-only, unique God of all creation?” “Do I really act like He is God or do I act like He’s just a little bit better version of me?”

That last question might seem almost blasphemous, and if it was a statement and not a question, it would be. But I must be honest. Sometimes the way I treat God isn’t any better than I would expect to treat another human being who was just a bit better than me. Quite frankly, I’m not sure I treat God better than I would a human dignitary at times. Does this sound shocking to you? Then perhaps you need to take a closer look at your own heart.

Let me illustrate. If I was going to make a financial decision and I knew someone I rubbed shoulders with every day was really, really, I mean exceptionally good with financial things, I would seek his advice. If I was considering a career move and I had another close acquaintance who was clearly gifted in guiding people, and giving excellent counsel in matters like this, I would seek her out for advice. If there was someone in my life that I really held in high regard, deeply appreciated, and viewed with great respect, I would look for, excitedly anticipate, and greatly enjoy spending time with him. I would be careful not to dishonor him, hurt him, disrespect him. I would want to please him, protect him from unkindness, make him happy. I would count it a profound privilege and be greatly humbled by the honor of knowing this man and having a personal relationship with him.

Now, if I would act this way toward human beings, and I honestly believe I would, what does this say about how I act toward God who is infinitely more special, unique, one-or-a-kind? Do I deeply cherish and value Him as my Father, friend, and counselor? Do I really have a sense that it is an unspeakably profound privilege and honor to know Him and have a personal relationship with Him? Am I determined to honor Him and do I have a healthy fear of dishonoring Him? Do I act like I can disregard and ignore Him, speak little of Him or too Him, dishonor Him, disobey Him and with cavalier, indifferent casualness act like its no big deal. Would I even treat a dear friend with such callousness?

We need (I need) to continually refocus our view of God to bring it into a sharp, clear view of the holiness of God. We need to lift our eyes and see the one-and-only majestic, brilliant, marvelous, perfect, infinite, unique God of all glory. We need to see God, high and lifted up, with the awesome heavenly beings surrounding His throne crying out day and night, “Holy, holy, holy . . .”

We need to fall face down in humble worship, surrender, and absolute honor of Yahweh. Then, we need to get up, and live every moment, in every thought, and in every action to honor and glorify the Holy One.

Be filled with wonder as the people of Israel were:

Look, the LORD our God has shown us his glory and greatness, and we have heard his voice from the heart of the fire. Today we have seen that God can speak to us humans, and yet we live! (Deuteronomy 5:24 NLT)

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(80) Isaiah Is Called to Jehovah’s Service

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."

(Isaiah 6:8)

The first invitation given to the repentant and redeemed is to go and tell others of the grace that has been given. The first response of the one who has come to appreciate the glory of God’s holiness and the gift of His grace is, “Here am I, send me!”

God invites Isaiah to join Him in what He is doing. He is offered a new position. Isaiah now became a man who was separated to God. He became a servant of God; and so unique as God is unique, different from the common man who is simply living for himself.

In his new position, Isaiah has a new purpose for living as he now was filled with the passion of knowing God and glorifying Him. This is evidenced by the way Isaiah lived his life in service to God.

This is the effect the a true understanding of the holiness of God has on a believer. We see ourselves in a new position. We are no longer "of" the world. We are now separated unto God to go back into the world to declare and demonstrate His character and glory.

When we see the holiness of God, we to will have a new passion. A passion to know God, to honor and glorify God. The world's passions are position, power, pleasure, prestige. Ours is the glory of God.

What’s your passion in life. What are you really living your life for? Are you passionate about knowing God and demonstrating His glory? Of course our first reaction to these questions is to say that we are living for God, we are passionate about knowing Him, demonstrating His glory? But, could be self-deceived? Could we just be giving the answer we know we should give? Is it really true? How do you know for sure? Here’s my suggestion: follow the trail of you thoughts, time, your money, your energy. What’s at the end of the trail? This is what your life is really all about.

As believers, we have been set apart from sin, from the world, to God, to live to honor Him and His glory in everything we do.  This is the implications of holiness for the believer.  It grows out of an appreciation of the glorious holiness of God.  Do you find yourself lacking in passion for God and His glory?  Get a fresh vision of the holiness of God.  Meditate on how infinitely unique He is.  Meditate on His majesty and beauty.  Behold His glory as Isaiah did and you will see yourself in a new position with a new passion for God.
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Next:  (81) Living in Response to the Holiness of God

(79) Isaiah Is Redeemed by Jehovah’s Grace

What happened when Isaiah saw the holiness of God and his wretched condition? Was there silence in Heaven for a moment? I can only imagine if I were in his place what would be going on in my mind. The words already expressed would continue to resonate in my head. My heart pounds. Tears flow freely from my eyes. I shake my head in complete bewilderment . . . with my own sinfulness. The thoughts that go through my mind . . . “O God, I am so unworthy to be in your presence. This is too much to bear. Your holiness! My sin! O God, forgive me. Have mercy on me. I have nothing to offer, nothing to claim. No explanations. No excuses. I am guilty! Woe is me! Take my life. I deserve no less.”

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.

“Your guilt is taken away. Your sin is atoned for.” Glorious, gracious redemption! Ruined and broken and hopeless before the majesty and holiness of God one moment. Redeemed and forgiven the next. All this as a free gift given at God’s initiative by His grace. The most beautiful words a sinner could ever hear in the presence of the burning glorious holiness of God: “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

When Isaiah was confronted with the holiness of God he was changed. He received a new purity from God. He was humbled by his impurity in the face of the holiness of God and bowed in repentance. God cleansed him. Isaiah was now set apart from sin. Isaiah had identified with the sinfulness of the nation. Now, God set him apart from the people as one who was now redeemed, one who was holy.

It is only when you see the glory of God’s holiness and the ugliness of your sin that you come to fully appreciate the glory of God’s grace. When you see the glory of God’s holiness you realize that it is only by an unmerited, unwarranted gift of God’s grace that you can stand before His holiness.
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Next: (80) Isaiah Is Called to Jehovah’s Service

(78) Encountering the Holiness of God -2

Somehow, though engulfed in the unspeakable glory of God’s holy presence, somehow, Isaiah speaks. Isaiah responds to his encounter with the awesome holiness of God.

“Woe is me!” “I am lost!” “I am ruined!”

I believe we could paraphrase it this way, “God’s gonna kill me! That’s the only possible explanation for why I’m seeing this glorious sight. You can’t see God’s glory and live. God’s gonna kill me!”

Just a moment in the presence of the glorious, holy, God of glory will bring you to your knees before Him in complete brokenness and humility. Why?

“ I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips”

When we see how glorious He really is, we see how corrupt, sinful, unworthy, and defiled we are. We see the damning difference. A moment in the presence of God’s absolute holiness leads you to realize your great wickedness. We are corrupt and defiled by just the words we speak.

“my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

Isaiah knows who he has seen. The King of all kings. Yahweh, the one and only true God. God of all Gods. The ruler of all the peoples and armies of the universe. Holy God.

When Isaiah was confronted with the holiness of God he was changed. He gained a new perspective on God and on himself. He was overwhelmed with the glorious holiness or God. He realized that God is different, far different than our grandest thoughts. He also realized how unworthy he was to be in God’s presence. He realized how unworthy he was to open his lips to join in the praise of God. He was a common man. He was a sinner.

When you encounter the glory, majesty, and holiness of God it has a deeply profound impact on you. We need a fresh encounter like this everyday so that we might free ourselves of the humanly conceived and inadequate view of God that so easily clouds our minds. We need to see the glorious holiness of God. We need to beg God to give us a glimpse of His glory. Just a glimpse like Isaiah had so that we might be changed as he was.

We need to see this glory so that we will see our own sin and unworthiness before God. We need to be broken. We need to be brought to true repentance. We need to be driven to passion for God, His glory, holiness.

Glorious, infinitely holy God,

Words cannot express how glorious you are.

You are the one and only.

You alone are God.

I am left speechless before your glory.

I am humbled by your glory.

I beg your mercy . . . your forgiveness.

Ignite in me a passion . . . a burning, unquenchable passion for your glory.

You are so worthy of every breath that I breathe.

You are so worthy of every beat of my heart.

Take them, they are yours.

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Next:  (79) Isaiah Is Redeemed by Jehovah’s Grace

(77) Encountering the Holiness of God - 1

In Isaiah six, we read of one of the most amazing encounters with the holiness of God vividly displayed to man. You are probably familiar with this passage. Let me encourage you to slowly and carefully read it with fresh eyes and a heart to fully appreciate the scene before us here.

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. (2) 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. (3) And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" (4) And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. (5) 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!" (6) Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. (7) And he touched my mouth and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for. (8) 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." (Isaiah 6:1-8 ESV)

What did Isaiah see? Though words are clearly inadequate to answer that question, they are all we have. But as we consider this scene, try to get an appreciation of it in your imagination.

In verse one, Isaiah says he saw the Lord. The Hebrew word here is Adonay. It describes God as master, lord, king, and sovereign one. It is used only of God and so is a title of the true God with a focus on His majesty and authority. (Dictionary of Biblical Languages – Adapted)

Isaiah saw the Lord “sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up.” He sits as sovereign King over all creation, exalted far above all lesser human authorities and kings.

“The train of his robe filled the temple” The train here signifies splendor, beauty, and majesty. The whole temple is filled with the display of the splendor and majesty of the King of kings!

“ 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. ” These beings may only be seen by Isaiah here. The seraphim worship and serve before the throne of the King in complete humility. John Piper describes this scene so beautifully.

Not even seraphs can look upon the Lord nor do they feel worthy even to leave their feet exposed in his presence. Great and good as they are, untainted by human sin, they revere their Maker in great humility. An angel terrifies a man with his brilliance and power. But angels themselves hide in holy fear and reverence from the splendor of God. How much more will we shudder and quake in his presence who cannot even endure the splendor of his angels!

“And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"”

From what can you separate God to make him holy? The very god-ness of God means that he is separate from all that is not God. There is an infinite qualitative difference between Creator and creature. God is one of a kind. In a class by himself. In that sense he is utterly holy. But then you have said no more than that he is God. – John Piper

Here, the word LORD is the unique name of God, Yahweh or Jehovah. This King who sits enthroned in breath-taking beauty, splendor, and majesty is the one and only God, Yahweh. He is identified as “Yahweh of armies” emphasizing God’s absolute power and authority. He is the sovereign ruler over the heavenly armies.

Isaiah is seeing the one-and-only, one-of-a-kind, unique, holy, sovereign, majestic King of all creation. So great is His splendor, the angels declare that His glory fills the entire earth. It is unimaginable glory!

“And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. ” The King of glory is awesome in the display of His power, causing the entire temple to shake at the declaration of His glory. The King is glorious in the display of His presence. God demonstrated His presence to Israel through a cloud and smoke (Exodus, wilderness, Tabernacle, Temple). Here it fills the throne room of God. The throne room of God is an overwhelming, incredible display of glory that is absolutely staggering.

Can you imagine the cacophony of emotions and reactions that must have engulfed Isaiah?  Can you imagine being there yourself, encountering the overwhelmingly majestic and glorious vision of God's glory? Amazement, wonder, reverence, fear, terror, speechlessness, conviction, humility, worship, adoration. This is what happens when man comes face to face with a veiled display of God holiness. Have you encountered the holiness of God?

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Next:  (78) Encountering the Holiness of God - 2

(76) “I will be treated as holy!”

As we have seen from several passages of scripture related to the holiness of God, there is a very clear emphasis on uniqueness. God is unique, distinct in all He is. His nature is unique, His thoughts are unique, His ways are unique, His power is unique, His presence is unique. We could go on & on! God is the one! The only one. God is all that!

Who indeed is like Him . . . majestic in Holiness? There is no one holy like the Lord! What God is like our God? “To whom should you liken me that I should be his equal” says the Holy One!”

We have seen that God takes holiness seriously. We now discover that God takes the worship, honor, and protection of His holiness very seriously.

Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. (Leviticus 22:32 NIV)

You remember when Aaron’s two sons were struck dead by God while serving in the Tabernacle? We are told that they offered “unauthorized” or “strange” fire before the Lord. We don’t know exactly what their error was, but we do know it was not in keeping with God’s commands. We do know that fire from the Holy Place instantly incinerated them. We also know why God responded so quickly and so strongly.

Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored."' So Aaron, therefore, kept silent. (Leviticus 10:3 NAU)

Nadab and Abihu had dishonored God. They treated God and His commands as though they were unimportant or optional. They disregarded God and His instruction on how to worship Him. They thought they could approach God and worship Him however they wanted to. They lowered God to their level. They failed to view God as holy. And God took their lives.

This is not the only time we see God punishing His people because they did not honor His holiness. In fact, the profaning of God’s holiness was the chief sin that resulted in Israel being taken into captivity. God explains this through the prophet Exekiel. As you read these verses, notice that Israel had “profaned” or treated as common God and His commands. Notice also how strongly God reacts to this and His passion that He be seen as the holy, unique, one-and-only God.

The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, when the house of Israel lived in their own land, they defiled it by their ways and their deeds. Their ways before me were like the uncleanness of a woman in her menstrual impurity. So I poured out my wrath upon them for the blood that they had shed in the land, for the idols with which they had defiled it. I scattered them among the nations, and they were dispersed through the countries. In accordance with their ways and their deeds I judged them. But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned my holy name, in that people said of them, 'These are the people of the LORD, and yet they had to go out of his land.' But I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. "Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the LORD, declares the Lord GOD, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. (Ezekiel 36:16-23 ESV)

God is intense about being regarded, responded to, and worshiped as holy. He cannot be seen or treated like any other being for He is unique. He is majestic and highly exalted in infinite uniqueness. When He is not treated as holy, He will act to make it crystal clear that He alone is God and there is no other.

God is God and we dare not treat Him as anything but infinitely unique, highly exalted, one-of-a-kind. We dare not think we can approach Him and treat Him any way we see fit. We must guard against irreverent or ignoble thoughts of God. We must be passionate about seeing Him as He truly is as revealed in scripture, not a product of our human reasoning in our puny minds. Who is your God?

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(75) The Importance of Holiness

Holiness is of great significance to God. Why? Because it is the one attribute of His character that describes Him more than any other. It is the one attribute that receives the greatest attention in scripture, and in Heaven. Let’s take a journey into the future and look at vignette of a scene that will be played throughout eternity.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this." At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads.

From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The 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. Each 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." Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (Revelation 4:1-11 NAU)

Glory! I can’t wait to be part of this glorious celebration and worship of the God of infinite majesty and glory! And what will be the focus of this worship for all eternity? The holiness of God. That’s right, holiness. Notice, the continual antiphonal worship of the angelic hosts of Heaven will keep the focus of all eternity on the holiness of God. Why? Because the holiness of God distinguishes Him as the one who is infinitely different, distinct, and unique. All that He is in His character He is in a way that is unlike any other.

"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11 NAU)

"There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. (1 Samuel 2:2 NAU)

Your way, O God, is holy; What god is great like our God? (Psalm 77:13 NAU)

"To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?" says the Holy One. (Isaiah 40:25 NAU)

O LORD my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. (Psalms 40:5 NLT)

God is God. There is no other. There is no one who remotely begins to compare with His infinite, glorious greatness. He is in absolute truth, one-of-a-kind. He is indescribable, incomparable, great, awesome, infinite, unfathomable glory. There is no other. God is so infinitely unique man can only just begin to understand all that is involved in the depth of who He is.

This is what it means to say that God is holy. This is the importance of holiness. In all of the other attributes of God that we could name, He is holy, unique, different that all others. He is holy in His power, knowledge, righteousness, love, grace, mercy. Yes, in all His being, He is holy, He is infinitely different and unique.

(74) The Holiness of Things

Before we look more closely at the depth of meaning and significance of God’s holiness, it will be helpful for us to look a bit more closely at the basic, root meaning of holiness as it is revealed in its usage in scripture. For this, we must take a deeper look at how scripture uses holiness to relate to and describe things like wood, metal, fabric and other very common, insignificantly ordinary, everyday objects.

When we look at scripture, we find something very fascinating. For example, we find some wood that might be sitting in a pile just like all the other wood a carpenter might use to make a table. The next day, that wood is holy. Why? Because that wood was donated to be use in the building of the Tabernacle. It was dedicated to the Lord. This is true for a number of plain, ordinary objects that had no distinctiveness but when they were dedicated to the building of the Tabernacle, making it’s furniture, or the objects used in worship at the Tabernacle, they became holy. They were now different, set apart from other wood, fabric, metal, grain, animals, etc. They were now unique. And God took this holiness very, very seriously.

As we consider the following scriptures and their meaning, keep in mind that we are laying a foundation for understanding that holiness is far more than moral purity. All this lays a foundation for understanding the holiness of God. All of this is critical to gaining a fully appreciate the holiness of God and worship Him as He deserves.

First, notice that God commanded the priests accountable for maintaining and protecting the holiness of the things that were dedicated to be used in worship.

They [priests] shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean. (Ezekiel 44:23 ESV)

Notice in this verse, we are reminded that holiness is a matter of difference, distinction, and uniqueness. God is intent on teaching His people that holiness is about recognizing and maintaining distinctiveness, uniqueness, and exclusivity. In fact, God takes this so seriously that He held the person who did not treat this seriously as guilty and under punishment – even if they didn’t mean to!

"If a person acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against the LORD'S holy things, then he shall bring his guilt offering to the LORD: a ram without defect from the flock, . . ..  "He shall make restitution for that which he has sinned against the holy thing. (Leviticus 5:15-16 NAU)

God takes this so seriously, that He cites it as one of the reasons He was sending the sinful nation of Israel into exile.

"Son of man, say to her [Israel]: 'You are a land that receives no rain or showers in the day of my anger.' . . . (26) Her priests abuse my law and have desecrated my holy things. They do not distinguish between the holy and the profane, or recognize any distinction between the unclean and the clean. (Ezekiel 22:23-24,26 NAU)

So, what do we learn from all this? We learn that God really takes these things seriously. God is unwaveringly serious about holiness. When God says something is set apart to Him, He means it. When God says something is to be treated as unique, to be treated differently than all else, He isn’t playing around. We learn that God demands that the distinction and separation be maintained between the holy, that which is set apart to glorify Him as holy, from the common. This isn’t just a religious, ceremonial formality. This is real, this is serious, this is demanded by God. To God, holiness is definitely not something to be taken lightly.

Next:  (75) The Importance of Holiness

(73) The Holiness of God - Introduction

Every once in a while, out of the sea of ordinary humanity, someone extraordinary emerges. As I contemplate history, some of the extraordinary people that come to mind include Augustine of Hippo, John Hus, John Wycliff, John Knox, John Calvin (I'm thinking about changing my name to John!), Martin Luther. As I think of individuals in modern history, I think of Abraham Lincoln, William Wilberforce, Charles Spurgeon, John Gresham Machen, Billy Graham, B. B. Warfield, J.I. Packer, A.W. Tozer, Martin Luther King Jr.. Currently, some of my picks would be John Piper, Al Mohler Jr., Millard Erickson, John MacArthur and others.

But each of these have one major thing in common. They are all common human beings. The similarities they have with the great sea of humanity far surpass the uniqueness of their splash in the ripples of time and human existence.

In Stark contrast to all of humanity is God. God is infinitely unique, one of a kind in every respect. This is what the essence of holiness is all about.

When we think of holiness, many believers think immediately of moral purity and the absence of sin. This is one aspect of holiness, but it is not the full picture.

It is in the Old Testament that we see the glory of God’s holiness unfold. The Hebrew word that is translated “holiness” is qodesh. The basic meaning of this word refers to being “marked off, withdrawn from common ordinary use” or “to separate.” Before we can understand holiness as it relates to God, we need to get a solid understanding of this concept through it’s usage in the Old Testament. As we look at this usage, an important emphasis emerges. Consider the following chart listing the usage of qodesh to describe people or things as “holy”.
 

This chart doesn’t quite fit with our traditional idea that holiness is simply a matter of moral purity. God is morally pure. People can be morally pure. But ground? Things? And why are there over three times as many references to inanimate objects rather than to God or people? Because holiness is broader than moral purity.

Qodesh is used overwhelmingly to speak of a thing or place (tabernacle, ground) that God designated or had made (articles, clothes, etc. for the Tabernacle) to be set apart from other things to be used exclusively for His purposes. Holiness at its core is about uniqueness, distinction.

With this root meaning of qodesh in mind we get a better understanding of the holiness of God. The holiness of God means that God is unique, truly and absolutely one of a kind, infinitely separated from all that is common or profane, different from all we know, different even than what we can conceive. God is so infinitely unique, so different, so one of a kind, that you and I cannot begin to understand all that is involved in His glorious character.

"To whom then will you liken Me That I should be his equal?"

says the Holy One.

(Isaiah 40:25 NAU)

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