Follow Up with Clay - 11.20.24

The Emperor Has No Clothes:

Many telling of this tale… A king who cared more about stuff than governing people. In the story weavers were called and swindled the king but getting him to believe they were offering him the most magnificent clothed that were Invisible to stupid people, unfit to appreciate their magnificence. This was perfect the king believed. He could be clothed in majesty and expose unfit people.

He commissioned the project. He sent honest men to check on project. Since there was nothing there, they couldn’t see, but pretended they could. Why? They didn’t want to be labeled unfit.

Finally clothing delivered. Well, the fake clothes were delivered. Although the King couldn’t see anything, he knew himself to be awesome and worthy so he pretended that he could see.

No one wanted to be labeled so everyone around him bragged on the beauty of the new wardrobe.

He got “dressed” and began to parade himself around town. Everyone had heard and so everyone pretended to adore his outfit with oohs and ahhs.

Eventually, he Came by a kid that hadn’t gotten the memo and pointe out that the king was wearing nothing. The kid warned to stop but kept repeating. Thus, the truth spread throughout the town. Everyone was exposed for their stupidity, vanity, and self-deception.

We can so often read stories from God’s Word and look at others and we miss the opportunity to be challenged, corrected, and changed.

The Bible is more than recorded history. It is recorded history with a redemptive purpose. Don’t miss it.

ISAIAH: 

Famous for the prophesies and detailed pictures of the Suffering Servant (Jesus). Despite being 700 years before Jesus, he depicted very accurately that he would be despised, rejected, and acquainted with grief.

Isaiah 53:4-5, Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.

I want to draw our lesson from a different section of Isaiah.

Chapters 5-6

Written during a time of moral decline. A time when God would soon use the enemies of His people to bring judgement. Jerusalem would be destroyed, many would be killed, and others carried off as slaves.

• Chapter 5:

• Picture of a beautiful vineyard. Most fertile land chosen. 
• Stones removed so that roots can move freely.
• Protection provided around the perimeter.
• The winepress was readied and the perfect vine brought in to begin.
• Everything had been done; a erfect opportunity for success.

That picture comes from Isaiah 5 (Israel). Could that also be aa picture of America about 250 years ago?

New land and opportunity. Founders and leaders who recognized God and were willing to seek His guidance.

A new system of government designed to protect worship.

• Chapter 6:

• 740 B.C. (King Uzziah’s death) A time of prosperity and peace.
• The people had the appearance of being religious, but they were going through the motions.
• The king died leading to chaos, worry, and wonder about future.

Isaiah given an amazing glimpse of God on the throne, a supernatural ability to see into the spiritual realm.

Isaiah 6:1-4, 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. 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. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy (His holiness can’t be measured) is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of Him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.

What would it be like to come face to face with God? As the song says would I sing, speak at all, dance, or stand at all.

Isaiah thought he might die. Being in the presence of God’s holiness he couldn’t help but recognize his own sin.

Verse 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!”

Unclean lips: We can’t even speak as we should to each other or God. We don’t deserve to offer prayers, to worship, or to offer testimony. All we deserve is death and hell.

But the Lord is gracious and compassionate….

Verse 6-7, 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.”

His sin, guilt, shame, and penalty were all ll removed. That is what Isaiah experienced and that is his message to us.

• We must recognize sin for what it is.
• We must be broken by what sin has done.
• We must trust God to take it all away and He does so through Jesus.

LESSON: No matter what chaos we face in this world or within ourselves, God is still on His throne.

Your response would be to fall on your face with fear and trembling. Join the heavenly beings in worshipping Him. Experience His grace and mercy.

Questions:

• When do you most feel like you are in God’s presence?
• What will it take for you to realize that you are always in God’s presence?
• How can we pray for you?
• Who do you know that needs this group?

Next Week: Thanksgiving