Following Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, he appears to the disciples and gives them an incredible mission that has continued to this day:
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end
of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20
The great commission reminds us that bringing the Gospel to the nations is part of what we have been called to as Christians. It is only in the light of our great salvation that we are called to go,
so this morning let’s allow Isaiah 6 to help us remember the holiness of the Lord and the holiness
we have in Christ.
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 is the Lord of Hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” Isaiah 6:1–3
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord, God Almighty!
Words by Reginald Heber (1826); Music John B. Dykes (1861)
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert, and art, and evermore shall be.
Holy, holy, holy! Tho’ the darkness hide Thee,
Tho’ the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, in purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy Name, in earth, and sky, and sea;
Holy, holy, holy; merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 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!”
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.” Isaiah 6:4–7
Lord, I Need You
Words and Music by Christy Nockels, Daniel Carson, Jesse Reeves, Kristian Stanfill, Matt Maher
© 2011 sixsteps Music, Sweater Weather Music, Thankyou Music, Valley Of Songs Music, worshiptogether.com songs
Lord I come I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
And without you I fall apart
You're the one that guides my heart
Lord I need you oh I need you
Ev’ry hour I need you
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need you
Where sin runs deep your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where you are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
Where you are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
So teach my song to rise to you
When temptation comes my way
And when I cannot stand I’ll fall on you
Jesus you’re my hope and stay
And when I cannot stand I'll fall on you
Jesus you're my hope and stay
Lord I need you oh I need you
Ev’ry hour I need you
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need you
LEADER:
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said,
CONGREGATION:
“Here am I! Send me.”
Isaiah 6:8
Paul has similar thoughts to Isaiah concerning the Lord sending us out:
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:8–17
For the Cause
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
© 2016 Getty Music Publishing and Townend Songs
For the cause of Christ the King
We give our lives, an offering
’Til all the earth resounds
With ceaseless praise to the Son
For the cause of Christ we go
With joy to reap, with faith to sow
As many see and many put their trust in the Son
Christ we proclaim,
The Name above every name:
For all creation, ev’ry nation,
God’s salvation through the Son!
For the King once lifted high
To cries of rage, of ‘crucify!’
Endured the cross as every sin was laid on the Son
To the King who conquered death
To free the poor and the oppressed
For lasting peace
For life and liberty in the Son
Let it be my life’s refrain:
To live is Christ, to die is gain;
Deny myself, take up my cross
And follow the Son
Offering Prayer
Offertory:
I Have Decided To Follow Jesus (instrumental)Tune: Traditional Indian Tune, ASSAM
Prayer of Illumination
Lord, open our hearts and minds by the power of your Holy Spirit, that, as the Scriptures are read and your Word proclaimed, we may hear with joy what you say to us today. Amen.
Sermon
The Lord’s Supper
[instrumental music played or congregational singing]
The Mystery of the Faith
And so, in remembrance of these your mighty acts in Jesus Christ, we offer ourselves in praise and thanksgiving as a holy and living sacrifice, in union with Christ's offering for us, as we proclaim the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again!
For the Cause (reprise)
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
© 2016 Getty Music Publishing and Townend Songs
For the cause of Christ the King
We give our lives, an offering
’Til all the earth resounds
With ceaseless praise to the Son
For the cause of Christ we go
With joy to reap, with faith to sow
As many see
And many put their trust in the Son
Christ we proclaim,
The Name above every name:
For all creation, ev’ry nation,
God’s salvation through the Son!
Let it be my life’s refrain:
To live is Christ, to die is gain;
Deny myself, take up my cross
And follow the Son
Benediction
Let us go forth in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We will make disciples of all nations. We will baptize and teach them of our God. Encouraging them to obey all that he has commanded. Remember that Jesus is with you to the end of the age. Amen.