He is High and Lifted Up!
Jefferis Peterson / wimberleychristianchurch.com 12.1.2024
The Majesty of Our God
Isaiah 6:1–5 (ESV)
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!” 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!”
Our focus is man centered instead of God centered. As such we focus on what we do and what we can do, instead of on what God has done for us.
And our faith is hindered because we are weak and miserable creatures, and all our labors are as “filthy rags” as Paul calls them.
But Paul’s focus is different…
Ephesians 3:7–13 (ESV)
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of HIS POWER.
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,
so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through his faith.
Paul was called, he did not choose to be an apostle. In fact, he railed against the Lord Jesus with all his might.
Ephesians 1:11 (ESV)
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
Ephesians 3:14–21 (ESV)
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through HIS Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
If we want to be whom God as called us to be, we need to rely upon Him and his power in us. Not on our own strength.
Indeed, even Jesus, in his human nature said,
John 5:30 ““I can do nothing on my own… .”John 5:19
John 5:19 ESV
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
And it is the same for us:
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
Paul calls the attempts to perfect ourselves or become righteous by effort works of the flesh and even worse: witchcraft.
Galatians 3:1–6 “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?”
The word “flesh” in the negative sense in scripture means: self reliance and a independent self will. Like when Adam decided for himself what was right and wrong instead of listening to the Word of God.
So, we are not to focus on ourselves in our attempts to be found righteous. Rather we are to keep our gaze firmly fixed upon Jesus who is our righteousness, our peace, and our sanctification.
1 Corinthians 1:30–31 “And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.””
2 Corinthians 3:16–18 ESV
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.