The sermon, delivered by Michael Templeton, explores the profound and challenging concept of the holiness of God. Templeton emphasizes that the term 'holy' signifies separation and distinction from the common or secular. He explains that God's holiness is intrinsic and incomparable, highlighting God's separation from all that is not divine. Using scriptural references from Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Revelation, the sermon illustrates visions of God's holiness and majesty. The repeated phrase 'Holy, Holy, Holy' underlines God's transcendent holiness. Templeton asserts that meditating on God's holiness has practical implications, aiding in the mortification of sin and encouraging a more obedient and circumspect walk with God. He encourages deeper contemplation and seeking of God to gain a more profound understanding of His holiness.

It's a pleasure to be back with you. Although I was thinking about thinking Mike and Scott and Paul But then I started studying for the holiness of God and it's been a blessing, but definitely one of the more challenging things for me to think about and study for. So thanks, I think. Following quote, and then I'll ask for God's help. This following quote captures how I've felt each time that I've thought and prepared for our time together to talk about the holiness of God.

The word holy is the little boat in which we reach the world's end in the ocean of language. The possibilities of language to carry the meaning of God eventually run out and spill over the edge of the world into a vast unknown. Holiness carries us to the brink, and from there on the experience of God is beyond words. So that quote really hits the nail on the head for me as I've thought and studied about the holiness of God. So, as much as always, maybe more than ever, let's ask for God's help again.

Holy, Holy, holy are you, Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of your glory. Please come and give us a sense of that. No matter what it cost us, give us a sense of your holiness. You know, this is the best medicine for our souls, to have a greater sense of what it means to say that you, Almighty God, are holy.

We ask for your help, for the sake and the glory of your name. Amen. So what does it mean for God to be holy? I'm gonna give maybe eight, ten minutes of some introductory comments and then we're gonna read a bunch of Scripture. I felt safe going to visions of God in Scripture and talking about God's holiness than trying to sit around and pontificate or philosophize about what does it mean for God to be holy.

When I think about, and the first eight or ten minutes is not original content, so I don't take credit for it. I can give you the source after this not really important right now But I definitely wanted you to know this is not my original thinking. When I think about what does it mean to say that God is holy, I end up simply thinking that that God is is God. If you if you think about the the root meaning of Holy the root is to cut or to separate it's a it's a distinction from the common or secular. A holy thing is cut off and separated from the common or secular things.

Just looking at the word holy, just the bare root of the word. Almost anything can become holy if it's separated from the common and devoted to God. We see multiple examples of this in Scripture. We see the Bible referring to holy ground and Exodus. In Exodus we also see the Bible referring to holy assemblies.

We also see the Bible referring to holy Sabbaths, a holy nation, holy garments, a holy city, holy promises, holy men and women, Holy scriptures, even holy hands, and a holy kiss. And lastly, holy faith. It's not the whole sum of the use of the word holy, but it gives us an idea of how broad holy could be used in Scripture. Makes it challenging when we put it on God in thinking about what does it mean to say that God is holy? But notice what happens when this definition of holy is is applied to God himself From From what can you separate God to make Him holy?

It's not hard for us to think about you or I or hands or feet. What are you going to separate God from to make Him holy? The very godness of God means that He is separate from all that is not God. There is an infinite difference between creator and creature God is one of a kind He's in a class by himself So in that sense we would say probably more accurately that God is utterly holy But then but then what we what have we said more than Then then he's God When we think about calling God holy Or if you think about the holiness of man Deriving from being separated from the world and devoted to God to whom is God devoted so as to derive his holiness to no one but himself. It would actually be blasphemy to say there's a higher reality than God to which he, God, must conform in order to be holy.

God is the absolute reality beyond which is only more of God. When asked for his name in Exodus, he said, I am who I am. God's being and character are utterly undetermined by anything outside of himself. God is not holy because he keeps the rules. Kids, do you get that?

God's not holy because he keeps the rules. Because he wrote the rules. God's not holy because he keeps the law either. The law itself is holy because it reveals more of who God is. God is absolute and everything else is derivative.

So what then is His holiness? I hope you're getting a sense of the challenge to think about something when Mike asked me to come and do the extended teaching, sure, holiness of God. And you start to try to prepare for it, and what have I got myself into? But I'm glad I did. What then is His holiness?

The safest place to go is to Scripture. In 1 Samuel we read, There is none holy like the Lord. There is none besides Thee. In Isaiah chapter 40, To whom then will you compare me that I should be like him, says the Holy One? Hosea, I am God and not man, the Holy One, in your midst.

In the end, God is holy, and that he is God and not man He is in comparable his holiness is His utterly unique divine essence It determines all that he is and does and and is determined by no one His holiness is what He is as God which no one else is or ever will be call it call it his majesty his divinity His greatness his value as the pearl of great price In the end language runs out just where we started at the beginning in the word holy we have sailed to the world's end in the utter silence of reverence and wonder and all There may yet be more to know of God, but that will be beyond words. The Lord is in his holy temple, Habakkuk writes. Let all the earth keep silence before him. And so with that introduction I want to go now and continue going up to the end of the world if you will in terms of the world and its language and look into places in Scripture, particularly three visions of God, where we see a glimpse of what does it even mean to call God holy? And I'm sure you could guess the first one, it's Isaiah chapter 6.

So let's turn to Isaiah chapter 6 together. In Isaiah chapter 6, the other two places, I'm going to read them slowly and thoughtfully. And I'd rather, I can't tell you, I can encourage you not to turn there, but Isaiah I want you to turn to because we're going to go down through Isaiah verse by verse. But we're going to look at Ezekiel, and we're also going to go to Revelation and look at visions of God and His glory that these men wrote about. I'm going to read Isaiah chapter 6, read verses 1 through 8.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above it stood Seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts!

The whole earth is full of his glory, and the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. With smoke and so I said Woe is me for I am undone because I am a man of unclean lips and and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts. And then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and said, Behold, this has touched your lips. Your iniquity is taken away, and your sin purged.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? And then I said, Here am I, send me. We'll stop there in Isaiah. Just going down through this, some phrases that I pulled out, five particular phrases, I Saw the Lord sitting on a throne high and lifted up I I believe and for me in connecting this to my Savior and that He became incarnate and lived and died and rose again, to see this and to read this, and then to have the Gospel of John in chapter 12 tell us this is the pre-incarnate Son of God blew me away. That was something new for me.

I've grown up hearing this passage many times, never once connecting it to the second person of the Trinity. But we should think about Jesus when we read this, humbling Himself. But here in his pre-incarnate position, sitting on a throne high and lifted up, honored, ruling, reigning, sovereign, exalted authority over everything. Exalted authority over everything. And next it talks about the train of his robe filling the temple still in chapter 1, I mean verse 1.

The train of his robe filling the temple. Not sure exactly what temple Isaiah is seeing God in, but if you've ever seen any royal pageantry the British got this down really good and these long-flowing trains that you see oftentimes associated with with weddings or other things pale in comparison or robes to what we're seeing here this the train of of of God's robe filling the temple just giving a weighty and majestic sense of how glorious he is. This is a proper use of the word awesome. Drives me bananas to hear. I'm getting on my kids often when they refer to certain things being awesome and like if we don't reserve language For appropriate things.

This is awesome Not the other rubbish that you'll call awesome. Let's let's work on that Let's use the word awesome for things that do provoke genuine awe in us. Exalted, heavenly awe. It Goes on to say Isaiah goes on to say that above it above the throne stood seraphim The point the point Isaiah is writing. It's it's not for us to get caught up in these incredible creatures.

They are incredible. And we're going to read about some even more incredible descriptions in Ezekiel. These had to be incredible creatures because of their position and what they were doing. But the point is not how incredible they are, but how even more incredible the God is that they're worshiping if you have any sense of of all or wonder when you're reading about those attending to God It should make you be like if I'm in awe of what's attending to God creatures attending to my God how much more glorious is the God that they're attending to says the post of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out. The seraphim having six wings, two of them covering their face so as not to even look upon the presence of this holy God.

The other two covering their feet Makes me think of God interacting with With Abraham, what did what did he tell him? I'm sorry Moses Take off your your shoes you're standing on holy ground So these these incredible creatures I would imagine if we saw these creatures, it would strike an incredible amount of fear and awe in us. And as much as it would provoke that kind of response in us, here they are covering their faces and covering their feet because of the presence of the one that they're in and then we get to what their cry was their their cry is holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts You guys are going through John just like we are. And I know you've heard the phrase, verily, verily, or Truly, truly, right? Have you come across that a few times already?

What's what's the point? Why is why does Jesus talk that way? Any of you kids want to venture an answer? Why does Jesus talk that way? Why does he say the same word?

Amen, amen. What's he trying to do? Any brave soul? Emphasis, right? He's wanting to draw our attention.

Like, I'm going to say something really important amen amen he doesn't even wait you know for the disciples we should preach that way we should say I mean get the amen on the front end right but we're not we're not Jesus so we wait on the Amen after the preaching is said, after we say something. But Jesus drawing emphasis to what He's going to say. And here we have a very unique three-time repetition, driving home the point of the emphasis on God's Transcendent holiness, holy holy Holy is the Lord of Host Isaiah writes Then he goes on and he says, the whole earth is full of his glory. One writer talks about God's glory as if God's holiness going public. I thought that was really helpful for me.

God's glory is God's holiness going public. And so we should wake up every day, we should walk out of this building and and be in awe of the glory of God. Scripture tells us the whole earth is full of the glory of our great God. So, now I'm going to switch gears and go to Ezekiel. And I would prefer that you just listen.

Just listen and let your mind be carried to heights of glory as we listen to the vision that Ezekiel has of God. And I'll ask you to do the same thing when we get to Revelation But for reference if you want to go back and look at it after the fact It's Ezekiel chapter 1. I will skip a few verses for the sake of time, but I'm gonna read a fair a fair chunk of it. So listen to what the prophet Ezekiel writes and again you may be saying well I can stand up there and read scripture Michael I know you can But as I studied and thought and prayed, Lord, what would you have for me to say to communicate what it means for you to be holy? This was the safest place for me to go, and to draw your attention to visions of infallible inspired Scripture of what God in His glory is like.

And this section in Ezekiel, the section in Ezekiel is really more about God's attendance his that you know what he's sitting on and so all the more just like the seraphim in Isaiah chapter 6 who if we saw them and encountered them, we'd probably drop dead out of fright covering their eyes and their faces and their feet because of the holiness of the God that they were attending. Let us have a sense of the same awe as we read and as you listen to Ezekiel's vision. The heavens were opened, Ezekiel writes, and I saw visions of God. And then I looked and behold a whirlwind was coming out of the north a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber Out of the midst of the fire also from within it came the likeness of Four living creatures and this was their appearance They had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces and each one had four wings.

Their legs were straight and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves' feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides, and each of the four faces had faces and wings. Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went but each one went straight forward as For the likeness of their faces each had the face of a man each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side and each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side and each of the four had the face of an eagle.

Thus were their faces, their wings stretched upward, two wings of each one touched one another and two covered their bodies and Each one went straight forward They went wherever the spirit wanted to go and they did not turn when they went as for the likeness of the living creatures Their appearance was like burning coals of fire Like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures The fire was bright and out of the fire went lightning, and the living creatures ran back and forth in appearance like a flash of lightning. The likeness of the firmament above the Heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal Stretched out over their heads and under the firmament their wings spread out straight One toward another each one had Two which covered one side each one had two which covered the other side of the body When they went I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of many waters like the voice of the Almighty a tumult like the noise of an army and When they stood still they let down their wings We're just talking about his attendance this is just the attendance of God verse 25 a voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads whenever they stood they let down their wings and above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne.

In appearance, like a sapphire stone, on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also, from the appearance of his waist and upward I saw as it were the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it and From the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire with brightness all around, like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day. So was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord and similar to Isaiah, Ezekiel writes, when I saw it I fell on my face and I heard a voice of one speaking." In Revelation, listen to another glimpse that John gets in Revelation, maybe one more familiar to you. I'm going to read some out of chapter 1 and chapter 4.

In chapter 1 verse 10, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day and I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega the first and the last and What you see right in a book and send it to the seven churches, which are in Asia to Ephesus to Smyrna to Pergamos to Thyatira to Sardis to Philadelphia and to Laodicea And then I turned to see the voice that spoke to me, that spoke with me. And having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands one like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes like a flame of fire. His feet were like fine brass as if refined in a furnace, and his voice as the sound of many waters. He had in his right hand seven stars.

Out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and his countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying to me, Do not be afraid, I am the first and the last I am he who lives and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore amen and I have the keys of Hades and death in chapter 4 after these things I looked and behold a door standing open in heaven and the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here and I will show you things which must take place after this. Immediately I was in the Spirit, and behold a throne set in heaven. And one sat on the throne, and he who sat on there was like a jasper and a sardis stone in appearance.

And there was a rainbow around the throne in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes, and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God. Before the throne was a sea of glass like crystal, And in the midst of the throne and around the throne there were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back The first living creature was like a lion The second living creature like a calf the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within, and they did not rest day or night saying holy holy Holy Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever and Cast their crowns before the throne saying you are worthy Oh Lord to receive glory Honor and power for you created all things and by your will they exist and were created in Conclusion what was Isaiah's response And really we see a thread through the other two visions in Ezekiel and Revelation. We see men responding with humility, with putting themselves down on their faces with I think I think we all need Consistently we all need to be reminded of the holiness and the majesty and the glory of God It it's it really puts the planets of our lives in proper orbit I think the the more we can meditate and contemplate the holiness of God, we'll find it. I've found meditation upon the holiness of God helping me with things as nitty-gritty as Get out of bed and go get Jed a cup of water lazy bones and what I mean by that.

Well, for example You're laying in bed You're tucked in and your wife's there beside you and the little one wants a glass of water and he and you want to lay there and you want to be selfish and and dwelling upon the holiness of God helps in the mortification of sin it really is that practical Don't ever think a contemplation of the holiness of God is for some white ivory tower. We see it in Isaiah. What did Isaiah do? What was his response? When we, when God's holiness, when God's grandeur increases in our lives, here am I, send me.

The glory of God, and that could be fleshed out by being sent that could be fleshed out by Mortifying sin or whatever temptation comes into your life during the day. I think it has immense practical benefit for you to contemplate these visions of the holiness of God. It will help you as the Spirit takes it and presses it in on your heart and your vision of God increases as you meditate upon his holiness it will help you in the mortification of sin it will help you walk more obediently more more circumspectly with your day as you have these glorious and grand visions of God's holiness in the back of your mind and I'll read Jeremiah chapter 29 two verses as an encouragement to us an encouragement that if you're sitting there saying I just have a small view of who God is We all have that from time to time in our lives Maybe it's something we read in scripture and you know, your knee-jerk and your spirit is like, oh that Really like for example, then I'll read Jeremiah was reading when Moses got kicked he didn't get kicked out he got banned from going into the promised land because what do you do kids what do you do he hit it right and in my mind I'm like wow that's severe and the Carrington's were over with us and you know I was we were just talking about that and it's you got a little view of who God is Michael that that's kind of what I mean is is God's holiness and His majesty and the sinfulness of sin increases in light of how holy God is.

Like something like that, well yeah, lucky didn't strike you dead, will become more of our experience as we fight the fight of faith day to day. So let me read Jeremiah chapter 29, a promise from from God through the prophet that if you in thinking about the holiness of God find your heart cold, find your view of God small, take heart with Jeremiah 29 verses 12 through 13. You will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you. You will seek Me, and you will find me when you seek me with all of your heart God God desires it today in John we read in chapter 14 of Jesus's desire to manifest himself to his people as we walk in obedience to him. Let's pray.

Oh mighty God, you are holy, holy, holy. The whole earth is full of your glory We just don't see it like we should Help us Help us as your people to be caught up more in this glory to look at the trees budding leaves to look at the blue sky to look at creation sounding forth your glory, and then above all things to go to your word, and to see, and to meditate upon. These things will not come by us spending five minutes reading something. You tell us that we will find you when we seek you with all of our hearts. Oh God, help our desires and affections to increase to seek you more and Oh God reward your seeking saints here at hope with grand or with glorious visions and taste of you in your word and what you have revealed in your Majesty and I pray that it would have day to day sin mortifying fruit in the lives of my brothers and sisters here Oh Lord give us Give us an appetite To know you as holy holy holy we pray these things in Jesus name and for his glory amen