1. “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news”

2. Abraham - Isaac-Jacob (Esau) - 12 sons (Joseph) Jerusalem Slavery in Egypt Moses Promised land Joshua Judges -(Gideon etc.) Samuel - Saul - David - Solomon Israel -(Amos Hosea) Judah 1900 BC 1800 1700 1600 1500 1400 1300 1200 1100 1000 900 800 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Jesus 723-21 BC Fall 606 Exile to Babylon 740-686 Isaiah

3. Isaiah Writing to the rebellious Writing to those have suffered for their rebellion Comforting with words of... Hope, salvation and redemption Explanation, warning and rebuke Future Saviour

4. Rebellion Rebuked – Future Hope – Humility required “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news”

5. Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.

6. Vision - dream or God inspired imagination Impressions with symbolic meanings Revelations in our imagination from God

7. Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. The Lord is King Supreme authority Majesty beyond human understanding Universal rule

8. Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Seraphs Unique word Angels/messengers/spirits Non human Literally fiery messengers

9. Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Seraphs Faces covered - respect/inferior

10. Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Seraphs Faces covered - respect/inferior Feet - Independence?

11. Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. Seraphs Faces covered - respect/inferior Flying - serving/not seated etc? Feet - Independence?

12. Isaiah 6 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. Holiness Purity of God Dedication of God

13. Isaiah 6 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. Holiness Purity of God Dedication of God Earth filled with Glory

14. Isaiah 6 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. Holiness Purity of God Dedication of God Earth filled with Glory Earth shakes: common sign of God’s presence

15. Revelation 4 1 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." 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.

16. Revelation 4 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne. 4 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. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. Costly and glorious

17. Revelation 4 5 Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal. Holy separation

18. Revelation 4 In the centre, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. 7 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. 8 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: 4 living creatures Representing Nature?

19. Revelation 4 10 "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 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: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." Nature and the people of God join together in worshipping God as worthy

20. Isaiah 6 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

21. Isaiah 6 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Unworthiness To be with God

22. Isaiah 6 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Unworthiness Uncleaness To be with God Personal guilt

23. Isaiah 6 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Unworthiness Uncleaness To be with God Personal guilt Association and acceptance

24. Isaiah 6 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” Unworthiness Uncleaness Sin not hidden from God To be with God Personal guilt Association and acceptance Punishment expected

25. Isaiah 6 6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” Forgiveness Initiated by God Cleansed by the action of God not the ritual Followed confession

26. Isaiah 6 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Who will go to the people with God’s message?

27. Isaiah 6 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Who will go to the people with God’s message? Isaiah willing to go

28. Isaiah 6 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Why does seem God to tell the people not to hear? 1. God has chosen to punish them? The punishment coming would not be rescinded, so Isaiah was to help it on its way by hardening their hearts

29. Isaiah 6 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Why does seem God to tell the people not to hear? 1. God has chosen to punish them? 2. Warning of a known outcome? Permission to not see hardening as failure

30. Isaiah 6 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Why does seem God to tell the people not to hear? 1. God has chosen to punish them? 2. Warning of a known outcome? 3. God uses their rebellious nature to shock into action Desired outcome is the opposite

31. Isaiah 6 11 Then I said, “ For how long, Lord? ” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the LORD has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” Temporary Then rebuilding

32. Isaiah 40 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD. Temporary Then comfort

33. Isaiah 40 1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. 2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the LORD’s hand double for all her sins. 3 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD. Temporary Then comfort

34. Isaiah 40 9 You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God!” 10 See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. Temporary Then comfort Good news: “here is your God”

35. Isaiah 52 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Temporary Then comfort Good news: “Peace”

36. Isaiah 52 7 How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “ Your God reigns! ” Temporary Then comfort Good news: “God reigns”

37. Are we willing to go? To speak on God’s behalf? Jesus did not command the whole world to go to church. Jesus commanded his church to go to the whole world. Anon Jesus did not command the whole world to go to church. Jesus commanded his church to go to the whole world. Anon

38. Every generation is strategic. We are not responsible for the past generation and we cannot bear full responsibility for the next one: but we do have our generation, God will hold us responsible as to how we fulfil our responsibilities to this age and take advantage of our opportunities. Billy Graham

39. Are we willing to go? To speak on God’s behalf? Words of challenge

41. Mission is not a burden laid upon the church; it is a gift and a promise to the church that is faithful. The command arises from the gift. Jesus reigns and all authority has been given to him in earth and heaven. When we understand that, we shall not need to be told to let it be known. Rather, we shall not be able to keep silent. Lesslie Newbigin, Mission in Christ’s Way

42. Are we willing to go? To speak on God’s behalf? Words of challenge Words that maybe ignored

43. Are we willing to go? To speak on God’s behalf? Words of challenge Words that maybe ignored Words that rebuild and restore

45. Are we willing to go? To speak on God’s behalf? Words of challenge Words that maybe ignored Words that rebuild and restore