Sermon Summary
Isaiah 6:1-4 (NIV) gives us a powerful picture of God’s holiness and glory: Isaiah saw “the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne,” while the seraphim called out, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty.” Hebrews 13:5 reminds us of God’s faithful promise: “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
Pastor Don Jeffers opened this message with a simple story about a dog whose graying face was affectionately called a “sugar face.” The picture was tender and personal, and it pointed to the heart of the sermon: we need to let God take our faces in His hands, draw our attention back to Him, and remind us that we are completely His.
Isaiah’s vision shows us the glory of God in a way that is holy, powerful, and overwhelming. The Lord is seated on the throne, the train of His robe fills the temple, and the voices of the seraphim shake the foundations. Yet Pastor Don reminded us that God’s glory is not only something Isaiah saw long ago. “We are surrounded by the glory of God,” he said. The challenge is learning to recognize it, especially when life feels heavy.
We need God’s glory when we are afraid, disappointed, hurting, ashamed, or confused. We need it when we have prayed and still find ourselves asking, “God, why?” Pastor Don was honest that even mature believers can miss the evidence of God’s glory. Fear, failure, shame, and pain can cloud our vision. That is why we must learn to trade fear for reassurance, failure for forgiveness, shame for acceptance, and brokenheartedness for healing.
One of the important places we experience God’s glory is in a safe place with Him. Sometimes that means being alone in prayer. Sometimes it means being with trusted believers who can pray, listen, and walk with us. Pastor Don reminded us that “lone ranger Christians are not the best thing in the world.” We need godly people around us, people who offer not only sympathy, but empathy, encouragement, healing, and hope.
He also reminded us that God’s glory is seen in answered prayer, in worship, in Scripture, in the encouraging words of a friend, and even in the beauty of creation. Sunrises and sunsets can become reminders that God is still near. His glory fills the earth, but we must slow down and look for it.
The main point of the sermon is simple and strong: do not miss God’s glory. This week, take time to look up to Him and say, “God, I am totally and completely yours.” Bring Him your fear, your failure, your shame, and your hurt. Find a safe place to pray, surround yourself with godly people, thank God for the prayers He is already answering, and hold tightly to His promise that He will never leave you or forsake you.