 Isaiah has a very unpleasant encounter with God. › “How can an encounter with God be unpleasant?” › “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 L ORD of hosts!” (v 5).

 Many felt inadequate in God’s presence. › Peter to Jesus: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8). › The tax collector would not lift his eyes to heaven, but said, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” (Lk 18:13).

 God’s holiness greatly impacts the way we worship him. › Seraphim: “Holy, holy, holy is the L ORD of hosts; the whole earth is filled with his glory!” › Four living creatures: “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev 4:8).

 Those who approach God must be mindful of his holiness. › YHWH to Moses: “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (Ex 3:5).  Not worship, but Moses could not approach God in just any way. › Nadab and Abihu are devoured by fire when they offer “strange fire.”  “Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified” (Lev 10:3).

 We’re here on time. › When you arrive late, you distract others. › Two biblical concerns with tardiness:  You have missed fellowship.  “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42).  How can we stir one another up to faith and good works if we’re not together (Heb 10:24-25)?  You have missed praising God.

 We focus our minds: › Nadab and Abihu were very likely drunk when they offered “strange fire” before God (Lev 10:8-11). › Eli’s sons were “worthless men” (1 Sam 2:12), for they treated the Lord’s sacrifice with contempt (1 Sam 2:17).  Why did they treat the Lord’s sacrifice with contempt?  The wanted to make sure they ate the best of the sacrifice to God.

 How can we have minds centered on worship? › We need to fill our minds with good things (Phil 4:8).  We cannot put garbage in our minds all week and expect to have minds fit to worship on Sunday. › Never forget that God is with us as we worship.  “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple” (1 Cor 3:16-17).  “You” is plural.  God is with us as we worship.

Do you need to deal with your sinfulness this morning?