What should you do when you encounter God? You know we Christians believe that we serve a God who makes personal contact with people. God is not a distant God but one that is near and personal. We believe that God is everywhere because God is Spirit. So we could expect to encounter God.

God is the Almighty! You don't just treat God like an acquaintance. So what should we do if we are out in the field so to speak and we encounter God? What procedures should we follow?

This concerned name so I looked in the Bible. I could not find a set of directions that applied to this exact situation, but I did find a couple of case studies So today I want to present these case studies to you so that we can develop our own field Manuel on encountering God.

The first case study is in the Old Testament. It is Isaiah. Isaiah was a religious guy. In fact he worked in the temple. Well one day he went into work and had a direct encounter with God. Not that he hadn't felt God's presence before but this was a face to face meeting.

It was in the year that King Uzziah had died. Uzziah had been king for a long time and Israel had been stable and at peace during his reign. But now there was a new king and no one was sure that he could maintain the stability and peace which Uzziah had. In fact the Jerusalem stock exchange was down 100 points and the bottom had fallen out of the commodities and real estate markets.

That was when Isaiah saw God sitting on a throne high and lifted up in the temple. God appeared so big that just the hem of his robe filled the entire temple. And there were seraphim, angels, in attendance. They had six wings! With two they covered their feet, with two they covered their faces and with two they flew. I don't know about you but if I had six wings I would be using all six of them to keep up in the air, but I guess these seraphim knew what they were doing. There were also singing constantly "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory." In fact they were so loud that the entire stone temple shook on its foundation.

So what did Isaiah do? He said, "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" He recognized and confessed his unworthiness to be there before God. He recognized and acknowledged his own unworthiness and God's Almightiness. In response God cleansed his lips. God forgave his sin so that he could property encounter an Almighty God. Then God commissioned him to be a prophet.

The second case study is about Peter. Peter was a hard working business man. He was also religious. One morning after fishing all night this preacher from Nazareth shows up and there is such a huge crowd that her borrows Peter's boat to go out into the lake a little and use the shore as a kind of natural Amp theater. Peter has to wash his nets before he calls it a night so he sits there in the boat and listened as he gets ready to put everything up for the day.

Then when Jesus finished preaching he tells them to put out into the deep water and let down their nets. Well this Carpenter's son from Galilee may be able to preach but he sure don't know nothing about fishing. The time to catch fish is at night when they are close to the surface not in the daylight. Anyway they were ready put everything away and go get some sleep.

But Peter goes out to the deep and lets down his nets. To his surprise they are suddenly full of more fish than he has ever seen. They are about to break so he called for his partners to come help. They both fill their boats to the point of being swamped. Peter realized this was no mere preacher. This could be the Messiah the Son of God.

So what does Peter do? He fell down at Jesus' knees saying, "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!" He recognized and confessed his unworthiness to be in Jesus' presence. But Jesus reached out to him in love and forgiveness and acceptance. And Jesus even commissioned peter to be a fisher of people for the Kingdom.

So what do we learn from these two case studies. One: we learn that you never know when you will encounter God. Both Isaiah and Peter were just going about their daily business. And Boom There was God. So we need to be prepared in the field of our everyday lives to encounter God.

So what should we do when it happened? First recognize who you are. Isaiah said "I am a man of unclean lips" Peter said "I am a sinful man." We are all sinners and God is holy and righteous. So when we encounter God for whom he is if we can remember who we are then the rest will follow.

So acknowledge who you are then humble yourself. Isaiah said "Woe is me; Peter fell at Jesus' feet. You know that may be why the Seraphim were covering their head and feet. Even though they were heavenly beings they recognized how much more glorious God is so they humbled themselves. And if you think about it that is what God told Moses to do at the burning bush. Moses didn't know that the burning bush was a manifestation of God. He thought it was just a neat thing to see. So when God spoke he told him to take off his sandals because he was on Holy Ground.

Then be ready for God to reach out with forgiveness and love. God sent an angel to cleanse Isaiah's lips from their sin. Jesus told Peter not to be afraid.

Then expect God to all you to service. God makes Isaiah a prophet. Jesus made Peter a fisher of persons.

When you go out in the fields you may encounter the Almighty and living God. Here is your field manual.

Luke 5:1-11

Are you comfortable? I know I am. Grace is a comfortable church. The people are easy to get a long with. It's a joy to be a pastor here. I am comfortable in my life too. My children and wife and community all just feel right.

Are you comfortable? The reason I ask is that it seems Peter was comfortable where he was. He was a fisherman which could be a lucrative profession for a working man in Jesus' day. Fish was the main meat that people ate and salted fish from the Sea of Galilee was a delicacy in Rome. When Jesus met up with Peter he had been working all night and seems content to sit there and wash his nets as Jesus teaches. The crowds were so big that Jesus got into Peter's boat and had them put out a little from the shore so that he could use the shore as a sort of natural amphitheater. I imagine Peter was tired from a hard nights work. You know how you feel tired after working hard. It is a kind of satisfied and relaxed tired. So Peter was comfortable just sitting there in the boat with Jesus listening to what he was saying as he washed his nets.

But Jesus had other plans. When he had finished preaching he told Peter to put out into the deep and let his nets down. "Jesus, I have been working all night and I am tired, but if you say so I will do it." To Peter's and the other fishermen's amazement their nets were full and another boat had to come to help them carry all the fish to shore. Peter fell on his knees because he saw the hand of God at work in Jesus and he was frightened. But Jesus said, "Don't be afraid, for from now on you will be catching people!" And Peter, and the other fisherman, among them James and John, left their nets and followed Jesus.

This is an important story because it shows us one person's call to be a follower of Jesus. Jesus met Peter where he was and called him. Peter could see the hand of God at work in Jesus. And so Peter left his nets, and his old life, behind to follow Jesus. This reminds us of our own call to be a follower and reminds us to leave our old self behind to follow Jesus.

All that would make a very nice sermon, but there is something else going on here. This is not just the story of one man's call to follow Jesus. It is that but there is more.

You see in the Bible a boat on the sea is often a metaphor for the church. So this account is not just a story of Peter's call. It is also a metaphor for our lives in the church.

With that in mind, let's take another look at the story. When it begins Jesus and Peter and the other fishermen are in the boat. They are not far from shore. It is a comfortable place. If the boat should capsize they would have no problem swimming or even walking to the shore. As they sit there they are comfortably taking care of their equipment and listening to Jesus.

That is the way a lot of churches are. They are in their comfort zone. They are comfortable and they are willing to put in a little work to maintain their comfort. They are content to just sit and listen to Jesus while they mend their nets in committee meetings and church social functions.

I can appreciate that. I love coming to church and hearing an encouraging word from Jesus. I like singing heartwarming songs and hearing the choir sing anthems. A lot of Christians are in that place in their lives. They are quite comfortable just sitting there in the boat with all their friends listening to Jesus.

But the story doesn't end there. Sure there is a time to sit and listen to Jesus, but that time comes to an end. When Jesus finished speaking he turned to Peter and told him to go out to the deep and let down his nets. Like I said Peter was comfortable just sitting there. He was tired from the word he had already done. He had had a hard day's night and should be sleeping like a log. But Jesus told him to go back to fishing. Notice that Jesus didn't leave the boat. He was right there with them going out into the deep.

We can get comfortable just sitting in the boat and listening to Jesus. But then he calls us out of our comfort zone. He tells us to pull away from the shore where we feel safe and to go out to the deep. To the deep where the waves might swamp the boat. To the deep; not to take a nap in the sunlight, but to let down our nets yet again.

We have let down out nets so many times before. We have tried to reach out to the world so many times. We give out bottles of water and conduct farmer's markets and have revivals and mail out flyers and even knock on doors. And then we come back and sit and clean our nets and listen to Jesus. And he says go out to the deep again? But he will be there in the boat with us.

Now Peter had really been listening to Jesus. We don't know what he was preaching about. Maybe it was faith or about God's love for the world. Whatever it was Peter had been listening and even if he didn't remember the message, he trusted the messenger. So he went out to the deep once again. And wearily but faithfully he let down the nets.

Then it happened. Where there had been no fish that night there were suddenly fish in such numbers that they filled the net. It was so full he had to call in another boat to hold all the fish.

Can you imagine a church that is literally bursting at the seams? Can you imagine a church that is literally overflowing? Well, I guess you can! Maybe we need another boat to hold all the fish, I mean people. Hold on to those nets. Another boat is on the way!

So we are all sitting here comfortably listening to a heartwarming story about Jesus. Imagine Jesus and the disciple by the Galilean Lake. Ah, what could be better? But Jesus is calling us to go out to the deep. I know we've already been there. We have been working all night catching people.

But this is not just anyone who is telling us to let out for the deep. This is Jesus the Son of God. This is the one who died for our sins. This is Jesus whom we trust and serve.

So don't get too comfortable. Jesus says go out to the deep. Leave your comfort zone to reach out to someone this week. Go out into the deep to witness to someone or to minister to someone. So heave to on the main sail, and trim the mast. Make ready to cast forth to the deep to let down out nets one more time!

"Amazing grace How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found was blind but now I see!"

The song is right, God's grace is truly amazing! When we think about grace we often think of Jesus in the New Testament. But the Bible is full of grace. Even in the Old Testament we find God's grace. For example our passage from Isaiah is full of amazing acts of grace.

Lets consider Isaiah's vision. First consider the time when this all takes place. God sent this vision to Isaiah in the year that king Uzziah died. Uzziah had been King for over 40 years. His was a reign was one marked by prosperity. Because of his strength the land was at peace. What would happen now that he died? Judah was open to attack. Until the new king demonstrated his ability to lead someone might topple the kingdom. The people, Isaiah included, were probably very apprehensive. Would the prosperity they had enjoyed be ruined by an irresponsible administration. Would they be plunged into chaos because of a weak government.

In an act of grace God appeared to Isaiah. God's glorious presence I am sure was a reassurance. Their earthly king had died, but here was proof that their heavenly king was still alive. And what a king he was. Powerful and wise, attended by seraphim and cherubim. Sitting high and holy and mighty on a throne. Here was proof that their lives were in good hands. But God didn't have to go to all that trouble. God had things well in control. Who cares if a few people had forgotten that fact. God could have quite easily just gone about the business of being God without comforting Isaiah. And after all what had Isaiah done to deserve comforting, a pastoral call from Almighty in the flesh. But God did just that. God personally appeared to Isaiah to comfort him. It didn't benefit God at all.

It is amazing. It's amazing that God would come to someone like that. But God does it all the time. That is what God did in Christ. The people were afraid and had forgotten that God had promised to protect them. So in Christ, God came to them in the flesh. And showed them that their heavenly Father would suffer their punishment for them. Amazing grace, that God in all God's holiness would come to me to bring comfort and care.

In the midst of Isaiah's response to God's vision comes another act of grace. As Isaiah looks on at this vision of Glory, suddenly he realizes who he is. He is a sinful man! He had forgotten God's steadfast love. He had abandoned trusting in God's promise to protect the people. He had spoken words of doubt and despair that proved how unfaithful he had been. He was a man of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips. What would God do to him. Had the Almighty come to destroy him for his lack of faith? Would the Almighty squash him like a bug? It certainly was what he deserved.

But the amazing grace of God never quits. God knew Isaiah's heart, his guilt and his shame and his regret. Isaiah didn't need to repent with his mouth; his heart had already declared it. So God graciously sent an angel of mercy. One to bring forgiveness to Isaiah. Isaiah's lips were truly impure. So God's angel took a coal from the heavenly fire to purify Isaiah. God didn't have to do that either. God had every right to destroy Isaiah and all the people without delay. Isaiah was an insolent insect that bothered God with his lack of faith. God could have easily swatted Isaiah and been done with it. Instead he healed and restored him. Instead of condemning the repentant sinner, God forgave him.

The hymn "Amazing Grace" was written by John Newton. According to legend he was the captain of a slave ship. The crossing was the worst part of the slave trade. The newly enslaved Africans were treated like cargo. They were packed in as closely as possible. Many died and their bodies were unceremoniously thrown overboard. The shipping company considered them acceptable losses. When John Newton realized his sin, he saw himself as he really was. He was a man with the blood of thousands on his hands. And he lived in an age when many had these same blood stains on their hands. But the blood of Christ washed those stains away from John. It's no wonder he wrote, "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me."

But God's grace for Isaiah didn't end with forgiveness. Like John Newton, Isaiah was amazed at God's grace. He was surprised by the way that God would show such mercy and loving kindness. And Isaiah knew that the people needed to know that lovingkindness too. But who was he. He was just a man whose lips had been filthy just a moment ago. He was one who had been forgiven of unspeakable crimes of disbelief. How could he speak of such great and holy things.

Then God said, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" This was an invitation. Without hesitation Isaiah said, "Here, send me!" And God did. God didn't have to entrust such an important message to someone who had been so unfaithful. God had every reason to say, "No, Isaiah you people have betrayed me before I will find another nation to bear this word." But God was gracious and let Isaiah bear that word of judgment and grace.

700 years later in 30 AD God was still doing the same. Israel was still insolent and forgetful of God's great love. But God kept calling them. God even sent his only begotten Son to bring them Good News. And when he did, he called some Israelite fishermen to help him. Jesus could have done it by himself, but he allowed Peter and James and John and the others to participate in sharing the glory that God was revealing.

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost by now am found was blind but now I see. God's grace is amazing when you stop to take a good look at it. It is a pleasant surprise to discover that God comes to those who are at the end of their rope and discouraged. It is especially pleasant to know this in a world where things are changing so fast. Our prosperity is as risk. Will the gains of the past be lost by a careless administration. Will the cultural and political upheaval in our world erupt into chaos. But is the midst of our worry and concern God appears to us in Christ. And he reminds us of his loving kindness. He shows us his power. God is in control, we don't have to worry.

Oh, but look what we have done! We have trusted in governments and armaments to protect us. We have forsaken trusting in the power of our heavenly king. Instead we have trusted earthly kings. We have been convicted of unbelief by our own actions and words. We are a people of uncleanness. In the midst of an unclean world. But how gracious of God to cleans us. To wash us in the blood of the Lamb.

If only everyone could know of God's amazing grace. If only people were aware of God's power and might. They wouldn't worry so. If only they knew of God's lovingkindness, God's son even came died for us. Then they would eagerly repent and joyfully praise Christ. Jesus says, "Come and follow me, we have good news to tell!" "Who me?" No, you can't mean me, I am not worthy. He must be calling someone better than me. And Jesus replies, "Yes, you, drop what you are doing and follow me."

Jesus is calling. What will you do? He has graciously revealed himself to you. Amazingly he has forgiven your unbelief. Mercifully he has called you to accompany him. God has called you, little old you, to follow the likes of Isaiah, Peter, and Paul.

What will you do? Respond! Kneel in reverence. And say, Nay shout "Here I am send me!"

Picture if you will a temple. Now when I say "temple" I don't mean a pretty little church like this. I mean a huge cathedral. The largest church you have ever been in. For me that would be Duke Chapel. The story goes that in the 1930's when Duke Chapel was being built a farmer made a special trip to Durham just to see this church he had heard was being built. When he got there he walked in and looked around. Then he walked from one end of the building to the other. Then he walked out and said, "Ain't no such building."

Now imagine that God appears to you in this huge temple. You look up and one whole end of the building is opened to heaven. And you look up and there is God on a throne. And the Almighty is so big that the mere hem of His robe fills the temple. Flying around him are these heavenly beings with six wings. Even they are shamed by God's glory and hide their feet and heads in respect. They call to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." Their voices shake the foundations of the church.

That is what Isaiah saw as he prayed in the temple in the year that King Uzziah died. This revelation of God's awesome glory caused Isaiah to fall on his face and cry: "Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts." If heavenly beings covered their feet and heads before God, what would happen to a mere mortal like Isaiah? Would Almighty God destroy him; sweep him away like an insect?

How big is your God? I don't mean how big in terms of three dimensional measurements. I mean, in your mind, how big do you imagine God to be? A professor of mine, Dr. Herzog, used to talk about this. He would refer to the World Council of Churches building in New York. It looks like a big box and the New Yorkers call it the "God Box."

We all try to stick God in a box and limit what God can do. We all have a certain experience of what is possible and what is impossible. And when someone suggests something that is beyond what we have experienced as possible, we deny it. Like that farmer who had never seen such a large church, we deny its existence and say, "Ain't no such thing." Our limited perception of reality leads us to conceive of God in mere human terms and so we have trouble allowing God to be bigger than our limited conception.

The doctrine of the Trinity is an example of us overcoming this tendency to put God in a box. The doctrine of the Trinity states that there is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Other religions cry, "Foul! No fair." "You Christians can't do that. That is saying that 3=1, and we all know that is impossible." And in essence we are saying that 3=1. We say we serve one God in three persons. Where God is concerned 3 does equal 1. It is beyond our realm of experience to understand how Jesus could be the Son of God and one with the Father all at the same time, but he is. We Christians have experienced one and the same God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, even though that seems inconceivable to some.

God is bigger than what we can conceive. God is greater than the greatest we have experienced. God is beyond even our greatest fantasies. Imagine the biggest structure you can: the Pentagon, the Super Dome, Babylon 5 for you science fiction fans, the Milky Way Galaxy. That ain't big enough to hold the hem of my God's garment.

The Old Testament Psalmists knew this. And one wrote, "What are humans that you are mindful of them. We are like bacteria: too minuscule for God to bother with us. Our planet is just a speck of dust circling a yellow dwarf star in the corner of an obscure and ordinary galaxy. If such an Almighty God really were to notice us it would be as a nuisance. It would be to brush us off like a pesky gnat. Yet God does notice us and cares for us.

Remember Isaiah in the temple. He thought his doom was sure because he had seen God. And he cried, "Woe is me for I am a man of unclean lips." And God heard Isaiah's cry. And one of the angels, who do God's bidding, took a live coal from the altar and cleansed Isaiah's lips.

Here was pesky little unclean lipped Isaiah and there was Almighty Holy Holy Holy God. God had every right to destroy Isaiah for his uncleanness. Who was Isaiah to call on him in prayer? Who was Isaiah to be seen in God's presence? But because Isaiah mourned his sin, God cleansed him.

Amazing that God would save a wretch like Isaiah. But that's God's amazing grace; grace that would save a wretch like me. John Newton wrote about this amazing grace in the hymn by the same name. Did you know that John Newton had been a slave trader? But he turned to God and mourned the thousands of lives he had ended or put in chains. And God forgave him.

God is so big that he forgives everyone who confesses their sin to him. But this is no cheap grace. The price God paid for this forgiveness makes the grace even more amazing. God gave himself for us. In Jesus, God came in the flesh to suffer the punishment we deserved for our sins.

Who are we that God died for us. Who are we that God should even notice us. Yet God is so big that he forgives us and he even numbers the hairs on our heads.

Is your God too small? Have you tried to put God in a box and say, "No, God can't do that"? Do you think for a moment that your problems are too big for God? Do you think it is beyond God's sphere of influence to save your marriage or your job? Do you think that God is too little to heal your illness? Do you really think that your sins are too great for God to forgive them?

Don't try to limit what God can and can't do. Open your mind to the possibilities of what God can do in your life. Let God be the Almighty in you mind and heart and soul. Give God all your problems because he is big enough to solve them. Give God all your sin and despair because God alone can forgive and heal.

Then you will see: God is the Almighty who made us. God is the one who saves us from our sin. And God is the one who give us strength to live.