OUR THIRSTING SOUL IS SATISFIED (Outline)
August 5, 2007 -
PENTECOST 10 -
Isaiah 55:1-5
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INTRO: There are all kinds of invitations – birthday, wedding, and anniversary. Such invitations to a celebration bring us joy. We are happy when someone remembers us to share in one special event or another. We often make all kinds of plans to attend the event.
Our gracious God extends his free invitation to us this morning. He wants us to partake of and enjoy his free gift of eternal life. This gift of God is found in his holy word. "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good"(1 PETER 2:2,3). May our souls always desire the satisfaction that only the Lord himself can and does provide.
OUR THIRSTING SOUL IS SATISFIED.
I. God freely invites; II. God richly blesses.
I. GOD FREELY INVITES
A. Read verse 1 of Isaiah 55. Over and over the Lord God uses imperatives = words of command.
1. 4 times the Lord says come! The Lord wants Israel to approach him and be satisfied.
2. The Lord invites his people to come, buy…without money and without cost.
3. There is food and drink for all. There is no cost. Everything necessary is freely provided.
B. In these verses God is describing his grace with very earthly, human terms.
1. God’s free invitation for food and drink is for spiritual blessings, verse 3a.
2. The Lord says listen, come so that your soul may live. This is eternal food for the soul.
C. Verse 3b adds God’s promise, which does not end for God’s people. God freely invites, come
D. Over the centuries the Lord God’s invitation has not changed. God freely invites the sinner to come and find rest. Again – God’s rest is not just for the physical body. God’s rest is for the soul. Listen to Jesus’ invitation in Matthew. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest....and you will find rest for your souls"(MATTHEW 11:28,29b). What is rest for your souls? This rest that Jesus offers is nothing less or more than forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is freely provided for the sinner through the sinless, sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Savior. This is God’s rest for the soul.
E. Rest for the soul is what every sinner needs. Daily we sin much and often. Our thoughts condemn us. Wicked words demand God’s punishment. Evil actions abound in our world and even among us at times. How can we be saved? What are we to do? All this can lead one to despair. No one can deliver oneself from the consequence of sin. Thus God freely invites the suffering soul to receive rest. "The Spirit and the bride say, ’Come!’ And let him who hears say, ’Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life"(REVELATION 22:17). God’s gift is free.
F. Scripture describes the food and drink that saves. We are reminded of God’s food of and for life. This food is freely given for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus says about the bread, This is my body. Jesus declares of the wine in the cup, This is my blood. By faith we believe the words of Christ, our Lord and Savior. Take time to read JOHN 5 and 6. John 5 describes the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. After that, the crowds wanted to make Jesus their Bread-King. In John 6 the Savior tries to explain there is more, much more than daily bread. "For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him"(JOHN 6:55,56).
OUR THIRSTING SOUL IS SATISFIED by the words and sacrifice of Christ, our Savior. This gift of eternal life through the forgiveness of sins is free. Our gracious, loving God freely invites.
II. GOD RICHLY BLESSES.
A. What would an invitation be without any celebration? Discover God’s blessings for his family.
1. Verse 2a asks why spend money on what was not valuable? None would.
2. Verse 2b invites the people to pay attention and benefit from God’s invitation.
B. Everyone was to enjoy the best banquet ever. It was one God had prepared.
1. Verse 3b reminded the people of God’s faithful love promised made to David.
2. This promise was kept. A descendant of David would sit on the throne forever.
3. God blessed the household of David with such a King – Jesus born of David’s house.
C. Verse 4 describes this Jesus, mankind’s Savior, a witness and a leader and commander of people.
1. Once again, God richly blesses. God promises and he delivers. People rejoice.
2. Verse 5. Nations will see the joy of God’s people and be brought to that blessing.
D. God’s love is great for all of his creation. Sadly not everyone knows this. Many try to find their satisfaction in the things of this world. People often work, work, and work for the glorious American dream. All too often that dream never, ever comes true. True satisfaction does not consist in the abundance of things. "Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them?"(ECCLESIASTES 5:10,11). God satisfies our souls.
E. Our gracious God freely invites us – one and all to come and learn and find full forgiveness of sins. Our God forgives. No other false god offers such a blessing. They cannot. Every day the Lord invites us to celebrate. We are invited to celebrate God’s free forgiveness. We are invited to celebrate eternity, God’s free gift to all. "Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s" (PSALM 103:2-5). Our lives are changed forever. May nations come to see and live in that knowledge.
F. In a world that is at war the believer has peace. In a world that finds no lasting satisfaction we have eternal fulfillment for our souls. In a world fill with sadness we have joy. The list goes on and on. We are richly blessed by God’s free gift of faith. Saving faith is ours by grace, God’s undeserved love. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"(ROMANS 5:1). God’s peace is the true satisfaction that blesses every believing soul. Our gracious God richly blesses with peace the world cannot give. May this peace of soul attract others.
CONC.: You and I receive many, many invitations during our lifetime. We are happy to be remembered. We are happy to attend a joyous celebration. Every day the Lord invites us to celebrate his love, mercy and grace. Every day we find in our God forgiveness – full and free. Everyday we are richly blessed – even more than we can ask or imagine. God’s word reveals this all to us. Today, every day, our loving Lord says come – hear, read, and study the invitation I have provided in my word for you. It takes work. Our sinful flesh finds excuses. The world around us says we do not have the time for God and his word. Satan opposes any blessing the Lord wants us to have in his word. Stand firm against these attacks. "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty"(JEREMIAH 15:16). In God’s word OUR THIRSTING SOUL IS SATISFIED. Celebrate that God freely invites and God richly blesses. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
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PENTECOST 10 readings:
GENESIS 18:20-32;
COLOSSIANS 2:6-15;
LUKE 11:1-13
