Invitation to abundant life
Isaiah chapter 55:1-11
Introduction- (Some ideas taken from fellow coleagues of Sermoncentral)
Isaiah 55:1-11
Most invitations are restrictive. Weddings are family and close friends.
Sleepovers: are for a group of people that get along well with each other.
Businesses send invitations to people they think will do business with them, and direct it to certain types of people.
When you were a kid, your class had a valentine day party and all were invited. The teacher made sure everyone got an invitation, but the older we get, the more direct that invitation becomes.
The unnamed prophet here, speaking words from God has an open invitation. “Come, all you who are thirsty”.
Now you have to understand the context of this verse, or you will miss some of the truths.
You will miss the very personal invitation that is being offered.
It is the Lord speaking to those about to return from exile. Those that have lived on the rations of the captive are being invited to a royal and divine banquet.
The covenant of love that God had with David was to be renewed in the rebellious Jewish people.
He says that return and pardon are possible by ways beyond human understanding.
There is a thread that ties it all together.
The power of God working in ways that’s beyond our thoughts and imagination.
On most invitations, they have instructions. They include a gift registry from stores like Walmart, Babies R Us, Sears, Pennies, and then you go and get them what they need.
Some say “No Gifts needed”- just bring yourself.
(v1) We see God gives us an invitation with some directions on it also- Come- All who are thirsty!
All you who want to come to the table of God- have to be thirsty and hungry for the things of God. (Which is a far cry from most today)
This included the Jews and the Gentiles.
Today it includes all people seeking a new relationship with God. One that is renewed and fresh.
“You who have no money, come buy without money and without cost”
“Those that labor on what does not satisfy, Come eat what is good and what will satisfy your soul. “
Illustration-(Sermoncentral)
Have you ever watched the movie “Field of Dreams? It is about a man named Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) that builds a baseball field in the middle of a corn field and players from the 1919 White Socks come out of the corn field to play baseball. He is told to pick up a man named Terrance Mann (James Earl Jones) from Minnesota who is suppose to write about it. The players are in the field playing, Ray Kinsella and Terrance Mann are watching and Shoeless Joe Jackson(pitcher) comes over and says to them, “Hey, you want to come with us’? Ray Kinsella asks, “You mean it?” Shoeless Joe Jackson says, “no, not you…him” and points to Terrance Mann. At this Ray is upset, wait a second, why him? I built this field, you wouldn’t even be here without me. I want to know what is out there. Joe Jackson says… your not invited!
We have all felt the alienation of not being invited.
Maybe last to be picked,
live on the wrong side of the tracks,
not enough money,
not born into the right family.
All are invited ! just be thirsty and hungry for the things of God.
I. You have to be thirsty
Water is a necessity of life.
You cannot live without it.
To be satisfied, you first have to be dissatisfied and looking for something better.
To be filled, you have to be emptied of yourself and filled with God.
Our problem is we don’t recognize what will satisfy our thirst, because we look for temporary pleasures and fixes.
The suppressed Nation of Israel got use to being a captive instead of enjoying freedom.
They got use to eating scrapes from someone else’s table and God invited them to His banquet.
You know water is the only thing that satisfies. You can drink a soda, it can taste good going down but it doesn’t satisfy the thirst. Only water satisfies.
Our temporary pleasures that we try to satisfy the void for God always falls short.
Francis Chan/author/pastor/ wrote two great books. Crazy love/ Forgotten God.
If I had to condense those books into a couple of sentences, it would be that we need to realize that God is all we need and that we create so much turmoil in our lives trying to fill a void in our life that only God can fill.
“Why spend money on what is not bread, and you labor on what does not satisfy. Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest fares.”
Illustration- (story)
There was a women who has been around. It does not show in her years, but it does show in mileage. It showed in her face. Then one afternoon she went down to the community well to draw water and found Jesus there. The last thing she wanted was to get into a religious discussion, but was drawn in spite of herself when she begins speaking about her need for living water. A lasting , never ending source of spiritual water that would refresh her tired soul. Right in the middle of the conversation, Jesus says to her, Go get your husband- you know the story.
Why did Jesus go there? It was to show her her need! It was to make her thirst for the things of God.
The invitation is for all who are dissatisfied and deeply feel that they are missing a vital ingredient in their life.”
Psalm 27
The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is the stronghold of my life.
(3)” though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident. One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek’ that I may dwell in the house of the Lord, all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling, he will hide me in the shelter of the tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
God satisfies our soul and will quench our thirst for the things of God that matter and makes our lives complete.”
II. You cannot rely on your own resources
“And you who have no money. Come”
Nothing wrong with money, but Jesus is looking for the poor in Spirit.
To the rich, he says I am looking for those who are unable to satisfy themselves or think they have no needs because what they need they go buy.
To the poor, it is not about being lower middle class, it is about being spiritually bankrupt, and a spiritual poverty that keeps you depressed and suppressed to a life style below where God wants you to be.
Redemption begins with the realization that we are all spiritually bankrupt without Jesus and that God desires to give each one of us riches that are in Christ Jesus.!
As Nazarenes, we talk about holiness.
Holiness is always perceived as all the things that we don’t do that the world does.
About what you have done!
Holiness is what God has done in our lives.
Stop relying on our resources.
Stop taking a bow of how good we are.
Holiness is being Christ-like disciples.
Jesus said “If you abide in me, you will bear fruit”
Be willing to get out and engage people who are downtrodden and trapped in the messiness of life.
Holiness is messy! It is people engaging the world and not waiting for people to come to them.
I don’t see much fruit, because we are relying on our resources, or gathering stuff.
Everyone, the word of God says may come.
Invitation to abundant life. Not just existence.
When I stand before God, I don’t want my stuff to get in my way.
Last thing!
III. You need God in your life
(6) “Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near.”
You don’t have forever. You have now!
“ Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.”
Realize He is not the man upstairs. He’s God.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord”
(11) So is my word that goes out of my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”(That gives me comfort)
Closing
Grab this this morning,
We serve a God that wants to communicate with us, have a relationship with us.
When I pray, the God of the universe listens. Cares about what is going on in our lives. That is crazy good.
God is my stronghold. He is my redeemer, protector, Savior.
When we are anchored to God, He becomes our life source.
I spent a tremendous amount of time in prayer this week.
God’s people are living below where he wants them to live, because we are not where we need to be with him.
This morning I desire nothing of you.
I don’t assume that you know Jesus.
I don’t assume everyone is okay.
So, are you about Jesus this morning? Or has stuff, or pressure, or circumstances pushed you away from God?
Nothing changes until someone moves- and I’ll tell you God has not moved. You need to come back.
