Invitation to the thirsty
Isaiah 55:1-13
Introduction-
Last week we took a look at the word of God about judging others and what God’s word really says about it.
It was one of those messages that brought some comment.
We could if we are not careful, take God’s word out of context and have it say what we want it to say.
What I mean by that like “Do not judge”, we have to know the context of which the writer wrote it. If we do not, we can make it say what we want it to say.
This morning we look at the words of the prophet Isaiah as he records Gods word concerning having a thirst for God and the promises that come in the word of God to those that know them and apply them to their lives and the warning that is given to those that do not.
We are two days away from a big election.
Anxiety is high, tension is high.
This country is split just about in half over every major issue concerning the health of our country, people’s private rights, moral issues, health care, jobs, money, and our aspect of what the future of our country looks like.
I have heard many of you say that you will have to pick one but do not like either strongly.
The country will fall apart if the wrong one gets in.
You are talking like this is the first time that this country or God for that matter has to have to deal with a country or people that is far from him.
Our text of is God speaking through his prophet to let the nation of Israel know that if they were to experience God in their time of desperation, they would have to seek God out.
I am going to tell you the problem of today, it is the same problem that the nation of Israel faced when the prophet Isaiah was told to speak to them many years ago.
The sin of indifference!
Don’t get me wrong-
Republicans/Democrats
Right/left
He/ She
Value defined… For/against
Freedoms/ Right/ privilege
Indifference defined as unconcerned, without interest, not caring…
The indifference is ABOUT THE THINGS OF GOD!
They will fight for causes, they attack when cornered by God saying that they need to change.
They bought into the belief of tolerance.
They bought into the belief that our rights as citizens are more important than our obedience to God.
Nothing new under the sun! Bible says
Same game different people.
Same rebellion, different ways of showing it.
Question to ask yourself
When it come to the things of God, the will of God, and the call of God, demands of God, and the worship of God, are you guilty of indifference?
Now that we have some background, we can read the text in context as God speaks through Isaiah to reach people then and also today.
Isaiah 55:1-55:13
The reality is that all of us are guilty to some degree of indifference.
We cannot afford to make it a lifestyle.
Come,( All )you who are thirsty- Jew, Gentile, free, slave.
Come to the waters (source) Come to the living water of God
You don’t have money- come buy without money and without cost. (God of plenty, it is not about money or profit)
Why would you pay for something that I am offering up for free… just come
If you have an ear, hear what I am telling you.
The danger of living a life of indifference toward God
The invitation of God is not taken seriously and thought of as an option instead of a warning.
The fact that the God of mercy will not be ignored. He will not let that happen.
Hebrews 10:30-31-
“For we know him who said, It is mine to avenge; I will repay, and again The Lord will judge his people. It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”
The very merciful and loving God that offers us to come is the same God that will not tolerate indifference and rejection of His offer of eternal life. The preacher Isaiah reminds the people that the offer will not always be available to them and divine judgment will come.
Holy God will uphold his honor and holiness against the disregard of his people.
That it would be better for the righteous of God to fall into the hands of a merciful God you willfully came too
than the unrighteous to fall into the hands of a holy God that they have rejected.
Galatians 6:7-
“Do not be deceived; God cannot be mocked.”
Do not be misled, do not be too busy for God. Do not put God on the back burner. You cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Do not live to satisfy your own nature or you will be judged by it and it will not measure up to God standard.
The call to seek God while He can be found
Isaiah 55:6-
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on him while He is near.”
There is a window of time between or first breath and our last breath and we do not know when the last breath is. We are just assured that one day we will die. We know that death is not the end, that for eternity we will either be with the Lord by choice or by our choice of rejection, we will be separated from Him.
I have said this before “while He can be found” is not that the Lord is lost, but that we are lost without Him. Make sure while He is available that we take Him at His offer of salvation and His offer of relationship.
Revelation 3:15-16
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were either one or the other. So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.”
Proverbs 14:12-
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”
Isaiah 55
“Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”
“Except you repent you will likewise perish.”
The Bible is clear that sin separates us from God, wither we like it or not.
Being indifferent and not wanting to face that reality is not an excuse and is very dangerous.
True repentance is turning away from the things displeasing to God and not doing them any more.
Stop going the way you are going and turn around.
I have been hard on you this morning.
God Word is clear on the danger of indifference and thinking that you have forever or thinking that a loving God will over look what you have done. The only way he over looks it is by Jesus Christ and not ourselves or anything we have done or not done. It is solely on the acceptance of what Christ has done for us.
For the remaining few minutes let’s look again at the text.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat.’
Who’s invited?
The broken and the thirsty. Most are broken, but are you thirsty?
John piper/ author of desiring God
You have come this morning with thirst in your heart. Your heart feels like the brown grass in my back yard. It hasn't rained for a long time. A lot of old hopes have dried up. Dreams have almost died. Dead end streets again and again. Empty. Unfulfilled, Dissatisfied. Knowing there has to be something more to life.
But now everything that looks good is out of reach. No money. No strength. No motivation. But at least you have a longing. A thirst.
And the Lord says, you are just the candidate I am after:
"Come everyone who thirsts and has no money—no resources, no bargaining position, no track record, no power, no prestige, no pull. God is inviting you this morning to enjoy the banquet of salvation.
The celebrate recovery group at Rosedale is not just about broken people.
We are all broken.
I CANNOT FIX ANYONE. Only God can do that.
You have to be willing to come. Be willing to be thirsty for the things of God. You must realize that we all need to thirst for the things of God.
What Are We Offered?
The answer is given in three steps:
The benefits are pictured for us in verse 1
The quality and quantity of these benefits are mentioned in verse 2
The reality behind is described in verse 3
Closing,
If you are distant from God, you need to come, draw near.
If you have drawn near in recent days or just this morning, but hold back from any transaction analyzing and appraising, you need to buy. I admit it is a strange transaction: there is no price and you are spiritually bankrupt. But you must take this water and milk and wine, and count it yours just as much as if you had bought it, for there is one who has bought it for you.
If you have made the transaction and hold the water and milk in your hand, you need to eat. God is not a thing to be studied. He is a person to be experienced. He is food and life and joy for the soul.
Finally, if you have eaten, delight yourself in the Lord.
Say with the psalmist, "Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fullness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore."
Come
Buy
Eat
Enjoy
Amen.
