The Invitation To Contentment

Isaiah 55 THE INVITATION TO CONTENTMENT 1. Man's Problem 1. People Seek Satisfaction In Their Possessions – 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? People are looking for contentment in the “things” they possess. Bill Earle “If your outgoing exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall.” Possessions can never satisfy the deepest needs of the soul! 2. People Seek Satisfaction In Their Pursuits – and your labour for that which satisfieth not Work, hobbies, sports, and the pleasures of life will never satisfy the needs of the soul. 3. People Seek Satisfaction In Their Praises - 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; 2. Man's Provision I. THE OFFERS OF THIS INVITATION v. 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. A. The Right Provisions – There are three basic substances offered in this verse. 1. He Offers Water – Our bodies are comprised of 60-70% water. The average human can live three days without water. We have to have water to live. John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The word “drinketh” in v 13 is in the “present tense”. It refers to continual action. IE. “Even if you drink continually from Jacob’s well, you will just get thirsty again.” The word “drinketh” in v 14 is in the “aorist tense”. It refers to a one time for all time action. IE, “If you take just one drink of the well I offer, you will never thirst again!” There’s no thirsting for the things Of the world—they’ve taken wings. Long ago I gave them up, and instantly, All my night was turned to day, All my burdens rolled away. Now the Comforter abides with me. John 7:37 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. Rev. 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. 2. He Offers Wine – In biblical times, wine was just as important as water. Most of the water was not fit to drink, so wine was added to the water to kill the bacteria. In the Bible, wine is often used as a picture of joy. Psalm 104:15. And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart. It was used at times of feasting and happy celebrations. 1 Pet. 1:8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: God doesn’t just save us; He also fills us with His joy. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit that gives us peace and comfort as we travel toward glory, John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. On the Day of Pentecost, the Jews thought that the Spirit-filled disciples were drunk with new wine, Acts 2:13. Peter told the crowd that these men were not drunk with wine; they were under the influence of the Holy Spirit. 3. He Offers Milk – Milk is essential for healthy growth. Milk in the Bible is a picture of the Word of God. Not only does God give us the water of life that saves us and the Spirit of God that gives us joy; He also gives us the Word of God that helps us grow up strong in the things of God. 1 Pet. 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Cor. 3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. B. The Right Price – yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. The world makes you pay for everything your get. Religion will make you labour for every blessing you think you will receive. Sin, the flesh and the devil make you pay dearly for any promise of contentment. Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. But God offers salvation and contentment to all who will come to Him free of any charge. Rom. 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Jesus paid it all; All to Him I owe; Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow. 3. Man's Promise II. THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THIS INVITATION v. 2b-3 hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. A. The Opportunity For Salvation – “soul shall live.” B. The Opportunity For Satisfaction – V 2 “and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” The word “fatness” means “abundance”. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. C. The Opportunity For Surety – and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David 4. Man's Part III. THE OBLIGATIONS OF THIS INVITATION v. 1-3 A. There Is Something You Must Have – It is for “every one that thirsteth”. (Spiritual) Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. B. There Is Something You Must Hear – Four times in these verses God tells Israel that they need to hear His message, ("Ho"; "Hearken diligently"; "Incline your ear"; "Hear"). C. There Is Something You Must Heed - God's Invitation. A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. “I know how valuable this stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me this stone.” 1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.