Sermon # 183 Series: Isaiah

Title: God’s Own Gospel Message

Text: Isaiah 55:1-13

Subject: God’s Invitation To Sinners

Date: Sunday Evening – June 26, 1994

Introduction:

Isaiah 55 is a very remarkable chapter. In these thirteen verses we have read one of the most tender-hearted and compassionate messages of mercy, love, and grace ever addressed to sinners. But the preacher is not a man. The preacher is the Lord God himself! As in the beginning, after the sin and fall of our father Adam, God came seeking the fallen man that he might be gracious unto him, so here God almighty condescends to invite, reason with, and call sinners to himself in repentance and faith, that he might give them all the blessings of his covenant grace!

I have entitled my sermon tonight – God’s Own Gospel Message because…

Proposition: Here the Lord God stoops to preach the gospel to perishing sinners who deserve his wrath.

I am not going to preach tonight. I am simply going to repeat God’s Own Gospel Message to you, identifying seven remarkable things of which he speaks in it. May God the Holy Spirit who caused Isaiah to record these words of the eternal God now use them to draw every heart here to Jesus Christ the Lord, who is the subject of this message.

I. In verse 1, The Lord gives A Free and Gracious Invitation To Sinners.

Here the Lord God offers…

A. Water to the Thirsty – (Purifying – Refreshing – Renewing!)

B. Bread to the Hungry – (Nourishment for Life!)

C. Wine, the Symbol of Joy, to the Mourner!

D. Milk, the Symbol of Strength, Satisfaction, and Consolation to the Weak, Weary, Disconsolate Soul!

E. This is an offer of all things needful, of free grace and eternal salvation in Christ, without cost, condition, or qualification!

1. It is a call to faith, not to work.

2. It is a call to a banquet, not to a kitchen.

3. It is a call to Christ, not to a ritual.

Illus: The Newspaper Boy in Chicago – The Rich Businessman – Mr. Lawry.

• “Do you have any children?”
• “I sure would like to be your son.”
• “Where are your parents?” – Now!
• “Where do you live?” – The Streets!
• “Where do you sleep?” – The Streets!
• “Honey, would you like to have a son?”
• “I’d give you everything I’ve got.”
• “I have enough for the both of us!”

II. Verses 2 and 3 record a marvel, a wondrous thing. Here is the Infinite, Glorious Lord God offering to reluctant, unbelieving sinners. A Persuasive Argument For Faith In Christ.

What arguments does God use to persuade sinners to trust Christ and come to him?

A. There is No Satisfaction in this world (v. 2).

Illus: 1. The Suicide Rate in Las Vagas, Hollywood.

2. Lord Byron, the acclaimed and ordered literary Nobleman, wrote of himself.

“My days are in the yellow leaf;

The Flowers and fruits of love are gone;

The worm, the canker, and the grief

Are mine alone!”

3. The railroad tycoon, Jay Gould, the richest man in the world in his day wrote – “I suppose I am the most miserable man in the world.

B. There is no satisfaction in the world’ but There is Complete Satisfaction in Christ. (vv. 2-3).

• “Incline!”
• “Come!”
• “Hear!”
• “Your soul shall live!”
• “An everlasting covenant” – It’s Benefits – “The Sure Mercies of David – (Christ).

III. In verses 4-5, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of David, is presented as A Savior Who Cannot Fail. He is…

• The Gift of God.
• The Revelation of God – “Witness”
• The King of Glory – “Commander”
• The Glorified Savior to whom all the Chosen Shall Come!

IV. Now look at verse 6-7. Here the Lord God issues to us, sinful men and women, A Call To Repentance with the Promise of Complete Pardon.

A. “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found.”

B. “Call ye upon him while he is near!”

C. Repent and return to the Lord God.

D. He will abundantly pardon!

V. In verses 8-10, the Lord God shows himself to be A God Who Is Infinite In Grace, Wisdom, and Power.

A. “For” refers back to his last statement – Infinite Grace!

B. Verses 8 and 9 refer to God’s Infinite Wisdom.

• In His Thoughts.
• In His Ways. (Of Grace – Of Providence).

C. Verse 10 displays God’s Infinite Wisdom and Power or The Ruler of Providence.

VI. Verse 11 declares that the word of God is A Word That’s Always Effectual (The Gospel!).

A. It goes out of His Mouth.

B. It never goes out vain or returns void.

C. It accomplishes God’s pleasure.

D. It prospers in the thing for which it is sent.

(II Cor. 2:15-17).

VII. Verses 12-13 describes A Blessedness That Only Faith Can Understand.

This is part of what Paul calls “The joy of faith”.

A. Grace makes your environment a blessing (Hos. 2:18).

B. Grace makes the curse a blessing – “Happy fall!” (Luther).

C. All this is for the Glory of God – It shall not be cut off!

Application:

Come to Christ!

Illus: Bro. Burke’s Testimony Vol. 3, pp. 9-10.