Are You Ready... For The Word? Pt. 3
Are You Ready? - For The Word • Sermon • Submitted
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Isaiah 55:6–13 (NASB95)
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12 “For you will go out with joy And be led forth with peace; The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 “Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, And it will be a memorial to the Lord, For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”
2 Minutes/247 Words
What about the Word? His Word of Compassion & Forgiveness. Isaiah 40-55 is the section that largely focuses on the redemption and deliverance of God’s people from the punishment he brought on them. GOD repeatedly says that he has and will forgive them. But when you’re in despair from your own mess ups, it can be difficult to trust God’s word. My intent this morning is to help us be better prepared for the Word, specifically God’s Word of forgiveness toward us, when deep down we might feel like he hasn’t, doesn’t, and won’t.
Get out of your Mind & Get out of your Way
Remember GOD has communicated in Ch 53 that his servant, the Messiah, is going to bear the iniquities of humanity. Ch 54 declares future blessings upon Israel. Ch 55, GOD is calling people to his grace and mercy, because in verse 1 he says those who are broke!! Verse 6-7, he expands his call to repent and extends his offer of forgiveness. But in order to genuinely seek and call upon GOD and accept his Word of forgiveness, Isaiah urges the wicked and unrighteous to “Forsake” their way and thoughts.
Application: If we’re going to truly trust in God’s offer for forgiveness, we all must learn to Get out of your mind and get out of your own way. Here it is GOD offers mercy and grace, our minds begin telling us otherwise. We harbor on our own mess. We repeat it in our minds, and sometimes repeat the same behaviors. Won’t return to him, until surrender your thoughts. Won’t recognize or accept his offer of forgiveness, until leave thoughts behind.
God’s Word is Distinct
Now notice, GOD says seek me and come, so you can receive my compassion and forgiveness, but you gotta abandon your thoughts and ways. Why GOD? Because there is a contrast or distinction between God’s ways and thoughts and wicked humanity’s. How does this relate to God’s Word? Because whatever message comes from GOD, originates in his mind and according to his ways or plans. 1 Co 2:10-13.
Application: This is why we need to get out of our minds, because God’s Word, that is his mind, is distinct from ours. What we typically think and do.
And just in case anyone had the question “How distinct?” GOD gives us reference material. In a time where they did not have so much advanced technology, GOD challenges them to measure from the ground where their feet stood, to any point in the sky. His intent was that it is immeasurable for the human eye or measurement tool. That’s how different GOD thinks!!
Application: We think: He won’t forgive me, I’m irreconcilable, nobody else has forgiven me. When we’re thinking in those ways, we need to step outside and look to the sky and determine if we can measure to the sky. Conclude that what I’m thinking is on a much lower level.
God’s Word is Successful
Then GOD gives us additional reference material to strengthen our trust in his Word. The cycle of precipitation. The rain and snow come from the sky, and it returns back to the sky through evaporation. But it does not evaporate up before it first waters the soil, cause life and growth in a plant, produce a seed for farmers to redistribute, and ultimately produce food to eat. It has purpose, and does not go back without fulfilling purpose. Likewise, God’s Word is sent from above, and it is NEVER unsuccessful in achieving what GOD desires and purposes!!
Application: Success is defined as achieving an aim or purpose. Success rate is the number of successes out of attempts. i.e. 3 point shots, 100 shots, how many can one make? What should support our acceptance and trust in God’s word of forgiveness is that his word is always successful. Flawless stats. Expanse between the waters. Covenant with Noah. His servant will bear the iniquities of man. All has been successful. Ones response doesn’t dictate the success of God’s word. Ro 3:2-4 “2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? 4 May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, “That You may be justified in Your words, And prevail when You are judged.””
God’s Word is Displayed
After those things, GOD strongly affirms his purpose, that is that his word of compassion and forgiveness is solid!! By promising them that they will go out, with joy and peace and celebration, and things will be different.
Application: The last thing we must grasp is that God’s Word isn’t just words, but they are displayed!! Isaiah 54:7-8, GOD says anger was momentary, but love and compassion is for life!! Circumstances can blind us to the reality of his promise. But there’s coming a day when things will certainly shift. Renewed relationships. New opportunities. Mood change.
Conclusion: We’ve all committed plenty of offenses, that can arrest our minds to not believe God’s forgiveness is possible. But the way we better accept God’s offer of repentance, mercy, grace, and forgiveness: Get outta your own way, accept God’s Word is Distinct, Successful, and always Displayed!!