Your Personal Invitation

Isaiah 55: 1-7 --What is your mental image of God? How do you picture Him? Do you see Him high and lifted up in the Temple as described in Isaiah 6?

“In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne,
lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple.”

Do you see Him as the King and Judge of the Universe? For some reason, His holiness and splendor drive us to an ethereal and reverent concept.
 

I hope for you to see God in different and unusual place. Isaiah 55 paints a portrait of God standing in the market place sellinghis wares. Against the canvas of a middle eastern marketplace the divine artist uses the brushstrokes of the written word to reveal God offering an indescribable gift to all who will receive. Those reading these phrases could easily identify with the merchant pleading with the buyer to sample and trust his product. The marketplace was a festive and carnival-like place. Children would be running and playing. Day laborers gathered to be hired, and the leading citizens exchanging greetings with one another. It was the place to see and be seen. It was the grandest of meeting places. It is into this arena that God walks, crying out to all who will hear his Personal Invitation.

While this is the word picture Isaiah is painting, his reference is to something far more significant. It has nothing to do with physical wants and satisfaction, rather it deals with the most fundamental need of every human being. This prophet of God, under the direct leadership of the Holy Spirit, moves from his description of the suffering servant in chapter 53 to the universal invitation of God to a lost and hopeless world here in his 55th chapter. As it was an invitation in the latter half of the 8th century BC so is it an invitation in the first decade of the 21st century AD. As it was an invitation to the people of Judah so is it an invitation to the people of the local church this morning. It is your personal invitation! Look with me and see …

The People of the Invitation

It is an invitation to those who are Dry.   Isa 55:1 says “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters …” The most basic human need is that of water. There is nothing so important as water is to the human body. Research has shown that a person can go without food for 100 days, but will die within a week without water! It is essential to the human body which is comprised of nearly 90% water. It is the very substance of our existence.

On a trip into West Africa, I came to understand this need more personally. The water in our region of the country “was not flowing” (to quote the locals). The wells were dry and the region was parched. Before setting out on our journey we stopped to fill all our available containers with water – not suitable for drinking, but for cooking, washing, and cleaning. The pastor took great care to see that the containers will supplied, sealed, and secure. Nothing could be worse than spillage.

As we began our journey we purchased two additional containers for drinking water – each one capable of holding approximately 25 gallons of water. The containers were ready, but the problem was there was no water to be found in the place where we made our purchase. We drove very slowly looking for a place to fill our empty vessels. We stopped at houses, petrol stations, and the like – all to no avail. Finally we found the home of a “brother” who had water in his well. What a feeling of gratitude we had for the supply to meet our need.

God is offering here a spiritual answer to our most basic human need. Is your life dry today? Are you willing to admit that your soul is parched and perishing? Listen to what Jesus said to the woman at the well;

"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water 

I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will 

become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

-- John 4:13-15

Are you trying to quench your thirst with the things of the world. Nothing but Jesus can satisfy the thirst of your soul.

This is an invitation to those who are Destitute.  Verse one goes on to say, “and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.“ In this modern society, especially in this place, we have little concept of what poverty really means. We live in the wealthiest nation in the world and in one of the wealthiest places in North Carolina. Most of us know nothing of destitution! We have cars, boats, bikes, airplanes and helicopters. We have land and we have houses – filled with every imaginable convenience. But in God’s economy we are completely destitute!

One of the greatest problems in reaching people for Christ, especially in America, is helping them realize this absolute poverty before God. We have nothing with which to bargain. There is no partiality with God. We cannot buy God’s favor, we cannot barter for His gift. We are penniless and hopeless before a Holy and Just God. But, God’s free gift of salvation is available to everyone.

The invitation is to those who are Deceived.  Look again at Isaiah 55, verse 2, “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.” We are living in a world of deception. Satan has whispered in the ears of so many that you don’t need God. He asserts that God is only for weaklings and cowards. Some of you this morning have tried to find peace and happiness in all the wrong places. You have looked to your family, your business, your possessions, your passions, and your abilities. But, when you get really honest with yourself you know that you have no contentment in your life and no hope for your future. Why? Because when Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” (John 14:6) you refused to apply the truth to your life. I urge you, don’t be deceived any longer. Turn to Jesus today!

The invitation is to those who are Depraved.  Look down to verses 6- 7. “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” This is a thought that we shun away from today – depraved. We don’t want someone to stand and remind us about our sin. But what does the word of God say? The Bible says that we have a problem and that problem is sin. Paul boldly proclaims,

"There is none righteous, not even one”
-- Rom 3:10

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
-- Rom 3:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God
is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
-- Rom 6:23.

These are not my words, but the Word of God. I have seen people grow angry and hostile toward these words, but your anger should not directed towards me, but to God.

This is God’s assessment of your spiritual condition. Yes, we are all sinners, it’s not your fault, but it is your problem! Why? Because God, through the Apostle John declares,

Nothing impure will ever enter it [heaven], nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life. -- Rev. 21:27

Beloved, there is a great gulf -- a gap – a chasm, between God and man, and nothing we do can bridge that gulf. If you are trusting in your religion, your works, your philosophy, or your morality, you stand as a good, religious, philosophical, and moral man separated from God by your sinfulness. But there is good news. God alone, has made a provision for our sin.
 

Jesus is God’s only provision for our sin. Listen again to His sweet words:

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, 

and whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

-- John 3: 16

"I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly." 

-- John 10:10

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son 

shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." 

--John 3:36

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me."

-- John 14:6

This is the invitation of God to you now. It is simple and clear. But the invitation given is not the gift received. While it is true that God’s call is universal and personal, your response to the invitation is crucial. You must meet certain conditions.

Your Participation of the Invitation

You must be receptive. Read again that second verse of chapter 55. “Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.”

One of the mistakes of people today is that they seem to believe that God rewards sincerity and belief. This is simply not the case. I hear people talk about their personal and private faith. But what does this mean? Does it mean that we believe in God? That’s good, but it’s not enough. The Bible says that even the demons believe:

“You believe that God is one. You do well; 

the demons also believe, and shudder.” 

-- James 2:19

I have never really met a person who does not believe in God. They may call Him by some other name, but there is a personal belief in God. These are the people Paul described in Romans 1:20-22;
 

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power
and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,
so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him
as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish
hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools …

Belief alone does not result in eternal life.

In order to receive eternal life, you must be willing to shut out all the other voices! We are living in a day when so many voices are crying out for our attention. In such a pluralistic society we must know that God alone is truth. We are living in the days Paul spoke of in his letter to young Timothy:

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. 

Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number 

of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

– 2 Tim 4: 3-5.

What is the provision for our sin? Listen carefully to 1 Cor 15:3-4

“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures … he was buried …
he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

In order for the invitation of God’s salvation to come your life, you must be receptive.

He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, 

to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who 

believe in His name:who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, 

nor of the will of man, but of God. 

-- John 1:11-13 nkjv

Not only this, but …

 

You must be Responsive. Listen again to verse 6 of Isaiah 55. “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” You must be willing to respond and receive the invitation of God’s gift of salvation. How do we do this? Listen to the word of God:

“if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart 

that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; 

for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, 

and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 

For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him 

will not be disappointed."


-- Rom 10:9-11

This is God’s invitation to you. These are His directions. They are non-negotiable. They are forever settled in Heaven. Are you willing to respond this morning?” I want you to know there is a price to be paid for this response. Notice finally,

You must be Repentant. Isa 55:7 says “Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Very simply put, you must have a change of mind about your present spiritual condition. You must agree with God.

Several years ago, Henry Blackaby wrote an incredibly simple book entitled, Experiencing God. Some of you read this. The single simple statement that Henry penned was this. "You can’t go with God and stay where you are." WOW! How clear and succinct is this statement. This is the message to you this morning.

Is your life full and complete today? Are you were you want to be spiritually? I don’t know most of you, but I know something about you. This is what I know. One day you are going to die. And when you die, you are either going to Heaven or you are going to Hell. It’s that simple. God has made a way for you to go to heaven, but you must make the choice. Here’s how Isaiah concludes this chapter:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," 

declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, 

so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your 

thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, 

and do not return to it without watering the earth and making 

it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower

and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes 

out from my mouth: It will not return to 

me empty, but will accomplish what 

I desire and achieve the 

purpose for which I sent it.

-- Isa 55:8-11

I want you to admit that your actions, attitudes, belief, and behavior has led you to the place you find yourself today. Your present spiritual condition is the result of your actions. Maybe everything is good in your life. Perhaps you are content and satisfied with where you are. But perhaps you are not. Hear this again. You are where you are today because of what you’ve been doing. Your life and your actions have brought you to the place you are today. God has a better plan and a better way. His invitation to you is clear.

“If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, 

and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, 

He is faithful and righteous to 

forgive us our sins and to 

cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

--I John 1: 8-9

 

This is not my promise, it is God’s. His invitation to you is just this simple. Realize, repent, and receive.