S224 God's Lifechanging Words

Introduction

A. Let me tell you a story of a people God chose and blessed and disciplined

1. They were the nation of Israel, who were eventually divided

2. They had some good kings and some bad kings

3. God was tired of their unfaithfulness and knew a punishment was going to be necessary to get them refocused

4. God brought up a pagan nation (Babylon) to punish the people and cart them off to slavery for 70 years

5. God did not let them stay in discipline and punishment, but delivered them back to their homeland to be blessed again

6. This is more than important history…this was the message found within many prophets of the Old Testament

B. The book of Isaiah

1. Large book recorded and arranged by the prophet Isaiah

Though there is significant debate amongst scholars, the New Testament seems to treat Isaiah as though the prophet himself wrote the whole thing.

2. A prophecy during the last time of prosperity in Judah

Spanning several kings, there was one last time of men who obeyed God’s word and He blessed them.

Isaiah saw the falling away and he told of the coming judgments.

3. Isaiah prophesied of judgment

It seems Isaiah was on the back end of warning, both to Israel and Judah.

They were doing well at times, but began the slow downward spiral into idolatry.

God was going to punish His people through foreign nations.

4. Isaiah prophesied of deliverance

While they would be taken away, but God would bring them back.

When they were brought back, there would be many blessings of restoration.

C. Our passage is a prophecy of redemption and restoration

1. Isaiah sees into the future of God’s plans

They will not be neglected.

They will be delivered…if from an unexpected source.

They will be blessed.

2. This message

3. This message is a prophecy for God’s people of all time

Specifically for the people of Judah

Generally for all of God’s people, including us, today

Read Passage

Isaiah 55:6–13 NASB95

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 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. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. “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; 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. “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. “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.”

D. Isaiah brings hope to the people by pointing them in the right direction: God’s word

1. God’s word gives an invitation to His people: draw near

2. God’s word brings about a plan God has for His people…a plan that reminds us we don’t think or see things quite like God

3. God’s word is going to accomplish great things…guaranteed

4. God’s word is the source of blessings to His people

PRAYER

TRANSITION

Body

I. God’s Invitation (Isaiah 55.6-7)

Isaiah 55:6–7 NASB95

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. 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.

A. God’s invitation is temporary (Is 55.6)

1. This might fly in the face of what we think

God is always available.

God will always answer if we call.

This line of thinking is right…after a fashion. God wants to answer those who seek after Him.

2. But there is a limited time God will be available

The text says, while He may be found…while He is near

I think this has to do with the fact that God has approached and made the offer…He has made the invitation.

3. Our own invitation to God is temporary

So long as we remain alive, the invitation is made.

But there are times when God draws near to us with this invitation:

Calling to repentance

When life is difficult

When confronted with the truth of His word

B. God’s invitation is for everyone (Is 55.7a)

1. God invites those who are not living right

You don’t have to get your life right before coming to God.

Though we “know” this, it can be hard to internalize.

Hard for us to accept it about ourselves

Hard for us to accept it about other people

2. There is a stipulation to the invitation: repentance

It means to stop the sin… to forsake the ways of unrighteousness and evil.

To stop the thoughts that draw a person away from God.

3. This invitation is especially to those who have wandered away

It says to return to the LORD...

You can only return if you have first left.

That means the unrighteous man and the wicked person was once someone who was a part of God’s family.

C. God’s invitation is valuable (Is 55.7b)

1. Sometimes, when we drift or wander away, we are afraid to return

2. God offers us something valuable: pardon and compassion

God loves us, He wants to have compassion on us.

He knows we have made mistakes this past year…maybe some of those mistakes have allowed us to drift away from the Lord.

God accepts us back into relationship with Him when we repent, and we are pardoned for our errors.

3. This is so valuable, as it can put us on a fresh start with our God

D. Do you need God’s invitation? Does someone else you know?

1. Of course, we know we NEED it

2. Is there a need in this room for someone to return to the LORD?

3. Remember, you have friends who need the Lord…don’t let that fact escape your notice

TRANSITION

II. God’s Thoughts (Isaiah 55.8-9)

Isaiah 55:8–9 NASB95

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.

A. God’s thoughts are different (Is 55.8)

1. Of course, this seems like an understatement at times, right?

2. But this means God doesn’t think or do things the way we might in the same situation

3. The original recipients might have been confused about God’s method of judgment or deliverance

God uses foreign nations to do His will.

Why not use the Jews?

Why would He use such sinners?

Isn’t what they do worse than what we do?

This is likely the source of confusion…how could God deliver His people from Babylon using a Persian king?

4. This causes problems when we make assumptions or are confronted with the way God does things

“Why would God expect me to get dunked in water prior to being forgiven for my sin?” —This confusion leads many to reject the necessity of baptism.

“Why wouldn’t God want me to put my whole heart and all my talents into worship?” —This mentality leads many to add things to worship God has not asked to receive.

“How could a loving God condemn anyone to hell?” —This mistake leads many to think there are no spiritual consequences

5. God’s way of thinking is laid out in His word, but it can be surprising when we consider it

B. God’s thoughts are superior (Is 55.9)

1. God says they are so far above us, we have no hope of “capturing” His thoughts

Like trying to capture the stars in a glass.

Trying to grasp the atmosphere in your hands.

2. While we can understand God’s will and His thoughts (what He has shared), we cannot anticipate what He has not shared with us

3. There are going to be times we have to accept God’s word and will for what it says

Humility is necessary.

When we are arrogant or angry, we tend to reject the truth of God’s word.

When we reject God’s word, we put ourselves “above” God’s word.

C. Examples of God’s thoughts

1. In this context: the delivery of God’s people by foreigners

God’s people struggled with the idea God would use foreign nations as a punishment against them.

Isaiah knew when God delivered them with foreign men (the king of Persia), they would struggle with this.

2. God wants to save them, but He will do it His way

3. We see this same struggle in the gospel message, as well

1 Corinthians 1:18–25 NASB95

For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.” Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

D. What shift in thinking do you need?

1. I have been confronted with the way I think about spiritual things

2. Are you ready to be challenged?

Maybe about sin.

Maybe about concepts you’ve always taken for granted.

3. Are you willing to accept God’s word if and when you are challenged?

God’s word WILL challenge you at some point.

If you adapt and change your life and thinking to God’s, then you will be changed, and blessed.

TRANSITION

III. God’s Effectiveness (Isaiah 55.10-11)

Isaiah 55:10–11 NASB95

“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; 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.

A. God demonstrates His effectiveness (Is 55.10)

1. God points to the effects of nature

They are sure and guaranteed.

If rain falls, something is going to happen. It could water a plant for growth, or it could wipe away the side of a mountain.

2. When God sends forth His effective efforts, there is production

For the water, it produces useful food.

There are second and third order effects from this water.

3. God’s word is also effective having the same power, guaranteed influence, and wide-reaching effects

B. God’s effectiveness is seen in His word (Is 55.11)

1. God’s word is not empty

This means to have no effect.

If something were empty it could be compared to lighting a candle for warmth in a fierce hurricane pouring down rain 100 mile per hour.

But that is not God’s word…His word accomplishes things.

2. God’s word does what He wants

3. God’s word is SUCCESSFUL

In the context, it suggests that God’s word will successfully deliver His people, even though it comes from an unusual place: the Persians.

For us, we know God’s word is always successful in its promises, and revelations.

C. God does not waste words or time

1. Sometimes, we wonder at what we read in the Bible

If you are reading the Bible through in a year, you will be confronted with this confusion at times.

It probably has already happened, and you wonder, “Why did God put that there?”

2. God is not wasting time, effort, or energy when He gives us His word

3. When we spend time in His word, we are blessed by its effectiveness

To see the promises fulfilled.

To see the coming promises.

To be changed and transformed as we take in the truth of His word into our own lives.

D. Do we treat God’s word as effective?

1. Do we hold to the promises?

2. Do we live the life?

Live as though God’s word will change us?

Live as though God’s promises will come true?

3. Do we discipline ourselves according to God’s word?

I think of prayer…do we pray like we ought to according to God’s word?

What about fasting? Worship? Study? Generosity? Forgiveness?

These all come from God’s word and we live as though they are real…this is part of how God’s word affects each one of us.

TRANSITION

IV. God’s Blessings (Isaiah 55.12-13)

Isaiah 55:12–13 NASB95

“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. “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.”

A. God blesses with deliverance (Is 55.12)

1. God promises His people to go out with joy and be led forth with peace

This is a promise to return them from the judgment they will see in Babylon.

God will bring them out of a situation that seems impossible by means they can’t even anticipate when they first hear this prophecy.

2. While they will be trapped, God will deliver them remarkably

There will be joy and peace in the deliverance.

They will not have to fight for themselves…God does the delivery, and it is effective and thorough.

3. God delivers His people with joy and peace still to this day

Through Jesus, we are delivered out of the bondage of Babylon…out of deliverance from our sins.

We are delivered remarkably, without having to lift a finger to fight for ourselves.

B. God blesses with prosperity (Is 55.13)

1. What had been thorns and nettles will be productive lands

Thorns and nettles signify neglect and unfruitful land. No one has looked at the thorns in their field and said, “Wow, that was a great crop this year!”

But cypress and myrtle are cultivated and signify blessing and production.

2. More than simple production and prosperity, God promises He will bless abundantly

It will be so much that it will be a memorial to the LORD.

Others will see how well the Jewish people are going to be doing, they will see the hand of God in those blessings.

3. Not only does God deliver His people, but He will prosper them toward great success

C. Specific blessings with general application

1. Specifically, these blessings were promises to God’s people of Judah

They would be delivered after their punishment was over.

They would have joy and return to their lands where they would experience prosperity.

2. God’s people of all time enjoy these same sort of promises

Even as Christians, we have deliverance and prosperity promised to us.

Deliverance:

1 John 4.4 […greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world…] God has overcome the world and our enemies therein

Galatians 5.1 […for freedom you have been set free…] God has delivered us from the tyranny of legalism

James 4.7 [Resist the devil and he will flee from you.] God delivers us from the spiritual enemies in our lives

Prosperity:

Matthew 6.33 […seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you…] God promises to prosper us in our needs

2 Corinthians 9.6-8 […God is able to make all grace abound…] When we give to God, He will give to us, so we can abound in more giving to Him

3. Of course, we have the promises of eternal blessings ahead of us

Inheritance and co-heirs with Jesus.

Removal of tears and pain.

Eternal life with no more death or separation.

D. You and I can be blessed by God’s word

1. Taking God’s word into us

2. Transformed by God’s word in this life

Romans 12:2 NASB95

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

3. Encouraged by God’s word

Philippians 4:8 NASB95

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

TRANSITION

Conclusion

A. God’s word is the source of encouragement

1. He has invited each one of us to engage with Him

2. We have to admit, there are times we don’t quite understand His methods, but there is opportunity to change the way we think and see the world to realign with God’s way of seeing the world

3. God’s word is going to accomplish what it says…and that is comforting

4. God’s word promises deliverance and peace for His people

While the Jews realized deliverance from Babylon in an earthly manner, we will see something even greater.

We will be delivered from sin, temptation, condemnation, and be blessed with eternity in God’s presence, made new, ready to enjoy life the absolute right and perfect way.

B. The New Year has started with new opportunities

1. We have begun with a fresh start

2. Maybe you have started with some New Year’s resolutions or goals

3. God’s word should be the source of encouragement and dedication in your life with this New Year

C. The power of God’s word can be life changing for you, this new year

1. Read God’s word

We invite you to participate in our congregational reading plan.

2. Study God’s word

There are riches in God’s word to dig and discover if you learn and practice the good study techniques. Much more than simply reading.

3. Learn God’s word

Be together with one another. Make assembling together this year during Bible study, worship, and other opportunities a high priority.

Don’t let the stress of the world prevent, no matter the source. Those stressful times are when you need the encouragement of God’s word so desperately.

4. Grow in God’s word this year

Become a Christian.

Grow in your knowledge.

Grow in your understanding.

Grow in your maturity.

Grow in your application of the character of God.