The Call

intro

Isaiah 54:16–17 ESV

16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; 17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

Pray

There is so much more to being a Christian than we realize.

There is not just the salvation, there is the sanctification. Becoming More Like Christ every day. We were first called Christians because we emulated Christ so much there was little distinction...

Thus Paul could say : 1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Pastor Drew has been speaking on being ready to give an answer of our Beliefs...

I want to encourage us this morning to continue coming and learning the apologetics necessary to do just that.

TO do this, we are going to chase this power scripture people like misusing from Isaiah 54:17 and find out what the Lord speaks next...

Isaiah 54:17 ESV

17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”

I could spend weeks speaking on just the depths this one scripture hold but we are going after a surface understanding of the next Chapter.

First

The Actions Required

Isaiah 55:1 ESV

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Come -thirsty -There is no money excuse- or price excuse

Buy - Wine (healing and joy) and milk (basic nutrients for strength)

Buying without money is not getting a hand out!!!!

Buying implies active exchange..... (bad for good)

and it’s more than just buying… you must buy and:

Eat - Eat what? the necessities----that which gives strength

Isaiah 55:2 ESV

2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

Listen diligently -eat what is good… Rich food

Not food of the rich....rich food

Food that is good for you and will strengthen you

Physically and Spiritually

Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3

Deuteronomy 8:3 ESV

3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

SO listen. eat what is good and rich

Isaiah 55:3 ESV

3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Incline your ear - this is to focus and listen to HIM only

Jerry Springer and Oprah do not know what is best for you. Neither does Dr. Phil or Harvey.

God Knows so incline your ear and

Hear - Listening and doing God’s WORD is the only way to have life

Jesus came that we might have life....More abundantly!

If we do these things GOD promises to make a covenant with us likened unto His relationship with David.... The MAN after GOD’s heart.... an everlasting covenant built on His stead fast Love.!!!

Second

Results of the Covenant

Like David… so what He says He did with David He wants to do with us..

Isaiah 55:4–5 ESV

4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

Strangers are going to call on you because of the Lord’s Blessing and Anointing on your life! If you call them....

BUT

BUT

BUT

We canNOT stay in the ideology of Salvation alone

We have responsibilities.

James 4:17 ESV

17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

IN This passage of explanation of preparation to refute the word spoken against us we have learned we must:

Come

Buy

Eat

Listen

Incline

Hear

We are now told that with the promise of a Davidic covenant there are:

Third

More To Do’s

We must also

Seek

Call

Forsake

Return

Isaiah 55:6–7 ESV

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; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Why are these things so???

Isaiah 55:8–11 ESV

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither 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 but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Understanding what we are called to helps us understand the Blessings that follow us!!!

Isaiah 55:12–56:2 ESV

12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” 1 Thus says the Lord: “Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my righteousness be revealed. 2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

Conclusion

Come

Buy

Eat

Listen

Incline

Hear

Seek

Call

Forsake

Return

It’s NOT a list of things to memorize, it’s a list of things that all come about when we walk in God’s Unconditional LOVE!!!

Stand with Me

As Christians----People who know and live for Christ,

we must be ready to give an answer with our mouth and we must display the LORD in every action everyday!

When Word and deed align, the Blessings of the covenant will be seen in our lives and that will lead to a full bountiful life!

Alter Time

Pray

Lord, Bless These Your People Today

May the Lord fill you with His Spirit, to teach and guide you, and create opportunity for ministry this week. May you be Salt and Light to those around you, calling the lost to repentance, an illustration of Living Faith. May you increase in all Blessings and may the Peace of Jesus be yours! May God Protect and Guide you as you Obey His word. And may His Anointing and Light be evidently seen in and through your Life this week. In Jesus name, AMEN!