Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Ho! Everyone who Thirsts – Isa 55
- Every 7 years – beating of the bounds
- Imagine the scene
- We are trying to reach out to them
- A little bit like the image in v1
- A better image would be a marketplace
- Ho – I have something for free
- Offering refreshing waters
- The marketplace of souls
- Preaching the gospel
- The price has been paid – freely receive
- The Book of Isaiah
- First 39 books about law & judgment
- Next 27 books about gospel invitations
- Isa 53 – the basis for this invitation: the death of Christ
- Isa 54 – extensive gospel blessings, the gospel to the whole world, with great joy
- Isa 55 – the invitation
- Speaking to 2 groups
- Those with a thirsty soul – without God in your life
- Brothers and sisters who are spiritually dry
- Jesus came to bring an abundance of life
- Overview:
- A Wonderful Invitation
- The Terms and the Promise Attached
A Wonderful Invitation
- Water
- For those who are thirsty
- The Shepherd who leads you to living water
- Milk and wine
- ‘Wine gladdens the heart of man’
- Milk nourishes and helps grow
- Nourishment and gladness in the gospel
- "Let your soul delight itself in abundance" v2d
- Christ is present
- The Nation of Israel was familiar with these pictures – Christ brings spiritual blessings
- Sinners come as you are
- Christ will clothe you and bless you
- The prophet laments that the people were seeking other things (v2a-b)
- The lusts of the soul, relationships, materialism, other gods
- These things do not satisfy
- An invitation
- "Come, buy and eat"
- Receive so freely
- Matt 11:28 – "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"
- An invitation both to Christian and non-Christian
- Example of Blondin
- Some people are unprepared to accept
- Example of 2 fishermen – Quote from Dylan
- Have you come to Jesus?
- Example of the Parable of the Great Feast
- Do not use the excuse of life, work and family
- Some are responding
- The invitation is to everyone
The Terms (of the invitation) and the Promise Attached
- Example of Alex Navalny
- Matt 5:6 – "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled"
- Are you hungering and thirsting – God will bless you
- The terms
- Thirsting
- Recognise your need
- Quote from song
- No need to ‘improve’ yourself – with your self-righteousness
- Today is the day of salvation
- Buy without money
- Jesus has paid the price – quote from song
- Jesus will wash our sins whiter than snow
- Jesus forgives all who come to the cross of Christ
- Jesus suffered much on the cross
- The terms – come as you are
- The promise – full forgiveness, the righteousness of God for you
- Are you listening?
- Listen with your ears
- Partake – take hold of the promises of God
- There is forgiveness for sin
- Are you one of the "everyone"
- What is your view of Christianity?
- Maybe a religious person
- Christianity is knowing Jesus Christ and receiving the forgiveness of sins
- Like a wedding banquet – not measly
- Yield your life to Jesus Christ
- Remind yourselves of the promises in Christ (v6-7)