Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• What to preach on - today is a festival (Harvest)
• Today continuing in Isaiah 55: a wonderful harvest text
• Reading v10-11
• In the same way God provides crops, He has provided His word
• A word to change lives
• A word that does not return to Him void
• A word that always accomplishes His purposes
• Thoughts:
• God provides for all of our physical needs
• We work hard but God has blessed us
• He is the great Provider
• Do you reflect often and thank God?
• God provides for all our spiritual needs
• One of our problems as Christians - we are not as thankful as we should be
• It makes us and others sad
• We are to have a thankful heart
• Challenge: thank God every day this week
• Give thanks - God is a faithful God
• Overview:
• Provision of our material needs
• Provision of our spiritual needs
• Provision of a sure Promise

Provision of our material needs

• When you see a rainbow - do you remembers God's promise
• Explanation
• God will always provide for the world He has made
• Quote - "He opens us His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing"
• Jesus knew we would worry about our provision
• Some Christians worry about food, clothing
• Jesus said to no worry about such things
• God will provide for us
• "The Lord is good to all and His tender mercies are over all His works"
• Think of UK produce
• God has blessed us abundantly
• Song - Great is Thy faithfulness
• Do you believe this?
• Provision for all - Some will ask about starvation or famine?
• Often the problem boils down to man's inhumanity
• War, corruption, pride
• We should pray for those who are without and give without thought of receiving
• We ought to be freely giving
• Quote - "Do good to all, especially the household of faith"
• Challenge: Do you believe that "My God shall supply me every need"?

Provision of our spiritual needs

• God has left us without witness, revelation or His voice
• v10-11
• "So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth" (v11a)
• Do you believe the Bible is from God?
• Do you believe it is inspired by the Holy Spirit?
• Do you believe it is a dynamic book?
• Quote - "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"
• Jesus taught people they need to consider their spiritual needs
• We need the word of God ...
• To regenerate us
• To sanctify us
• To nourish us
• We must feed upon the living God
• Challenge: Is God's word your daily food?
• God's word - Psalm 19:7
• "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul"
• The law - God's word
• As you read and hear ...
• The Holy Spirit takes that word and reveals our sin
• Shows us that Jesus Christ died for our sins/for us
• It convicts us
• It converts the soul
• It gives us wisdom and understanding
• It sanctifies us
• It satisfies us (Ps 19:10)
• Challenge: Is the word precious to you?
• Challenge: Can you say it a 'light to my feet and a lamp to my path'?
• It is give to equip us for every good work
• Speaks about Jesus Christ
• Isaiah is an evangelical prophet
• This book ultimately points towards Jesus Christ
• The teaching revolves around the person of Jesus Christ
• We must look for Jesus in the word

Provision of a sure Promise

• Reading v11
• God's word was sent to point us to Christ and to save sinners
• We are to sow and disseminate the word of God
• The Parable of the Sower
• Read and meditate upon the word of God
• Promise of the word:
• The word was sent to convict, condemn (warn) and convert (save)
• We must warn people of the consequences of not repenting
• It points us towards future glories and joy
• cf v12-13
• "The word of the Lord stands forever"
• You can depend upon the word of God
• It will never pass away
• May we all be people of the word