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you you you you you you you you you you you you you you good morning to everyone welcome back to free grace baptist church for our regular folk and a fresh welcome to any visitors that are with us this uh this morning it's a joy to have you with us if you have any questions feel free to approach us and speak with us but it's a joy to have all of you here in the house of god for the worship of our triune god father son and holy spirit just a couple of announcements before we begin our worship first off it is the lord's supper tonight so at 5 pm we will have our lord's supper service secondly there is a there will be two of these myanmar picture books at the back of the church near the uh offering box it's a nice uh nicely put together uh picture book of the uh the the story that's going on in myanmar many of you have heard of it we've prayed for them um over the the course of years and so um this there will be two of them back there they're they're to take and return um so if you'd like to take one you can take it home read it yourself read it with your children pray for the work and the people that that are in myanmar and then and then bring it back so there will be two of these at the back of the church for you to uh to take and read and return well let's begin our worship then if you can turn with me in your bibles to psalm 67 psalm 67 that will be our call to worship this lord's day morning psalm 60 uh psalm 67 beginning in verse one this is the word of the triune god to the chief musician on stringed instruments a psalm a song god be merciful to us and bless us and cause his face to shine upon us say la that your way may be known on earth your salvation among all nations let the peoples praise you o god let all the peoples praise you oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy for you shall judge the people righteously and govern the nations on earth say la let the peoples praise you o god let all the peoples praise you then the earth shall yield her increase god our own god shall bless us god shall bless us and all the ends of the earth shall fear him amen well let's stand and sing together as a church we're going to turn to 145 d that's psalm 145d in our hymn books we'll stand and sing together [Music] great is [Music] she [Music] passing by [Music] is [Music] is [Music] please be seated let's go now to our great god in prayer let us pray our holy and righteous god we rejoice in the fact that we can now come to you in prayer in this hour of worship we pray father son and holy spirit that you would give us that wherewithal that strength and that soul now to worship you in spirit and in truth as we often pray we would ask yet again lord god that you would help us to to cast off thoughts of this past week uh to cast off thoughts of this um upcoming week and to just now solely and alone be focused upon the worship of father son and holy spirit we long to worship you with true christian hearts we long to worship you as we gather together here in spirit and in truth and so help us in this lord god give us your spirit that we might rightly worship you now and we rejoice in our savior the lord jesus christ as we gather for worship we are comforted by the fact as we hear in the book of revelation as we read in the book of revelation the lord jesus christ walks among amongst his lamp stands and we thank you that that is true that that is the case this morning and we do pray that we would now be lifted up to high thoughts of our savior and we rejoice in the fact of his incarnation and we thank you lord god that the son of god took upon himself our nature with all the essential properties and common infirmities thereof and yet without sin that he assumed our humanity that he might redeem us that he came down from on high that he took upon himself our nature that he might secure the salvation of a multitude that no man can number and we thank you that he perfected the law for all those who believe in him that he obeyed the law in our stead that he bore the wrath and curse of the law upon calvary's cross in the stead of all those who believe that he rose again on the third day in power and in great victory and lord god that he ascended on high and that he now gives gifts to men having led captivity captive we thank you that he sits at the right hand of god almighty as our precious mediator prophet priest and king and we do just pray lord god that you would impress upon us the glory of christ this morning that you would cause us by your spirit to rejoice in the glorious gospel of you our blessed god we thank you for the forgiveness of sins we pray that you would forgive us afresh in the blood of our savior the lord jesus christ we know that we have an advocate with you even jesus christ the just the righteous one and we do uh plead his blood we plead his merit we thank you that in him we have the perfection of salvation as we studied this morning we know that we are not saved by deeds of righteousness which we have done but much rather according to your mercy and your eternal loving kindness kindness you saved us through the perfection of jesus christ's work and so we pray god that we would cast off ourselves that we would look to you father son and spirit and that we would glory in our christ we do pray lord god for those who are struggling physically in our midst there are many you know them and we have prayed for them lord we pray that you would strengthen them in body that you would heal their various sicknesses and illnesses god that you would return them to strength we do pray that in the midst of physical suffering you would cause them in the inner man to rejoice in our christ and to know that the judge of all the earth does right for his own uh for for his glory and for the good of his people and we just pray that you would be with those lord god and uh cause them to rejoice even in the midst of their sufferings we pray for those who are spiritually downcast god that you would lift them up uh by fresh thoughts of their savior the glory of the gospel and the glory of their god we do just pray that you would cause them to return unto those things return unto them lord the joy of their salvation that they would rejoice in you that they would rejoice in our christ and seek to do those things by grace that are pleasing in your sight we do ask lord god that you would once again be with the persecuted church as we think of our brothers and sisters throughout the world and many nations where there is such hot persecution we would ask that you would be with our fellow christians in these nations that you would cause them to be able to endure the trials that they are afflicted with that in the face of oppressors in the face of tyrants they would have the strength of the triune god that you would grant unto them that strength that you afford your people to in the midst of opposition rejoice in christ and to remain steadfast in the things of the glorious gospel just be with them lord god and we pray once again that you would deal with their oppressors those who persecute your people we long to see uh many instances of of the uh of that young man saul who was brought to faith in the lord jesus christ by the power of amazing grace and that one who persecuted the church that one who dragged men and women from their houses uh to be brought to be brought before an unjust court and an unjust punishment we would pray lord god that there would be many like that that are turned from their wickedness turn from their opposition to the church unto the glory of the gospel of jesus christ that you would by grace and by the power of your holy spirit bring forth many of those who persecute unto faith in jesus christ that they might sing and rejoice among those whom they formerly persecuted and we do pray once again that those who would remain in opposition would be put down we pray lord god that you would cause them no longer to do violence to your people that we know that there is ultimately a day where they will be judged but we pray even now lord god for temporal judgment that you would take the enemies of christ in your church out of the way that your people might worship in freedom and that your gospel would go forth victoriously we do pray now lord god that you would be with us in worship we do pray that you'd be with us as we sing as we pray as we read the scriptures as we engage in the preaching of the word help us to do so in spirit and in truth we pray that you would be with pastor butler as he preaches your word give him strength in this pulpit to be able to do so to proclaim your truth with great power with great conviction and with great courage and we do just pray as well for the hearers lord that you would be with us who believe in this place strengthen us and edify us through your word proclaimed and we pray lord god that you would save sinners this morning we pray that by your amazing grace many who entered inside of these doors outside of christ would leave by that victorious grace singing the praises of such a redeemer we do pray that this would be the hour of salvation for many young and old and that because it is possible only with you lord god every soul that leaves this place would sing the praises of christ and it's in his name that we pray amen well let's stand and sing together our next hymn is going to be 476 so we can stand now as a church and sing 476. [Music] is [Music] is is [Music] foreign [Music] yes is [Music] is [Music] is [Music] uh [Music] oh [Music] is [Music] is [Music] is [Music] uh [Music] please be seated you can turn in your bibles with me to the new testament and the book of james as we read consecutively through the new testament we finished hebrews last lord's day morning we're now at the epistle of james james 1 beginning in verse 1 and reading the entire chapter james a bondservant of god and of the lord jesus christ to the 12 tribes which are scattered abroad my brethren my brethren counted all joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience but let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of god who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him but let him ask in faith with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind for let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the lord he is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation but the rich in his humiliation because as a flower of the field he will pass away for no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat that it withers the grass its flower falls and its beautiful appearance perishes so the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits blessed is the man who endures temptation for when he has been approved he will receive the crown of life which the lord has promised to those who love him let no one say when he is tempted i am tempted by god for god cannot be tempted by evil nor does he himself tempt anyone but each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed then when desire has conceived it gives birth to sin and sin when it is full grown brings forth death do not be deceived my beloved brethren every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures so then my beloved brethren let every man be swift to hear slow to speak slow to wrath for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of god therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves for if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror for he observes himself goes away and immediately forgets what kind of man he was but he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work this one will be blessed in what he does if anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart this one's religion is useless pure and undefiled religion before god and the father is this to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world amen well just very briefly james is a book that historically uh has been used by the pseudo-christian by the so-called true religionist as a tool against the doctrine of justification by faith alone paul here or james here is not in opposition to paul when we later get to this language of justification by works but much rather james is trying to stress what he stresses in uh in verse 22 but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving yourselves we're saved by grace alone through faith alone in christ alone and our good works are the testifications to that is the witnesses to the veracity or the truthfulness of our salvation and so james is saying that by your good works you testify to the fact that you have been saved it is not our works that justify us now in this first chapter we have a wonderful um a wonderful passage here that speaks to the will of god and the power of god in bringing forth dead sinners to life in christ notice the language beginning at verse 17 every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we might be a kind of first fruits of his creatures we see here the will of god stress the the will of man isn't exalt exalted here the will of man isn't stressed here the will of man isn't being focused on or brought forth here but solely and alone the will of god of his own will that is of god's own will father son and holy spirit he brought us forth and that bringing us forth speaks to a particular reality that he's bringing us forth from something and to something he's bringing us forth from that state of deadness and sin he's bringing us forth from that that place of madness and the the colossal folly and again the deadness of sin to the state of grace in and through jesus christ our savior of his own will he brought us forth and notice the instrumentality employed by god of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth god uses his word his revelation to men these 66 chapters of the old and new testaments where page after page chapter after chapter god is pointing us forth to christ upon a roman cross working out the salvation of men god uses this truth god uses his word of truth by the power of the holy spirit to bring forth dead sinners from deadness to life in christ and so if you're here this morning and you're a believer in the lord jesus christ don't don't be so far removed from that glorious day when god brought you forth from the deadness of sin to life in christ but often reflect upon that fact that he did bring you forth from that state of sin to the state of grace and rejoice in it you don't look inwardly at the doings and the motions of the spirit uh you know bringing forth or rendering holiness in your own hearts you don't look inward at yourselves but you look outward at father son and holy spirit and the perfection of christ and the reality that that god brought you forth by virtue of the perfection of the work of christ and if you're here outside of jesus christ look to the savior look to jesus christ deadness and sin and the madness and the colossal folly of continuing in the perverseness of your own hearts that ends in damnation that ends in judgment that ends in everlasting punishment but there is blessed comfort and there is blessed salvation in jesus christ our savior believe on him and you shall have everlasting life let us pray god we thank you for your word we thank you for your truth we rejoice in your goodness to us in giving us your word and we do pray god that you would help us to avail of it that you would help us to read it that you would help us to rejoice in your revelation to the sons of men and in the fact that it points to our blessed savior help us now in worship lord god once again be with pastor butler help us all as a united church united in the spirit and united in truth to sing your praises and to worship you in spirit and in truth and we pray in the name of our redeemer the lord jesus christ amen let's stand and sing then our final hymn before the preaching is 564. that's 564 let's once again stand as a church and sing [Music] yes oh [Music] is [Music] a my is [Music] me right [Music] is is is [Music] is jesus [Music] well you can turn with me in your bibles to isaiah 55 isaiah chapter 55 god willing we'll return to our studies in john next sunday morning but as we move on through john chapter 7 specifically in verses 37 and 38 you'll see jesus on the feast of the tabernacles that last great day of the feast say if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink he doesn't do that in a vacuum that wasn't innovative on his part that's been the consistent testimony of our god throughout the scriptures from genesis to revelation sinners are called upon to come to him for forgiveness and for life eternal we see a great expression of that in the prophet isaiah at chapter 55 i'll begin reading in verse 1. ho everyone who thirsts come to the waters and you who have no money come by and eat yes come buy wine and milk without money and without price why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy listen carefully to me and eat what is good and let your soul delight itself in abundance incline your ear and come to me here and your soul shall live and i will make an everlasting covenant with you the short mercies of david indeed i have given him as a witness to the people a leader and commander for the people surely you shall call a nation you do not know and nations who do not know you shall run to you because of the lord your god and the holy one of israel for he has glorified you seek the lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near let the wicked forsake his way in the unrighteous man his thoughts let him return to the lord and he will have mercy on him and to our god for he will abundantly pardon for my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways my ways says 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 comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth it shall not return to me void but it shall accomplish what i please and it shall prosper in the thing for which i sent it for you shall go out with joy and be let out with peace the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you and all the trees of the field should clap their hands instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree and it shall be to the lord for a name for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off amen let us pray our father we thank you again for your word we thank you for this time that we can gather together on this beautiful day certainly the heavens declare the glory and the righteousness and the majesty of god and our scriptures reveal to us your grace and your mercy and your loving kindness in the person and the work of the lord jesus christ i pray you'd give us ears to hear in hearts to receive these things now help us to comply to listen to what the prophet has to say in this wonderful chapter of holy scripture forgive us for all of our sin and unrighteousness and fill each one now with the holy spirit and we pray through christ our lord amen well chapter 55 and the prophet isaiah does not exist apart from context and in chapter 52 we have the promise of redemption of god's people chapter 53 gives us the means by which god will redeem it is through the life and the death and the resurrection of his son jesus christ is the servant of the lord that is mentioned there in isaiah 53 he's the servant of the lord in chapter 42 chapter 49 and then again in chapter 50 and then after that in chapter 54 we see four promises given to the people of god or to the church of god they will increase under messiah under the lord christ there will be expansion of god's kingdom here on earth there is a promise of security there is a promise of blessing there's a promise of stability and then that brings the prophet to our chapter to call upon sinners to come unto the lord jesus christ he evidences this desire that we see with our lord jesus at that feast of tabernacles when he says if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink so god through the prophet isaiah is calling upon sinners to close with his son to believe on his son and to pass from death into everlasting life so i want to look first at the invitation to come in verses one to five and then secondly the exhortation to believe and repent in verses six to thirteen but notice the invitation proper it's literally a command you're being called upon you are being exhorted by god through the prophet to come but there's three things about this particular invitation notice that it's universal verse 1 of chapter 55 ho everyone who thirsts he doesn't say just the jews or just the gentiles but this is an indiscriminate call it goes to all peoples it goes to all nations it is universally addressed this is consistent with the savior in matthew 28 he says go therefore and make disciples of all the nations in other words though he's israel's messiah he came to be a blessing to the gentiles as well you see that in this prophet look back at chapter 45 as god says to the earth look to me and be saved verse 22 all you ends of the earth for i am god and there is no other and if you turn over to chapter 49 again a servant song of the lord describing the work of jesus christ notice what verse 6 says in isaiah 49 it says indeed he says it is too small a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of jacob and to restore the preserved ones of israel i will also give you as a light to the gentiles that you should be my salvation to the ends of the earth so while god gave the promise of salvation to the jews he promised to that group there would be a messiah that would come according to the or in the line of david it would be in him that persons from every tribe tongue people and nation would be saved there's one way of salvation consistent with what jesus says in john 14 6 that he is the way the truth and the life and no one comes to the father except through him it's not our efforts it's not our good works it's not our doings it's not our oblations it is rather god's grace and you see that secondly with reference to this invitation notice ho everyone who thirsts in 55 1 come to the waters and you have no money come by and eat i've long been convinced that the most fundamental principle of economics is summarized by the acronym tan staffer tan staffer stands for there ain't no such thing as a free lunch now when it comes to the gospel of our salvation it is free it's not conditioned upon our performance it's not conditioned upon our obedience but it cost christ everything again isaiah 53 describes the servant of the lord he was a man of sorrows he was acquainted with grief he had no form no comeliness there was nothing about him in his earthly ministry that drew people to him in fact john in his introduction to the life and ministry of our savior and the prologue says that christ came to his own and his own received him not so there is no such thing as a free lunch but in terms of gospel it is christ who paid the debt it is christ who rendered the obedience it is christ who went to the cross on our behalf alec motier hits upon this well he says yet alongside the emphasis on freeness the verb buy is repeated the thought of purchase is not set aside this is no soup kitchen even if the clinic clients are beggars there is a purchase and a price though not theirs to pay it's not as if god just suspends judgment he doesn't just redirect his wrath we deserve god's wrath and curse both in this life and that which is to come but the savior took it in himself the savior exhausted the wrath of god on our behalf motive says they bring their poverty to a transaction already completed contextually this is another illusion to the work of the servant servant he says his the price ours the freeness so while the gospel comes to us freely it costs christ in terms of life death and resurrection again this is connected intimately to chapter 53 the servant song of yahweh so it is a universal invitation it is a gracious invitation but then notice that it's a wonderful invitation look at how the prophet sort of entices us to come he gives us reasons why we should come verse one oh everyone who thirsts come to the waters you who have no money come buy and eat yes come buy wine and milk without money and without price in other words there's everything to be had in the gospel of our salvation we need the water of refreshment we need the wine of exhilaration we need the milk of nourishment and you see all those themes hammered on throughout the scripture in other words when we come to the savior it's not as if we go away less than how we came we always come away more enriched more blessed and able to say with the apostle paul blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ who has blessed us with what with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in christ we never leave empty-handed we leave being blessed by our lord so the water the the refreshment that we need the exhilarating wine the nourishing milk all of that is given to us by our gracious god so that's the invitation proper but then notice that leads the prophet to ask a very appropriate question in verse 2a he says why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy in other words if god most high offers these things or god most high promises these things or god most high says he will give you these things are you out of your mind that you're not taking them are you out of your mind that you're pursuing other things have you lost all sense of reality in touch with with with life itself that you would forsake that that you would forgo that that you would pursue your own things there is here the sinful inclination of man john calvin says that men are so enchanted by the devil that they choose rather to wander through deserts and to vex themselves in vain than to rely on the grace which god offers to them i think i've used before the illustration of c s lewis the gospel comes to us as an offer of a holiday by the seaside who wouldn't want a holiday by the seaside it sounds glorious it sounds wonderful especially in the midst of a heatwave you want that nice cool ocean breeze to sort of soothe your hot skin but men prefer to build or rather eat mud pies in the gutter than go to that holiday by the seaside that's the emphasis of the profit you might go to a good restaurant you might tell somebody i've got all this money i've already put it down i want you to go in i want you to feast you want steak get stay rib eye even you can get lobster get whatever it is you want it is an open open menu and they say no i'd rather go around back and i'd rather eat out of the dumpster of all the scraps that others have thrown off their plates i don't think there would be anybody that would do that i mean if they were we'd say are you out of your mind that's the spirit of the prophet's question here notice in verse 2 why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy every lust you pursue every sin that brings you so-called pleasure ultimately ends in futility it is vanity of vanities it is fleeting there is a passing pleasure of sin the bible indicates in hebrews 11 but it's passing it doesn't satisfy it doesn't end well the way of the transgressor is hard and you will ultimately learn that and discover that so the prophet in terms of this this heartfelt question says why do you do this why do you reject some of your children and young people you're brought up in a church that tries to preach the gospel on a regular basis you probably have family members parents specifically that preach the gospel to you why do you reject it why do you continue to go astray why do you continue to run after that dumpster or eat the mud pies that you built in the gutter instead of enjoying the holiday by the seas seaside the lord christ and john 10 said i've come that they may have life and that they might have it what just a little bit know that they might have it abundantly the promise of the gospel is all-encompassing the promise of the gospel is comprehensive the promise of the gospel is everything we stand in need of so the prophet is right why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy so he questions them and then he gives this command notice in verse 2 listen carefully to me and eat what is good and let your soul delight itself in abundance go into the main restaurant eat the menu that's been provided for you don't go around back and eat the scraps that are in the dumpster god has much better provision than anything that this world has to offer christ says it in john's gospel my peace i leave you my peace i give to you not as the world gives do i give you oh there's a form of peace there is the illusion of peace there is that fleeting peace but there is nothing better than a romans 5 1 beats therefore having been justified by faith we have peace with god there is nothing greater than to have peace with god to know as we were reminded in james 1 there's going to be a judgment to come how do we fare on that day how do we stand on that day is it clothed in the righteousness of jesus or is it because we are we come alone without that and ultimately end up in hell and then notice on the heels of his question he then issues the promise so there's an invitation there is a question and now notice the promise in verses 2b to 3a listen carefully to me and eat what is good let your soul delight itself in abundance those things already specified the wine the uh the water wine and the milk and then notice the delight of your soul let your soul delight itself in abundance some of this stuff is like trying to describe color to a blind man until you've come to the lord jesus christ until you've seen him as altogether lovely and chief among ten thousand some of these things are hard to process some of these things are hard to connect with some of these things are hard to enter into but as those saved by grace through faith in our lord jesus we can testify yes this is abundance yes this is provision yes this is blessing and what paul does say there in romans 5 1 is absolutely true whatever man may do whatever government may do whatever the world around me may do whatever the devil himself may do there is nothing that can separate us from the love of god that is in christ jesus our lord that's paul's celebration in romans chapter 8. i am persuaded he says there's nothing that can happen i kind of joke with people you know i've started to get back to exercising this isn't a facebook moment hey look at me but a guy i see on my walk this morning said oh you look like you're losing weight i said i'm preparing for the gulag i want to be nice and healthy and strong when they throw me in the gulag and he of course laughs about that the bottom line though brethren is if they throw us into the gulag if they make us eat crickets whatever it is they have for us there is nothing that can separate us from the love of god that is in christ jesus our lord there is tribulation in this present world jesus promises it in john 16 33 in this world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for i've overcome the world you see in revelation chapter 13 the beast from the sea the beast from the land having that ability to conquer as it appears every man on earth they all follow him they all do his bidding but then in revelation 14 the scene shifts to the lamb and his fair army on mount zion what is that inculcated to produce in us comfort encouragement the reality that whatever they do there is nothing that can separate us from the love of god which is in christ jesus our lord that's the emphasis of the prophet here he then goes on to say incline your ear and come to me here in your soul shall live there is life eternal in christ jesus now the bottom line is is that even though people are physically alive they are spiritually dead the apostle addresses this in ephesians 2. and though you being dead in your trespasses and sins it is god who makes us alive it is god who grants us that faith and repentance it is god who as we heard earlier calls us out of darkness into marvelous light from something death depravity dumpsters and mud pies into the marvelous light of his dear son which is eternal life and communion with our blessed god focus on that for just a moment notice at the verse three incline your ear and come to me in that last great day of the feast in john 7 37 if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink matthew 11 25 28 he says come to me all you who are labor and are heavy laden and i will give you rest the bible is not a document that tells people to stay away the bible is not a document calculated to tell others don't come anywhere near god the bible is not hyper calvinistic the bible is very clear very open very obvious and very conspicuous look to me all ye ends of the earth and be safe for i am god and there is no other that's in an old testament prophet brethren there's a psalm psalm 117 the shortest psalm in the entirety of the of the psalter is all about gentile inclusion and the promises of god's grace we have this overture on the part of our god he initiates salvation when adam and eve sinned they run from god it's god who comes to them it's god who kills the animals according to genesis 3 21 and covers them with those skins it's god who comes to abram of er the chaldeans and makes a promise that in him all the families of the earth will be blessed it's god who sent the son of his love into this world sinners to save so if you're going to or you hear or you're sort of in tune with a church or a preacher that says you know just stay away there's not much mercy there's not much grace there's not much hope to be had in our blessed god that's not the gospel of isaiah that's not the gospel of our blessed savior that's not the gospel of our of the apostle paul that is not the gospel it is not good news to con consistently hear stay away don't come how dare you be presumptuous how dare you think that coming to god when god calls you to come is somehow presumptuous this is his commandment that we believe on the name of the son whom he sent first john chapter three and then notice the guarantee probably the second second foundational principle after tan staple is it sounds too good to be true right you're like me you get a call or you get a piece of mail and it says you've just won a a free cruise i'm sorry call me a skeptic those don't typically come free i have to listen for countless hours to somebody drone on on how i better buy something or they're going to throw me off the boat that's not a free thing well with reference to this it can sound almost too good to be true you mean it's what christ did that is the basis upon which i can go to heaven yeah that's exactly it why because there is none righteous no not one all we like sheep have gone astray but it's christ who obeyed the law perfectly everything the father commanded christ did he says my meat is to do the will of him who sent me so he lives a life of perfect obedience he dies on the cross for us men and for our salvation he doesn't just die as an example of love and kindness he dies in our place in other words the lord laid the chastisement of us all upon him he punished the savior in our place and then he was raised again the third day so again when you preach this gospel of people they say wow it sounds too good to be true how do i know it's true well god through the prophet gives three reasons why it is true and that's what he does in verses three b to five notice 3 incline your ear and come to me here and your soul shall live and i will make an everlasting covenant with you this promise is pledged by covenant this promise is pledged by covenant a covenant is bigger than an agreement a covenant is bigger than a contract a covenant involves oaths a covenant involves sanctions for violation a covenant is basically having or putting skin in the game so god puts skin in the game relative to this promise to all those who by grace come to him he pledges it by covenant but then notice the promise is secured by the davidic king verse 4. indeed i have given him so the sure after verse 3 i will make an everlasting covenant with you the sure mercies of david indeed i have given him as a witness to the people a leader and commander for the people just to summarize in about 10 seconds biblical covenants god made a promise to david in 2nd samuel 7 that from david's line a king would come and that king would have an eternal reign that king would save his people from their sins that king would usher in a blessed and wonderful kingdom you see this applied to the savior in luke's gospel in the nativity scene and the birth of christ's narrative you see the same self-same language of a david a davidic-like figure coming in the line of david and being that king who answers to all the promises of god they are yea and amen in him so how do i know this is true it's pledged by covenant the promise is secured by the davidic king it is not something that is haphazard it is not something that can be easily lost it is not something that can possibly go away and then notice thirdly it is a promise affected by god himself look at verse 5 surely you shall call a nation you do not know and nations who do not know you shall run to you go back before we finish that verse to isaiah 2. isaiah chapter 2. you'll see something of this there again a promise concerning the messianic kingdom messiah is the hebrew word for christ both of them mean anointed one the one anointed by god to do his particular bidding so christ is the one anointed by god to do his particular bidding he comes down for us men and for our salvation he takes on our humanity the second person of the trinity never ceases to be what he is in terms of god the son but he takes on our humanity with everything that makes us man except sin and he lives for us he dies for us and he's raised again for us and so that is what we mean by the messianic kingdom notice in chapter 2 verse 2 now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow to it you have to understand something about the old covenant the the israelites the jews they had heard on many occasions that gentiles would be included in their promises but for whatever reason they really didn't get it they really didn't understand it paul preaching to the sanhedrin in acts chapter 22 mentions that he'll turn to the gentiles and it's at that point that the jews in the synagogue lose their minds they didn't lose their minds when he was talking about jesus the messiah about his life death and resurrection but when paul says since you reject it i'm going to go to the gentiles that's what outraged them that's what incensed them that's what made them upset but this was always promise notice and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow to it many people shall come and say come let us go up to the mountain of the lord to the house of the god of jacob he will teach us his ways we shall walk in his paths for out of zion shall go forth the law and the word of the lord from jerusalem now going back to 55 at verse 5 it says surely you shall call a nation you do not know and nations who do not know you notice the language there shall run to you if you learn anything this morning that's what you should do with reference to jesus don't run away from him don't reject him don't resist him but rather run to him jesus asks his disciples do you also want to leave and peter says in john 6 68 lord to whom shall we go you have the words of eternal life in other words we have to be near you we have to go to you we have to believe on you but back to verse five surely you shall call a nation you do not know and nations who do not know you shall run to you because of the lord your god so as we're reminded from james 1 18 of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth it's not our will that's supreme it's not our will that chooses for jesus it's god's will that is primary it is god's will that awakens it is god's will that brings us to that place of the recognition of the sin in our own hearts man we'd rather eat out of dumpsters than a nice beautiful meal god brings that conviction god shows us that god underscores to us what we are apart from him and then it's god who draws us it's god who calls us it's god who brings us to that place where we close with our lord jesus he says nations who do not know you shall run to you because of the lord your god and the holy one of israel for he has glorified you so in summary this invitation to come is glorious it is wonderful it is beautiful please don't stop up your ears or resist this or reject it but rather by god's grace run to the savior today now notice the exhortation to believe and repent in verses 6 to 13. the passage goes on again this is another reason why we ain't we know it's not so good or it's it's too good to be true no there's there's more that information that that the god through the prophet isaiah wants to tell us but notice in the first place the emphasis on faith and repentance so let's just say we tell people about what there is there's this beautiful meal you don't have to eat out of dumpsters there's a holiday by the seaside you don't have to play with you know mud pies in the gutter there's all these blessings to be had well hopefully you're going to say well how do i get them how do i obtain them how how is it that i can have an interest in those things well here's where the prophet emphasizes faith and repentance he doesn't say just go out and try harder just go out and be better just go out and do more that's not the emphasis that he gives he says you need to believe on the lord jesus christ and you need to turn from your sins the sorts of things that we see in new covenant preaching the same sorts of things that we see all throughout the book of acts we see an emphasis to believe on the lord jesus christ we see an emphasis to repent repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of jesus christ for the remission of sins acts chapter 2. so notice faith and repentance in verses 6 and 7. he says seek the lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near that's faith when you turn to the pages of the new testament that is given to us as faith whoever calls upon the name of the lord shall be saved well the calling upon the name of the lord is an expression of the faith that is in our heart it is that reality that brings a sinner into saving contact with our blessed god it is faith in jesus our brother mentioned the doctrine of justification by faith alone persons have tried to wrench that out of its biblical context by invoking james james teaches the same thing of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth well the bringing us of uh bringing us forth is to believe the gospel it's to believe on jesus in the language of the prophet here it is to seek the lord while he may be found to call upon him while he is near turn to romans chapter 10 there's a wonderful expression of that in romans chapter 10 one that i'm sure we're all familiar with but again you'll see it is consistent throughout biblical data romans chapter 10. beginning in verse 9. well we'll pick up in verse 8. but what does it say the word is near you in your mouth and in your heart that is the word of faith which we preach that if you confess with your mouth the lord jesus and believe in your heart that god has raised him from the dead you will be saved for with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation for the scripture says whoever believes on him will not be put to shame for there is no distinction between jew and greek for the same lord over all is rich to all who notice call upon him for whoever calls on the name of the lord shall be saved what does it mean to call upon the name of the lord it means to believe the gospel it means to believe on jesus so when jesus says in john 7 38 if anyone thirsts let him come to me and drink the emphasis is upon faith we saw that in john chapter 6 when he talks about eating his flesh and drinking his blood he doesn't mean we have to become cannibals he doesn't mean that we have to actually take a bite he's talking about faith it is to believe the gospel of the salvation god has given freely to sinners turn back to acts 2 while you're in romans it's not a far jump acts chapter 2 same sort of an emphasis the apostle peter invokes the prophet joel and in verse 21 he says and it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the lord shall be saved and then what does he do from that point on he tells us who the lord is he's the lord jesus christ who took on our humanity he's the lord jesus christ who died in our place he's the lord jesus christ who is raised again from the dead he's the lord jesus christ who is exalted to the right hand of the father whoever calls on the name of the lord by faith shall be saved that's the promise of the bible the idea is not oh just do better and try harder as we're reminded in the last hour let me just try to to put this in a way that our brother put it teaching the confession if right now i said go out and be perfect just forevermore do everything god always commands well if you say okay sign me up you really don't understand yourself and you really don't understand god's law you really have no inkling whatsoever of holiness but let's just assume for the sake of argument that you're 25 and from this day forward you don't sin again until you're you know you're not until you you die at you know the ripe old age of 75 and and and you you go you you think you go off to heaven what do you do about the sins that you you chalked up from years 1-24 you see it's christ who not only by his life gives us a righteousness that we need but by his death brings forgiveness for the sins that we are guilty of christians have been accused of being odd ducks because we sing about the blood of jesus well those who understand what the blood of jesus signifies his death as a sacrifice and as a substitute they understand it all too well remember that old testament system they had a tabernacle and then a temple and they were taught they can't just wander into the presence of a holy god they had to sacrifice animals they had to bring their animal on the sabbath day turn it over cut its throat turn it over to the priest the priest would carve it up and he'd barbecue some and then he would take some of the rest for himself that was what they learned we can't just wander in to the presence of a holy god well that was typological it pointed forward to the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world see that's what we need we need our sins taken away we need our sins atoned for we need our sins washed away so yes we need that righteousness of god but we also need that forgiveness of sins and back to the prophet isaiah after he says in verse 6 seek the lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near he highlights the place of repentance now faith and repentance are two sides of the same coin he says let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts let him return to the lord so when we come to the savior the idea is is that we leave off the sin it's in the first place a change of mind we have a change of mind about our sin i'm not going to play with mud pies in the gutter when i can go to the holiday by the seaside there's a change of mind so as we're on our way to the holiday by the seaside we've left the mud pies behind when it comes to going into that restaurant that's bought and paid for and that wonderful meal when we go to that table to feast on those good things we leave behind the dumpster we don't try to bring a few of those scraps with us so that we can supplement the good food that we're getting that would be outlandish and so faith is coming to the lord jesus christ repentance is leaving the sin behind now repentance is never perfect in this life don't think you'll always be done or ever be done with all sin always no the bible tells us there's remaining corruption but when we come to jesus we come to jesus we seek by grace not only to believe on him but to forsake our way notice the language verse 7 let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts let him return to the lord see sin is a comprehensive problem it's not just external it's not just what you do but it's what you think as well it's internal it's external it's the mind it's the heart it's the soul it's the affections it's it's the actual instrument so let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts let him return to the lord and then notice the promise of forgiveness in verse 7 and he will have mercy on him and to our god for he will abundantly pardon again if you're not familiar with your own sin you might wonder why does he say abundantly pardon because we're abundantly sinful as john newton said i am a great sinner but christ is a great savior there's no sinner out there that can claim to be the worst paul claimed it under the inspiration of the holy spirit and we know that god was able to conquer him the apostle says this is a faithful saying worthy of all except asia that christ jesus came into the world sinners to save and then he says of whom i am chief well why would he say that because as saul of tar says he was trying to persecute the church he was trying to destroy the church he stood idly by while persons were being martyred stephen was being stoned to death while saul of tarsus looked on in hearty agreement and consent in fact saul of tarsus held the garments for those people so they would have more less restraint so they could throw stones at stephen so there's this abundant pardon that a gracious god gives to abundant sinners so never think this way well i'm too sinful the lord will never have me let me tell you friend that's the exact person that the lord came for the lord jesus christ did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance in fact look at this in chapter 21 of matthew's gospel matthew chapter 21 look at what jesus says to the religious leaders of his day what might we think that jesus would say to the religious leaders of his day you're great you're religious leaders you're doing a fantastic job you're doing a bang-up job you're so good you're so pious you're so holy absolutely positively not what jesus said to those religious leaders of his day if you look specifically at verse 20 verse verse 31 he gives a pair well we'll pick it up in the the story notice in verse 28 matthew 21 28 but what do you think a man had two sons and he came to the first and said son go work today in my vineyard he answered and said i will not but afterward he regretted it and went then he came to the second and said likewise and he answered and said i go sir but he did not go which of the two did the will of his father now even the religious leaders got this one okay they're not the brightest bulbs in the chandelier but they understood it look at verse 31 they said to him the first so the young man who said no i'm not going to do it and then regrets it and goes and does it is more to be commended than the one who says oh yeah i'll go do it and never does it now notice how jesus applies that to his listeners jesus said to them assuredly i say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of god before you for john came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him but tax collectors and harlots believed him and when you saw it you did not afterward relent and believe him again emphasis on faith there what does it mean to call upon the name of the lord it means to believe on jesus christ so there's this faith and repentance that go hand in hand and we see that there is abundant pardon to be had with god most high and then the passage ends with an encouragement concerning the power of god the passage ends with an encouragement concerning the power of god notice verses 8 and 9 it underscores his nature his being who god is for my thoughts are not your thoughts nor are your ways my way says 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 there's been a lot of misunderstanding with this passage it does not mean we can't know anything about god we have over 31 000 verses from genesis to revelation that tell us we can know something of our god we know that he's holy we know that his thoughts are not our thoughts we know that his ways are not our ways so it doesn't mean we can't know anything about god that's a faulty way to read verses 8 and 9. the text may point to the astounding reality that there's abundant pardon with our god i mean that's something that should blow all our minds and we should go yeah wow god's thoughts are not our thoughts god's ways are not our ways as the heavens are higher than the earth so are his ways higher than our ways and his thoughts than our thoughts the thought that he would actually forgive a wretch like me is truly amazing it's celebratory it's it's fantastic it's awesome or more likely it fits in the context why is the sinner told to 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 let him return to the lord because god's thoughts are not our thoughts god's ways are not our ways says the lord in other words outside of christ we're contrary to god outside of christ we don't want him outside of christ we don't do what he says outside of christ our ways and thoughts are so perverse and so polluted and so wretched this is the rationale behind why we need to be a revolution in our hearts we need to be born again we need to believe the gospel we need to turn from our sins because god is not like us and therefore by grace he makes us into his image in a most blessed way by conveying to us salvation in our savior so there is the nature of god but then notice the power of the word of god in verses 10 and 11 for as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth and blood that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater that's the analogy from nature we all get that right you know you don't have to be a biologist to understand that you need rain from heaven and you need sun and all that sort of stuff to produce growth right you can't say well i'm not a botanist so i don't know you know how seeds you know germinate and actually grow i think that's pretty fundamental pretty basic second grade science i'm sure we all have that so as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return that now again in the process of you know evaporation he's speaking you know not with literal precision concerning the scientific method he's saying as the rain comes down in the snow from heaven and do not return there their purpose is to water the earth its purpose is to make it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater he then gives this application with reference to the word of god and this is why you should never miss church this is why you should always read the bible this i mean obviously you got to go to work you got to do that i don't mean always 24 7. your boss is paying you to work not read the bible so obviously exercise wisdom and judiciousness at that point but notice what he says in verse 11. each each uh section parallels the preceding analogy so as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven verse 10 verse 11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth with reference to verse 10 it doesn't return but it rather does something so with reference to the word it shall not return to me void and what's the purpose for which god sends it it says but it shall accomplish what i please and it shall prosper in the thing for which i sent it i think at this time in our existence a lot of christians are probably very weary and a lot of christians are probably very vast and a lot of christians and churches are probably discouraged i mean come on we've had a rough past two years i mean they closed our churches for a great deal of that time they kept us from visiting our family members who were dying or dead they did some horrific things to us and there is a discouragement that settles in and when you look at the bigger picture i mean there's not a lot of help coming from outside of the current political structure there's not a lot of oh yeah we got the cavalry coming and they're they're going to vindicate all wrongs and set everything all right so there's a discouragement that can settle in the hearts of god's people but isaiah the prophet tells you don't be discouraged god's got this god sends forth his word it does not return unto him void but it always accomplishes the purpose for which he sent it in other words we rest secure in god's providence we rest secure in god's program we rest secure in god's plan knowing that in christ all the nations of the earth shall be blessed that doesn't always mean stake and lobster for the church while we're going through these things it often times means hardship pain suffering tribulation and trial but we're never to lose confidence in the proclamation of god's holy word we're never to lose confidence in what james appeals to in 118 of his own will by the word of truth he brought us forth what does romans 10 17 tell us faith comes by hearing and hearing by what by the word of god so the power of god's word the blessedness of the preaching of god's word the personal study of god's word is absolutely crucial for the people of god not to grow downcast not to grow weary and not to lose sight of god's government over all things the analogy highlights the necessity of the word the power of the word and the efficacy of the word that it will not return unto him void and then the final aspect is the promise of future blessing from god in verses 12 to 13. again this is to encourage us this is to help the people of god not to grow down cast or weary to the point where they throw up their hands and they say forget it i'm just going to sit in my living room and hope that it all happens soon notice in 12 for you shall go out with joy and be let out with peace the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree now when you think thorn think curse when you think thorn think genesis 3. when you think thorn think cain remember cain sins against god cain rejects the word of god cain rebels against god and god says you know what you're going to work but it's not going to be easy there's going to be thorns there's going to be thistles there's going to be hardship there's going to demand for from you a sweat of the brow for you to put food food on your table there are consequences associated with our sin and rebellion so notice what the prophet is saying there is a day coming with reference to the reversal of the curse you can read about that in more detail in revelation 21 and 22 but here it says instead of the thorns shall come up the cypress tree and instead of the briar shall come up the myrtle tree and it shall be to the lord for a name for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off this idea that it shall be to the lord for a name highlights the emphasis on god's glory see we read the bible in a very man-centered way some read it just for principles on how to be a better them others read it for salvation and that's good but we stop there it's god's glory that is uppermost it is god's glory that is the consistent refrain throughout the scriptures it is god's glory that is to be had and that's what the prophet is pointing to one commentator says that conquerors in the ancient world were accustomed to set up memorials that would preserve their names and tell of their conquests they still do this by the way they just build libraries and put their pictures all over them their legacy their conquest what they've accomplished he says conquerors in the ancient world were accustomed to set up memorials that would preserve their names and tell of their conquests he says the transformed earth would be a memorial of god's victory forever a sign of the power of the living god a transformed earth a transformed community a transformed humanity will magnify the glory of god in the salvation of needy helpless vile sinners through his son the lord jesus christ thus the exposition a few thoughts and then we'll close first the accomplishment of the redemption that is spoken of here is because of chapter 53. if you're not familiar with isaiah 53 go home and read it this afternoon it's talking about jesus it's talking about the one who came from god to save us from our sins alec mozier says when people respond to the lord's word calling them to seek forsaken return the effective power of that word brings them into an experience of the love forgiveness and peace of god and lifts them into membership of a new world of eternal duration he says this is what the servant accomplished this is what the servant accomplished in other words there are greater things on the horizon for god's people glorious things revelation there's a great multitude that no man can number from every tribe tongue people in nation we pray for myanmar we pray for china we pray for the various countries of the earth we pray for canada that god's gospel would go forth that it would not return unto him void but it would accomplish the purpose for which he sent it and we know that he's pledged it by covenant he's provided the king that undertakes for the salvation of sinners and he himself is the one who affects the blessing that he has promised to needy sinners all over the globe a second observation this is a passage it's primarily addressed to unbelievers we're going to deal with that in just a second but i think it does call believers back to re sort of examine our priorities what are our priorities are we going to the back of the restaurant for some old scraps are we content to play with the mud pie in the gutter i mean god has given us abundance god has pardoned us abundantly god has called us into relationship with him do we make much of that is that a boon in our existence is that a joy to us is that something that we crave and and desire again it's reflected in the way that we live i'm not suggesting come to church because i take you know you know i've got a a list in there and i you know his brother so-and-so mr get that's not it at all but if we believe that the the gathered people of god uh getting together singing praying and and rallying around the word of god as a means of grace we'll utilize that means of grace the lord's supper tonight that's where god the householder provides for the weary pilgrim the things that we need to continue on we look at it as our service to god the supper is god's service to us he owns the house he gives us the benefit of bread and wine he brings encouragement to our hearts and strength and faith and help to us so brethren if we are not valuing and praising and delighting in these things perhaps this passage will be a gentle reminder for us to stop going to the back of the restaurant to stop going back into that dumpster to realize the blessings that we have from our gracious god but in terms of unbelievers listen to what the prophet says the the the invitation or command is repeated several times notice three times in verse one and then again in verse three come to the waters come by and eat come buy wine and milk verse three incline your ear and come to me i mean this would be a simple sermon to discuss at lunch kids what was the sermon about typically they just say god and they're always right but that kind of misses the point if they say come they're right that's what the prophet is saying to you today he's not saying stay it's not saying go away he's not saying continue in your sin he's not saying go back to the dumpster go back to the mud pies he says come four times what's the theme of isaiah 55 the theme is to come to christ notice as well the graciousness of the invitation there ain't no such thing as a free lunch it costs christ everything but for us it is free for us it is given for us it is provided for us it is without condition we need to understand that as well the description of the blessings you shall your soul shall live you'll have joy and peace doesn't everybody want joy and peace i mean i know there's a certain class of people out there that seem to thrive on misery pain and destruction but most normal people want joy and peace right if you ask 10 people i think nine will say i want joy and peace well joy and peace is to be had in the gospel of jesus christ notice the promise of the presence of god and your let your soul delight itself in abundance god not your not your your stuff not your sin the promise of the mercy of god 7b again don't miss that he says let him let him have mercy on him and to our god for he will abundantly pardon you can turn to psalm 130 where the similar emphasis is made by david in that particular psalm psalm 130 i hope is known and loved by all of us in our church we oftentimes rehearse specifically verses three and four it comes out of the context of verses one and two the psalmist is hurting the psalmist is down the psalmist is discouraged but it's not about external conditions it's about the condition of his own heart it's about his own sin it's about the the reality that he has offended a holy god so notice in verses one and two out of the depths i have cried to you oh lord lord hear my voice let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications he calls out to god listen to me i'm in dire straits here i i've got huge issues i've got massive problems and i i need you what's those massive problems problems david if you lord verse 3 should mark iniquities oh lord who could stand that's a truism right god is holy he's righteous he's just there is none of us righteous in his sight there is none of us who does what he what he calls us to do so if you lord should mark iniquities oh lord who could stand but then notice this gospel statement in verse 4 but there is forgiveness with you that you may be feared and the fear there isn't i'm going to run and hide from you it is rather i'm going to run and hide in you i'm going to take my refuge in you and then notice how he ends this particular psalm at verse 7 oh israel hope in the lord for with the lord there is mercy and with him is notice abundant redemption and he shall redeem israel from all his iniquities not just a partial not just a little bit i'll forgive you the the second table violations but you're you know you're up to the your own on the first no he forgives all of our sins that's the blessedness of the gospel as well the urgency of the situation is probably a good place to end in our exposition of isaiah 55. turn back there and you'll notice what the prophet says in verse 6. don't want to scare anybody i don't want to end on a negative nelly note but you need to pay attention to what the prophet says and to the implication that we're going to drive derive from it notice in verse 6 seek the lord while he may be found you mean there's a time when he may not be found yes there may be a time or there is a time coming when he may not be found seek the lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near don't tarry don't resist don't reject he's full of pity full of power able to save and willing to do so don't resist it don't reject it don't rebuff it don't say well you know all these promises all these entire enticements all of these incentives all these good things but yeah forget it i'm going to continue to do what i've always done and i'm going to head right to hell i'd rather eat dumpster scraps i'd rather you know play with my advice i'd rather do everything in anything than what god calls upon me to do well listen to the prophet you may not have tomorrow and i'm not trying to scare you but seek the lord while he may be found call upon him while he is near and when you do you have the assurance provided to you not just in isaiah 55 but from genesis to revelation that all those who call upon him will have everlasting life amen well let us pray father thank you for your word thank you so very much for the prophet isaiah and for what he tells us in chapter 55 and we know it's based upon what the servant does according to chapter 53 and what our new testaments tell us concerning the life of our lord jesus christ who did not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance who laid down his life as a ransom for sinners we give praise to you for this gospel we pray that it would be proclaimed throughout the earth today and we have the confidence from this chapter that that word will not return to you void it will accomplish the purpose for which you sent it just like the rain and the snow do what they're intended to do bless us in this day help us to glorify you and we pray through jesus christ our lord amen you can stand with me and turn now to 564 as we sing praise to god 564. [Music] is [Music] is [Music] is [Music] the lord bless you and keep you the lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you the lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace god may you affect these things in our own hearts and lives may you encourage and strengthen our hearts and build us up in our most holy faith cause us to persevere by your grace and for your glory bless your churches all over the earth today as they gather together for worship and may your holy spirit be present to bring salvation to sinners and strengthening to the saints of christ and we pray in jesus name amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation you