August 4, 2024
Isaiah 55:6-9 (NLT) 6 Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. 8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
Review from last week (7-28-24):
In Isaiah 55,
God is encouraging and inviting Israel to Come back to Him.
God is saying that there is nothing better than to Serve and Live for Him.
Isaiah 55:1–2 (NLT) 1 “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! 2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.
The nation of Israel had turned to follow other gods and idols.
God had to abandon them because of their sin.
Israel was taken Captive to Assyria and Babylon.
But, God promises to restore them.
The World needs a Touch of God’s Love.
Our Nation and World Today need to Come Back
to Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
People are looking for Love in the Wrong Places.
God is Calling His Church to Action:
God’s people will not be fulfilled until we Answer the Call
to obey the Great Commission.
-Be Different than the World,
-Put Him First in your Life.
As Christians, we need to let the world Know,
God’s Love and Compassion Invites People:
1. Who are not Fulfilled, not Satisfied.
2. Who need the right Voice, Voice of God.
Isaiah 55:2 (ESV) 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.
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 (NLT: I will give you), my steadfast, sure love (NLT: I promised) for David.
This Sunday we will see how God encourages His People to
Seek the Lord.
As Christians, we need to Seek the Lord.
1. Love Jesus enough to Seek after Him.
Isaiah 55:6 (NLT) Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near.
What makes a Christian different than the people of the world?
The Presence of God.
The Presence of the Lord is with People:
Who Love Him.
Who put Him first.
Example of the Church of Ephesus:
Revelation 2:2–4 (NLT) 2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! (You have lost your first love)
The Church of Ephesus worked hard for Jesus.
Did not tolerate sin.
They endured hardships.
They knew scripture and had correct doctrine.
They were not quitters.
But, the church of Ephesus left Jesus by being Religious, Churchy.
God removes His Presence when He is not first.
Jesus is available today if you seek for Him.
Jeremiah 29:13–14 (NLT) 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
What are you seeking after?
You Seek after what you Love.
You and I should Love Jesus because He first loved us:
1 John 4:19 (NKJV) We love Him because He first loved us.
Ephesians 2:4–5 (NLT) 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)
There will be a time when Jesus will refuse to be found.
Hebrews 3:7–12 (NLT) 7 That is why the Holy Spirit says, “Today when you hear his voice, 8 don’t harden your hearts as Israel did when they rebelled, when they tested me in the wilderness. 9 There your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw my miracles for forty years. 10 So I was angry with them, and I said, ‘Their hearts always turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ 11 So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’ ” 12 Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God.
2. Seek After Jesus by changing your own way.
Isaiah 55:7 (NLT) Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.
A Wicked person is not necessarily a bad person.
A Wicked person is someone:
Who is going in the wrong direction.
Who does not follow Jesus,
Who is morally wrong.
Matthew 7:13–14 (NLT) 13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
People are going in the Wrong Direction.
The Opposite of Wicked is Righteous.
Jesus makes you Righteous: By His Blood shed on the Cross.
When you Receive Him in your Heart.
To Change direction is Repentance.
Repentance Leads to Building a Relationship with God.
Relationships that are neglected, go Bad.
It’s Time to Rebuild our relationship with God.
2 Peter 3:9 (NLT) The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
3. Seek Jesus by Trusting in His Ways.
Isaiah 55:8–9 (NLT) 8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
You cannot seek after God with your own way of doing things.
People get frustrated with God because
they tell God what to do without finding out what is His way.
People hearts and minds need to be transformed.
Let God Transform you.
Romans 12:1–2 (NLT) 1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
God’s thoughts and ways are not of a normal person.
We need the Mind of Christ if you want to be fulfilled in Life.
Romans 8:5–6 (NLT) 5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace.
People are Seeking Love in the wrong places.
When your greatest Desire is to live a life that conforms to God, pleases God and is led by the Holy Spirit, you find peace, joy.