Isaiah 55_ 1-13      Drink All You Can

Rev. David Holwick

First Baptist Church

Ledgewood, New Jersey

September 18, 1994

Isaiah 55


DO YOU WANT A DRINK?



  I. Come to the waters.

      A. Spiritual, more than physical needs.


      B. No money, buy anyway.

          1) Shoprite doesn't work like this.


             The first Methodist minister in Denver, without a church

                building, preached from behind the bar of a saloon.

             His sermon began, "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to

                the waters,

             come buy wine and milk without money..."

             While behind him were signs reading:

                              NO TRUST.  PAY AS YOU GO.

                                                                    #1598

          2) We spend 15% of income on food.  Free would be great!


      C. Spending on what is not bread.

          1) Bumper sticker:  He who has the biggest toys in the end, wins.

          2) We often burn ourselves out for things that don't last.

          3) The best things in life are free!

              a) Note of grace in the Old Testament.


      D. The covenant with David.

          1) Different from covenant of Abraham, Moses.

          2) Their promises were for nation, David's was for his family.

          3) Shows personal nature of God's promise.


II. Seek God - while there's time.

      A. We must seek and turn.

          1) Pardons require acceptance.


             During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, George Wilson,

                a postal clerk, robbed a federal payroll from a train.

             In the process he killed a guard.

                The court convicted him and sentenced him to hang.

             Because of public sentiment against capital punishment,

                however, a movement began to secure a presidential pardon

                   for Wilson.

             After all, it was his first offence.

                Eventually President Jackson intervened with a pardon.

             Amazingly, Wilson refused.

             Since this had never happened before, the Supreme Court was

                asked to rule on whether someone could indeed refuse a

                   presidential pardon.

             Chief Justice John Marshall handed down the court's decision:


             "A pardon is a parchment whose only value must be determined

                by the receiver of the pardon.

             It has no value apart from that which the receiver gives

                to it.

             George Wilson has refused to accept the pardon...

                We cannot conceive why he would do so, but he has.

             Therefore, George Wilson must die."


             George Wilson, as punishment for his crime, was hanged.

             A pardon, declared the Supreme Court, must not only be

                granted, it must be accepted.                    #1697


          2) God also offers pardons.

              a) Not automatic, though often treated that way.


III. God is different.

      A. God's thoughts and ways are not the same as ours.    55:8

          1) Beyond "inscrutable."

          2) God is morally different than us.  He is "higher."


      B. Nature has its processes, and so does God.            55:10

          1) The water cycle is described.

          2) God's Word causes growth just like rain, though we often

                do not see the full process.

          3) We must have faith that what God begins, he will finish.


      C. God's Word is effective.

          1) Its purpose is to reform our souls, reveal his Will.


IV. The joy of knowing God.

      A. Trees clap hands - figure of speech.


      B. Remove of the curse (thorns, briers).

          1) Millennium in view.

          2) Land regenerated, (also us?).



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