Free Mercies to a Skeptic and Rebel Where s the Logic? Isaiah 55

Transcription

1 Free Mercies to a Skeptic and Rebel Where s the Logic? Isaiah 55

2 Debra Lynn Drude December 4, 1958

3 Ponchatoula, LA

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12 Martha Mayer School of Dance Circa 1970 Grace King HS Volleyball Team Circa 1975

13 St. Clement of Rome Catholic School 8 th Grade Circa 1972

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15 The FREEDOM YEARS

16 Mike Hugele Circa 1983

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21 THE ROAD to FREEDOM

22 Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 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 delight yourself in abundance. Isaiah 55:1-2

23 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares 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. Isaiah 55:8-9

24 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10-11

25 For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Isaiah 55:12

26 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:10-11

27 He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

28 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets

29 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings

30 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings Most significant introduces the Coming Messiah

31 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings Most significant introduces the Coming Messiah Most-quoted prophet in the New Testament

32 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings Most significant introduces the Coming Messiah Most-quoted prophet in the New Testament Contemporaries Amos, Hosea, and Micah

33 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings Most significant introduces the Coming Messiah Most-quoted prophet in the New Testament Contemporaries Amos, Hosea, and Micah Married, with children

34 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings Most significant introduces the Coming Messiah Most-quoted prophet in the New Testament Contemporaries Amos, Hosea, and Micah Married, with children Highly educated

35 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings Most significant introduces the Coming Messiah Most-quoted prophet in the New Testament Contemporaries Amos, Hosea, and Micah Married, with children Highly educated Had easy access to royalty

36 Isaiah s History and Background 1 st of the four major prophets Major vs Minor Prophet longer writings Most significant introduces the Coming Messiah Most-quoted prophet in the New Testament Contemporaries Amos, Hosea, and Micah Married, with children Highly educated Had easy access to royalty Parents likely had high hopes and expectations for their son

37 But God had something else in mind for Isaiah!

38 Prophet Job Description Willing to heed God s command by doing the following: Warn people of impending judgment Point out their sin Describe the coming judgment Call for repentance Tell of the promise of future deliverance

39 Prophet Job Description DISCLAIMER Probably not going to be invited to many parties!

40 (God) Called Isaiah to a long thankless, prophetic ministry during a tumultuous and frightening period in international affairs. Michael Williams How to Read the Bible through the Lens of Jesus

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42 DISCUSSION GROUPS

43 Isaiah 55 ~ The Free Offer of Mercy 1 Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no [a]money come, buy and eat. come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 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 delight yourself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, according to the faithful mercies shown to David. 4 Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you will call a nation you do not know, and a nation which knows you not will run to you, because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel; for He has glorified you. 6 Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. 12 For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, and it will be a [f]memorial to the Lord, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.

44 The Davidic Covenant When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Samuel 7:12-13

45 Basically, the servant of God responds to the presence of God by doing those things that mimic the love of God that we ourselves have experienced. And in doing so we will experience in our lives less and less the presence of our death-producing rebellious acts and more and more the presence of our life-giving God. ~ Michael Williams How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens

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48 Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up, and instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, and it will be a memorial to the Lord, for an everlasting sign which will not be cut off. Isaiah 55:13