This is the good news –Jesus Christ leads His people from all nations and makes an everlasting covenant with them. Isaiah explains...
Isaiah 55: The Compassion of the LORD
1 "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of 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; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither 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 but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12 "For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
Isaiah 56: Salvation for Foreigners
1 Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil."
3 Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from his people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree."
4 For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant,
5 I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off.
6 "And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant---
7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples."
8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, "I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered."
Israel's Irresponsible Leaders
9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour--- all you beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all.
12 "Come," they say, "let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure."
Things to think about…
1. Isaiah 55 and 56 are for all nations, not just Israel. What do you long for? The soul that is parched in the spirit is thirsty for truth and God’s grace. Isaiah opens the chapter with this declaration “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat!”, Isa 55:1. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount says "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”, Mt 6:6. This is a promise, that we will be satisfied. The issue for most is that satisfaction is found in earthly fulfillment rather than in Christ.
2. Why do we waste our time, money and effort on fickle things that do not satisfy? Isaiah says. “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?”, Isa 55:2. Good question. His point is that we should lay hold of things of eternal value, “that your soul may live”, Isa 55:3.
3. Isa 55:4 refers to Jesus – He is the One who is a witness and a commander for the peoples (nations). Verse 6 is relevant for today “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near”. Today is the day of salvation and this can only be achieved in Christ. Here lies a promise to the Gentiles “you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you”, vs 5. The promise is that they will be glorified. We know Paul echoes this truth in Rom 8:30.
4. His thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not our ways, Isa 55:8&9. This is where trust and patience is required for the believer even when we feel things are out of control. Even through the tough times He gives us sustaining grace. We have an earthly and therefore limited understanding of His good purpose in our lives. But just as the heavens are from the earth so He knows exceedingly and abundantly above anything we could possibly understand. As such we are called to simply trust with the faith that He has blessed us with.
5. God’s word will not return empty – it shall succeed. Look at the ultimate purpose – joy, peace and an everlasting sign, Isa 55:12, 13. This is the message for today- great joy and peace on earth, the Saviour of the world has come. Praise His name!
6. Blessed is he who keeps the Sabbath, Isa 56:2 and keeps his hand from evil. Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. If we are to keep the Sabbath we must accept His lordship over our lives – this is a great promise for the Gentiles, Isa 56:3 – this is better than any inheritance that comes from blood, Isa 56:6. An everlasting covenant that will not be cut off. When Jesus turned the tables of the money changers and quoted Isa 56:7 “my house shall be called a house of prayer”, the context is ‘for all peoples’. The Lord’s witness to the nations was being desecrated by the religious hierarchy. May our witness never limit the Lord’s name being lifted up in other people’s lives. What a grief it is when then church’s witness is destroyed by moral failure. We have seen too much of this in recent years.
7. The Lord will gather all those inside and outside the house of Israel - this is the church universal, Isa 56:8.
8. Woe to blind watchmen, Isa 56:8-12. They are referred to as dogs, Isa 56:10,11. Jesus had much to say of the spiritual leaders in his day for their hypocrisy. He also called them blind guides, Matt 15:14; 23:16, 24. They led ancient Israel astray and today they creep into churches, they are ‘wolves’ and lead vulnerable ignorant sheep away, as the Apostle Paul warned would happen, Acts 20:29. We are not unaware of Satan’s ways. Pray for Christ’s body the church that it is spared from false teachers and those that are just living for their own interests, Isa 56:12.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Life groups Wednesdays. Ric Benson group will be on break for the next 2 weeks of holidays.
Pastor Jay has started the young adult’s life group after Sunday mornings café time. On break over the holiday period.
Prayer Points
1. Anna is advertising for a Playgroup to be started at CBC. Please pray the Lord blesses this outreach.
2. Pray for all the new people and contacts over Easter. Some people had never been to church. Pray for them that they continue to see Christ.
3. Conflict in Israel and Ukraine.
4. Those who are travelling over Easter and holiday period. Many people have already lost lives on Qld roads this year.
5. Those who are considering baptism.
6. Church finances to cover all expenses.
7. Pray for new Playgroup outreach, Kids@Church, Life groups and church community days.
8. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
9. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
10. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Thankyou Lord for the joy and teaching time on Sunday.
2. Praise the Lord for ministry opportunities at Kidz@church and Playgroup.
3. Continue to pray for Tad to gain strength at home. Good to see him at church yesterday. Continue to pray for Glenys as she now has a splint to gain full use in her left arm. Any encouragement you can give will be greatly appreciated.
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. All Life Groups Wednesday on holidays for 2 weeks.
2. Kids@Church on break over the school holidays.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for April...
Q. 19. Do you have a soul as well as a body? A. Yes; I have a soul that can never die.
