Text: Isaiah 55: 10-13
We were at the Minnesota State fair. It’s a great fair if you ever get to go. We were in a building where you see people selling all kinds of things. I usually avoid buying but have fun listening. But one fellow caught my eye. He was demonstrating some special kind of cleaning tool. See how well it does the job. It gets everything and today if you buy it I’m including one of these also. I took out my wallet and bought one. Couldn’t wait to try it out.
Well you can guess what happened when I did. Not much. It didn’t get it done like I hoped it would.
Well today we are gathered around this book, this Word, and it’s message. Yet as we do, we might look out from here at the spiritual landscape of America. It’s not encouraging. Many have turned away from the Christian faith of their fathers and mothers. Sure we may see many people filling big mega churches, but overall the Christian church in our land has lost ground.
So maybe we’re tempted to wonder. Has the gospel of Jesus Christ lost it’s clout, it’s meaning for people today? Maybe we should be spending less time talking about Christ and more time talking about other things like getting out of debt or better relationships. Maybe we need to be more of an emotional support group to make people feel better about themselves. After all, the gospel doesn’t seem to be getting much traction these days.
This Word of God puts that to rest. It assures us:
God’s Word Gets It Done!
I. His purpose
II. For You
III. To His glory
10As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater… I’ve noticed something about our church lawn. There comes a time when it turns brown and no amount of well water from our sprinklers can make it green up again. But then comes the fall rain and it’s amazing. How quickly it greens up. The rain gets it done.
You see, our God has designed an amazing hydrologic system. We don’t realize how amazing until we have a drought. Then we pay close attention to the rainfall and the snow pack up in the mountains. We rely on the rains, even the snow, and when they come good things usually happen. They water the earth so that seeds sprout, plants grow, vines get heavy with grapes and we get to enjoy the bounty God gives. The rain and the snow get it done. Our Father in heaven has designed it that way.
But God didn’t send Isaiah to teach agriculture here God wants us his people to see something about his Word. It’s like that rain and snow. It goes out from God and does not come back empty-handed. Listen. As the rain and snow come down… 11so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Many people see this book and the preaching of this book as just so many words. It seems so weak and foolish. Martin Luther said it this way: How can it be believed that all the power, victory and triumph of God are in the word that comes from a feeble human mouth? How? A faithful prophet or preacher does not bring you human words. The words you read in this book are not the result of someone’s imagination. The gospel we share with a friend is not just another religious opinion. They are the Word of God almighty. And this He promises. His word can and will accomplish his purpose.
The apostle Paul believed that: 16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes… That’s God’s purpose for his Word. To save sinners like you and me who had no right to hope for anything good from God. You and I were dead in our sins and trespasses. But through the gospel God brings people into a faith relationship with Jesus. He brings us to trust in Jesus, his cross and his empty tomb of victory over death. He doesn’t force us. He wins us with his love. In the gospel, God gives us to see that love we were blind to before. He gives us to see how he did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. There’s power there. Power that gets it done – his purpose. Power to change hearts to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved.
But not everyone believes. God extends his gracious hand to everyone in the gospel. He holds out his forgiveness for every sin with the hope that because Jesus lives, we too shall live with God. But some push that gospel invitation away. They reject God’s Word as foolishness.
Well even then this Word accomplishes his purpose. A purpose that God takes no pleasure in. Jesus who died for all said it this way in the gospel of John: There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.
So this is our task as Christians. To proclaim God’s Word, to hold up Jesus Christ in the gospel. And then trust His promise that his Word will not return empty. It doesn’t always seem like it. It can be so discouraging when people turn away time and again. But know this: God’s Word gets it done. His purpose. And sometimes God lets us see that saving purpose take root in someone’s life.
It’s taken root in yours, hasn’t it? Your life testifies to this fact: God’s Word gets it done – For you. It has and it will.
He paints us this picture: 12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace; Think of the ancient Israelites on the other side of the Red Sea. God had led them out of a miserable life of slavery. When Pharaoh’s army was in hot pursuit bent on cutting them down, God brought the waters down on them and led his people to safety. . The people of Israel must have stepped out that day with a newfound joy and peace. That God would do even that for us!
Well think about that dear friends. You and I may not have stood on the other side of the Red Sea that God parted to save us. But we stand on the other side of a cross where God gave his own dear Son to save us. We stand on the other side of a cross where God laid on Jesus the guilt of us all. And now we get to go forth in joy and be led forth in peace. We are free. Forgiven. And God’s word makes that freedom our own. It gets it done- for you. A freedom that is yours right now. A freedom yet to come.
We live in a world that constantly reminds us of the tragedy of sin. We drive past the mortuary but the time comes when we must drive in to see a friend or loved one. And there is so much evil in our world, even in our own hearts. We have to teach our children like we were taught to resist our natural desires to be selfish and ugly. And even nature bears the ugly effects of sin. We may backpack to enjoy God’s creation. We may go out on our boat to enjoy a day on the water. But we are wise to be careful out in the woods. We are wise to watch the weather reports for that approaching storm. We live in a fallen world where danger, trouble and heartbreak come our way.
But freedom is coming. Freedom for you. Freedom in Christ. We can’t imagine it so God paints us this glorious picture in his Word. the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
Well God’s Word made that freedom your own. It brought you to Christ. It got it done – for you. So remember what it means. Remember when life gets hard. Remember when your heart gets broken. Remember when the doctor tells you something you don’t want to hear. Remember when the evil of this world gets you down. Remember this. Remember what is to come. Then say to yourself. I’m just passing through. Passing through to that day when you and I will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.
This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” When Kings won a battle against an opposing army they would sometimes put up some kind of monument, a sign .They did it so that people would not forget how great they were. Of course it sometimes happened that another king came along who then defeated that king. You can guess what he did to the monument. Sometimes they rubbed out the name. Other times they just tore it down and put up their own. The glory of that victory was short-lived.
Not so, the name of the Lord. Not so, his Word that proclaims his name. Here is that everlasting sign. Governments may try to tear it down and confiscate this Word.. Satan may try to rub his name out of the world’s memory. It won’t happen. God won’t allow it. For salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. The name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. And God’s Word gets it done. It shows us God’s amazing love for us in Christ. – to his glory. Amen.