Text:\u00a0 Isaiah 55: 10-13<\/p>\n
We were at the Minnesota State fair.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great fair if you ever get to go.\u00a0 We were in a building where you see people selling all kinds of things.\u00a0 I usually avoid buying but have fun listening.\u00a0 But one fellow caught my eye. \u00a0He was demonstrating some special kind of cleaning tool.\u00a0 See how well it does the job.\u00a0 It gets everything and today if you buy it I\u2019m including one of these also.\u00a0 I took out my wallet and bought one. Couldn\u2019t wait to try it out.<\/p>\n
Well you can guess what happened when I did. Not much.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t get it done like I hoped it would.<\/p>\n
Well today we are gathered around this book, this Word, and it\u2019s message.\u00a0 Yet as we do, we might look out from here at the spiritual landscape of America.\u00a0\u00a0 It\u2019s not encouraging.\u00a0 Many have turned away from the Christian faith of their fathers and mothers.\u00a0 Sure we may see many people filling big \u00a0mega churches, but overall the Christian church in our land has lost ground.<\/p>\n
So maybe we\u2019re tempted to wonder.\u00a0 Has the gospel of Jesus Christ lost it\u2019s clout, it\u2019s meaning for people today?\u00a0 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. \u00a0Maybe we need to be more of an emotional support group to make people feel better about themselves.\u00a0 After all, the gospel doesn\u2019t seem to be getting much traction these days.<\/p>\n
This Word of God puts that to rest.\u00a0 It assures us:<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Word Gets It Done! 10<\/sup>As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, <\/span><\/p>\n 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\u2026<\/span> I\u2019ve noticed something about our church lawn.\u00a0 There comes a time when it turns brown and no amount of well water from our sprinklers can make it green up again.\u00a0 But then comes the fall rain and it\u2019s amazing.\u00a0 How quickly it greens up. The rain gets it done.<\/p>\n You see, our God has designed an amazing hydrologic system.\u00a0 We don\u2019t realize how amazing until we have a drought.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 They water the earth so that seeds sprout, plants grow, vines get heavy with grapes and we get to enjoy the bounty God gives.\u00a0 The rain and the snow get it done.\u00a0 Our Father in heaven has designed it that way.<\/p>\n But God didn\u2019t send Isaiah to teach agriculture here\u00a0 God wants us his people to see something about his Word.\u00a0 It\u2019s like that rain and snow.\u00a0 It goes out from God and does not come back empty-handed.\u00a0 Listen.\u00a0 As the rain and snow come down\u2026 11<\/sup>so 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<\/span>.<\/p>\n Many people see this book and the preaching of this book as just so many words.\u00a0 It seems so weak and foolish.\u00a0 Martin Luther said it this way:\u00a0 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?<\/em> How?\u00a0 A faithful prophet or preacher does not bring you human words.\u00a0 The words you read in this book are not the result of someone\u2019s imagination. The gospel we share with a friend is not just another religious opinion. \u00a0They are the Word of God almighty.\u00a0 And this He promises.\u00a0 His word can and will accomplish his purpose.<\/p>\n The apostle Paul believed that:\u00a0 16 <\/sup>I am not ashamed of the \u00a0gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes\u2026<\/span> That\u2019s God\u2019s purpose for his Word.\u00a0 To save sinners like you and me who had no right to hope for anything good from God.\u00a0 You and I were dead in our sins and trespasses. But through the gospel God brings people into a faith relationship with Jesus.\u00a0 He brings us to trust in Jesus, his cross and his empty tomb of victory over death.\u00a0 He doesn\u2019t force us.\u00a0 He wins us with his love.\u00a0\u00a0 In the gospel, God gives us to see that love we were blind to before.\u00a0 He gives us to see how he did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all.\u00a0 There\u2019s power there.\u00a0 Power that gets it done \u2013 his purpose.<\/strong> Power to change hearts to trust and believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved.<\/p>\n But not everyone believes. \u00a0God extends his gracious hand to everyone in the gospel.\u00a0 He holds out his forgiveness for every sin with the hope that because Jesus lives, we too shall live with God.\u00a0 But some push that gospel invitation away.\u00a0 They reject God\u2019s Word as foolishness.<\/p>\n Well even then this Word accomplishes his purpose.\u00a0 A purpose that God takes no pleasure in.\u00a0\u00a0 Jesus who died for all said it this way in the gospel of John:\u00a0 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<\/span>.<\/p>\n So this is our task as Christians.\u00a0 To proclaim God\u2019s Word, to hold up Jesus Christ in the gospel.\u00a0\u00a0 And then trust His promise that his Word will not return empty.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t always seem like it.\u00a0 It can be so discouraging when people turn away time and again.\u00a0 \u00a0But know this:\u00a0 God\u2019s Word gets it done. His purpose.<\/strong> And sometimes God lets us see \u00a0that saving purpose take root in someone\u2019s life.<\/p>\n It\u2019s taken root in yours, hasn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Your life testifies to this fact:\u00a0 God\u2019s Word gets it done \u2013 For you.<\/strong> It has and it will.<\/p>\n He \u00a0paints us this picture:\u00a0 12<\/sup> You will go out in joy <\/span><\/p>\n and be led forth in peace<\/span>; \u00a0Think of the ancient Israelites on the other side of the Red Sea.\u00a0 God had led them out of a miserable life of slavery.\u00a0 When Pharaoh\u2019s army was in hot pursuit bent on cutting them down, God brought the waters down on them and led his people to safety.\u00a0 . The people of Israel must have stepped out that day with a newfound joy and peace.\u00a0 That God would do even that for us!<\/p>\n Well think about that dear friends.\u00a0 You and I may not have stood on the other side of the Red Sea that God parted to save us.\u00a0 But we stand on the other side of a cross where God gave his own dear Son to save us.\u00a0 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<\/span>.\u00a0 We are free.\u00a0 Forgiven.\u00a0 \u00a0And God\u2019s word makes that freedom our own.\u00a0 It gets it done- for you.<\/strong> A freedom that is yours right now.\u00a0 A freedom yet to come.<\/p>\n We live in a world that constantly reminds us of the tragedy of sin.\u00a0 We drive past the mortuary but the time comes when we must drive in to see a friend or loved one.\u00a0 And there is so much evil in our world, even in our own hearts. \u00a0We have to teach our children like we were taught to resist our natural desires to be selfish and ugly.\u00a0 And even nature bears the ugly effects of sin.\u00a0 We may backpack to enjoy God\u2019s creation.\u00a0 We may go out on our boat to enjoy a day on the water.\u00a0 But we are wise to be careful out in the woods.\u00a0 We are wise to watch the weather reports for that approaching storm. \u00a0We live in a fallen world where danger, trouble and heartbreak come our way.<\/p>\n But freedom is coming.\u00a0 Freedom for you.\u00a0 Freedom in Christ.\u00a0 We can\u2019t imagine it so God paints us this glorious picture in his Word.\u00a0 the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. 13<\/sup>Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow<\/span>.<\/p>\n Well God\u2019s Word made that freedom your own. It brought you to Christ.\u00a0 \u00a0It got it done – for you.<\/strong> So remember what it means.\u00a0 Remember when life gets hard.\u00a0 Remember when your heart gets broken.\u00a0 Remember when the doctor tells you something you don\u2019t want to hear.\u00a0 Remember when the evil of this world gets you down.\u00a0 Remember this.\u00a0 Remember what is to come.\u00a0 Then say to yourself. I\u2019m just passing through.\u00a0 Passing through to that day when you and I will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. <\/span><\/p>\n This will be for the Lord\u2019s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.\u201d<\/span> 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.\u00a0 Of course it sometimes happened that another king came along who then defeated that king.\u00a0 You can guess what he did to the monument.\u00a0 Sometimes they rubbed out the name. Other times they just tore it down and put up their own.\u00a0 The glory of that victory was short-lived.<\/p>\n Not so, the name of the Lord.\u00a0 Not so, his Word that proclaims his name.\u00a0 Here is that everlasting sign.\u00a0 Governments may try to tear it down and confiscate this Word..\u00a0 Satan may try to rub his name out of the world\u2019s memory.\u00a0 \u00a0It won\u2019t happen.\u00a0 God won\u2019t allow it.\u00a0\u00a0 For salvation is found in no one else.\u00a0 There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.<\/span> The name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.\u00a0 And God\u2019s Word gets it done<\/strong>. \u00a0It shows us God\u2019s amazing love for us in Christ.\u00a0 – \u00a0to his glory<\/strong>.\u00a0 Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Text:\u00a0 Isaiah 55: 10-13 We were at the Minnesota State fair.\u00a0 It\u2019s a great fair if you ever get to go.\u00a0 We were in a building where you see people selling all kinds of things.\u00a0 I usually avoid buying but have fun listening.\u00a0 But one fellow caught my eye. \u00a0He was demonstrating some special kind of cleaning tool.\u00a0 See how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermon"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":271,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270\/revisions\/271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/strong>I.\u00a0 His purpose
\nII.\u00a0 For You
\nIII. To His glory<\/p>\n