Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ (Ro 1:7). Amen.
The words that come out of our mouths are powerful. [Slide 2] You know that.
They can discourage when someone is riding high like “nice try”—indicating failure. One’s self-esteem sinks.
They can encourage when someone is feeling down like “nice job”—implying success. A person’s self-confidence soars.
If that is true of what we say, how much more of what God states. It is effective. It is like a seed that is planted in the ground. [Slide 3] God’s Word brings about growth. Isaiah mentions that reason for his Word and that result from his Word as we read from …
Isaiah 55:10-13
Dear People of God who brings us to faith and builds up our faith,
Perhaps you are beginning to enjoy some lettuce or peas or strawberries or peppers from your garden [Slide 4] (if you planted one—it will always be an “if” with me, but I realize that some people like to poke around in the dirt with their green thumbs). If not, it won’t be long until those things make it to your table.
But what did you do to cause the fruits or vegetables? [Slide 5] You can answer, “I watered. I weeded.” But in reality, God gets the credit for the liquid from the hose or the plant in the soil. King David, who was more accustomed to shepherding, was also acquainted with farming. As a psalmist, he had us sing about God: “You care for the land and water it; … you soften it with showers and bless its crops” (Ps 65:9,10). [Slide 6] It is that way with the harvest in a field. So it is with faith in a heart. The Lord stands behind both.
God’s Word Brings about Growth
1. There is that reason for his Word (10,11)
2. There is that result from his Word (12,13)
1. There is the reason for his Word (10,11)
The problem is, or my problem is, impatience. [Slide 7] It is like the student who puts some seeds in a plastic cup at night for a science fair project due the next day and in the morning expects to see something sticking up. But it will come. Later. God’s Word brings about growth. There is that reason for his Word.
Isaiah takes us to the world of agriculture—specifically the hydrological cycle. [Slide 8] Moisture first comes down from the clouds and then runs along the earth and finally goes back to the sky. It is a simplified version of the water cycle—a circle of precipitation and evaporation. Isaiah makes reference to it [Slide 9]: “As 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” (Is 55:10). But there is a purpose for it: “so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater” (Is 55:10). There is seed for the future and bread for the present. [Slide 10]
But this is not just a lesson in cultivating, but a comparison for learning. Isaiah makes that connection: “so [as in, “in the same manner”] is my word that goes out from my mouth” (Is 55:11). [Slide 11] Note whose word it is—“my word.” God makes contact with sinners through words, words about Jesus (Jn 1:1). We do not make them up. We only make them known. They are from the Lord (Is 7:7; 2 Pe 1:21; 2 Ti 3:15). That is why we refer to the Bible as “God’s Word.” That is what it is—from beginning to end. It is through God’s inspiration, not from man’s imagination.
And there is a point for the message from his mouth: “It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Is 55:11). In other words, his word works (He 4:12). The Word is never sown without an outcome—sometimes right away, other times later on just like some flowers bloom earlier than others. Our labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Co 15:58). That comes down to two things: rejection or acceptance. There is either a hardening of the heart or a healing of it (cf. Is 6:9,10).
That sounds like Jesus’ parable of the sower. [Slide 12] The seed was the same. The reception was different.
There were the hard-hearted hearers. “Some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up” (Mt 13:4). [Slide 13] The devil sneaks in and steals it away. He convinces people to despise and disregard God’s Word as foolishness or for the simple (1 Co 1:18). That is how our hearts were by nature—like stone or cement. But the Holy Spirit has opened our ears to listen (Mt 13:9).
There were the faint-hearted hearers. “Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root” (Mt 13:5,6). [Slide 14] There was initial excitement along with enthusiasm. But not for long. The pressures from the outside push the faith down and push it away. We need to stay close to God’s Word for strength and support in the difficulties and dangers.
There were the half-hearted hearers. “Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants” (Mt 13:7). [Slide 15] That can happen when one frets over stuff—“Will I have enough?”—and falls for lies—“I need more things.” We can be thankful that we have a loving Father in heaven who provides for our bodies and our souls.
There were the true-hearted hearers. “Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Mt 13:). [Slide 16] The Lord creates faith—the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes (Ro 1:16). We acknowledge our sin and appreciate our Savior. And God keeps us in that faith. And then there is fruit (Ga 5:22,23). We mature just like we continue to water the garden through the summer and see progress in the plants. That happens in us and it is what God delights in. We love God and love one another. We do our jobs and fulfill our responsibilities. All out of thanks.
That is why God conveys his Word to us. He wants us to look at his love and live in that love. God’s Word brings about growth. There is that reason for his Word.
2. That is the result from his Word (12,13)
Imagine the thrill when that first little shoot of green appears in the solo cup for the science fair assignment. [Slide 17] Not just because there won’t be an “F” in the grade book, but because there is life in a red cup. That is exciting. God’s Word brings about growth like that. There is that result from his Word.
As we grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pe 3:18), we enjoy two beautiful blessings. “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace” (Is 55:12). [Slide 18]
There is joy—gladness, both inside and outside. It is apparent in our attitude and actions as we recognize that Jesus died and rose for us.
There is peace. All is right between us and God through Jesus.
Think back to Israel’s history. There was the exodus from Egypt. [Slide 19] God brought them out of the cruel slavery there to the Promised Land. And then in Isaiah’s day, there was the reminder that a remnant would return from the captivity in Babylon. But those only pointed ahead to the greatest exit of all. When God takes his own to their home in heaven—God’s final deliverance.
Isaiah includes the happiness that will spread even to nature. “The mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Is 55:12). [Slide 20] When sin entered into the world, it affected the world. Now we talk in terms of hurricanes and tsunamis, droughts and famines. The apostle Paul captured that thought when he commented: “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Ro 8:22). But notice the illustration. When a mother delivers a child, there is new life. So with us. We wait in hope for that great day when Jesus returns for us. Pains and problems and disease and death will no longer touch us. No wonder Paul exclaimed: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Ro 8:18). [Slide 21] The idea is of a balance scale. It tips in favor of heaven. We long for that day and look forward to it. Isaiah pictures the great change in a poetic way turning to nature again: “Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow” (Is 55:13)—from something useless like a stinging nettle to something useful like a majestic tree.
God gets the glory for that. In ancient times, a king might erect a monument to commemorate an accomplishment like a victory in battle. [Slide 22] But another monarch might destroy it or the wind might deface it. Isaiah closes with the fact that God saving us will not be that way. Ever. “This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed” (Is 55:13). [Slide 23] That God has freed us from sin and death will endure forever. God’s Word brings about growth. Heaven is that result from his Word where there will be unending joy and peace.
Words are like seeds. Both have power. God’s Word does. [Slide 24] It brings about growth. There is that reason for God’s Word. We pay attention to his Word and get ready for our home. There is that result from God’s Word. As Jesus remarked, “He who has ears, let him hear” (Mt 13:9). We are. And we do. Amen.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen (Ro 16:27).
July 30, 2017
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