As we believe God's report that He gave of His Son, and receive the revelation of Jesus Christ / Messiah (Isaiah 53:1; I John 5:9-13), we are now confronted with questions about what we are doing. We have been questioned about our use of time and the attention that we give to things. We have been called to prioritize our lives - to feed our souls, not just our bodies. We have been called to abundant life (Isaiah 55:1-2; John 10:1-10). We also have been given further promises - revelation about the blessedness of the Messiah's resurrection and the scope of His ministry (Isaiah 55:3-5; John 14:19-20; John 10:16; 16:33; Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20). We are now going to continue our prioritizing by focusing on our need to seek the Lord - not our own wisdom or agenda - nor the wisdom / agenda of man and the world (Isaiah 2:22; Jeremiah 17:5-8).

We are using the following outline of Isaiah 55:

Isaiah 55:1-2 - The Call to Priorities

Isaiah 55:3-5 - The Call to God's Promises

Isaiah 55:6-7 - The Call to Pursue God

Isaiah 55:8-11 - The Call to Perspective

Isaiah 55:12-13 - The Call to Prosperity

 

Isaiah 55:6-7 - The Call to Pursue God (Seek the LORD while He may be found)

We must understand the urgency of the situation. Life is fragile and uncertain. This could be the last day of our life. God's Spirit is not always going to strive with man (Genesis 6:3). We do not know when God will cut off the time of grace and bring judgement upon this world. Our response to Him can't be postponed without risking failure / disaster.

God is not requiring us to add Him to our already-existing condition. He wants to replace what we are (sinners) and make us wholly His. He wants us to be holy (i.e. like Him - I Peter 1:13-16). We must repent from sin - repent of our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. We must repent to God - seek forgiveness through His Son and seek transformation by His Spirit.

• Acts 17:24-31 - God is involved with our lives, but we don't naturally appreciate this as we should. We are supposed to reach out and feel for Him. If we find Him, we need to repent now and believe on His Son. His Son will be coming to judge the world. Receive Him as your Savior and Lord before He comes to be your judge.
  
  
• Romans 10:8-17 - Not everyone has grown up under the influence of the Scriptures. But the influence of the Scriptures is what gives faith (II Timothy 3:15). Saving faith will enter our hearts when we believe the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 1:16) and call on the Lord for salvation. This message must be received, believed and confessed to others.
  
  
• II Corinthians 6:1-2; James 4:13-17 - Now is the time. Today is the day. Don't depend on tomorrow.
  
  
• Hebrews 3:7-13; 4:1-2 - Decision and action should be done "Today." Sin can deceive and cause us to harden our hearts. It is imperative that we incorporate faith with our knowledge of the promises of Scripture (cp. Hebrews 11:6).

Isaiah 55:8-11 - The Call to Perspective (See the greatness of God and His word)

God's thoughts and ways are incomparable to anyone / anything else. What God wants and what God says are settled, unchangeable, unstoppable, successful, and desirable (to those who are wise and love the Lord). See Numbers 23:19; Psalm 115:3 (cp. 135:6); 119:24,89; 138:1-8; Proverbs 19:21; 21:30; 30:5-6; Isaiah 45:21-25; 46:9-13; 66:1-2; Jeremiah 23:29; Amos 3:8; Matthew 24:35; Romans 1:16; 11:33-36; 16:25-27; I Corinthians 1:18-31; 2:1-5, 9-16; II Timothy 3:15-17; I Peter 1:23-25.

Isaiah 55:12-13 - The Call to Prosperity (Benefit from knowing and loving God)

This chapter begins and ends with blessing (Isaiah 55:1-2, 12-13). We should seek the Lord because He is the One-and-Only God, because He says we should, because He is good and merciful. We owe Him our love and loyalty, but it is also to our benefit that we seek the Lord.

As we seek the Lord and believe the Lord. We must appropriate the truth of the Lord into our lives. We will become like plants that are well-watered and green, prospering and fruitful.

• Psalm 1:1-3; 92:12-15 - Fruitful, prosperous, and flourishing cp. II Peter 1:2-11 (vs. 8 cp. Hosea 12:10)
  
  
• Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 - Fruitful cp. Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9; Philippians 1:9-11.
  
  
• John 15:1-8, 16 - Feed on Christ / His word = fruitful intimacy with God that glorifies God.

When we are prospering with God's blessings, we will be to the praise of His glory. We will be conformed to Christ's image, able to do truly good works. We will be filled with the fulness of God. We will be protected from the destructive influences of Satan and this world. We will have completeness before God. See Ephesians 1:3,12; 2:10 (cp. Romans 8:28-29); Ephesians 3:14-19; 4:11-16; Colossians 2:6-10.

"As I live, saith the LORD God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die…?" (Ezekiel 33:11)

"… Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17).