Introduction
Each year I do a sermon series on the welcome home theme. These sermons are meant to bring us back to our rallying call as LifePoint Nakuru. A reminder of who we are and what we ought to do. This year the words “Welcome Home” must have a special message to all of us! After we have spent months away from our beloved sanctuary; our physical home! It is my pleasure to once again say “Welcome Home!” I will do this through a series of sermons that will relate to us in this season. I will do this by taking us through Isaiah 55.
Sermon 1: The Great Invitation
1: Come and stop Craving
The prophet Isaiah in this passage issues an invitation to all who will listen. He welcomes them to the gracious life that God offers. He asks them to come to receive from God what the world can not provide.
The first invitation is to those without water. Those who are thirsty. Isaiah, being the voice of God calls them to come to the waters! Notice he does not call them to receive small amounts of water. He calls them to the gushing streams of water. Water is so abundant that they will not thirst again. Their craving for water will be forgotten.
We are always reminded that in the presence of God we will have no cravings. God provides for His children better than the world can ever offer us.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
Psalm 23:1-2 ESV
God meets us at the point of our needs and quenches all our thirsts. It is this simple realization that must keep our eyes focused on Him at all times. Despite our tough times we must come home and have a drink from the gushing streams of life.
- Come stop Compromise
Compromise comes when we think we cannot get what we need through the means God has set out for us. Others will complain that they do not have currency to exchange For the food that God gives. God invites them to come to buy without money! God’s free grace extends to all areas of life. He invites us to stop striving and relax as He offers us what we need without the expense! Grace extends to us so that we do not have to strive to receive favour from God. This is true both physically as it is spiritually! Success in our lives is not about how much we struggle but about how much we release ourselves to the immense grace of God.
Many of us complain a lot about the situations we find ourselves in. We even get to the point of compromising our faith in the Lord and even our joy in the Lord. We ought to learn the attitude of thanksgiving and the walk of faith. Knowing that when we are at home with the Lord we will be more than well provided for.
2. Come stop Complaining
Joy is the attitude of the heart that knows the Lord’s provision. The fruit of the spirit is said to contain Joy in it. Isaiah concludes the great invitation by promising us milk and wine which should cause gladness to us.
When we receive God’s grace it is an antidote to complaints and inner strife. It keeps us calm and at peace despite all external challenges. The great invitation here is to relax in God’s grace and enjoy gladness in His presence. It reminds us that when we let God control our lives then we need not worry. When we are at home we can relax in His presence.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7 ESV
WELCOME HOME!