This morning it was a midweek service in HM Prison at Canterbury.
Here are my notes on
Isaiah 55:1-7, the OT lesson in the Lectionary forBible Sunday. [Bible Sunday was always the 2nd Sunday in Advent, but the new
Common Worship 2000 has moved it to the Last Sunday after Trinity]
We sang two hymns (one before, one after): "Amazing Grace", and "Lord, thy
Word abideth". They sang along well.
Needless to say, I dodn't just read my notes, but ad-libbed a lot. They
listened well.
1. A CONDITION DIAGNOSED 1a
a. A Dearth of the Word of God. Bread of Life (Amos 8:11)
One can last 60 days without food; 60 hours without water; but only 60 minutes
without hope. Christ is our Hope.
b. A Drought of the Spirit of God. Water of Life (John 4:13-14)
The offer to the woman at the well is repeated to all in John 7:37-39.
2. A COUNTERFEIT EXPOSED 2a
a. What a Waste of Wealth.
Satan's ersatz bread is not bread. It tastes sweet but it will choke you
(Proverbs 9:17-18). Christ is the True Bread, the Living Bread (John
6:27,35,51). It is priceless - money cannot buy it.
b. What a Waste of Health.
Good Works cannot save (Ephesians 2:8-9); cannot satisfy (Haggai 1:6). Satan
will have us dissipate our wealth and dissipate our health. Christ alone has
made satisfaction for our sin.
3. A SOLUTION PROPOSED 1b, 2b
a. Shopping without Tears.
No cash, nor credit card, nor cheque book. All is prepaid. Our Bread is the
Body of Christ; our Wine the Blood of Christ; our Milk the sincere milk of the
Word (1 Peter 2:2).
b. Feeding without Fears.
No catch; no baited hook. Delight yourself in fatness (enjoy the fat of the
land).
4. A SALVATION DISCLOSED 3-7
a. The Power of an Everlasting Covenant. 3, 6-7
When we unfeignedly repent, He will abundantly pardon (freely forgive).
b. The Power of an Ever-living Captain. 4-5
The Captain of our Salvation (Hebrews 2:10) was made perfect by His sufferings
for us. The debt was fully paid: "It is finished". Now He ever lives to make
intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
"Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall
be filled" (Matthew 5:6).
_______________________________________________________________________
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick BA CF, and Mrs Joanna (Goodwin) Crick
<ben.crick@argonet.co.uk>
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
http://www.cnetwork.co.uk/crick.htm
