1.
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our
Heavenly Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The message from God’s Word this 5th
Sunday after Pentecost is taken from Isaiah 55:10-13 and is entitled, “God’s Word is Effective.” Here Isaiah reminds us that God’s Word is
effective because it’s divine (vs. 11), it satisfies our hearts like rain and
snow (vs. 10), and it always accomplishes God’s will (vs. 11).
2. Juan Chavez, a “most
wanted” desperado in Mexico, who had long evaded every attempt to apprehend
him, suddenly turned himself in at a courthouse in Saltillo, Mexico. “Who brought you in?” he was asked. Chavez held up a Bible and replied, “This book brought me back—back to pay my
debt to society.” He explained, “When
I came back from a raid, this book was among the loot. I was hiding in a cave
at the time, and since I had nothing else to do, I began reading this book. I
couldn’t get away from it. This Bible has changed my life.”
3. The example of Juan Chavez turning himself
in for his crimes in Mexico is just one example of many where people have been
led to repentance of their sins and received a new life all through power of
God’s Word. Here in Isaiah 55, God tells us that His Word will
always accomplish the purpose for which it was intended by him. God tells us that his Word is divine by
stating, “My word that goes out from my
mouth.” The Bible isn’t of human origin but originates in God himself. We
think of such passages from the New Testament that talk about the Word of God
such as Romans 10:17, which says, “17So
faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
4. This Word goes out like a special messenger of God on
a mission to change the lives of people and bring them under God’s grace and forgiveness
in Christ. God’s Word won’t return to him empty. There’s a divine purpose behind every
proclamation of his Word in this world. God’s Word creates faith in the hearts
of men, women, and children. It’s that same Word of the gospel that produces
fruits of faith in the lives of believers.
5.
But, there are times
when we don’t want to listen to God’s Word.
Sure, we’ve listened to God’s Word, but we’ve given that up, we desire
to hear something different as Jesus tells us in Matthew 13 our Gospel lesson
for today. We’ve listened to other
voices and followed after other offers.
Other voices and other religious teachings and philosophies have called
out to us and promised us rich food and drink, wealth and prosperity, and
glamor and excitement beyond compare. Their
voices are like a siren song to our ears and we’re drawn in, pulled into ways
that aren’t healthy and onto paths that aren’t safe. We’ve listened and we’ve gone, and we’ve
suffered want.
6.
And, the promises that
poured from the lips of these cries have proven to be false hopes and empty
words. Come, they cry out; come to a way
that is full and beautiful; but, the path leads to want and shame. We weep when we consider our own foolishness,
and we mourn. What have we done? Where have our feet led us? How have we so easily gone astray and sought
an evil path and a wicked way? Why did
we listen?
7. A woman came home one night to her dark house and saw
that someone had broken in the front door. She cautiously stepped into the
house and heard a burglar rummaging through her valuables with a flashlight.
What should she do? Certain Scripture texts ran through her mind, and she
thought of a passage that said, “Turn
from your sin.” Then shouted at the burglar, “Acts 2:38.” The burglar froze and raised his hands. The lady
quietly called 911 and explained the situation. When the police cuffed the
burglar the officer asked, “Why did you
just stand there? All the old lady did was yell a Scripture at you.”
“Scripture?” replied the burglar. “She
said she had an ax and two 38’s!”
8. Now this situation of the woman calling
out a Scripture verse from Acts 2:38 isn’t exactly what Isaiah means when he
describes to us how God’s Word is effective.
But, we do know that God carries
out his purposes through the giving of his Word. The desire of God’s heart is that we enjoy
life with him forever. It delights him when a person receives the gift of
faith. Lk 15:10 says, “0Just so, I tell you, there is
joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” His Word accomplishes what he desires. It
brings about the knowledge of sin and of our need for a Savior in Jesus. It
provides the way of forgiveness and eternal life. It begins a work in us that
is ongoing throughout our lives and which will be brought to perfect completion
at the Last Day. St. Paul writes in Phil
1:6, “6And I am sure of
this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the
day of Jesus Christ.”
9.
God’s
desire for us is that we also enjoy life with him right now. We don’t have to
wait for eternity to know God’s abundant blessings. Jesus came to bring the
abundant life (Jn 10:10). God’s Word provides aspects of the abundant life—comfort,
hope, joy, encouragement, and guidance. These gifts from God aren’t only for us
to enjoy, but we also are privileged to share them with others.
10.
God’s
power comes through his Word. Only God
could accomplish the plan of salvation. It’s his power manifested in the Word
made flesh that overcame sin, death, and the devil. It is his power that brings
that victory to us through the gift of faith.
The power of God through the Word always produces a response. Sometimes
that response is guilt and conviction, and other times it is comfort and
freedom.
11. But, if God’s Word is effective as Isaiah chapter 55
tells us this morning, why is it that we find some people rejecting His Word,
especially those who’ve grown up with it in their childhood? Here, I believe the words of Jesus from our
Gospel lesson this morning from Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 can be helpful. I’ve had numerous occasions as a Pastor these
past 7 years where a parishioner has started a conversation with me with
something like this: “Pastor, all my
children grew up hearing the Word. Why do some of them believe, and others do
not?” It’s important to remember that Isaiah 55 isn’t attempting to answer
that question. Isaiah isn’t saying that everyone who hears the Word will come
to faith. He’s simply telling us the effectiveness of the Word in accomplishing
God’s purpose.
12. There remains much that is a mystery to us and is
known only to God. This is certainly true of the doctrine of election. When two
identical seeds are planted side by side in good soil, no farmer or gardener
can tell you the reason why one grows up to bear much fruit while the other
doesn’t. But he can certainly tell you about the effectiveness and necessity of
the rain that God so generously provides. In the same way, no one can tell you
the reason why some believe the Word while other hearers don’t. But still, we
believe the mystery that the gracious Word is the effective power of salvation.
The purpose of theology isn’t to do away with mystery, but to confess those
truths God has revealed to us in his Word.
13.
The
power of God comes through his Word, going beyond all else. Beyond our feelings: The assurance of our salvation in Jesus isn’t based on
our feelings, but on the promises of God’s Word. The power of God’s Word goes beyond our circumstances: Because of God’s Word, we
can look at difficult circumstances without becoming overwhelmed by them, for
we know that Jesus has overcome all (1 Thess 5:18). And God’s Word goes beyond death: We’re never without hope, even in
seemingly hopeless situations, because God’s Word assures us of our ultimate
victory in Jesus through his death on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins
and his resurrection from the dead for us.
14.
In
his love for us, God provides for our daily and eternal needs through his Word.
His desire for us is that we would enjoy the abundant life and eternal life
that Christ has won for us. His Word carries out his desires, always producing
a response and continuing to work in his children throughout their lives. God’s
Word is effective in all circumstances and for all time. Amen.
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