For May 3, 2009

News

1. CARE Ministry -- Every Tuesday night -- supper at 5:30, outreach/in reach activities at 6:00 p.m.

2. Project Care:Mission Possible -- What a tremendous blessing and great success as 570 of our church family dispersed into the community to do projects to show God's love and care to people in need in our community! If you haven't already done so, use a portion of this Sunday's class time to allow people to share about their experiences.

Current Unit of Study -- "Affirm Spiritual Certainties"

Lesson Supplement for May 3

Explore the Bible
"The Invitation is Inclusive"
Isaiah 55:1-13

Intro. -- This lesson is the final lesson in Isaiah and the final lesson in the unit "Affirm Spiritual Certainties." Next week we will begin a study of the book of Micah. The message of this week's lesson is that we all are in need of a Savior. We all have a thirst and a hunger that can only be satisfied by our Lord. Yet, either because of obstinate refusal or lack of knowledge, people will continue hungering and thirsting while trying to satisfy these spiritual longings themselves with whatever they can find. Any satisfaction from these types of things can offer are short-lived and the hunger and thirst remain. This week's lesson will have us to understand that there is something that satisfies. He is Jesus, and His invitation is for any and all to come and be filled! Affirm this spiritual certainty and live a fulfilled life. Affirm this spiritual certainty and lead others to find the satisfaction they long for.

Isaiah 55:1-5 -- What a bargain! These verses are like the invitation that we receive in the mail to "Come" be a part of something grand and exciting! The bargain is that we don't have to bring anything to this "party." In fact, when we come, we are the ones who receive the gift! This speaks of the amazing grace of our Lord. We go around "spending" for things that won't last or satisfy. What a waste! The invitation is even for those of us who have no means to pay. Indeed none of us have the means to pay -- our righteousness is as filthy rags. Accept the invitation and be satisfied and blessed. It's absolutely free and that's a bargain that can't be beaten!

Isaiah 55:6-7 -- Verse 6 speaks of a window of opportunity to seek the Lord while He may be found. Obviously, one truth is that God is omnipresent. He is everywhere. What then does this verse mean when it seems to indicate there may come a time when He cannot be found? There are a couple of thoughts to consider: (1) We have this lifetime only in which to find Him. Once we die, our eternal destination is sealed. If we have not found Him in this lifetime, we will not find Him then. (2) The scriptures (example, Romans 1:18-32) speak of God "turning them over" to their sinful desires. There is a season of God's offering of grace, but there may come a time when He removes himself from the individual who has made the choice to find satisfaction in things other than Him. Today is the day of salvation. Do not let the window of opportunity pass you by.

Verse 7 gives the picture of repentance. To truly accept the invitation to come, one must repent from the direction they were walking. It involves a change in one's thought and behavior. When true repentance happens, God extends His compassion and will freely forgive!

Isaiah 55:8-11 -- This section speaks of the power of God. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. He doesn't think like we do. He doesn't act like we do. As God, He has a unique perspective of the world and all that He has created. He knows the exact "ins and outs" of how everything is supposed to work. He has the plan for all the world because He set it in motion. You and I don't always know how things work, and we don't know how things will work out unless He tells us in His word. His word is powerful because it never leaves Him without performing its intended purpose. Wow! My word definitely is not powerful enough to do that. John chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is the Word that became flesh. Verse 11 of our focal passage today would then indicate that Jesus did not return to God empty. Jesus accomplished what God the Father pleased. Jesus prospered in what He was sent to do! What amazing power! Power enough to save anyone!

Isaiah 55:12-13 -- The life of the saved is one of glory and blessing. However, the failures and emptiness that sinners continue to feel even while trying to satisfy their hunger and thirst on their own apart from God are like thorn bushes and briers. They live among the briers and thorns of sin. God issues the invitation for all sinners to come to Him and live among the cypress and myrtle trees where there is no sting of death and no pain of sin. All of creation will sing and clap for joy as the saved experience the joy and peace that ultimately satisfies! The ultimate satisfaction will be found in God's presence in Heaven where there is no more sorrow, pain, or death.

Commitment -- There may be some in the class Sunday who have not accepted God's invitation. They are spending their money on things that cannot satisfy. God is still near to them and can be found because they are still alive and they are in a Bible study class. Invite them to call upon Him today! Receive his gift of forgiveness and grace. Repent from their way of living and be satisfied spiritually.

Secondly, the believers who are present Sunday should be reminded by this lesson that people everywhere are thirsty and hungry for spiritual satisfaction. Jesus is the only one who satisfies. If we know Him and have experienced that satisfaction ourselves, then we have a responsibility to help others discover that as well. We need to be His invitation deliverers. We need to share with sinners that no matter what they have done they can be forgiven and experience satisfaction. If they doubt that, remember, God's ways are higher than our ways. What seems impossible to us is not impossible with God!

For Further Help with this Week's Lesson Visit http://www.lifeway.com/articleclick/?id=166474 and read Dan Kassis' weekly article

Comments Welcome -- Any ideas for illustrations, other scripture, or class activities to enhance the lesson?