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Sermon Details:
Pastor George Bradford preached this sermon on December 30, 2018. This sermon was Pastor Bradford’s last sermon as pastor of Chinese Gospel Church. He has since retired.
Sermon Outline:
- God’s ways are higher than our ways (v8-9)
- God’s invitation (v1-2)
- God’s call to repent (v6-7)
- God’s offer of pardon (v7)
- God’s way is perfect (Ps 18:30, 2 Sam 22:31)
- In its intent and in his purposes (Rom 8:28-29, Phil 1:6; 2:13)
- Its to conform to the image of His Son
- God’s way is always perfect in its application to our lives (2 Cor 12:10, Deut 33:25)
- God’s way is perfect in its timing (Gal 4:4)
- How can I know and follow God’s leading in my life?
- Be in right relationship with Him
- Stay in close fellowship with him daily
- Make yourself totally available to God
- Seize the opportunities God presents to you
- Follow Jesus Christ passionately and faithfully
- How can I know and follow God’s leading in my life?
Scripture Passage:
Isaiah 55:1-9 (ESV)
“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
7 let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”