So if you would turn with me to Isaiah 55, Isaiah 55 as we read together the chapter. This morning, again, the text being verse 1, and tonight, the Lord willing, a continuation as we consider verse 2 of Isaiah 55. Isaiah 55, hear now the word of the Lord. Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money in what is not bread, in your labor in what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest affair. Give ear and come to me. Hear me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel. For He has endowed you with splendor. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake His way and the evil man His thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him and to our God, for he will freely pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, I do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush, we'll grow the pine tree and instead of briars the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord's renown, for an everlasting sign which will not be destroyed. Again, verse 1. Come all you who are thirsty, come to the waters and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money or without cost. Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, have you ever taken a note of advertising practices today and notice that advertising today claims to know what's best for you and me and claims to have our best interest in mind. No matter what product is for sale, no matter what service is being offered, the goal is to get our attention and make us believe that we need whatever is being peddled. Listen up, the advertisers say. You don't want to miss this because this is the best deal you'll get anywhere. You'd be crazy for not taking advantage of this offer, because you really don't know what you need, but we do. And your life just won't be the same without what we have. I'm reminded of what Dr. Horton said in Adult Sunday School toward the end of our season. He mentioned that today's society tries to sell us a lifestyle. A lifestyle. And he's right. If you've noticed the advertisements, whether in the papers or on the radio or on TV. Society tries to sell us a lifestyle. We know what kind of lifestyle you want and you deserve and we can help you achieve it. Look to us. Well, this text is also meant to get the attention of those who hear the one calling out. It begins, come, as if to say, look over here. Now, you notice in the text the word come, we find the word come four times. But the first time, it's a different Hebrew word than the other three times which really are translated as come over here. The first time, it's more of an interjection, sometimes translated as whole, you who are thirsty. Or in the Old Testament, it's often translated as woe to you. For example, shepherds of Israel who feed yourselves and neglect the flock. But here it's translated, come, look over here. It's meant to be an attention getter. The idea is to listen up and take notice because this is important. But the difference between the invitation in this text and any other offer that has ever or will ever be available is that this one really is for our good. It really is for our best interest. Life really won't be the same for those who take advantage of this. It's clear that this is an invitation to a feast, but I trust it's also clear from the outset that this is symbolic language and that the Lord, through Isaiah, is talking about so much more than just physical water and milk and wine and bread. This text, beloved, like the prepared table before us this morning, is pointing to the feast of salvation. And therefore, I preach to you this Word of God, the invitation to abundant eternal dining. As we consider, first of all, the recipients of the invitation, Secondly, the cost of the admission. And finally, the abundance promise. Now we know that sharing a meal together points to friendship and fellowship with one another, spending time with those whose company we enjoy. But what's happening here is that God extends to a sinful people an invitation to dine with Him. Now if we're honest, we will admit that we can't even imagine and eating with someone whom we don't like very much. Yet God extends an invitation to those who are completely opposite of Him, to those who because of their sin and misery have nothing in common with Him, to those who by nature hate Him. He says, come. In the context of Isaiah's prophecy, Isaiah is talking about those who would return from captivity in Babylon, a captivity which they suffered because of their rejection of God. And the language of Isaiah 55 is really covenant renewal language where the Almighty God renews His covenant with a remnant of His people. And these returned captives need to see their desperate, hopeless condition and they need to see that they have a desperate need for what the Lord offers them. Now, it's interesting that the style of this invitation fits with the marketplace commerce of Isaiah's day. They would have heard something familiar here. It would have made them think of something. And I think we see a little bit of this today in certain places or situations. As I said earlier in the other service, I've never been to Tijuana, but what I've heard, this may kind of fit with booths set up, street vendors. Or if you go to the swap meet and you see one right after the other, But in that day, the street vendors would try to get your business and they would advertise by calling out to those in the street, those who were doing their shopping for the day, Hey, mister, come and see what I have. Hey, lady, you need this. Come here. And we can hear a little bit of this in this text as the call goes out to come and buy and eat. Enjoy what is for sale. Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters. And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk. But this isn't just your average everyday vendor speaking here. This is the Lord Himself. And who are the recipients of His invitation? Come, all you who are thirsty. And you who have no money. The recipients of this invitation are those who are in a desperate situation. Their condition is terrible. Again, the language, I believe, is somewhat interesting because we know that in the Middle East, water is a necessity. Of course, it's necessary for all of us. We've been reminded of that with our drought conditions and the fires that have been too close to home, closer for some of us than others. But as we think of the Middle East, the Middle East is often a dry and parched part of the world. Water is a precious commodity in hot, dry weather. If there was a drought, then water had to be brought from the high mountain rivers, and so the street vendors would take that precious commodity, sell it on the streets, and the people would buy it because, of course, they need water to survive. And Scripture even teaches us that water represents life. But also in the original Hebrew, there is pity associated with the word thirsty, Pointing to a terrible condition. These recipients are in a sorry and sad condition. And to highlight that pitiable condition, they have no money. In other words, they can't help themselves. They are virtually lifeless. They are told to come, to buy, to eat, but they have no money. Which means that they can't relieve their hunger and thirst by their own power or through their own resources. These are extremely poor people and no matter what the asking price is, no matter what, they can't pay it. Boys and girls, we might say that they don't even have one penny. Now that's not a big deal to you and me. We see pennies on the sidewalk or on the street all the time. But they didn't even have one penny. Someone could offer you a new car or a three-course meal for a penny and that's a great deal. But if you don't have a penny, what good does he offer? It's absolutely worthless. But again, I trust the point is clear here. The recipients of God's invitation to abundant eternal dining are those who are spiritually bankrupt, those who are lost in sin, and they can't do anything about it. Now we know that all of mankind is spiritually thirsty, lacking that water of life, and all are unable to satisfy that thirst. Why is that? Because man is totally depraved. Boys and girls, that means he is sinful through and through. His thoughts, his words, the desires of his heart, everything is sinful through and through and man is totally unable to remove that depravity. There's absolutely nothing man can do to relieve his sinful condition, not even in the least little bit. The invitation is to come to the waters that has come to the spiritual refreshment, to the necessary spring of life. And who is that spring of life? By God's grace, we know, don't we? Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, whoever drinks of this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. And in John 7, verse 38, Jesus also says, If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Now, beloved, we need to make a distinction at this point. And that's between the recipients in general and the recipients specifically who actually hear and receive this invitation. Generally speaking, this invitation to abundant eternal dining is for everyone. The truth is there is no man who is not in need of the living water, Jesus Christ. There is no one to whom Christ is not necessary. All are thirsty because by nature all are without Christ. But, not all know they are thirsty. Not all will acknowledge this thirst. There are those who are intoxicated by the pride of this life. Those who are bloated by earthly appetites. and these do not feel the thirst of their soul, and they will not receive this invitation. They will not receive Christ. Those who are temporarily satisfied with the enjoyments of this world and depend upon the merit of their own works for righteousness, and those who see no need for Christ, they do not see their spiritual thirst. They will not receive Him. yet Christ commanded that the Word of God is to go out into all the world, to everyone. And the promise of Scripture is still, whoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved. And in the book of Acts, we read, God calls all men everywhere to repent. But in the context of this covenant renewal, The true recipients are specifically those who will respond to this call. Only those who will respond to this invitation are those who know themselves by God's grace to be thirsty and bankrupt, who are truly sorry for their sins and repent of their sins. God's invitation is for those who truly thirst for Him. The psalmist says, as the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. And David says in Psalm 63, verse 1, O God, you are my God. Early will I seek you. My soul thirsts for you. Beloved, when God gives grace, He also gives a thirsting and a hungering for it. And after He has given that hunger and that thirst, He will give what is needed to fill that hunger and thirst. In Psalm 81, verse 10, He says, Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. The true recipients of God's invitation to abundant eternal dining with Him, those who actually, effectually receive it, those who will receive the invitation with humble gratitude are those who thirst for God. Those whose hearts have been prepared by the Holy Spirit to seek God's face will heed the invitation and will come to Him. And to come to Him means to seek the Lord while He may be found, to call upon Him while He is near. It means to faithfully trust in Him alone for salvation. And it means to desire to be obedient to His will. The invitation is before us this morning, beloved, to dine with our Savior as represented by this physical table standing here. This table is for those who truly hunger and thirst for the salvation of our God. It is for those who recognize their spiritual bankruptcy apart from Jesus Christ and recognize that of themselves they can't even afford the cost of the crumbs that drop from the Lord's table. In the second place then, notice the cost of admission. The text says, and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Now, I trust it's no secret that a street vendor who operated this way would be popular with his customers, with the buyers, but not so popular with his competitors and he probably wouldn't be in business very long. But the Lord invites us to buy and eat these goods. But when you buy something, you give your money in exchange for whatever it is you are purchasing and you make that item your very own. And that's how we are to understand this as far as making it your own. He says, buy it. Possess it rightfully with full assurance as if you had purchased it. And eat it that is making a part of you. The only catch, the believer makes these spiritual blessings his own and makes these a part of himself without money, without cost or price. Both money and cost, I believe, are mentioned here to teach us that there is nothing that we have, absolutely nothing that we have, that we can exchange for the blessings of God. There's no form of bartering or trading that we'll do. I can trade some of my chickens to you for some of your vegetables. But there's nothing we have with which we can barter with God. There's no promise of money to be given here. No borrowing done, no trading, no lending that will take place. Of course, we know this is a crazy idea in this world and in this life because we all know that nothing is free. If something is free, there's always a catch, isn't there? You get these calls to go check out this timeshare condo, but first of all, you're getting this free whatever. There's nothing that's free. There's always a catch. And I think that's why so many have a hard time buying into God's free grace, because they're looking for the catch. We all know that in this life, we must do something in order to get something. If we want to eat, we have to work. And of course, that's biblical, right? God said to Adam, In toil you shall eat of the ground all the days of your life. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread. Paul says if a man will not work, neither shall he eat. But also something for nothing just isn't natural to us. But also pride, I believe, is an issue here. In our sinful pride, we don't like to be told that we can't do anything to earn God's favor. In fact, we don't like to be told that we are helpless about anything for that matter. Surely, there's something we can do. Some little part we can play in securing God's favor and salvation. Maybe if I give 11 or 12% of my income in my tithe instead of 10%. Or maybe if I get involved in these different church activities. Or maybe if I am so humble and pious that I walk around and tell people what a sinner I am, how unworthy I am, then maybe I've done my part. No. God says, without money, without cost. Boys and girls, the prodigal son found out that when his money was gone and he couldn't pay for his father's favor in money, he also couldn't pay for it in labor. Our God is a God of grace. And the reason his gift of salvation is without cost or price is because it's priceless. If God settled for all the gold and silver and diamonds in the world as payment for His saving grace, it would be too little because His salvation is priceless. And we must understand that there is such a discrepancy between the priceless value of His salvation and our bankruptcy. Such a difference that we can't even begin to make up that difference. The cost of admission to you and me who believe is nothing. The banquet feast is free. Why? Because there's only one thing that could pay the cost, the priceless blood of Jesus. Let us not think that absolutely nothing had to be paid. Nothing could be paid by you and me. Something could and was paid by our Savior Jesus Christ. God Himself paid for this banquet through the suffering servant, Jesus Christ. Isaiah foretells about this in chapter 53, which we know well. Just a page or so back in your Bibles, beginning at verse 3. He was despised and rejected by men. A man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, like one from whom men hide their faces. He was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, Yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was upon Him. And by His wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray. Each of us has turned to His own way. And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Beloved, God has no need of our money, our work, or our resources to secure our salvation because our redemption has been paid for. Peter says, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. And what comfort this is, must be for us, no matter what situation of life we find ourselves in. Yet God does require our money, our work, and our resources, doesn't He? but not as payment for anything, but as the good work of faith, as evidence of faith for His kingdom. Yet what comfort, no matter what situation you face. The rich cannot use their money for this banquet and the poor don't need money because all are equally poor and destitute when it comes to the treasures of heaven. And all of us have nothing with which to purchase these gifts. But Jesus says, come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. This meal that is before us this morning, which points to the heavenly, the eternal wedding feast, has been bought and paid for. And as you look at it, it also points then to the abundance promised. The spiritual blessings promised and provided in the gospel include all that we need for salvation, for time, And eternity, nothing is lacking. And beloved, what does the menu of our Lord's invitation to dine include? It includes water and wine and milk. And as we hope to consider tonight, the Lord willing, bread. Again, water represents life as well as renewal, refreshment and cleansing. Milk and wine are symbols of abundance. And milk represents abundant nourishment and satisfaction. and wine represents joy and gladness. And together, these three point to spiritual revival, spiritual recreation, and spiritual nourishment. The abundance promise, which again verse 2 speaks of as the richest affair. That abundance promise is free, gracious, and bountiful salvation. And a lack of these things, figuratively speaking, points to separation from God. Beloved God comes to us today in His Word with His invitation to abundant eternal dining. The Lord's table is a symbol of the eternal wedding feast which has been prepared. The invitation has gone out. It's for those who don't deserve to come and know it. As well, who know by God's grace that this eternal meal has been bought and paid for by the host Himself, Jesus Christ our Lord. will you be attending the abundant eternal dinner? You see, this invitation is not merely for this physical table before us this morning because you can eat the bread and drink the juice, but if you do it in an unworthy manner that is without faith in the saving work of Jesus, then your stomach and your faith will be just as empty, if not emptier, than before you partook. And if you partake in that way, then you call for God's judgment upon yourself. And that's why the elders must issue a warning for those who do not truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Please stay away. The table is not for you. This invitation is to come and feast on the Lord Jesus Christ through repentance and faith. Those who are full of themselves and empty of Christ in this life, unless they repent and believe, will be empty of Christ for eternity and will suffer starvation and find no satisfaction in the depths of hell. Beloved, as you hold the bread and the juice and taste them this morning, know that these testify to us that Christ's body was broken and His blood was shed so that we might be guaranteed that our life is only in Him. This supper before us is evidence of the blessed assurance that the believer's life of salvation is only in Christ and it is an eternal feast. This invitation, beloved, is not an option. It's not an option, although many treat it that way. Even coming to the Lord's table, if I miss, it's not a big deal. After all, nothing really happens there. Wrong. It's not an option. This is a call to come to Jesus in repentance and faith, trusting and obeying Him, for there is no other way to abundant, eternal life. Do you hear the invitation? This is for your best interest. Your life won't be the same.