Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. Welcome to today's broadcast. I want to read just five verses from the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 55. Isaiah chapter 55, and I want to read just the first five verses of this chapter.

This is what Isaiah, moved by the Spirit of God, wrote. Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money, Come ye buy and eat, yea, come by wine and milk, without money, without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me. Here and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and a commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee.

Isn't that some astounding words? Astounding. Again, welcome this morning. for today is a question drawn from my brother Isaiah's words. Are you thirsty? It's that simple. Are you thirsty? Of course, we're not talking about physical thirst. That's clear. This is metaphorical language. It's not talking about some physical thing. It's all about spiritual thirst. Spiritual thirst. Are you thirsty?

These words in Isaiah 55 verses one through five are a prophecy concerning the Messiah. They're a prophecy concerning the Christ of God, that one, that seed of the woman promised by God even to Adam and Eve in the garden, that seed of the woman that would bruise or crush the serpent's head. These are words about him, but it's words about him to some thirsty people, right? Who everyone that thirsteth, is it? Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money, you got nothing to pay for this. You got nothing to do to get this, you see it? Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money, come ye buy and eat. Do you see it? Not just buy, buy and eat. In other words, lay hold on this. That's what he's talking about. Lay hold on this and then don't listen, don't listen. Take it in. Take it in, and behold, and they come to you by wine and milk without money and without price.

Let me give you just, probably just three things this morning, and I'll elaborate on the third one a little further than, a little more, a little longer than the first two. Think about this. Three things from this text, Isaiah 55, verses one through five. The thirsty, remember that's my question this morning. It's my title, but it's more important than just a title. It's are you thirsty, are you thirsty? The thirsty are admonished to hear Christ intently and come to him. You remember that? Look at it. Verse three, incline your ear. And yes, yes, these, yes. With these, a man must hear. You cannot call on one you haven't believed in. You can't believe on one you haven't heard. And you can't hear without a preacher. And a man can't truly preach except be sent. Romans chapter 10. But incline your ear. Listen, but it's more than just these. It's with an ear that has God given you an ear to hear. Incline your ear and look, not just inclined. Oh, how many people hear. They'll listen and they'll hear physically, but then they just walk away. They don't care. Look, incline your ear and come. Do you see it? And come unto me. The thirstier admonished to hear Christ intently. Incline your ear. It's like that. Listen to what God says about his Messiah. Listen to what God says about Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Listen to what God says about the Christ of God. Put your ear to it. Put your ear to it. Incline your ear and come.

Come. Are you thirsty? Are you thirsty? That's the whole question. Are you thirsty?

Here's the second thought. The thirsty, that is those who hear with intent with intent, not just nonchalantly, not just, well, that's nice, I really like what that preacher said, and then go on about your, but no, incline your ear and come unto me. The thirsty, those who hear with intent and come to Christ, they're promised covenant, covenant and certain mercy. Do you see that in our text? Covenant and certain mercy, incline your ear and come unto me.

Here, here, really here. Hear, and your soul shall live. Look, and I will make an everlasting. Some have said this means the word can be translated eternal, and when I checked, that's so. I will make with you an everlasting, an eternal covenant. Here is God saying, if you'll incline your ear, you'll hear. Hear, and your soul shall live. I'll make with you in time, when you hear. When you incline and you hear and you come, I'll make that covenant with you, but it's an everlasting covenant. It's something God purposed before the world was. And if you hear and you come, he purposed that for you before the foundation of the world. Incline your ear and come unto me. Here in your soul shall live and I will make an everlasting covenant with you.

And here it is kind of defined. It's defined. the sure mercies of David. David was a great king in Israel, but David was also a sinful king. David was a faithful man in Israel, a king, and a faithful man is a king, and a faithful man over God's people, but he was still a sinner. He was still in and of himself an ungodly man. prone to the sin and the sins and the falls and the iniquity of all other men upon the face of the earth. But it's sure mercies. God showed mercy to this man in spite of himself, in spite of himself. Isn't that glorious?

Oh, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye buy and eat. You come and buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? How much religious people are doing that today? They just go and they listen and they're engaged and they do all of their good deeds, but it's not bread. It doesn't feed a hungry soul. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which satisfies not? Hearken diligently, do you see that? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good.

Who is good? Jesus Christ said to that one rich young man, remember there's none, why do you call me good? He called him good master. That rich young ruler, good master, what good thing can I do? Christ told him, he said, there's none good but God. So what's he saying? If you really call me good, do you know that I'm God? Well, he is. He is. Listen, wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread, and you labor for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me. Hear, and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

So again, the thirsty are admonished to hear Christ intently and to come to Christ. The thirsty, those who hear with intent and come to Christ are promised a covenant and certain mercy by God. By God through Jesus Christ.

Think about it. The thirsty are those in great need of mercy. They're seeing, they're seeing, and when I say that, I mean not just what you do, but they're seeing what you are. The fountain's dirty. It's not just the stream's dirty. Yes, the stream's dirty, but the fountain's dirty. You see, the thirsty are those in great need of mercy. They're seeing and they're crimes before God, and that's the way the sin, sin for these thirsty people is not just a mistake. It's not just oops. It's a crime against God. and their sin and their crimes against God are heavy upon their soul, and it's covenant mercy.

Listen to what our Lord said, and Luke records it in Luke chapter 18, and I wanna read you this account. It's a parable that our Lord gave to some people, and we read of it, and Luke records it in Luke chapter 18, and he says in verse nine of Luke chapter 18, he says these words. This is Christ speaking. He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.

Two men went up into the temple to pray. The one a Pharisee, this was a very religious man, very devout man, very astute man, just very religious, very moral man. Two men went up into the temple to pray. The one a Pharisee, the other a Republican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, even as this publican, you see, even as this publican, just pointed that poor old fella out. I fast twice in a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, this is Christ now, still speaking, and the publican standing afar off, See, evidently this Pharisee, he felt worthy enough just to walk right up to the front of the temple. Just walk right up to the front. This publican, he stood afar off. Would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven. He didn't even rail against the Pharisee for calling him what he was. He was a sinner. He was an old publican. And the publican, standing afar off, would not so much as lift his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

You see that? Crying out for mercy. He's thirsty. Do you see it? He's thirsty for what? Mercy. Mercy to what? the sure mercies of David, you see? I'll make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

But then listen to what Christ said about these two men, Pharisee and a publican. Publican bragged about himself and how he wasn't this and how he was that. The Republican just wouldn't even look up, just smote on his breasts and said, God, be merciful to me, the sinner. Verse 14, I tell you that this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone that exalteth himself shall be amazed, and he that humbleth himself shall be exhausted.

Are you thirsty? That's the question. That's the question, are you thirsty? Ho, everyone that thirsteth.

Now, here's my third thought, and I'll spend most of the rest of my time on this. The thirsty are given something marvelous to behold. Look at that, the thirsty. Ho, everyone that thirsteth, that's who he's speaking to. The thirsty are given something marvelous to behold, a statement.

There is in this, it is, in these five verses here, Isaiah 55 verses one through five, there is in these verses a statement from God the Father to the Messiah about the Messiah, to God the Son, to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. It's given to, it's a covenant statement. And let me read that again, look at it. Behold, I have given him, that's who he's talking about. He's talking about the one that showed mercy to David, Jesus Christ the Lord, the Messiah, the one. He had not come yet in this time, He was coming, but he has come now. His name is Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah, God manifest in the flesh.

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and a commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God. And for the Holy One, that's the Messiah, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified God, you see, for he hath glorified thee.

Again, are you thirsty? Are you thirsty? Then listen. Listen in as the father says about the son, behold, I've given him for a witness to the people, you see. Do you see him? Do you hear intently? Do you say, is there one that I could truly, is me, one like me, someone, a sinner like me, somebody ungodly like me, somebody who deserves wrath and judgment, who desires the hate of God? Is there hope for me? Who everyone that thirsteth, are you thirsty? And here we're listening in to God the Father speaking about Christ the Son.

Behold, I've given him for a witness, a leader, a commander. He will glorify God. He's done it, he's done it. God the Messiah, God the Son. This is a covenant statement. I have just a couple things to give you under this. Remember the thirsty are given something marvelous to behold. This statement of God the Father, to God the Son, and about God the Son. And he said it to the thirsty, to the thirsty. Behold him. Think about it.

Thirst is not limited to one class of people. It's not. It doesn't matter whether you're Jew or Gentile. It doesn't matter whether you're male or female. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white. It doesn't matter whether you're rich or poor. It doesn't matter whether you're young and old.

What's the qualification, if you will? If I can use that language. What's the qualification? Ho everyone that thirsteth. You see it? Ho everyone that thirsteth. There is a limit. There is a qualification, yes. It's thirsty. It's thirsty, it doesn't matter. I don't care how bad you think you are, or you're thirsty.

Are you thirsty for him? Do you find yourself wanting to intently hear about Jesus Christ? Is there something about him that piques your interest? Well, let me tell you something, he's good. He is the fatness of God. He's the fat, just like those Old Testament sacrifices. Often they were told to take the fat off of a certain animal, this animal or that animal, and take that fat. They were not to eat the fat. They were to offer that fat on a fire to God.

And you know, you and I know, some of us, we really like that, that smell of that meat cooking with that fat on it. You say, man, that smells good. Well, that's who Jesus Christ is to God the Father on behalf of thirsty people. He's that sweet-smelling sacrifice unto God, that thing that God gives pleasure in, the Father delights in. He's the one that God's given for a witness to the people, a leader and a commander to the people. You see it?

The thirst is not limited to any class of people. It's limited to this, are you thirsty? Are you thirsty? Here's the second thought about this. Remember, the thirsty are giving something marvelous to behold. Here's a man to behold. Here's a person. Here's why salvation's simple. God wrapped it all up in one person. He wrapped it up all in one person. And the thirsty, when I say, I mean truly thirsty, truly thirsty, think about it, they shall run to Christ. That's what it says.

You see, when God makes you thirsty, When God makes you thirsty and you begin to incline your ear, you hear, and who gives that? God gives that ear. God's gotta give that. And when you're thirsty and you begin to hear, you'll run to him. This is what God says. The thirsty, those truly thirsty, shall run to Christ. They shall make haste to come to Christ by him, because of him. See, God's great work for them is him. It's him, again.

Behold thou, that is this man spoken of in verse four, the Messiah, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not. Even a bunch of old Gentiles. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not. And nations that knew thee not shall run unto thee. Why? Not because of them. It's not anything in them, but they shall run to thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy One of Israel, for he, for he, the Messiah, hath glorified thee. They run to him for this mercy, this place of an everlasting covenant, even the sure mercies of David.

So the thirsty, those truly thirsty, they'll run to Christ. They'll run to Christ. Do I have proof for that? Oh yeah, I have proof for that. Listen to what our Lord, he preached what men call the Sermon on the Mount. And I want to give you just a few words of what he said concerning thirsty people. Think about this. And remember, this is not physical thirst. It's not physical, this is not this water right here. It's not about something like that, it's a thirst in your soul. A thirst for mercy, a need for mercy and compassion from God Almighty of grace.

Hear Christ's words about the thirsty. Matthew chapter five, Matthew recorded, and Christ said these words in verse six, we have it recorded. Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst, after righteousness. Now that lets me know one thing, they don't have it because they're hungry and thirsty after it. You see it? They know they need it, but they know they don't have any. And it don't have any. Blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness. Here's the blessedness. For they shall be filled. Do you see it? Do you see it?

Isaiah chapter 55. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew thee not shall run unto thee. Why? Because of the Messiah. That's what he says. Because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee. Are you thirsty? That's the question, isn't it? That's the question, are you thirsty?

Listen to what else Christ said. Here are Christ's words to those who are under a great burden of sin. Listen to what Matthew recorded, our Lord's words in Matthew chapter 11, in just three verses. Listen to what our Lord said. Come unto me, isn't that what Isaiah was saying? Come unto me, come unto me, come unto him. Don't come to a doctrine, don't come to a church, Don't come to a profession, come to him. You see it? Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. That's right, it's a yoke, but look at it. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. That's who you need to, that's who you need to learn of. Not just learn about him, learn of him. Who he is, what he did,

What are you still doing? Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find, you see, he promises it, and ye shall find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy. My burden is light.

So those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, they're blessed, they shall be filled. They're blessed and God brought them to see they need righteousness. A lot of people think they already got it. They think they're doing God a favor by being who they are. No, we're talking about a thirsty person. A person who hungers and thirsts after righteousness because they got none. They got none. they shall be filled.

And our Lord said, you come unto me, you come unto me, you take my yoke upon you, you learn of me, you'll find, you shall find rest for your soul.

Listen to what else. Here are another words about what Christ said about the thirsty. Listen to what John records our Lord's words. John chapter seven. And let me just read about three or four verses there. John chapter seven. And verse 37, beginning in verse 37. Listen to what our Lord said. John 7, 37. In the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. Do you see it now? Notice. Are you thirsty? And come to him. That's what I'm trying to emphasize. That's what this book emphasizes. Come unto him. If any man thirst, let him come unto me. and drink, he that believeth on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, for the Holy Ghost was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. But I'm saying he is now glorified. Well, look at that just a moment. He is now glorified, come to him. Are you thirsty? Come to him. You see, as I said, Messiah is now glorified.

Look at it. Listen to what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi. And Paul wrote these words about Jesus Christ. And he wrote this word to the church of Philippi and to every believer that we're to try to imitate Christ, be like him. But look at what he says about him. Philippians chapter two, verse five. Let this mind be in you. which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. That's where he died and suffered for the sins of sinners. for the sins of thirsty people, for the sins of hungry people. His dying under the judgment of God was an act of obedience on his behalf. He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

But now listen, remember we read from John that Jesus was not yet glorified, the Spirit was not yet given. Well, look at this. Wherefore, God also hath highly exalted him. and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, of things in earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Do you see that?

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for, Here's how you become thirsty. Here's where the thirst comes. Look, for it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Are you thirsty? God made you so. Incline your ear. Incline your ear. Are you thirsty? Now listen to me now.

Jesus Christ the Lord said the price for those in utter need, he paid it. He's paid the price. He said on that cross, when it concerns sin and dying for the sin of sinners, dying for the sin of thirsty people, dying for the sins of all those who would ever believe, he said this concerning their sin, it is finished. That's what he said. It is finished. And I'm told that that means like paid in full. That's what that means, paid in full. The Lord Jesus Christ has paid the price for those in utter need. Utterly empty. They have no currency of any kind to pay the debt they owe. Christ paid it all.

That's what it says in Romans 5, 6-11. It says that Jesus Christ reconciled even enemies. Those he died for, they were enemies. And he reconciled them by his death. Are you thirsty for that? Are you thirsty for that? Jesus Christ is who you need. That's who you need. Do you see it? Listen to it.

Isaiah, let me read it to you one last time. We'll close up with this.

Ho, everyone that thirsteth. Come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money, come ye, buy and eat. Yea, come and buy wine and milk without money, without price. Wherefore do you spend for that which is not bread? And you labor for that which satisfies not. Hearken diligently unto me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Do you see it? Incline your ear and come unto me. Here and your soul shall live. And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Behold, I've given him, David's king, David's king, the Lord Jesus Christ. Behold, I've given him for a witness to the people, a leader and a commander to the people. Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew thee not shall run unto thee. Can you run? And run how? Not without effort. Not by your effort, but run to Him. Run to Him. Because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified thee.

The Lord Jesus Christ is who you need if you're thirsty. Come to Him. Come to Him. Believe Him, rest in Him, fall at His feet and beg for mercy. Beg for the mercy that He gives unto sinners who trust in Him. Amen.