Sermon #71 Series: Isaiah

Title: Readiness

Text: Isaiah 27:13

Date: Tuesday Evening - February 12, 1991

Tape #

Introduction:

I am not going to preach a sermon tonight. I do not have a single subject in mind which I want to pursue. Instead, I am going to have you look with me at several texts of Scripture. Each one has a different subject and different message. But they all have one recurring word, one connecting theme. The one recurring word in these texts is “ready.” The theme that connects them all is “Readiness.” Follow me through the Scriptures, I am confident that one of these texts has a message specifically for you. I want you to look with me into ten passages of Scripture.

I. Isaiah 27:13 - Here the prophet of God speaks of SINNERS READY TO PERISH.

In this passage Isaiah is talking about God’s method of grace. He tells us how that God gathers his elect one by one - (v. 12). And when the gospel trumpet is blown, we are told, “They shall come which were ready to perish.”

I am looking for some sinners who are “ready to perish.” I know that all men and women by nature are ready to perish forever under the wrath of God. But very few know it. Isaiah is talking about men and women who are in danger and know it! I wonder if there is someone here who is “ready to perish.” If so, this part of my message is specifically to you. Let me tell you what these words, “ready to perish,” mean.

A. A person is ready to perish when he is convinced that he deserves to perish - “I have sinned.”

B. You are ready to perish when you feel that you must surely perish.

“The soul that sinneth, it shall die.”

“The wages of sin is death.”

C. You are ready to perish when you sense that you are perishing.

Not only do I deserve the wrath of God, not only am I convinced that the holy Lord God must and will punish my sin, but I am condemned already. The wrath of God is upon me!

You who have been there know exactly what I am saying. A sinner is ready to perish when he feels the wrath of God in his soul, when the sword of justice has pricked his heart - (Acts 2:37-38). We are not saved by a feeling. And we do not look for a feeling. Holy Spirit conviction is more than a feeling of guilt and remorse - But when the wrath of God seizes a man’s heart and he is “ready to perish,” he feels it in his soul!

This is the way God begins with those whom he has purposed to save. He first destroys our confidence in ourselves. Then he gives us confidence in Christ. He wounds before he heals, strips before he robes, abases before he lifts, slays before he makes alive. No one is ready for grace who is not ready to perish.

II. Nehemiah 9:17 - When the Levites offered prayer to God for Israel in the days of Nehemiah, after confessing their sins, they said, “But thou art A GOD READY TO PARDON.”

Are you ready to perish? Here is “a God ready to pardon.” That is good news to my soul! The God whom I have offended, against whom I have sinned, whose wrath I deserve, is a God ready to pardon. David said, “Unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul; for thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee” - (Ps. 86:4-5). What can this mean - “Thou art a God ready to pardon?”

A. To be ready to pardon is to be prepared to pardon.

A man is not ready to go on a trip until his bag is packed. A highway is not ready for traffic until the surface is paved and the barriers are removed. Nothing is ready until it is prepared.

Now hear this - God is ready to pardon! That means everything is prepared by which God can forgive sin. The road used to be blocked up. But Jesus Christ has, by the blood of his cross, tunneled every mountain, filled every valley, bridged every gulf, so that now all things are ready - God is ready to pardon.

Behold Christ’s blood upon the throne,

And know that all your sins are gone;

God’s wrath on His dear Son was laid,

And justice owns the ransom paid!

There is nothing for us to do to make preparation for pardon. The Lord our God is a God prepared to pardon - All things are ready! The fatlings are killed. The feast is spread. The servants are sent out to gather in guests - All is done!

B. The word “ready” is used to indicate that a thing can be easily done.

We ask, “Can you pick up my mail while you are at the post office?” And the person responds, “readily.” We might ask if a person is prepared to carry out his promise; and he responds “readily.” That means, “it can easily be done.”

When we read that God is ready to pardon, that means, “Since Christ has died, he is a God who can easily pardon.” It takes nothing but his word - “Thy sins are forgiven thee!”

C. And the word “ready” means promptly or quickly.

In this sense also, he is a God ready to pardon. There is no need for any sinner to wait, even a moment, for pardon. The pardon of sin is an instantaneous work. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, God gives pardon to the believing sinner.

“The moment a sinner believes

And trusts in his crucified God,

His pardon at once he receives,

Redemption in full through His blood.”

Note: Believer, this is true for you too - (I John 1:9).

D. Once more, “ready” means cheerfully.

Can you grasp this? “He delighteth in mercy!” As God loves a cheerful giver, he is a God who cheerfully pardons. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). Can you imagine that - The Triune God singing? What a thought - As God pardons our sin, he bursts into a song!

III. Romans 1:15 - Here is A MAN READY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.

Because Paul had once been ready to perish, because he had met and knew a God ready to pardon, he counted himself a debtor to all men, and was ready to preach the gospel. He was not ashamed to tell all men everywhere what God had done for him.

· He knew the power of the gospel - (v. 16).

· He knew the message of the gospel - (v. 17).

· He knew the universal need of the gospel - (v. 18).

· He was ready, willing and anxious to preach the gospel!

IV. Ecclesiastes 5:1 - Here Solomon tells us that when we come into the house of God we should come as WORSHIPPERS READY TO HEAR FROM GOD.

How I delight to preach to men and women who are ready to hear! Who come to the house of God…

· Seeking a message from God.

· Ready to believe what God says. } “Speak, Lord, for thy

· Ready to obey God’s Word. servant heareth thee.”

V. Luke 22:33 - Here is Simon Peter, A DISCIPLE READY TO GO WITH HIS LORD.

I know that Peter was overly confident. And the Lord knew how to break his pride. But Peter’s words expressed his heart. And in the end he proved it. He went with his Lord both to prison and to death. Are you ready to go with your Master? A disciple is ready to go…

· Into whatever place of service is needed.

· Into whatever trial his Master leads. } So long as the

· Into whatever sorrow obedience brings. Lord goes with

me - (Eze. 32).

VI. I Timothy 6:18 - The Apostle Paul told Timothy to teach us to be SAINTS READY TO GIVE, ready to distribute our goods to others, willing to communicate what God has given us to his people as they need it.

Men and women who have experienced such rich, free, bountiful grace from God as we have ought to be the most open hearted, open handed people in the world. “God loves a cheerful giver.” God teach me to give…

· With a Willing Heart.

· As You Have Prospered Me.

· With Forethought and Purpose.

· Hoping For Nothing in Return.

· Trusting You to Supply My Needs.

(II Cor. 8:9; 9:15).

VII. Titus 3:1 - Here Paul tells Titus to teach you and me to walk before God as SERVANTS READY TO EVERY GOOD WORK.

Good works have nothing to do with salvation. We are saved by grace alone. But good works are always the product of grace, the result of salvation. Three times in this chapter we are urged to maintain good works - Why?

· They are contrary to the flesh.

· They are honoring to God.

· They are helpful to men - Good works always have reference to something we do for our brethren - A Good Work is to avoid strife - promote peace - be kind - supply needs, etc.

VIII. Job 17:1 - Here God’s servant Job declares “THE GRAVES ARE READY FOR ME.”

The Lord Jesus has taken away the fear of death, the sting of death and the dread of the grave. He has changed the nature of the tomb. “The graves are ready for me.”

· Ready to receive my body at God’s appointed time.

· Ready to hold my body until the resurrection.

· Ready to yield up my body when Christ comes.

IX. II Timothy 4:6 - Here is Paul the aged, a prisoner at Rome, awaiting the time of his execution as A BELIEVER READY FOR THE GRAVE.

· He looked downward to the grave (v. 6).

· He looked backward upon his life (v. 7; II Tim. 1:12).

· He looked upward to heaven (v. 8).

· He looked outward to eternity (v. 8).

· And he said, “I am now ready to be offered.”

Illus: Spurgeon’s Friend - “See how a

Christian can die.”

Worldly goods? - “I left them long ago.”

Wife and children? - “I’ve commited

them to God.”

Eternity? - “God’s love is everlasting and

his grace is unchanging, so why should I

fear?” “Remember what you said,

‘Sudden death, sudden glory!’ ”

Are you ready for the grave? Do you hope to die such a death as I have described? Then, I want you to look at one more text.

X. I Peter 3:15 - Here Peter tells us that we ought to be READY TO GIVE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT IS IN US.

What is the reason for your hope? “The Lord is my portion saith my soul, therefore will I hope in him” (Lam. 3:24).

· His Work of Redemption.

· His Word of Grace.

· His Covenant Faithfulness.

· His Immutability.