Sermon
# 190 Series: Isaiah
Title: Transforming Grace
Text: Isaiah 55:13
Subject: The Transforming Power of
God’s Saving Grace
Date:
Sunday Evening – September 25, 1994
Introduction:
The
gospel that I preach to you is no new thing.
It is not a novelty. It is not
the product of modern thought. I will leave it to the flitting fire flies of false piety to sparkle here
and there with their glowing tails of new thought – As for me, I preach the old, old gospel
of the everlasting God. I look to the
old paths, the good way, the solid truths of God’s free and sovereign grace in
Christ, which give rest to out souls.
Open your Bibles once more to Isaiah Chapter
55. Read it distinctly, exactly as it is written, and you
will find that the gospel Isaiah preached and the gospel preached to you are
exactly the same… The gospel I preach… The
gospel Isaiah preached is…
Now,
I want you to look at verse 13. This is my text – “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir
tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be
to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut
off.” I want to preach to you tonight
about Transforming Grace.
Proposition: The words of our text are a poetical, or allegorical
description of the changes that take place in men and women when they are saved
by the grace of God – Our text describes God’s transforming grace.
God,
by his grace, works marvellous transformations in chosen sinners. Men, who are properly comparable to thorns
and briers, are so thoroughly changed by the sovereign, regenerating grace of
God that they may be properly compared to fragrant and fruitful fir trees and
myrtle trees.
I. When Sinners are Saved and
Converted, A Marvellous Transformation Takes Place.
A. Man, in His Natural State, is
Very Properly Compared to Thorns and Briers.
B. But in our text, God promises
that thorns and briers shall be Transformed Into Fir and Myrtle Trees. Myrtle Tree is a glossy evergreen, with white or rose
colored flowers of great fragrance, and black berries.
II. The Cause of Transformation is
The Sovereign, Irresistible, Saving Grace of God the Holy Spirit.
A. Salvation is not the Result of A Preacher’s
Ability.
B. Salvation is not the Result of A Sinner’s
Decision.
C. Salvation is the Result of The Holy
Spirit’s Effectual Call. (Rom. 9:16; I Thess. 1:4-5)
Illus: The infant – Lazarus
The Bones
I
cannot tell you where the Holy Spirit begins his operations in a man. But this I can tell you, he changes the
whole man.
Spurgeon said, “When Christ descends into the
human heart to reign, he seems to take this motto, ‘Behold, I make all things
new!’”
Note: If you read this chapter
carefully, indeed, if you read the Word of God carefully, you will see that his
method of operation is this – When he intends to transform a sinner, he causes
that sinner to hear the gospel (vv. 3, 11; Rom. 10:17; I Pet. 1:23-25; James
1:18).
Illus: The Ethiopian Eunuch.
Lydia – The Jailor
The Melitan Chief
III. These Marvellous Operations of
Grace, By Which Sinners Are Transformed Into Saints and Children of Wrath Into
The Sons of God, Are For The Praise, Honor, and Glory of The Lord Our God – (v. 13).
A. Transforming grace causes a
buzz wherever it is seen.
B. Transforming grace causes a
buzz of praise to God in the house of God.
C. Transforming grace causes a
buzz of praise around the throne of grace.
D. Transforming grace will cause
a buzz of praise to be heard for the honor of God’s name at the day of
judgment.
IV. One more thing is clearly and blessedly
declared in our text – Transforming Grace is
Immutable Grace – “It shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall
not be cut off.” – For any reason!
Application: Big Jake the Coal Miner
“I need Thee, O I need Thee,
Every hour I need Thee!
O bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee!”
#318