THE POOR MAN'S MARKET

ISAIAH 55:1

A. "HO, EVERY ONE THAT THIRSTETH, COME YE TO THE WATERS, AND HE THAT HATH NO MONEY; COME YE, BUY AND EAT; YEA, COME, BUY WINE AND MILK WITHOUT MONEY AND WITHOUT PRICE"
  1. Bible students are agreed that Isaiah was a prophet of the highest order and, also, a great Evangelist:
    1. The second half of his book is devoted to the highest type of soul saving Evangelism.
    2. Our text contains enough material for Evangelistic messages, for a series of sermons.
    3. The appeal of our text touches upon two great essentials of life - bread and wine. These, we know, are typical of spiritual food freely offered through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
  2. It is an invitation best understood by the people who treasured both bread and wine:
B. A VERY UNUSUAL AND VERY LIBERAL INVITATION
  1. Appeals to the universal hunger and thirst planted into the life of men:
    1. Even the Son of God hungered and thirsted while He was in this world - Matt. 4:2; Mark 2:25; 11:12; John 19:28
    2. But, I believe, that the gospel appeal has particular reference to the hunger and thirst for hearing the word of the Lord - Jer. 15:16
  2. Most encouraging to the gospel worker is the universal hunger and thirst for the food of the soul and the spiritual drink -- the water of life:
    1. The word of God is the bread of life - Luke 4:4; Prov. 9:5; Jer. 15:16
    2. The water of life -- the spiritual life - John 7:37, 38; Rev. 22:17
    3. This hunger and thirst for hearing the word of God will come some day to those who now are indifferent to the word of God - Amos 8:9, 10
    4. Let us heed the invitation of heaven while it is today - Heb. 3:7-9
    5. How wonderful it would be if all of us could say with the Psalmist, "As the heart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God" - Ps. 42:1, 2
  3. The vain search for satisfaction:
    1. "Why do ye spend money for that which satisfieth not?"
    2. Why do you labor for that which satisfieth not?
      1. Some seek satisfaction in their accumulated wealth; but they will be disappointed - Luke 12:15; Jas. 4:13, 14
      2. But material things will not and cannot satisfy the soul - Ezek. 7:9
      3. A woe is pronounced upon all who seek to the pleasures of material wealth - Jas. 5:1-6
      4. Still others seek satisfaction in sensuality which will in the end bring a harvest woe upon them - Luke 12:19; Gal. 6:7, 8
C. THE TRUE SOURCE OF SATISFACTION AND HOW WE MAY BENEFIT FROM IT
  1. The knowledge of the true God will bring true happiness:
    1. "How excellent is thy loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings."
    2. "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures."
    3. "For with thee is the fountain of life" - Ps. 36:7-9
  2. The poor man's Market:
    1. Are you heavy laden with sin? The blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you without money and without price - 1 John 1:7; 1 Pet. 1:18, 19
    2. Are you groaning under the burden of evil habits? The Son of God will set you free without money and without price - John 8:36; Isa. 49:25, 26
    3. Remember the price has been paid -- it is all free to you now - Luke 14:14-24
    4. It is amazing but true -- at the poor man's market you buy, but you need have no money or the equivalent of money.
    5. And yet, how many go to the wrong market and spend their money and their life for the things that bring neither satisfaction or the salvation of their souls.
    6. Friends of mine, how does the invitation of our opening text appeal to you?


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