"THE WELL FED CHRISTIAN!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

ISAIAH 55:1-3

1. WE MAY HAVE AN APPETITE FOR THINGS THAT CANNOT SATISFY OR NOURISH:
1. God asks, "Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good?" Isaiah 55:2 (NLT). He is amazed that anyone would have an appetite for things that cannot satisfy or nourish.
2. A song says, "Like the woman at the well, I was thirsting for things that cannot satisfy." Like that woman we look for satisfaction in the "Carnal Café" which serves up a menu that looks appealing, but does us no good. What unsatisfying and unnourishing food is there to be had?
1. Some think they find satisfaction when they "eat wickedness and drink violence!" according to Solomon Proverbs 4:14-17 (NLT). But we read in Job where Zophar said, "He enjoyed the taste of his wickedness, letting it melt under his tongue. He savored it, holding it long in his mouth. But suddenly, the food he has eaten turns sour within him, a poisonous venom in his stomach." Job 20:12-14 (NLT). Wickedness, hostility toward God, and an appetite for carnality always leaves us unsatisfied.
2. Some think that Idolatry will satisfy. Isaiah 44:20 (N LT) says, "The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He is trusting something that can give him no help at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, 'Is this thing, this idol that I'm holding in my hand, a lie?'"
3. Some think they find satisfaction in atheism. But Voltaire, the French skeptic said, "I wish I had never been born."
4. Some think they find satisfaction in sensual pleasures and unrestrained merrymaking. But the poet, Lord Byron lived a life of pleasure, if anyone did. He wrote: "My life is in the yellow leaf; The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone."
5. Some think they find satisfaction in materialism and wealth. But Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying he said: "I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth." To those whose appetite is for this earth's wealth, Ezekiel says, "Their silver and gold will not be able to save them in the day of the Lord's wrath. They will not satisfy their hunger or fill their stomachs with it, for it has made them stumble into sin." Ezekiel 9:19 (NIV). Things of this world cannot satisfy the hunger of our soul.
6. Some think they find satisfaction in position and fame. But a man by the name of Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. He wrote: "Youth is a mistake; manhood, a struggle; old age, a regret."
7. Some think they find satisfaction in power and conquest. But Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. Having done so, he wept, saying, "There are no more worlds to conquer."
3. Not satisfaction, not nourishment, not fulfillment, but disappointment and failure comes to those who have such appetites. Someone once defined real failure as: "living without knowing what life is all about, feeding on things that do not satisfy, thinking you have everything, only to find out in the end you have nothing that matters." Yet, in a quest for fulfillment and satisfaction, our appetite leads us to try and satisfy the hunger in ways that don't satisfy. We find ourselves frequenting the Carnal Café time and again.
4. In an Agatha Christie mystery, "The Boomerang Clue," we hear Frankie say, "After the party I went to last night, I thought even home couldn't be worse." Bobby asked "What was wrong with the party?" Frankie replied, "Nothing at all. It was just like any other party only more so. It was to start at the Savoy at half-past eight. Some of us rolled up about a quarter past nine, and of course we got entangled with other people, but we got sorted out about ten. And we had dinner and then after a bit we went on to the Marionette - there was a rumor it was going to be raided. But nothing happened - it was just moribund. And we drank a bit, and then we went to a fried-fish place, and then we thought we'd go and breakfast with Angel's uncle and see if he'd be shocked - but he wasn't - only bored. And then we sort of fizzled home. Honestly, Bobby, it isn't good enough." Right on! It isn't good enough. It's food that does not satisfy or nourish.

While it is true that we may have an appetite for things that cannot satisfy or nourish,

2. THERE IS FOOD THAT DOES SATISFY AND NOURISH THE SOUL:
1. Though some things leave us hungering and thirsting, there is adequate nourishment available.
1. Solomon wrote, "Wisdom has built her spacious house with seven pillars. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. 'Come home with me,' she urges the simple. To those without good judgment, she says, 'Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your foolish ways behind, and begin to live; learn how to be wise.'" Proverbs 9:1-6 (NLT).
2. When the disciples returned from shopping, they offered Jesus food. He replied, "No, I have food you don't know about." Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, Who sent Me, and from finishing His work." John 4:30-34 (NLT).
3. And Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6 (NASB).
4. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry again. Those who believe in me will never thirst. John 6:35 (NLT).
5. Jesus said, "People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God." Matthew 4:4 (NLT).
6. Peter urges, "like newborn babes, long for the pure milk of the word, that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord." 1 Peter 2:3 (NASB).
2. He is the provider of every good thing. He wants us to consume that food for the soul that makes us strong and healthy. What is that food that satisfies? From those passages I just read, let's sum it up like this:
1. Wisdom, understanding, seeing life from God's perspective is food that satisfies.
2. Doing His will and doing His works is soul food that satisfies.
3. Righteousness, doing right and being right with God, is food that satisfies
4. Belief in Jesus that leads us to come to Him is soul food that satisfies.
5. The Word of God is food that satisfies.
3. When we involve ourselves deliberately, and deeply in the things of Jesus - His will, His word, His way, it is then that we eat food that satisfies and nourishes.
4. When King George went to worship, he'd nearly always have a comment on the sermon. If he was blessed by it, he'd say, "That will do very well. That will feed souls!" But, on those occasions where he felt the sermon to be lacking, he'd say, "That won't do. That just won't feed souls." His criterion for judging a sermon was if it was Biblical, sound and nourishing to the soul.

There is food that satisfies and nourishes the soul and

3. THIS FOOD THAT SATISFIES IS AVAILABLE FREE OF COST TO ALL WHO WANT IT:
1. In days gone by certain establishments would offer a "free lunch." The catch was that you had to buy beer to get it. No catch with God's offer; it is for whoever will.
1. God said, "Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink - even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk - it's all free! Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!" Isaiah 55:1-2 (NLT).
2. John wrote, "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come.' Let each one who hears them say, 'Come.' Let the thirsty ones come - anyone who wants to. Let them come and drink the water of life without charge." Revelation 22:17 (NLT).
3. The poet wrote, "Jesus has a table spread where the saints of God are fed, He invites His chosen people, 'Come and dine.' With His manna He doth feed and supplies our every need! O 'tis sweet to sup with Jesus all the time! 'Come and dine,' the Master calleth, 'Come and dine.' You may feast at Jesus' table all the time; He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine, to the hungry calleth now, "Come and dine."
2. Jesus Christ wants us to have full and rich and satisfying lives.
1. Jesus wants our cup to overflow.
2. Jesus said He came to give us life in all its fullness and abundance.
3. Like the father of the returning prodigal, He kills the fatted calf and prepares a banquet for us when we return to Him in faith.
3. With the Psalmist let us "give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, and for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good." Psalms 107:8-9 (NASB).
4. A little girl from a poor home was hit by a car and was in the hospital. As she recuperated enough to eat, the tray was set before her. On the tray was a full glass of milk. At home, she had never had a full glass of milk because she had to share with her siblings and there was not a full glass for each of them. The nurse noted when she came back that the milk had not been touched. She asked if the little girl didn't like milk. She replied, "Yes, m'am. But you didn't tell me how deep I could drink." The nurse, with tears in her eyes replied, "Drink all of it. I brought it just for you!"

After His resurrection, Jesus stood on the shore of Galilee cooking fish. He invited the disciples as He now invites us, "Come and dine." And He allows us to eat all of it - He brought it just for us! He still says, "Come" as an invitation to freely approach Him. For those who "come and dine" there is satisfaction, nourishment and eternal life. Jesus doesn't harshly yell at us; He does not shout like a drill sergeant. Softly, tenderly, patiently He bids us, He invites, He calls us to rise from where we are, to leave our emptiness, to find in Him fulfillment, joy, peace, hope and life. He calls you today. Listen with the ears of your heart; listen, and hear, and come. When you do, your appetite for life will be satisfied. You'll hunger no more. You'll feast at His banquet table. You'll be a well fed Christian.