An Irrevocable Invitation

q) JESUS PROMISES REST FOR THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.

r) IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TODAY THAT NEEDS THE KIND OF REST THAT ONLY JESUS CAN GIVE?

3. HIS INVITATION IS DIVINE BECAUSE HE IS DIVINE. HIS INVITATION IS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE HE IS RIGHTEOUS.

a) WHILE THE Russians, Belarussians AND Iranians WILL NOT BE GOING TO Sweden, THEY CAN COME TO GOD’S HOUSE.

b) HIS INVITATION IS AN INVITATION TO…

c) FIND REST

d) TO FELLOWSHIP AND FOLLOWSHIP

e) TO BE LOVED

f) TO BE FORGIVEN

g) FIND SALVATION

h) TO DELIVERANCE

i) TO PEACE

j) TO FIND JOY AND HAPPINESS

k) TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM.

Ill: There was a little old cleaning woman that went to the local church. When the invitation was given at the end of the service, she went forward wanting to become a member. The pastor listened as she told him how she had accepted Jesus and wanted to be baptized and become a member of the church.

The pastor thought to himself, oh my, she is so unkempt, even smells a little, and her fingernails are not clean. She picks up garbage, cleans toilets - what would the members think of her. He told her that she needed to go home and pray about it and then decide. The following week, here she came again. She told the pastor that she had prayed about it and still wanted to be baptized. I have passed this church for so long. It is so beautiful, and I truly want to become a member.

Again the pastor told her to go home and pray some more. A few weeks later while out eating at the restaurant, the pastor saw the little old lady.

He did not want her to think that he was ignoring her so he approached her and said, "I have not seen you for a while. Is everything all right?" "Oh, yes," she said. "I talked with Jesus, and He told me not to worry about becoming a member of your church." He did? said the pastor. "Oh, yes" she replied. "He said even He hasn't been able to get into your church yet, and He's been trying for years."

4. IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD ACCEPT HIS INVITATION, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

a) WE COULD RIGHT THE WRONGS DONE IN THE WORLD.

b) HOMES WOULD BE HAPPIER.

c) JOBS WOULD BE MORE ENJOYABLE.

d) PRISONS WOULD BE EMPTIER

e) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WOULD DECLINE.

f) WORSHIP SERVICES WOULD BE POWERFUL.

g) CHURCHES WOULD BE FULL.

h) EVANGELISM WOULD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LAND.

5. WHY ISN’T THE INVITATION BEING ACCEPTED BY SOME?

a) BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE LIVING IN SIN.

b) BECAUSE SOME DON’T WANT TO CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLES FOR JESUS.

c) OTHERS DON’T WANT TO BE DISTURBED.

d) MANY DON’T HAVE TIME FOR JESUS…

e) SOME FEEL THAT THEIR GOOD WORKS WILL SAVE THEM WITHOUT GOING THROUGH JESUS.

f) THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAKE EXCUSE AFTER EXCUSE. LUKE CHAPTER 14 TALKS ABOUT A MAN WHO PREPARED A FEAST AND SENT INVITATIONS, BUT THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO MAKE ONE EXCUSE AFTER ANOTHER.

g) WHILE JESUS WILL NOT REVOKE HIS INVITATION, HE WILL EXTEND IT TO OTHERS WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT.

h) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON’T MISS YOUR INVITATION.

Ill: THE LAST INVITATION - Dr. J. Mike Minnix