Heaven’s Call – Matt 22:2-14
This coming Tuesday a historic event takes place in America, President Elect Barack Obama takes his place in History as the 44th President of the United States of America.
There has been an energy that his campaign has created around the whole world and this Tuesday Washington, DC Our nations capital will host the largest event of it’s History. Many including myself petitioned our Congressmen for tickets to this historic event, however the tickets were scarce those that had did not share.
However, many are going to DC without a ticket, just to be in the area, to be part of the crowd, to join in the celebration, to feel the energy of others and to rejoice in the moment.
When they come back Sister Hilliard will be saying….
Oh if you were only there and saw what I saw the crowds, police, joyous faces.
Oh if you only felt the energy (The happiness, the realization of history taking place)
Oh if you would have on heard what I heard (The screams of joy, The chants of Yes we can)
It would have all been worth the trip……
Yet as historic as this event is, As exciting as swearing in B.O. is, As monumental as the 1st Black man coming into office of the Presidency is …
It fails in comparison to an Event, A Day, An eternal reality that all man kind will have an opportunity to experience.
You won’t need a ticket to enter into this place
You won’t be fighting for a hotel room, paying 5 times the rate for lodging.
You won’t be calling on Congressmen, won’t be trying to just get around it… You will either be in it or out!
In this place … You will hear shouts of Joy an only of Joy and Praise.. For God will wipe away all tears from their eyes and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain…
In this place…. There will be beauty unspeakable, Walls like Jasper, Streets like pure Gold, Walls adorned with precious stones, Gates that look like they are made of Pearl. Oh what beauty to see..
In this place the sounds will be indescribable. – Songs of Praise will be sung, angelic voice will give glory honor and praise to our Lord.
What A Place to see, What a place to hear, What a place to experience. WHAT A PLACE TO LIVE FOREVERMORE.
This Place is Called Heaven and it is available for All who Heed Heaven’s Call.
Now imagine getting a call to say you’ve got tickets to the Inaguration. Most would be ecstatic!!
Yet eternity’s 5 Start abode, The one who makes Presidents, Rules all governments is calling you and I to make heaven our eternal home.
Look at Jesus’ words regarding how some responded to this call.
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
This Verse shows that God the father had chosen for the world to be married to his Son.
This image is represented oftentimes in scripture where it refers to the church as the Bride of Christ.
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
He sent forth Servants.. to call people to Christ.
Who were these servants?
Well, they were the prophets calling people to God, Prophesying about his Son.
And ultimately the culmination of their voices is reflected in the words of the prophet that preceded Christ.
John the Baptist’s Who according to Mark 1:3 his charge was to prepare the way of the Lord..
His words were: Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!!
Heaven was calling! Heaven was calling first to the Jews but the scriptures say they did a few things..
1.) in verse 3 .. it says they would not come.
2.) In verse 5 … it says that they made light of it in different ways.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
1) They went their own way- this is man’s normal response so often to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)
One went to his farm (family and his crops were)
One went to his merchandise – went to his wealth.
Yet family cannot save you, Friends cannot redeem you, Money cannot buy you a place in heaven.
Heaven is calling…Will you excuse yourself?
Not only did they excuse themselves… They also fought change. I mean this literally. Look at verse 6.
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
Remember Elijah saying in 1 Kings 19:10
And he said, I have been very jealous for Jehovah, the God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword: and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
Change was coming and not only were the prophets slain. The Lord of Host was slain as well.
Many Jews wanting to hold onto their way, could not see the very thing that they were preaching about. The very scriptures thye read in the synagogue were about the Messiah… Yet when he cam in flesh… They would not recognize them.
Yet ..The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; Matt 21:42
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Yet there was judgment upon Israel as a whole.
At the cross
The Law that they held up so proudly as their national identity was nailed to the cross. Col 2:14
At the Cross .. The veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
And ultimately The destruction of Jerusalem came later on.
After they Jewish Nation would not heed Heaven’s Call He sent yet other servants back out…
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Because the Jews as a whole would not come…. He says get me others.. Who were these Others?
He sent out a call to ALL. Jew and Gentile that would respond..
Look at Ephesians 2:11-16 (add more if needed)
BUT although HEAVEN CALLED ALL… FEW WERE CHOSEN. Verse 14.
Let’s review
He called the Jews..
They didn’t listen, they killed the prophets, they went about doing their own thing, they missed the messiah so badly that they killed the one they were waiting for. So the Lord did away with them and their system.
So he sends out others to preach the Word. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and his disciples Go into all the world preaching the Gospel of Christ.
Many hear the Call. They hear heaven’s call.
They hear the call of Jesus that says, for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins John 8:24
They hear the call that says, You must be born again
They hear the call that says Repent for the Kingdom of God is at Hand..
Yet many will not be prepared!!!
Heaven and it’s glory awaits those that not only hear the call but respond to the call.
Many are going to the inauguration without a ticket, they just want to be in the area and soak up the event.
Yet heaven you are either in or out.. look at verse 11
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Talk about a wedding Crasher.. There was a custom of the day among the Kings and men of great wealth to provide the garments of clothing for those in wedding. (in our culture you know the wedding party ..by what they wear)
Well, this man had on the wrong attire. He stood out and when questioned he had no response …because he had no response.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
I want to be one of the chosen.. Not just one of the called.. One of the Chosen!!!
I want to be clothed in White.. You say why White??
Because that is the color of the garments according to Revelation 7:13-14
13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? 14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Rev 7:13-14 (KJV)
Heaven is Calling You Brother!!
Heaven is Calling you Sister!!
Heaven is Calling you Mother!!
Heaven is Calling you Father!!
Will You Accept it’s Call?
