AN IRREVOCABLE INVITATION
MATT. 11:28
1. INTRODUCTION. INVITATIONS COME IN A VARIETY OF FORMS. YOU HAVE THE WEDDING INVITATION, THE GRADUATION INVITATION, THE PARTY INVITATION, THE HOUSE WARMING INVITATION; AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. ALL OF THESE INVITATIONS CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. IF THE SENDER OF THE INVITATION GETS ANGRY, THEY CAN REVOKE THE INVITATION. IF THEY HAVE MISCALCULATED THE NUMBER OF INVITATIONS SENT, YOUR INVITATION CAN BE REVOKED. TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS IRREFUTABLE CONCEPT, LAST YEAR THE PRESIDENT EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS, AND THIS YEAR HE EXTENDED AN INVITATION TO THE PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AND BOTH OF THOSE INVITATIONS WERE REVOKED. BUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE IS AN INVITATION WHEN IT IS EXTENDED WILL NEVER BE REVOKED OR RESCINDED; AND THAT THE IRREVOCABLE INVITATION THAT IS EXTENDED BY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS THE CHRIST.
2. THE TEXT. JESUS HAS BEEN TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES, THEN HE GOES INTO OTHER CITIES TO TEACH AND PREACH.
a) IN THE 28TH VERSE HE EXTENDS AN INVITATION TO ALL WHO WOULD ACCEPT IT.
b) JESUS IS STILL EXTENDING HIS INVITATION TO THOSE WHO WOULD ACCEPT IT.
c) THE PROBLEM IS THAT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ARE IGNORING HIS INVITATION.
d) HE SAYS COME UNTO TO ME AL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.
e) WHO CAN COME?
f) THE WEARY
g) THE WORN
h) THE DISENFRANCHISED
i) THE LAME
j) THE FORGOTTEN
k) THE PIMP AND THE PROSTITUTE
l) THE DRUG DEALER AND DRUG ADDICT
m) THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE GIVING UP
n) THE DEPRESSED
o) THE OPPRESSED
p) THOSE IN DISTRESS
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 WARRIORS AND THE EAGLES WILL NOT BE GOING TO THE WHITE HOUSE, 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.
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.
6. THREE POINTS/CONCLUSION.
a) ONE, ACCEPTING HIS IRREVOCABLE INVITATION MEANS THAT WE ARE WILLING TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIM. JESUS SAYS TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN OF ME!.
b) TWO, ACCEPTING HIS IRREVOCABLE INVITATION MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO DIE TO OURSELVES. JESUS SAYS NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE, BE DONE.
c) THREE, ACCEPTING HIS IRREVOCABLE INVITATION MEANS THAT JESUS WILL PROVIDE WHAT THE WORLD CANNOT. HE SAYS I WILL GIVE YOU REST. IN OTHER WORDS, I WILL BLESS YOU BEYOND MEASURE.
d) SO WHY NOT ACCEPT THE INVITATION FROM THE ONE THAT…
• LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY
• SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US
• WANTS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH US
• THAT WANTS TO BE OUR SHEPHERD
• WANTS TO BE OUR FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
• WILL LEAD US INTO GREEN PASTURES
• CAN SATISFY THE HUNGRY SOUL
• CAN DRY TEARS FROM OUR EYES
• LOOKS BEYOND OUR FAULTS AND MEETS OUR NEEDS
• IF HE’S FOR US HE’S MORE THAN THE WHOLE WORLD AGAINST US
• WILL STAND BY US WHEN OTHERS TURN THEIR BACKS ON US
• WILL COMFORT US IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
• WILL GIVE US BLESSINGS FOR OUR BURDENS
• WILL GIVE US HOPE FOR OUR HOPELESSNESS
• WILL GIVE US DELIGHT FOR OUR DESPAIR
• WILL GIVE US TRIUMPHS FOR OUR TRAGEDIES.
