Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
You know the story here... Similar to that of Matthew chapter 22 verses 1-14, but notice all the differences...
-Matthew speaks of a king and a marriage for his son, Luke talks about a man who made a great supper.
-Matthew says those bidden made light of the invite and spitefully killed the king's servants.
-Luke talks of the excuses those bidden would make and the servants would have to send the message back to his lord what they said.
-Matthew reports of the attendees to the wedding and those having not on a wedding garment.
-The servants in Luke after going back out for more answers the Lord, "it is done... and yet there is room"...
I want to know God's heart and mind in these passages before us this morning... Our Heavenly Father desires for all peoples to be with him in heaven. The Lord said in Luke's Gospel "Go out... compel them to come... that my house may be filled"
I know the scriptures in Matthew about the Great Marriage Supper of the Lamb are referencing those Pharisees and Lawyers who rejected him and will not hear Jesus' words and believe that God Jehovah sent him but the story in Luke's gospel is for us today!
The day we celebrate Resurrection Sunday is quickly approaching. The time of the year representing Christ' time of 40 days fasting in the wilderness calls us to prayerfully seek God in selfless humility and ever thankfulness for what happens during the passion week of our Lord and the culmination of his sacrifice at Calvary but more than all as Jesus said... "After three days I will rise again."
Praise God for the Living Christ! Jesus The Lord is ALIVE and seated at the Fathers right hand making intercessions for you & I!
Christ is ALIVE and because he lives, we shall also live!
What better time of the year do we have to share our grand faith! We've got something to talk about don't we? We've got something to be happy about right? We've also got a burden today.
I know the Church is tired, frustrated, weary and longing, but also eager, willing, and looking forward to a better day...
Let us not grow weary in well doing for in due time we shall reap if we faint not!
Jesus tells us to come out for suppertime and dine with him...
Every time we assemble for prayer and learning, Jesus is there to feed us of his sweet and sometimes bitter words.
Sweet to taste in love and bitter to swallow when we are defying God's will for our lives and His Holy name before a lost and dying world.
Jesus tells us to go not only into the "highways" but "into the streets and lanes" in the "city", and "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come..."
Far and near we will have opportunities to bid others to come into God's house that it may be filled...
Pastor Brian, do you know how hard it is to invite others with all the fear and sickness today? YES I DO. I know it's hard but we must continue to try. Jesus said they are "poor, maimed, halt and blind"... those in need of the Saviour, the need has not disappeared since the virus came. There are so many we love so much that are hurting today and they need some hope.
Let us continue to pray and be ready for that day when we can gather without the risks and worship our Great Saviour with one mind and one accord.
We will be ready that Gods' house may be filled for His honor and His glory and for His names sake!
We may have the opportunity to go into the streets and lanes of the cities and invite or along the highways in far away places... But notice another word Jesus spoke of in verse 23...
He said "Go out into the... hedges"
You know what a hedge looks like. I prune them all the time. Shrubbery and plants along neighbors lawns and property boundaries... they can be small or large but usually about waste high... Jesus is saying to us today, I want you to compel your neighbors to come eat supper with me in my house and I want it to be full!
I want those closest to you to hear my Word and be filled with my Holy Spirit.
I want those closest to you to have joy and to know me and worship me.(Jesus is worthy of our worship)
God's gracious invitations are not sent by ink and paper but by personal persuasion by the mouth of his faithful servants.
God's compassion and provisions are still as large today as that day when Christ rose up from the grave!
Urge them to come, you come, bring your families and those of your household and be partakers of God's heavenly manna!
If there has ever been a greater time for God's people to come and dine with Him it is today. We need The Lord and we need to sup with His Word together, we need for God's Holy Spirit to feed us with understanding and power so that we may endure unto the end...
Will you come that God's house may be filled? I am encouraged to see you and I know the Body of Christ is encouraged and strengthened as well.
Come joyfully as to a feast that God's house may be filled in the days of the fulness of time... Now is the acceptable time, today is the day!
God has prepared the supper and all things are ready. There is room to spare and God's plentiful banquet will meet your every need.
Come, the offer is too great to pass up.
Come, you will be glad you did!
Our Heavenly Father, we look forward to every day your house is open and we can have supper with you. Thank you Lord for feeding us with love and compassion, mercy and a willing heart, wisdom and understanding for the day. In Jesus name
Please remember the phone tree prayer requests. Please remember our church prayer requests and all those listed in our church bulletin. Pray for one another. Pray for our Nation and ALL people. Pray for our military, their families and the churches missionaries all around the world. Pray for our Police Officers, Fire Fighters, and First Responders. Pray for all those in the medical field, hospitals and doctors offices as they provide patient well care and also to protect themselves. Finally Pray for those LOST AND UNDONE WITHOUT GOD, those seeking after The Lord today. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen "Wherefore edify(encourage) one another..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 Hungry but satisfied... in Christ, Pastor Brian God Bless You & Keep You! Have a great day!