1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,440 Good morning. Good morning, everybody. 2 00:00:02,440 --> 00:00:04,520 Welcome to church. Are you glad you're here today? 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:08,640 You made a great decision to come to church and to be in the 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:10,760 House of the Lord. What a privilege it is that 5 00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:13,640 Jesus has made a way for us to be able to gather together. 6 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:18,160 And y'all know each other. Do y'all know them? 7 00:00:18,800 --> 00:00:20,400 We one big family. Amen. 8 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,560 I'm glad you're here. I hope you had a great 4th of 9 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,280 July weekend last weekend. We're in the middle of summer. 10 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:30,680 It's 473° outside. Florida exists to remind people 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,160 that you want to choose heaven because hell is bad. 12 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:37,200 Amen. We're going to talk about that 13 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:38,520 today. I want to talk to you about 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,000 invitation. I'm going to jump right in. 15 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:41,280 If you're brand new, welcome to you. 16 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:42,960 If you're watching online, welcome to you. 17 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:45,000 If you're back and you've been here since the very beginning, 18 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:47,600 welcome to you. Glad that you're here. 19 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,080 I don't know which kind of invitation you like to receive. 20 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:56,080 Sometimes we have. I don't know if you've ever 21 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,760 received an invitation to something that's extremely 22 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:03,040 exclusive. Like the thought that you have 23 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,200 is how can I get in? I'll do anything. 24 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:14,000 I'll get my first born chicken. I'll see. 25 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:19,080 I'll give you my Panera. Or in the flip side, I don't 26 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,080 know if you ever got an invitation to something that's 27 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,920 intrusive and the thought is how can I get out of it? 28 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:28,320 One you want to get in, the other one you want to get out. 29 00:01:28,480 --> 00:01:30,560 Amen. You following me so far? 30 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,520 As an example of something exclusive, I think I've shared 31 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,960 with you before that my dad's best friend, his name is Scotty 32 00:01:35,960 --> 00:01:37,280 Barrett. We call him Boomer. 33 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,600 In 2001, he opened his mailbox and then there was an envelope 34 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,200 and it said Augusta National Golf Club and he opened the 35 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:48,880 envelope and there inside was a letter that says, hey, due to 36 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,600 attrition, we've opened a one time lottery to championship 37 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:58,240 badges, Thursday to Sunday, 2 tickets and you won two tickets 38 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:01,840 for the rest of your life. And essentially they sent us out 39 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,920 to like 200 people. And out of all the people in the 40 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,920 world, Scotty Barrett got them and he said to my dad, we're 41 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,200 sharing them. And since 2001, this most 42 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,040 exclusive, y'all, if you're not a golfer, you have no idea. 43 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,080 The Masters getting a ticket to the Masters is like getting 44 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:24,520 Willy Wonka's golden ticket. And he has shared those. 45 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,400 We got this exclusive access when you, when there's something 46 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:32,520 exclusive like a backstage pass or like go to the Oval Office, 47 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,760 like you can take a tour of the White House, but you can't go 48 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:40,560 there, right? Or the the the secret tunnels 49 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:45,920 beneath the Magic Kingdom. I called them the humidors in 50 00:02:45,920 --> 00:02:49,600 the first service because a humidor is where like they store 51 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:51,960 cigars apparently. What's it called? 52 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:59,200 The Intelidor utilidor. Whatever, I don't want to ruin 53 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:04,520 the magic for you. Something exclusive access is 54 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:06,760 wanted. You want to get in. 55 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,160 It's amazing, but it's exclusive so you can't, right? 56 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:11,880 On the flip side, you know, you've all experienced that. 57 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:15,120 You open the mail or an e-mail and there's an invitation to 58 00:03:15,120 --> 00:03:20,880 some dogs puppy shower that's 45 minutes away and it's an outside 59 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:25,400 event on July 13th where it's 104,000,000°. 60 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,400 And your initial thought when you received this invitation is, 61 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:31,800 man, I really hope I already have something on my calendar 62 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:35,320 before I go look, I'm going to pray that there's something on 63 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,840 my calendar so I can honestly, with integrity, say, oh, I would 64 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:43,680 have loved to have come, but I have a previous engagement 65 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:51,840 called nothing. Yeah, if I accept this intrusive 66 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:56,400 invitation, it totally impacts my life in a negative way. 67 00:03:56,400 --> 00:04:01,320 How can I get out of it? Exclusive or intrusive? 68 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:03,120 Do you have those concepts in your mind? 69 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,720 Do you have them in your mind? Mezzanine one guy. 70 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:11,920 Does it take time for my voice to travel there? 71 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,480 I see you. When the invitation of the 72 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:21,519 Kingdom of Heaven rings out across the earth, how does it 73 00:04:21,519 --> 00:04:26,680 land on your heart? Is it exclusive or is it 74 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:30,240 intrusive? When all the earth and all of 75 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:37,000 its glory speaks to the Kingdom of heaven and the invitation of 76 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,560 you there to come when you see a sunset, it's an invitation, 77 00:04:41,080 --> 00:04:42,880 right? How does it land on your heart? 78 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,000 Is it exclusive, like it's only for the best of the best of 79 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:48,920 which you are not? It's for popes and guys named 80 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:55,800 Billy Graham and that's it? Or is it intrusive where it's 81 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:59,920 like hey, Kingdom of heaven confining and to be honest a 82 00:04:59,920 --> 00:05:04,160 little boring. So I'm trying to see if there's 83 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,680 something else that I had planned for the rest of my life 84 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:12,640 than to choose the Jesus way. Is it exclusive or is it 85 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,040 intrusive? What if the answer is neither? 86 00:05:16,280 --> 00:05:19,280 What if the answer is the invitation to the Kingdom of 87 00:05:19,280 --> 00:05:22,920 heaven is both inclusive and desirous? 88 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,640 It's somewhere you actually, absolutely, definitively want to 89 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:31,440 be. And good news for you, you can 90 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:36,280 go there. What if that were the case? 91 00:05:36,280 --> 00:05:39,160 Well, it is the case, as we're going to find out today or maybe 92 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,000 remind ourselves in a message called Open invitation. 93 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:44,400 It comes to us from Matthew chapter 22. 94 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:46,480 If you need a Bible, raise your hand. 95 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,080 One will be brought to you. Otherwise, open your scriptures. 96 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,480 I implore you, encourage you. Bring your Bible to church. 97 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:54,960 Carry the word of God in your hand. 98 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:58,160 It's no condemnation if you don't have it today. 99 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:01,360 It's maybe just encouragement. Bring the word, the sword with 100 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:02,320 you. Maybe it's on your phone 101 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:09,600 anathema as you're getting the scriptures ready. 102 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:13,120 Matthew chapter 22. May I pray say yes, Father in 103 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:18,880 heaven is refinement. You give it to us so that we 104 00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:22,440 might reflect you better. And Lord, you're worthy of the 105 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:26,920 best reflection. So refiners, fire, come and do 106 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:32,520 your work, purify us, make us like you. 107 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,880 And Lord, I pray the spirit of truth is in the room today. 108 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:41,160 No more confusion or deception about who you are and what your 109 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,400 Kingdom is like in Jesus name, Amen. 110 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,560 We're talking about the parables in this series called The 111 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:52,400 Kingdom Unveiled. Jesus didn't just come to save 112 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:59,840 us, but to reveal to us the now and future present Kingdom of 113 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:02,240 heaven that is on the earth. John the Baptist went around 114 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,160 saying repent, for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. 115 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,040 And then Jesus showed up and the Kingdom of heaven arrived. 116 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:14,440 And Jesus spends a lot of his ministry trying to express to 117 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:17,920 people that would have ears to hear and eyes to see the reality 118 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:24,360 of the Kingdom of heaven as it's right around us here in 2026, as 119 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:27,640 it was in Jesus's day. And so we have these parables, 120 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,640 these earthly stories with heavenly meaning so that we can 121 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:34,120 better understand and grasp it. And you'll see right in verse 2 122 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:36,840 here, Jesus says like this is what the Kingdom of heaven is 123 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:39,040 like. If y'all are wondering if you 124 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:41,200 want to know the reality of it, this is what it's like. 125 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:42,760 Verse one. Jesus spoke to them again in 126 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:45,840 parable saying the Kingdom of heaven is like what? 127 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:49,560 A king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 128 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,520 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to this 129 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,720 wedding banquet that the king had prepared for his son to tell 130 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:01,680 him to come. But they said, Nah, no thanks, 131 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:06,160 they refused to come. Now look at the mercy of the 132 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:08,880 Lord. He sent more servants and said 133 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,120 to the same people who had already rejected them, Tell 134 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,760 those who have been invited that I prepared my dinner. 135 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:20,360 My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered and everything is 136 00:08:20,360 --> 00:08:22,240 ready. So come to the wedding banquet. 137 00:08:24,480 --> 00:08:32,039 But they paid no attention and went off. 1 to his field, 138 00:08:32,039 --> 00:08:36,480 another to his business. The rest of the people seized 139 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:39,080 his servants. The ones that were doing the 140 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:41,799 inviting get seized. They're mistreated, and then 141 00:08:41,799 --> 00:08:45,720 they're killed. Verse 7. 142 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:49,200 This may mess with some of your theology, your understanding of 143 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,520 God. The King, who is God in this 144 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:56,560 story, was enraged. God gets enraged. 145 00:08:56,560 --> 00:09:01,240 Is that the God that you understand? 146 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:06,160 This is Jesus speaking. It's not a pinion of a preacher 147 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:12,120 or even one of the disciples. Jesus says the king was enraged. 148 00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:14,640 He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their 149 00:09:14,640 --> 00:09:16,040 city. Does that fit into your 150 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:20,760 theology? Verse 8 Then he told his 151 00:09:20,760 --> 00:09:23,560 servants, the wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did 152 00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:26,520 not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and 153 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,680 invite the banquet to the banquet, anyone you find. 154 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:32,440 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the 155 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:35,640 people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the 156 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:37,320 wedding hall was filled with guests. 157 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:41,520 Hallelujah. But verse 11, when the king came 158 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:47,320 in to see the guests, he noticed the man there who was not 159 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:52,240 wearing wedding clothes, Imagining he's like got a 160 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:56,320 swimsuit on at a wedding, like doesn't quite fit. 161 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,200 He asked, how did you get in here without wedding clothes, 162 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:02,880 friend? The man was speechless. 163 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:06,120 Then the king told his attendants, tie him hand and 164 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,920 foot and throw him outside Into Darkness, where there would be 165 00:10:09,920 --> 00:10:15,400 weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are invited, but few 166 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:23,520 are chosen. The Kingdom of heaven is like 167 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:26,320 this. And you might say, like what? 168 00:10:27,560 --> 00:10:29,040 Well, three things we see in this passage. 169 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:31,560 We see many things, but three things I want to highlight 170 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:34,480 First, a banquet. I want you to know that the 171 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:39,440 Kingdom of heaven is like this banquet, and it is mesmerizingly 172 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:43,000 beautiful. We also see an invitation. 173 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:46,240 Really. 3 invitations and I want you to know that the Kingdom of 174 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:50,720 Heaven is like this invitation and then we see some RSVPS and 175 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:54,160 the Kingdom of Heaven is like not like the RSVP because that's 176 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,880 our part, but the interaction, the response to the RSVP. 177 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:01,480 So the Kingdom of Heaven is like RSVP. 178 00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:05,480 You know what that stands for? Respond Cebu play is French. 179 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,440 It just means please respond. Let me know. 180 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:14,240 So let's talk about the banquet first and then the invitation, 181 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:18,280 and we'll finish with the RSVP. Are you ready to say yes? 182 00:11:19,320 --> 00:11:22,040 I want you to know that this banquet is to die for. 183 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:24,880 Look at your neighbors. Say to die for, Say with a 184 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,480 British accent. You'll sound better to die for, 185 00:11:27,480 --> 00:11:28,400 darling. Yes. 186 00:11:29,840 --> 00:11:31,200 I don't know where this term came from. 187 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:33,880 It feels to me like it got famous in the last 10 years, but 188 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:35,680 it might have been around for like hundreds and hundreds of 189 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:36,880 years. And I'm just slow on the pickup. 190 00:11:37,160 --> 00:11:40,760 But essentially the concept here is that something is so worthy 191 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:42,720 that you're willing to give your life for it. 192 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:49,080 But think about how ridiculous that is, how the brownies to die 193 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:56,280 for. Sign me up, kill me, then give 194 00:11:56,280 --> 00:12:01,120 me the brownies. Except this is exactly what 195 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:05,040 Jesus did. Jesus in heaven God said, for I 196 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,760 so love the world that I'll get my son. 197 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,720 Jesus says, are they worthy? And God said they're to die for. 198 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:20,840 Wow, I love this Jesus. Do you love this Jesus to die 199 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:23,200 for? The banquet is to die for and 200 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,280 Jesus died for it. Romans 58 Hall of Fame verse. 201 00:12:26,920 --> 00:12:30,160 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this God said, I 202 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:31,640 want to show them how I love them. 203 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:38,320 While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 204 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,080 Glory to God. Wow. 205 00:12:43,560 --> 00:12:47,120 Even here in Matthew chapter 22 verse 4, the king says I have 206 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:51,720 butchered the ox and the fattened calf. 207 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,880 Symbolic language for God's saying in order to prepare the 208 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:59,400 feast, I made the sacrifice. And now because the sacrifice 209 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:01,240 has been made, the feast is ready. 210 00:13:02,360 --> 00:13:08,800 So please come RSVP. The invitation goes forward. 211 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:12,400 And oh, by the way, you too. And I too. 212 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:17,520 We die. This banquet is the die for, and 213 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:21,000 we die too. Everybody clap your hands. 214 00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:24,360 Woo, woo, woo. Yeah, no one likes dying, except 215 00:13:24,360 --> 00:13:27,000 when I tell you the parts that die in us are things like sin, 216 00:13:27,000 --> 00:13:33,360 shame, death. Amen. 217 00:13:34,160 --> 00:13:36,200 Colossians 3. Since then you have been raised 218 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,200 with Christ. Set your heart on things above, 219 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,920 where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 220 00:13:40,920 --> 00:13:43,880 Set your minds on things above, not on earthy things, for you 221 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,480 died and your life is now hidden with Christ and God. 222 00:13:47,480 --> 00:13:51,200 He's speaking this to people who are not currently dead, but 223 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:54,240 because they put their faith in Jesus, it's no longer they who 224 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:55,760 live, but Christ who lives in them. 225 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:58,880 And now they are cloaked in Christ, and Christ is seated at 226 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,360 the right hand of God. So anyone who's put their faith 227 00:14:01,360 --> 00:14:04,720 in God is now seated with Jesus, clothed in Jesus at the right 228 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:08,200 hand of God. So let's set our minds on 229 00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:16,400 heavenly things, things above. This meal is so beautiful, this 230 00:14:16,400 --> 00:14:24,000 banquet, that I believe it is the devil's scheme to get you to 231 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,880 skip this meal. You ever done a meal skip you 232 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:31,200 like I had breakfast. I'm a skip lunch because Chuy's 233 00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:34,480 is for dinner. Glory to God. 234 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:35,520 I mean, have you ever been to Chuy's? 235 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,560 It's enough. It's enough food for like 6 236 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:46,600 people for six days, 600 years. That was just 666I strike my 237 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:51,920 words. He wants you to skip the banquet 238 00:14:54,240 --> 00:14:56,640 and therefore he's blinded our eyes to the glory of this 239 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:01,200 banquet saying to us, hey bruh like skip it not worth it. 240 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:07,880 The food is lame, it's terrible. The invitation is intrusive on 241 00:15:07,880 --> 00:15:11,840 what we got going on so pay it no attention. 242 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:16,000 You need to find a way to get out of this Kingdom invitation. 243 00:15:16,560 --> 00:15:21,560 You need to rationalize or find options that are contrary 244 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:25,440 different to other than this invitation. 245 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:28,000 You got to beg your way out of it like ah, sorry God I can't. 246 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,720 I got something else going on for eternity. 247 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:37,720 So today I want to correct our perception of this banquet with 248 00:15:37,720 --> 00:15:40,120 some truth if you are willing to hear it. 249 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:43,040 Amen. I'm telling you now that this 250 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:48,680 banquet is worth dying for, Darlene, for sure. 251 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:51,320 I want to read to you 2 passages, one from the Old 252 00:15:51,320 --> 00:15:54,120 Testament, one from the New Testament, so that we can see 253 00:15:54,120 --> 00:15:56,840 that this banquet has been part of God's plan for a long, long, 254 00:15:56,840 --> 00:15:59,840 long, long, long time. He's been telling us about it, 255 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:05,080 and it'll be the cataclysmic end for all those who believe in 256 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:07,640 Jesus. As I read through these 257 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:09,880 passages, I'm going to be doing some teaching along the way. 258 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:11,960 So you're going to feel a little bit of neck up, down, up, down, 259 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:13,960 up, down, up, down. And I apologize for that. 260 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,640 Just consider it Christian calisthenics as we go through 261 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:18,920 it. But let's look first at 262 00:16:18,920 --> 00:16:24,200 Revelation chapter 19, verse 9. There's much more in the Book of 263 00:16:24,200 --> 00:16:26,320 Revelation. By the way, we'll be teaching a 264 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:28,520 series on Revelation beginning at the end of August. 265 00:16:28,520 --> 00:16:31,560 I hope that you'll be here. It's time that you understand 266 00:16:31,560 --> 00:16:34,520 that the end is good for you if you're a follower, Jesus. 267 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:37,080 Revelation is not a book to be afraid of, nor is the end 268 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,720 something to be afraid of because Jesus will be there in 269 00:16:39,720 --> 00:16:43,280 all his glory. And Jesus I was going to say 270 00:16:43,360 --> 00:16:46,720 Jesus will win, but Jesus has already won in Jesus name, Amen. 271 00:16:47,560 --> 00:16:51,000 So I hope you be here end of August, but just a foretaste of 272 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,240 glory of divine revelation. 19 nine. 273 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:56,680 Then the Angel said to me, the me here is John who's writing 274 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:00,000 down the revelation. She, the Angel says write this 275 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:01,880 and you know what John did because we're reading it. 276 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,839 Look at these words. Blessed are those who are 277 00:17:05,839 --> 00:17:07,880 invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb. 278 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:14,079 And he added, these are the true words of God. 279 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:19,160 We don't get this phrase. These are the true words of God 280 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:21,640 really anywhere else in Revelation. 281 00:17:21,640 --> 00:17:24,760 So why does God attach it to this particular portion? 282 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,359 Maybe because the enemy has tried to get us to think that 283 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,880 the wedding invitation is something to you to suffer 284 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,360 through and to endure here on the earth in hopes that one day 285 00:17:35,360 --> 00:17:38,320 we get there, or to ignore completely. 286 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:42,640 Not worth your time. And so the the the excuse me, 287 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,080 the Angel said make sure you add the these are the 2 words of 288 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:48,040 God. Blessed are those who are 289 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:50,520 invited to the wedding supper of the lamb. 290 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:55,560 This verse is looking at the end from the beginning. 291 00:17:56,240 --> 00:17:59,560 This is the exact feast that Jesus is speaking about in this 292 00:17:59,560 --> 00:18:03,560 parable in Matthew 22. And it is the final destination 293 00:18:03,560 --> 00:18:07,080 of All Souls who place their faith in Jesus Christ, this 294 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,280 incredible wedding supper of the Lamb. 295 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:15,080 And it's extremely magnificent. It's not merely an abstract kind 296 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:20,400 of state of being detached from history, nor it's is it a purely 297 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:25,480 literal future dinner. It is a powerful symbolic 298 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,880 depiction of the real future, the eternal blessedness of being 299 00:18:29,880 --> 00:18:34,520 perfectly united with Christ Jesus, full of joy, full of 300 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,240 love, full of belonging, full of celebration. 301 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:41,800 This supper, it's much more than a supper, pictures the ongoing, 302 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:46,800 unending feast of life in God's glorious presence. 303 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:50,000 This is why the Angel says, blessed are those who are 304 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,720 invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. 305 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:53,560 Imagine yourself at home one day. 306 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:56,040 You get out your mail, you bring it into the house and you got 307 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,000 some friends there. And you start opening your mail 308 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,320 and they look in like, dude, you got a letter from heaven. 309 00:19:02,320 --> 00:19:08,360 And you're like, what? And you open it up and it says 310 00:19:08,360 --> 00:19:11,080 you are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb. 311 00:19:11,080 --> 00:19:16,320 And they're like, you are so blessed. 312 00:19:20,120 --> 00:19:21,160 I don't think you're convinced yet. 313 00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:29,320 Let's look at Isaiah. Isaiah chapter 25, the supper 314 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,760 Jesus speaks of was also prophesied by Isaiah 600 years 315 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:34,360 before Jesus even walked the earth. 316 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,920 In the middle of Isaiah, there's a section chapters 24 to 27. 317 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:41,720 It's called the Isaiah Apocalypse where Isaiah 318 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:45,400 prophesized the end of time. And in the middle of this 319 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:49,920 apocalypse, Isaiah speaks about what Jesus speaks about in 22, 320 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:54,320 Matthew 22 and what the revelation is at the end of time 321 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:56,680 in Revelation 19. Now we're going to do a lot of 322 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:00,400 up downs here. Matthew 25 verse 6 on this 323 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:03,040 mountain, pause. What mountain? 324 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,720 It's a specific mountain, It says on a mountain, it says on 325 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:11,680 this mountain, this mountain is actually Mount Zion. 326 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,040 And when you read the Bible in Mount Zion, it's it's kind of 327 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,880 encapsulates both actual Mount Zion and Mount Moriah, which are 328 00:20:17,880 --> 00:20:19,120 right next to it. If you're standing there, you 329 00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:21,200 might even be able to tell the difference. 330 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:25,880 But this is biblically the location of the temple of the 331 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:29,360 Lord. This is biblically the the 332 00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:33,800 encompassment of His royal city. This is the place of Jesus's 333 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:38,040 death and His resurrection. It is on this mountain on the 334 00:20:38,040 --> 00:20:41,120 holy hill of the Lord that this supper will be prepared. 335 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:43,800 Has has been prepared in Jesus already. 336 00:20:43,800 --> 00:20:46,840 And then it says this. The Lord Almighty will prepare a 337 00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:49,480 feast of rich food for all peoples. 338 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:56,640 I want you to notice these 3 words for all peoples all means 339 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,320 all and that's all. All means. 340 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,440 You heard that before, so raise your hand in here if you're not 341 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:15,230 included. This is a theme we see 342 00:21:15,230 --> 00:21:16,870 throughout the Bible. I have much more to say about 343 00:21:16,870 --> 00:21:20,470 this in the second point, but I just wanted to pause here and 344 00:21:20,470 --> 00:21:24,230 make note. And, and in the the scripture 345 00:21:24,230 --> 00:21:29,230 read the good and the bad. So the people that you were 346 00:21:29,230 --> 00:21:31,550 violent under your breath when you're reading social media, 347 00:21:32,360 --> 00:21:34,840 people that believe differently, you behave differently than you 348 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:37,560 people have different faith than you. 349 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:40,400 People you might consider terrorists. 350 00:21:41,400 --> 00:21:43,080 God's like. They were invited too. 351 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:51,200 The oxen was butchered, the cattle was butchered, my son was 352 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:56,840 butchered for them. And then we get the list of 353 00:21:56,840 --> 00:22:01,520 what's on the table, a banquet of aged wine. 354 00:22:03,040 --> 00:22:05,400 Very descriptive. Not just wine. 355 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:10,280 Wine is the biblical symbol of both joy and celebration. 356 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:16,440 Aged wine means that it's the best of joy and the best of 357 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,120 celebration. I don't know a lot about wine, 358 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:20,040 but I know if it's aged, it's better, right? 359 00:22:20,760 --> 00:22:22,480 Is that right? You're like, I don't want to 360 00:22:22,480 --> 00:22:26,720 answer because anything. So I drink wine, but we're not 361 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:31,160 talking about Walmart wine here. Something that has been in the 362 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,440 Cellars of heaven for a long, long, long time. 363 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:38,120 And God is bringing it to the banqueting table. 364 00:22:38,280 --> 00:22:40,960 The best of joy, the best of celebration. 365 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:43,760 You may remember that Jesus's first miracle was to turn water 366 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:47,240 into and was it good wine or the best of wines? 367 00:22:47,880 --> 00:22:51,240 It's the best of wines. And he happens to be at a 368 00:22:51,240 --> 00:22:53,560 wedding banquet. His first miracle, another 369 00:22:53,560 --> 00:23:02,240 picture of this eternal picture, this table, this fellowship, the 370 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:07,680 renewal, the joy and celebration of the wine that he and he 371 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:10,200 himself is inviting us to. Then we get the best of meats 372 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,600 and meets biblically as a representation of provision. 373 00:23:13,120 --> 00:23:17,600 Jehovah Jireh is his name. The Lord God will provide and in 374 00:23:17,600 --> 00:23:22,000 Jesus he has provided and in the picture of the wedding feast, he 375 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,760 will continue to provide. It's who he does. 376 00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,480 It's what he is that we sit with open hands and say, God, 377 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:29,680 whatever you provide is what I need. 378 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:34,360 The choicest of meats, the best of meats. 379 00:23:34,720 --> 00:23:37,000 And then it says something interesting, a banquet of aged 380 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:40,800 wine, the best of meats and the finest of wine. 381 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:41,760 So I'm like, you already said that. 382 00:23:43,000 --> 00:23:45,400 Why you saying it again? You said wines and now you say 383 00:23:45,400 --> 00:23:48,120 wine, wine, wine. I'm going to have some wine and 384 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:54,200 then wine. Some of you like, yeah, 385 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:02,000 repetition here of wine speaks to abundance. 386 00:24:03,520 --> 00:24:04,480 You're not just going to have some. 387 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:09,400 There's going to be a lot. And remember, we're talking 388 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:13,800 about joy and celebration, but also it's the finest of wines, 389 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:15,440 again, which speaks to something. 390 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:16,960 It's descriptive. It's not just wine. 391 00:24:16,960 --> 00:24:21,000 It's the finest of wines, and it speaks to the process. 392 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:26,200 Good wine takes time, but it will come. 393 00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:32,960 The fulfillment of God's promises are a process that 394 00:24:32,960 --> 00:24:37,400 takes time, but it will come. Somebody needs to hear this 395 00:24:37,400 --> 00:24:38,480 today. You're in the middle of a 396 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,280 waiting season as a promise of God spoken over your life 397 00:24:41,280 --> 00:24:46,240 through the Word of God. It's just going to take time, 398 00:24:47,280 --> 00:24:48,640 but the promise will be fulfilled. 399 00:24:48,640 --> 00:24:50,160 How do I know? Look at the next verse, verse 400 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:52,040 7A. Promise that has already been 401 00:24:52,040 --> 00:24:56,520 fulfilled, that was prophesied by Isaiah 2600 years ago, has 402 00:24:56,520 --> 00:24:59,000 come to fruition. And if this has come true, then 403 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:00,800 the rest that we just read will also come true. 404 00:25:00,800 --> 00:25:03,080 Amen. Here's what's already come true 405 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:07,840 on this mountain. He will destroy the shroud that 406 00:25:07,840 --> 00:25:11,560 unfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations. 407 00:25:11,560 --> 00:25:13,560 What's the shroud? What's the sheet? 408 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:18,760 Well, the next verse tells us he will swallow up death forever. 409 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:22,920 This is the shroud. This is the sheet that he has 410 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:26,840 destroyed in Jesus Christ. Now look at the last part of 411 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:29,120 her. Say the sovereign Lord will wipe 412 00:25:29,120 --> 00:25:31,120 away the tears from all the faces. 413 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,960 What a picture, Jesus wiping away the tears, Hallelujah from 414 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,360 your eyes. And then even better, wait for 415 00:25:40,360 --> 00:25:42,360 it. He will remove His people's 416 00:25:42,360 --> 00:25:46,440 disgrace from all the earth. He's not putting it in the next 417 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:54,640 room down the street. He's heavenly, vacuuming it from 418 00:25:54,640 --> 00:25:57,440 the earth. If the second prophecy has come 419 00:25:57,440 --> 00:25:59,000 true, then the first will also come true. 420 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:01,000 Jesus has come. He has destroyed death. 421 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:05,120 And one day there will be a wedding supper with aged wine 422 00:26:05,120 --> 00:26:07,680 and choice meats and the finest of wines. 423 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:15,560 We're being invited to this feast where you can feast upon 424 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:19,720 the delicacies of joy and celebration, where there's 425 00:26:19,720 --> 00:26:22,680 abundant provision, where there's free refills of blessing 426 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,320 and promises fulfilled. And these are just the 427 00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:31,600 appetizers. The main course is freedom from 428 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:34,720 sin, freedom from death and its entrapments. 429 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,120 I don't think we're understanding how wonderful it 430 00:26:37,120 --> 00:26:40,160 is to sit at the table and have no shame or regrets. 431 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:45,680 One of our staff members was sharing this week about going to 432 00:26:45,680 --> 00:26:47,640 evangelize down at Disney Springs. 433 00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:52,200 And while they're they run into the the phrase, and maybe you've 434 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:54,160 heard this before from other people or maybe you said it 435 00:26:54,160 --> 00:26:56,720 yourself, If I walk into the church, the walls are going to 436 00:26:56,720 --> 00:27:00,640 collapse or the place is going to get on fire, right? 437 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:04,120 Well, I see about 1000 senators who just walked in and the walls 438 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:08,200 are up and nothing's on fire, right? 439 00:27:10,560 --> 00:27:13,520 That statement, the walls will come down or the the place will 440 00:27:13,520 --> 00:27:15,080 catch on fire, which we hope it does. 441 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:17,160 In the name of Jesus, the Holy Spirit fire, Amen. 442 00:27:18,280 --> 00:27:21,200 Amen. But those kind of statements are 443 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:26,160 statements of regret and shame, like I am too filthy and 444 00:27:26,160 --> 00:27:30,280 undeserving to go in there. If I go in there, I'll be the 445 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,480 one that triggers the wrath of God. 446 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:39,040 And Jesus says when you sit at this table, you will never feel 447 00:27:39,040 --> 00:27:43,680 that way again. All disgrace removed from all 448 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:46,280 the earth. I love this Jesus. 449 00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:50,360 He gives us freedom to his bride, the Church, and he is the 450 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:52,360 bridegroom, this Jesus of Nazareth. 451 00:27:52,760 --> 00:27:55,640 So you don't have to answer out loud, but maybe in your spirit 452 00:27:55,640 --> 00:27:58,320 just begin to ask yourself, is this a feast I want to be at? 453 00:28:00,720 --> 00:28:03,240 I want to remind you that the devil schemes in an attempt to 454 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,240 have us undervalue the goodness of God. 455 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,120 The devil wants you to believe that the wedding feast is worse 456 00:28:10,120 --> 00:28:15,000 than the value menu at the local choke and puke fast food joint. 457 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,960 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 4 says the God of this age 458 00:28:20,960 --> 00:28:23,920 lowercase G. The God of this age has blinded 459 00:28:23,920 --> 00:28:29,000 the minds of unbelievers as to the glory of the Gospel of Jesus 460 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:34,640 Christ. So let's just take a vision 461 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:40,960 check here this morning because the Bible says the devil blinds 462 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,960 people from seeing the glory. Just ask yourself, am I 463 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:46,440 currently blinded? Like if I'm just being real, I 464 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,480 don't want anyone else to know that I'm actually considering 465 00:28:49,480 --> 00:28:51,200 the things of heaven. But man, I'm just going to think 466 00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:57,360 about it here for a second. Have I rejected God, thought 467 00:28:57,360 --> 00:29:02,200 church, the Kingdom of heaven, is intrusive or exclusive 468 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:04,840 Because the devil's been blinding me? 469 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:07,840 Man, I get it. For 13 years I went to church. 470 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:11,640 I don't want to go. We went because my parents made 471 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:13,960 us go. I don't like getting dressed up. 472 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,200 Then like sitting there, I was bored to tears. 473 00:29:18,280 --> 00:29:22,040 I would count things like one light, 2 light, three light, 4 474 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:23,080 light. Is he almost done? 475 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,040 And when he started wrapping up his message, I could feel my 476 00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:31,120 heart soaring like we're almost about to go to Chili's. 477 00:29:33,120 --> 00:29:36,000 My mind was blinded by the God of this age as to the glory that 478 00:29:36,000 --> 00:29:41,000 I was sitting within. I'm sitting at the feast at the 479 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,680 table of the Lord. And I could be, couldn't be, I 480 00:29:43,680 --> 00:29:46,640 could care less. And maybe that's the way you 481 00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:47,960 feel today. And I want you to know, 482 00:29:47,960 --> 00:29:52,880 biblically that is the devil blinding you from the glory of 483 00:29:52,880 --> 00:29:54,760 the gospel. And you get the opportunity to 484 00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:59,600 say, not today, Satan, not today. 485 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:03,800 I pray that your eyes would be open for your sake to see the 486 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,120 glory of God. Where are we? 487 00:30:07,160 --> 00:30:10,720 This is the feast of the Lord, the wedding feast of the Lamb. 488 00:30:11,400 --> 00:30:14,600 It is the most grand occasion that will happen in all of 489 00:30:14,600 --> 00:30:17,280 history when properly understood. 490 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:20,760 This is the one event that everyone will want to be at, and 491 00:30:20,760 --> 00:30:25,040 those that don't come, those who reject the invitation will have 492 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:28,280 FOMO for eternity. Think of that. 493 00:30:28,280 --> 00:30:31,320 You don't like that FOMO for a one night, like I missed it. 494 00:30:32,760 --> 00:30:35,160 You don't want to be saying that for all eternity, which gets us 495 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:37,040 to the next part, like who is invited? 496 00:30:37,040 --> 00:30:41,680 Who's going to be at the wedding feast of the Lord? 497 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:46,040 I got good news. The invitation is not exclusive. 498 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,200 It's inclusive. We just read it in Isaiah 499 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,520 chapter 25. All peoples are invited. 500 00:30:52,520 --> 00:30:55,120 We're going to look at the three groups that kind of went through 501 00:30:55,120 --> 00:30:57,760 the invitation process here in Matthew chapter 22. 502 00:30:57,920 --> 00:30:59,720 And you kind of just got to say which one am I? 503 00:31:00,400 --> 00:31:03,760 Which of these three is me? Reflect upon it. 504 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:09,280 The first group, verses 3 through 8 of Matthew 22, 505 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:13,280 primarily represent Israel. Especially like the leadership 506 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:18,080 of Israel, the high priests, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the 507 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:20,880 the scribes, the elders, the the the teachers of the Law. 508 00:31:21,800 --> 00:31:26,480 These people repeatedly received God's invitation to the Kingdom 509 00:31:26,480 --> 00:31:31,120 of heaven. Read the Old Testament, all the 510 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:34,800 prophets pointing repent, Kingdom of heaven, Kingdom of 511 00:31:34,800 --> 00:31:38,840 heaven, Kingdom of heaven. Look at John the Baptist. 512 00:31:39,080 --> 00:31:41,080 Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Repent, repent. 513 00:31:41,640 --> 00:31:46,160 Look at Jesus himself making the invitation through his life. 514 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:51,840 But the people rejected them. In fact, if you read the parable 515 00:31:51,840 --> 00:31:54,760 before the one we're reading in Matthew 21, it's the parable of 516 00:31:54,760 --> 00:31:57,200 the tenants. It's about the people who were 517 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,480 supposed to and they rejected. I mean, it's very similar to the 518 00:32:00,480 --> 00:32:03,240 one we're reading here. These are the ones who are first 519 00:32:03,240 --> 00:32:05,440 invited there, the honored expected guests. 520 00:32:05,440 --> 00:32:09,480 But when the time comes, they refuse to attend and look at why 521 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:11,440 they refuse it. And maybe we do some 522 00:32:11,440 --> 00:32:15,320 introspection and examine our hearts as to their reasons and 523 00:32:15,320 --> 00:32:17,400 see if it matches maybe our reasons. 524 00:32:17,800 --> 00:32:20,320 But firstly, they have worldly concerns, their fields and their 525 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:22,400 businesses. In other words, they were 526 00:32:22,400 --> 00:32:25,240 concerned more about what they were building their life on. 527 00:32:26,840 --> 00:32:27,880 Than the thing that could actually. 528 00:32:27,880 --> 00:32:30,840 Give them life. And they held it so dear that 529 00:32:30,840 --> 00:32:35,280 they rejected the invitation. Now I'm going to keep my man 530 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:45,480 made Kingdom, my lifestyle, my platform, my me, everything's me 531 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:46,280 centered. I'm going to. 532 00:32:46,280 --> 00:32:48,880 I value that more than the invitation. 533 00:32:48,880 --> 00:32:50,720 So I refuse you once, I refuse you twice. 534 00:32:50,720 --> 00:32:53,600 I refuse you repeatedly and then further. 535 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:56,320 There were those who had outright. 536 00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:00,760 Opposition to the King. Meaning that refusal. 537 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:03,680 Escalated from indifference to violence. 538 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:05,640 They killed the prophets. They. 539 00:33:05,640 --> 00:33:09,800 Beheaded John the Baptist. They crucified Jesus of 540 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:12,720 Nazareth. This is the first group. 541 00:33:12,800 --> 00:33:14,520 That's their response to the invitation. 542 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,280 Are you in that group? The second invitation goes. 543 00:33:18,280 --> 00:33:21,360 To the people from the streets and the crossroads. 544 00:33:21,360 --> 00:33:22,560 Maybe it's your old school church. 545 00:33:22,560 --> 00:33:24,280 You heard from the highways and the byways. 546 00:33:24,280 --> 00:33:26,440 Anyone remember those words? Yeah. 547 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:30,040 After the first group refuses, the king sends out his servants 548 00:33:30,040 --> 00:33:31,400 again. These are the prophets. 549 00:33:31,400 --> 00:33:33,040 These are the disciples in our day. 550 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,440 To the to the main roads and St. corners, meaning the common 551 00:33:36,440 --> 00:33:39,840 marketplace where the regular old man and woman are sitting 552 00:33:39,840 --> 00:33:42,040 there and they would invite anyone. 553 00:33:42,040 --> 00:33:44,960 And the Scripture says both good and bad. 554 00:33:46,560 --> 00:33:49,080 This group in Jesus. Day represents the Gentiles. 555 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,480 It's still to this day does, and to anyone who feels like they 556 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:55,240 are the outsiders of the overlooked in Jesus day, it's 557 00:33:55,240 --> 00:34:01,200 the tax collectors, the prostitutes, the sinners, the 558 00:34:01,200 --> 00:34:05,120 marginalized, all those who are not part of the original 559 00:34:05,600 --> 00:34:09,480 covenant people. But now through this parable, 560 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:13,360 through the life of Jesus are receiving the gospel invitation 561 00:34:13,360 --> 00:34:15,920 after most people of Israel had rejected it. 562 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:19,040 And I want you to notice. Remember, this is what the 563 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:22,960 Kingdom of Heaven is like. People that weren't allowed. 564 00:34:22,960 --> 00:34:29,480 Access now have access. God's mercy is inclusive. 565 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:35,400 His grace is Invitational. The Kingdom is opened wide. 566 00:34:35,400 --> 00:34:42,080 Salvation is by grace, not by ethnic privilege, not by merit. 567 00:34:43,639 --> 00:34:45,320 When we read the good. And the bad here. 568 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:48,920 It means that entry into heaven depends on responding to the 569 00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:53,120 invitation, not on our prior righteousness and certainly not 570 00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:56,000 our prior crimes. You can't earn your way in. 571 00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:03,720 You can't earn your way out. All are invited, which means you 572 00:35:03,720 --> 00:35:07,240 too. Everybody in this room has an 573 00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:11,000 invitation sitting in your hands right here, right now. 574 00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,880 No one is not included. Is that a double negative? 575 00:35:13,880 --> 00:35:16,160 Yes. The. 576 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:19,040 Feast awaits the. Bridegroom. 577 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:22,560 Awaits your response access for you exclusive. 578 00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:25,720 No more everything that's at this banqueting table. 579 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:29,240 Joy, celebration, promises fulfilled, abundant provision 580 00:35:29,240 --> 00:35:34,200 forever, and the removal of your stains and your sin and your 581 00:35:34,200 --> 00:35:39,720 regret and your disgrace, all of that is within reach for every 582 00:35:39,880 --> 00:35:43,360 person. The invitation is. 583 00:35:43,360 --> 00:35:45,000 Inclusive. And then you got the last 584 00:35:45,000 --> 00:35:46,880 invitation. The man without wedding clothes. 585 00:35:48,120 --> 00:35:49,240 What happens there? I mean this guy. 586 00:35:49,240 --> 00:35:52,600 Accepts the invitation. Somehow he enters the banquet. 587 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:57,320 We're not really told how but it's found as he's there without 588 00:35:57,320 --> 00:35:59,320 proper wedding attire. I want you to know that it says 589 00:35:59,320 --> 00:36:01,680 the king came and saw, which means the king will come and 590 00:36:01,680 --> 00:36:05,040 see. The heavy term. 591 00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:07,360 Is judgment day. There will be a day where the 592 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:11,200 king will come and see what clothes you are wearing, and the 593 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:13,920 king comes and sees he's not wearing clothes, which means 594 00:36:13,920 --> 00:36:17,600 that he has come into this banquet on his own terms and 595 00:36:17,600 --> 00:36:22,120 he's either refused or neglected the host's provision for 596 00:36:22,120 --> 00:36:25,400 appropriate clothing. He's wearing the wrong clothes, 597 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:28,200 but the host had clothes he could have worn, but he either 598 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:32,760 refused or neglected them. See, in Jesus Day, culturally it 599 00:36:32,760 --> 00:36:36,080 was appropriate and regular for the host of the wedding to 600 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:39,080 supply the wedding clothes to the attendants, the people who 601 00:36:39,080 --> 00:36:41,160 are coming. Right in our day. 602 00:36:41,160 --> 00:36:43,280 We get all gussied up and then we go. 603 00:36:43,720 --> 00:36:46,640 In Jesus Day you went and then they gave you the clothes. 604 00:36:47,160 --> 00:36:49,840 How many of you are bridesmaids? Men. 605 00:36:49,840 --> 00:36:51,160 What do they call them? The guys? 606 00:36:52,080 --> 00:36:55,320 Groomsmen. I was going to say bridesmen, 607 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:59,200 but then whatever. And they're like, hey, come be a 608 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:00,160 part. Of my wedding, like yes, I'm 609 00:37:00,160 --> 00:37:02,320 like here's a $600.00 dress you need to buy to be part of my 610 00:37:02,320 --> 00:37:05,760 wedding or here's a $400.00 tuxedo to go rent to be part of 611 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:09,200 my wedding right in Jesus days. Like don't worry, I covered all 612 00:37:09,200 --> 00:37:12,240 them costs. I covered all. 613 00:37:12,240 --> 00:37:16,640 Those costs you. Didn't have to come ready the. 614 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:20,080 Host made you ready? This is what? 615 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:22,440 The Kingdom of heaven is like you don't have to get it right 616 00:37:22,880 --> 00:37:25,600 before you arrive. He will make you right when you 617 00:37:25,600 --> 00:37:28,360 arrive. You don't have to wear the right 618 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:32,320 clothes because He will provide for you a robe of righteousness. 619 00:37:32,360 --> 00:37:38,600 Amen. But there's something you do 620 00:37:38,600 --> 00:37:41,480 need to do. You can't just show up. 621 00:37:41,480 --> 00:37:42,680 We'll talk about that in a minute. 622 00:37:44,160 --> 00:37:47,880 People from around. From any background who profess 623 00:37:47,880 --> 00:37:50,800 to accept the invitation and claim to you a part of God's 624 00:37:50,800 --> 00:37:54,920 people or the church, but lack genuine faith and the 625 00:37:54,920 --> 00:37:58,360 righteousness that God provides in our faith in Christ are 626 00:37:58,360 --> 00:38:01,560 warned in this parable against superficial religion. 627 00:38:02,600 --> 00:38:04,880 You can be in the room. You are in the room. 628 00:38:05,040 --> 00:38:06,000 Are you watching the line? Hello. 629 00:38:07,160 --> 00:38:11,720 But still face judgement if you rely on your own merits instead 630 00:38:11,720 --> 00:38:14,240 of God's grace. And This is why, Jesus 631 00:38:14,240 --> 00:38:16,800 concludes, many are invited, but few are chosen. 632 00:38:18,440 --> 00:38:20,360 Like is this predestination? What are we talking about? 633 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:22,560 Does God? Pick some and. 634 00:38:22,560 --> 00:38:31,240 Not others like yes, yes, yes, yes. 635 00:38:31,240 --> 00:38:32,440 Is that is that what's happening? 636 00:38:33,800 --> 00:38:37,240 Right, few are chosen. Means that few have put on the 637 00:38:37,240 --> 00:38:38,960 proper garments. By faith. 638 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:42,960 It could have said all were chosen because all responded, 639 00:38:43,440 --> 00:38:46,160 but because few responded, few are chosen. 640 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:48,000 Do you understand what I'm saying? 641 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:51,240 If you don't give me a call. My number is 1800. 642 00:38:51,360 --> 00:38:54,200 Tim Ingram. That's not true. 643 00:38:54,200 --> 00:38:58,760 I don't know why I said that. So where are you? 644 00:39:01,240 --> 00:39:04,320 Which group are you? How have you responded to the 645 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:05,960 invitation? Before you answer, consider 646 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:10,640 this. Your RSVP matters intensely. 647 00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:17,240 I want to emphasize. Your This is a personal decision 648 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:22,320 to respond to the invitation of heaven that no one else can make 649 00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:28,800 for you except for you yourself, by your own volition, your own 650 00:39:28,800 --> 00:39:33,680 understanding, to say yes. Or to say no. 651 00:39:34,840 --> 00:39:37,240 And sometimes not saying yes is saying. 652 00:39:38,600 --> 00:39:41,040 No Israel's. Rejection that we read in 653 00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:45,600 Matthew 22 of Jesus is no different than ours today. 654 00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:49,920 It's the same the tragedy of rejecting God's gracious offer 655 00:39:50,240 --> 00:39:54,760 of salvation in Christ Jesus. The judgement that we read in 656 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:58,520 Matthew chapter 22 foreshadows the consequences of rejecting 657 00:39:58,640 --> 00:40:01,600 the Messiah. If you remember what we read in 658 00:40:01,600 --> 00:40:04,720 Matthew 22, he says, hey, those people who didn't receive my 659 00:40:04,720 --> 00:40:08,160 invitation twice, I'm. Going to destroy their cities. 660 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:12,640 And I'll kill them. I know that wrinkles. 661 00:40:12,640 --> 00:40:15,640 Some of your theology, but this is what the Kingdom of heaven is 662 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:21,840 like. And it happened. 40 years after 663 00:40:21,840 --> 00:40:26,160 Jesus ascends into heaven, roughly 40 years, Jerusalem is 664 00:40:26,160 --> 00:40:32,600 destroyed, the temple destroyed, fire, death because of their 665 00:40:32,600 --> 00:40:36,560 rejection of Jesus. The parable warns that. 666 00:40:36,560 --> 00:40:40,800 Privilege and invitation do not guarantee participation if there 667 00:40:40,800 --> 00:40:43,440 is no response to the invitation. 668 00:40:46,400 --> 00:40:49,240 Both acceptance and rejection. Of the invitation have outcomes. 669 00:40:51,080 --> 00:40:52,240 Look at the outcome for the man who. 670 00:40:52,240 --> 00:40:54,200 Was religious. He's in the house, he's doing 671 00:40:54,200 --> 00:40:56,440 the religious things right, but he's not full of faith. 672 00:40:56,840 --> 00:40:58,920 When confronted, it says he is speechless. 673 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:02,520 And what it really means is. There, he had no defense. 674 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:05,880 What can I say? I'm wearing the wrong things. 675 00:41:05,880 --> 00:41:07,120 I don't. What's going to happen? 676 00:41:07,120 --> 00:41:11,320 And then the King orders him, bound and thrown into outer 677 00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:14,640 darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 678 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:16,240 Remember, this is Jesus speaking. 679 00:41:17,720 --> 00:41:20,000 Should there be any confusion like it wasn't Jesus? 680 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:21,560 Are you sure Jesus said Jesus is all love. 681 00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:24,840 Like where's my teddy bear, Cuddly God? 682 00:41:26,720 --> 00:41:29,160 I mean, he exists. He does love you, but His love 683 00:41:29,160 --> 00:41:32,480 includes justice, because if it didn't include justice and 684 00:41:32,480 --> 00:41:34,160 wrath, He never would have dealt with sin. 685 00:41:34,800 --> 00:41:37,160 And if he never dealt with sin, you and I would be bound forever 686 00:41:37,160 --> 00:41:39,520 to sin. But because he's a God of wrath 687 00:41:39,520 --> 00:41:42,120 and justice, He came to deal with sin. 688 00:41:42,600 --> 00:41:46,400 It's a part of who He is. It's a reality that cannot be 689 00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:48,720 escaped if you want to understand the Kingdom of 690 00:41:48,720 --> 00:41:51,440 heaven. Those that accept the invitation 691 00:41:51,440 --> 00:41:55,640 of Jesus receive the Feast of Feasts, while those who reject 692 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,440 the invitation of Jesus receive the famine of famines. 693 00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:01,600 No more hope, no. Light. 694 00:42:02,240 --> 00:42:04,120 No erasing of sin or shame or regret. 695 00:42:04,120 --> 00:42:07,720 No relationship with the Father. No presence with the Father. 696 00:42:07,720 --> 00:42:12,040 Forever the famine of all famines. 697 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:14,680 The group that. Filled the hall. 698 00:42:16,280 --> 00:42:18,600 The good and the bad, the ones. That said, yes, they get it. 699 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:21,160 They come and run and it says the. 700 00:42:21,160 --> 00:42:26,440 House was full. Can you imagine, like Israel, 701 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:30,840 the religious institution, intentionally or not, basically 702 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:33,560 said to most of the world, you're not going to make it 703 00:42:34,400 --> 00:42:38,280 unless you follow all of our 600 and within the laws, not going 704 00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:41,280 to happen. You haven't reached the. 705 00:42:41,280 --> 00:42:43,800 Status of good enough to be entered in. 706 00:42:44,040 --> 00:42:46,480 So keep trying come back and sacrifice. 707 00:42:46,480 --> 00:42:48,240 You need to sacrifice again and sacrifice again and over and 708 00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:49,440 over and over. You're bad you're bad you're bad 709 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:51,920 you're bad bad and suddenly Jesus comes and says wait a 710 00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:56,120 second, my Kingdom is for you. You are invited, you are welcome 711 00:42:56,120 --> 00:42:59,040 and the ones who have been shut out for so long, don't hesitate 712 00:43:00,000 --> 00:43:04,360 to respond to the invitation. They flood the House of God. 713 00:43:04,600 --> 00:43:08,000 Man, how I wish this was true in our day and age that every 714 00:43:08,000 --> 00:43:10,880 church. That opens the doors at. 715 00:43:10,880 --> 00:43:13,920 Any time would have every seat full. 716 00:43:15,760 --> 00:43:18,120 Look how many people said. No to the invitation today. 717 00:43:18,120 --> 00:43:23,080 See the empty seats? I wish sometimes. 718 00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:26,360 At the end of service, when we open the altar, which is like 719 00:43:26,400 --> 00:43:30,920 the feast table is here and we open it for prayer, that instead 720 00:43:30,920 --> 00:43:38,120 of running to the parking lot, we'd run to the altar because we 721 00:43:38,120 --> 00:43:44,640 have access and it's desirous. Here's the reality of the 722 00:43:44,640 --> 00:43:47,280 Kingdom. Your response to the RSVP 723 00:43:47,280 --> 00:43:50,400 matters. You don't want to get to heaven. 724 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:52,600 And say one of these two things and this is how we're closing 725 00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:54,640 the day. Number one, you don't want to 726 00:43:54,640 --> 00:43:59,840 get to heaven and say, oh, I, Oh my goodness, I totally forgot to 727 00:43:59,840 --> 00:44:08,200 RSVPI just forgot. Listen, I don't want to. 728 00:44:08,200 --> 00:44:14,200 Scare you into heaven? I'd rather you choose Jesus. 729 00:44:14,200 --> 00:44:17,360 Because of the invitation to abide with him. 730 00:44:17,360 --> 00:44:20,680 Not because you're afraid to spend eternity without him. 731 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:23,680 But that's the reality. When I was in pseudo ministry, 732 00:44:23,680 --> 00:44:28,240 we used to take a We only went once to something called 733 00:44:28,880 --> 00:44:31,400 Heaven's Gates. Hell's flames, anyone? 734 00:44:32,480 --> 00:44:34,680 Yeah. The idea is it to scare the hell 735 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:38,560 out of you. Like they, they, they, you walk 736 00:44:38,560 --> 00:44:42,040 into the first room and it's like, hey, and then there's 737 00:44:42,040 --> 00:44:44,400 people and they tell a story and they haven't received Jesus. 738 00:44:44,400 --> 00:44:48,160 The next room, these people haven't received Jesus die. 739 00:44:48,920 --> 00:44:52,760 And they're like dead bodies. And there's arms over there and 740 00:44:52,760 --> 00:44:55,120 heads over there and they'd like make up all this stuff. 741 00:44:55,120 --> 00:44:56,800 And I'm walking these 6th graders through like, their 742 00:44:56,800 --> 00:45:01,160 parents are going to kill me. They're going to be traumatized 743 00:45:01,160 --> 00:45:04,640 from a church event. And eventually you get to the 744 00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:06,360 last. Room and it's like blue and it's 745 00:45:06,360 --> 00:45:09,760 nice air and you've like clouds and like this is amazing. 746 00:45:09,960 --> 00:45:15,920 But man, that was traumatizing. They're trying. 747 00:45:15,920 --> 00:45:18,840 To make me choose Jesus because of how bad hell is is like 748 00:45:18,840 --> 00:45:21,080 trying to make me choose my wife because all the rest of the 749 00:45:21,080 --> 00:45:26,600 women are ugly. That sounds weird when you say 750 00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:27,160 it out. Loud. 751 00:45:29,960 --> 00:45:32,840 I don't actually think that all the rest of the women are ugly. 752 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:37,000 All I'm saying is like wow, I guess I'll take you because this 753 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:40,680 other option is bad you. Understand what I'm saying 754 00:45:40,680 --> 00:45:42,040 before you. I saw the Wimberley. 755 00:45:48,120 --> 00:45:50,840 She is beautiful like top. Yes. 756 00:45:53,760 --> 00:45:58,240 Yeah, like I'd rather. You choose Jesus because of His 757 00:45:58,240 --> 00:46:01,760 magnificent love and grace for you and His goodness, not 758 00:46:01,760 --> 00:46:04,400 because you're afraid of hell. However, listen to me. 759 00:46:06,440 --> 00:46:08,640 Come in two weeks. And you hear the parable of the 760 00:46:08,640 --> 00:46:11,120 10 virgins. One day it will be too late. 761 00:46:13,080 --> 00:46:16,680 One day it. Will be too late to decide and. 762 00:46:16,680 --> 00:46:18,960 The reality is. If you have not received the 763 00:46:18,960 --> 00:46:22,720 invitation of Jesus, you will end up in the most wretchably 764 00:46:22,920 --> 00:46:29,680 wretchably. Horrifically dark place Jesus. 765 00:46:29,680 --> 00:46:36,320 Says it's weeping and gnashing of teeth, complete brokenness 766 00:46:37,000 --> 00:46:40,400 all the time with no hope of help. 767 00:46:41,400 --> 00:46:46,440 It'll be your eternal existence. In the darkest pit. 768 00:46:46,920 --> 00:46:50,800 You can imagine it is a reality. Do not be fooled. 769 00:46:52,240 --> 00:46:54,200 Don't get to heaven and say I forgot to RSVP. 770 00:46:54,200 --> 00:47:00,120 But there's also this other one you might get to heaven and be 771 00:47:00,120 --> 00:47:02,600 like, where's your RSVP? And like I thought, I did it. 772 00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:05,000 Like, no, we're looking at the lamb's. 773 00:47:05,000 --> 00:47:06,480 Book of life, I don't see your name here. 774 00:47:07,440 --> 00:47:11,640 I thought I did, and this is more like the man. 775 00:47:13,880 --> 00:47:15,960 In Matthew 22, the. Parable that we're reading. 776 00:47:16,920 --> 00:47:21,880 I thought that by going to church and doing good things I 777 00:47:21,880 --> 00:47:26,440 had sent in my RSVP. And here's the reality. 778 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:29,800 Church attendance does not send in your RSVP. 779 00:47:30,920 --> 00:47:33,680 Amen. Doing good. 780 00:47:33,680 --> 00:47:37,400 Deeds does not send in your RSVP. 781 00:47:38,160 --> 00:47:42,640 Being born in a Christian home does not send in your RSVP. 782 00:47:42,920 --> 00:47:47,400 Your parents faith does not send in your RSVPI. 783 00:47:47,400 --> 00:47:49,520 Used to have kids when they come to student ministry we have them 784 00:47:49,520 --> 00:47:52,560 fill out these intake cards like welcome to youth, we called it 785 00:47:52,560 --> 00:47:54,400 Chew. Long story, welcome to Chew. 786 00:47:55,760 --> 00:47:57,960 Fill out the form and at. The bottom was this question, 787 00:47:57,960 --> 00:47:59,280 are you a Christian? If so when? 788 00:47:59,840 --> 00:48:02,880 And 90% of the kids would write their name and say yes I'm a 789 00:48:02,880 --> 00:48:05,560 Christian. If so, when they would say I was 790 00:48:05,560 --> 00:48:09,120 born a Christian? And what they're meaning is I. 791 00:48:09,120 --> 00:48:13,480 Have a Christian heritage. I I have a family that's 792 00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:17,120 familiar with church and occasionally Christmas, Easter, 793 00:48:17,120 --> 00:48:22,200 maybe more, we go to church. I know that God exists and I. 794 00:48:22,200 --> 00:48:23,560 Know it's yay God. Boo, Devil. 795 00:48:23,560 --> 00:48:27,720 Well, even the devil know that God exists and he's not RSVP and 796 00:48:27,720 --> 00:48:29,840 he will not be at the banqueting table. 797 00:48:32,760 --> 00:48:36,120 Your RSVP has to. Be your choice, your. 798 00:48:36,120 --> 00:48:39,000 Faith. No one else's suitcase of faith. 799 00:48:40,560 --> 00:48:41,720 Will be in your hand when you get. 800 00:48:41,720 --> 00:48:44,480 There. Your choice. 801 00:48:45,280 --> 00:48:47,200 So how do you RSVP It's. Simple faith. 802 00:48:47,520 --> 00:48:50,680 Everyone say faith, here's a scripture won't be on the 803 00:48:50,680 --> 00:48:52,240 screens. Just let it soak in your soul 804 00:48:52,240 --> 00:48:55,440 for it is by grace you have been saved through faith and this not 805 00:48:55,440 --> 00:48:58,120 from yourselves. It is a gift of God, not by 806 00:48:58,120 --> 00:49:01,360 works so that no one can boast. It is not a meritocracy. 807 00:49:01,360 --> 00:49:10,160 It is a grace ocracy by faith you receive the invitation. 808 00:49:10,160 --> 00:49:13,160 So today three things. Number one, I hope that you will 809 00:49:13,160 --> 00:49:15,640 rightly appreciate the banqueting table of the Lord. 810 00:49:16,560 --> 00:49:21,080 Never underestimate its glory and how much it costs God to put 811 00:49:21,080 --> 00:49:23,960 on this feast. And yet He chose it's to die 812 00:49:23,960 --> 00:49:26,960 for. You're to die for number 2. 813 00:49:27,120 --> 00:49:29,560 I hope that you will realize we haven't even really taught on 814 00:49:29,560 --> 00:49:30,840 this. It's kind of the last second 815 00:49:30,880 --> 00:49:35,040 curveball, but the invitation to the banqueting table still goes 816 00:49:35,040 --> 00:49:39,160 out, and that invitation is you. How you live your. 817 00:49:39,160 --> 00:49:43,040 Life in light of your own salvation is an invitation to 818 00:49:43,040 --> 00:49:45,640 the rest of the world, as whether or not they should too 819 00:49:45,640 --> 00:49:49,480 join you at the table as your life is your invitation 820 00:49:50,360 --> 00:49:54,040 inviting. Does your life make it seem? 821 00:49:54,040 --> 00:49:57,680 Exclusive or intrusive because. The invitation of. 822 00:49:57,680 --> 00:50:02,240 God is inclusive. Is your life inclusive? 823 00:50:05,120 --> 00:50:08,080 The invitation is desirous. Does your life make the Kingdom 824 00:50:08,080 --> 00:50:10,760 of God look desirous or like a dirge? 825 00:50:11,240 --> 00:50:13,680 Come join me on the boring journey called Faith. 826 00:50:16,240 --> 00:50:19,640 No thanks. And finally this if you have. 827 00:50:19,640 --> 00:50:27,760 Not RSVP Ed to the invitation. Do it now, here and today. 828 00:50:28,600 --> 00:50:30,360 The whole church is going to pray together with you. 829 00:50:31,040 --> 00:50:33,840 We're going to all speak these words out loud. 830 00:50:33,840 --> 00:50:36,040 And if you're receiving the invitation, maybe you thought 831 00:50:36,040 --> 00:50:37,880 you were covered like I've just been in church this whole time. 832 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:41,400 No, you need to make a decision. You need to receive the 833 00:50:41,400 --> 00:50:45,400 invitation. To the wedding feast. 834 00:50:46,600 --> 00:50:47,640 Maybe you thought you weren't allowed? 835 00:50:47,640 --> 00:50:50,720 Because you weren't good enough. None of us were are, except for 836 00:50:50,720 --> 00:50:55,040 Jesus. Today's your day, so let's. 837 00:50:55,040 --> 00:50:57,360 Pray, but you bow your heads, close your eyes, every voice 838 00:50:57,600 --> 00:51:00,480 repeating after me, not in a whisper, not in a shout, but 839 00:51:00,480 --> 00:51:05,600 with conviction, saying, Father, in the name of Jesus, I 840 00:51:05,600 --> 00:51:10,360 recognize that I am a Sinner in need of a Savior. 841 00:51:11,280 --> 00:51:17,240 And today I confess and I believe that Jesus Christ is 842 00:51:17,240 --> 00:51:21,920 Lord and that God raised him from the dead so that I could 843 00:51:21,920 --> 00:51:25,040 have new life. I receive your invitation. 844 00:51:25,720 --> 00:51:29,080 Thank you for the wedding feast. I'll be there. 845 00:51:29,640 --> 00:51:37,080 Write down my name. Just take a moment and send in 846 00:51:37,080 --> 00:51:40,480 your own RSVP from your heart to his heart. 847 00:51:40,480 --> 00:51:45,560 Lord, I'm coming, I believe. I want to be sure I don't. 848 00:51:45,560 --> 00:51:47,600 Want to guess when the time comes? 849 00:51:48,400 --> 00:51:52,120 Maybe I did, maybe I want to be sure I have RSVP D. 850 00:51:52,280 --> 00:51:56,640 Here is my response. Lord, yes, yes, yes. 851 00:51:56,640 --> 00:52:00,800 If you prayed that today, I'm going to ask you to do 1 bold 852 00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:02,320 thing. I'd like to say that Jesus was 853 00:52:02,320 --> 00:52:04,280 bold for you on the cross. Be bold for him. 854 00:52:04,280 --> 00:52:07,440 Now here in his church on the, I'm going to count to 3. 855 00:52:07,440 --> 00:52:10,080 And if you've received Jesus as your savor for the first time, 856 00:52:10,440 --> 00:52:13,680 RSVP to the wedding invitation. I'm going to count to 3 and 857 00:52:13,680 --> 00:52:15,720 you're going to raise your hand as high as it will go and hold 858 00:52:15,720 --> 00:52:18,680 it there until an usher can give you something that's crucial for 859 00:52:18,680 --> 00:52:20,680 you to have. So please hold it up there for 860 00:52:20,680 --> 00:52:23,400 just a minute. And I can't stop the church. 861 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:25,360 When we start raising hands, people just start cheering 862 00:52:25,360 --> 00:52:29,560 because they are so thrilled for your decision, as are the angels 863 00:52:29,560 --> 00:52:31,680 in heaven rejoicing. If that's you today, first time 864 00:52:31,680 --> 00:52:34,160 123, raise your hands nice and high. 865 00:52:34,160 --> 00:52:36,200 Come on, come on. Praise God. 866 00:52:36,640 --> 00:52:37,720 Go ahead. Any others? 867 00:52:38,320 --> 00:52:43,840 We come into you, we see you. I I can't really see you. 868 00:52:43,840 --> 00:52:48,240 I don't have great eyesight. Come on Church, stand to your. 869 00:52:48,240 --> 00:52:50,760 Feet and rejoice with me. For those who are being sake, 870 00:52:50,760 --> 00:52:51,840 let's rejoice. Come on. 871 00:52:51,840 --> 00:53:02,640 Hallelujah. Truly is the single best RSVP 872 00:53:02,640 --> 00:53:05,280 yes you could ever give. And if you made that decision 873 00:53:05,280 --> 00:53:08,120 today, our prayer ministers are going to be lining up the 874 00:53:08,120 --> 00:53:11,120 platform, the altar here. I would love for you to bring 875 00:53:11,120 --> 00:53:14,040 that card and bring your yes and let one of these prayer 876 00:53:14,040 --> 00:53:17,680 ministers agree with you. Celebrate, rejoice and pray over 877 00:53:17,680 --> 00:53:19,080 you. We want to walk with.