PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE
Luke 14:15-24
On the Sabbath, Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee
for dinner.
The invitation was not out of love or respect for Jesus, but
to give
the Pharisees the opportunity to find fault with Jesus. The
objective
of the Pharisees was to bring charges against Jesus to have
him killed.
They invited a man
with the dropsy to see if Jesus would heal him
in violation of their traditions.
They meant it for evil, but Jesus meant it for good. Jesus
used every evil
encounter to teach the good news of the kingdom
of God
THE BLESSED ARE GOD'S ELECT
V.15 When one of those who sat at the table with him heard
these things, he said to him, "Blessed is he who will feast in the Kingdom
of God
A, The Jews believed that since they were descendants from
Abraham entitled them
to a seat at
the table in heaven.
1. They were proud
of their inheritance, but were not inclined to follow God's
commands.
2. The Jewish
leaders prided their position and status in the community.
B. They considered themselves the blessed population.
1. They presented
themselves as upright but their hearts were far from God.
2. They presented
themselves to be served and not to serve.
AN INVITATION TO HEAVEN
V:16. " But he said to him, "A certain man made a
great supper, and he invited many
people."
A. Jesus told this parable
to illustrate the acceptance and rejection of the Kingdom
of heaven was a
personal choice and not an inheritance.
1. God the Father
is represented by the certain man.
2. The kingdom of
heaven is presented as the great supper.
3. Those first
invited were the nation of Israel
4. They initially accepted the invitation to the
dinner.
a. Everybody
want a free ride into heaven.
b. Everybody
want to seated at the feast in heaven.
B. At great expense, the dinner was prepared for the invited
guest.
1. Jesus is
represented as the prepared dinner.
2. His death on
the cross was the prepared meal.
a. His bruised
body was the bread of life offering.
b. His shed
blood was the drink offering of atonement.
3. God's Grace and
mercy were the reason for the invitation.
THE DEATH OF JESUS, THE FREE GIFT TO HEAVEN
V:17. " He sent out his servant at supper time to tell
those who were invited, 'Come, for everything is ready now."
A. It was understood, that once the dinner was prepared, it
had to be serve quickly
or it would
spoil.
1. An animal was
sacrificed for the meat.
2. Bread and vegetables
was prepared for side dishes.
3. They had no way
of storing food for a later date.
B. The phrase "ready now" indicates the urgency of
the call to dinner by
the invited
guest.
1. The servants
represents the judges, prophets and Jesus disciples.
2. Jesus is coming
back for His invited guest.
3. We do not know
time or the date.
4.. He will come
back like a thief in the night.
EXCUSES TO FELLOWSHIP NOT ACCEPTED
V:18-20. " They all as one began to make excuses.
"The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go and see it.
Please have me excused.'
19 "Another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and
I must go try them out. Please have me excused.'
20 "Another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore
I can't come."
A. To get to the dinner table will require a sacrifice on
the invited guest part.
1. The invited
guest made common excuses for why they could not attend
the dinner
they had agreed to attend.
2. The first
excuse was concern property or resources
No one buys
property without inspecting it first.
3. The second
excuse was concerning work.
4 . The third
excuse was concerning family.
5. It is God who
gives us all we have which should not be used
as an excuse not
to fellowship with Him.
B. God commands us to put Him first over all we have.
1. Anything we put
before God becomes an idol.
2. Jesus came that
we might have life and have it more abundantly.
3. Our desires
should never be put before God.
GOD IS NO RESPECTOR OF PERSON
V:21 "That servant came, and told 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 the poor, maimed,
blind, and lame."
A. The first to be invited to the dinner were the Jews.
1. The Jews were
given the Law when they came out of slavery.
2. The Old
Testament was written to the Jews.
3. They rejected
God's commands in favor of worldly kings and
their traditions.
4. The invitation
to righteousness was given to the Jew first in the Law.
B. The Gentiles, all non Jews, were given the invitation to
kingdom after
the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1. Jesus died on
the cross so that all men might be saved.
Rom 10:9
2. God is no
respector of person.
THERE IS ROOM IN HEAVEN
V:22-23 "The servant said, 'Lord, it is done as you
commanded, and there is still room.'
23 "The lord said to the servant, 'Go out into the
highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled."
A. It is the job of each believer to spread the Gospel of
Jesus Christ. Mat 28:19
1. We are all
God's servants.
2. We should
first, make sure our families have a relationship with Jesus.
3. We should
reach out to people every where we go.
B. Like the murderers on the cross with Jesus, there will be
some who will be given
the opportunity
to accept Christ as their personal Savior on their death beds.
1. Some accept
Christ early in life and some late in their life.
2. There is always
room at the Cross for new believers.
C. After the second coming of Christ, the Church will be
raptured into heaven.
1. All that will be
left on earth will be none believers.
2. The Jews will be
given a thousand years to accept Christ as He reigns on
earth. Rev
20:6
3. Satan and His
demons will be bound and not allowed to influence the
growing Jewish
population. Rev 20:3
4. This will be in
fulfillment of the scriptures, that all Israel
Roman 11:26
SALVATION IS
YOUR CHOICE
24 For I tell you that none of those men who were invited
will taste of my supper."
A. There is only a limited time to accept Christ as your
personal Savior.
1. Those who
reject Christ may not be given a chance to repent and
turn to
Christ.
2. There is one
sin that is unforgivable and that is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit.
Mark 3:28-29
28 Verily I
say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and
blasphemies
wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:
29 But he
that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is
in danger of
eternal damnation:
B. Rejecting Christ is a ticket to hell.
1. Rejecting
Christ is a personal choice.
WHILE IT IS TIME, ACCEPT
CHRIST' INVITATION
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia
Baptist Church
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