There’s a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, and sent out his servants to call them that were normally scheduled to attend the wedding and they didn’t yield to the call.
Again, he sent out other servants (different from the first set) and instructed them to tell the expected guests, “I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.”
However, they didn’t take it seriously, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his business: And the some of them maltreated the king’s servants while some even killed some of the servants.
The king became so furious when he heard about the unruly behaviour of his invited guest and the way they treated his servants. The king then sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
The king then said to his servants: the wedding is ready, but those scheduled to come were not worthy. Go all out, and invite as many as you find to the marriage. So those servants went out, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
When the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man wearing a garment not fit for the wedding: And he said to him, Friend, how did you come in without the right garment? And he was speechless. Then the king said to his servants, bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Many are called but few are chosen. Matthew 22:2-14
My focus today will be on those that have come, a lot of people spend time addressing those that didn’t show up and spend little or no time addressing those that came. So, I say congratulations and thank you for accepting & honoring our invitation once again.
When God calls OR invites, He calls into HIS kingdom and the only way God does this, is through Jesus Christ John 14:6 if you accept this invitation, you automatically become a king because Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords (Rev 19:16) AND the original intention of God is for you and I to have dominion, to reign, to rule, to be kings here on earth, Gen 1:26 as long as you remain in Him John 15, 2cor 5:17
Listen to this, you are a king…that’s who you are Rev 1:5-6…don’t see yourself less! You are a king!
Another reason for this invitation is that HE wants to fix you! Jesus is the only one who made this powerful absolute statement: come unto me all that labour…Mat 11:28-30 Kjv & Message Bible
I will give an opportunity to some people here today because tomorrow might be too late BUT, I will quickly address a point and it is about the wedding garment as discussed in the story so that as you are coming to Jesus, you come rightly.
Garment is what you put on yourself depending on occasion/need, and I will describe it (garment) in the following points:
Character/behaviour
Some people accept the invitation but still put on their old life to the occasion. Let go of your old man/way of life and be surrendered totally to Jesus. 2Cor 5:17 says if any man be in Christ…but quite a number of people are still living with their old stuffs i.e. you cant differentiate between them and non Christians…and they will be saying “that is me”…you need to surrender all as you have accepted His invitation in order for you to become what HE desires for you. Let the old you be gone completely
Wrong focus and Expectation
Your focus should be on the on Jesus Christ and everything He says to you and not the other way around. Your focus should be on Him who has called you Heb 12:2
Let me digress a little: God is the one that brought you to where you are hence don’t follow the crowd, follow Jesus! What do you see around you? I have been rejecting a statement since I got here (that this place is a retirement city – I reject it! Why? Job 22:29 when men are cast down, “for me it shall be a lifting up”, Isaiah 8:18 “I and the Children God gave me are for signs and wonders”, Psalm 71:7 says I am as a wonder; but Thou art my strong refuge…you are a solution and a solution carrier…focus on Jesus and the directives He gives to you…if God has planted you or brought you to a place, don’t leave because of short sightedness – seek God. God blessed Potiphar’s house and business because of Joseph Gen 39:5, Isaac sowed in the land where there was famine and reaped 100folds same year Gen 26. As you have also come to church, let your focus be on Jesus and on HIM alone.
What is your mindset towards God, towards Christian and non-Christians? God loves everybody and you need to start thinking the kingdom way and the starting point to that is to have the right mindset by renewing your mind Rom 12:2
Let all your expectation be on Jesus not on the pastor or any other church member to avoid being disappointed. Put all your trust in God, those that put their trust in God shall not be put to shame (Isaiah 49:23, 40:31), the help of man is vain Psalm 60:11.
Don’t put your expectations on anyone, what they did or not (the bible says in Luke 17 offenses must come but woe to the person through which it comes Luke 17:1-4). You can’t control anyone or how they live…one thing is required of you is in Heb 12:14…follow peace with all men and holiness without with no man will see God.
Wrong relationships
Who do you relate with, who are the people in your network? Are they heaven bound or hell bound? Jesus said by their fruits we shall know them Mat 7:16-23
Open/Secret SINs
No sinner will enter the kingdom especially those involved in continued sinning and secret sins after coming to the Lord Rom 6:1, Mat 7:23 (you can’t keep sinning as a child of God…it’s not possible), 2Tim 2:19
From the last few statements of the story (open to read Mat 22:12,13,14):
12…God will ask you questions during judgement but you won’t have anything to say because there won’t be any excuse
13…the endpoint for such people is certainly hell
14…that you have once accepted the invitation is not a guarantee except you remain in HIM John 15, Luke 15 (except you come back to him like the prodigal son)
Altar Call, Prayers