Willow Ridge Sermons

Sunday, July 19th • David Allen

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Show Notes

July 19th, 2020 •

"But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” — Luke 14:13-14

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Creators and Guests

Host

David Allen

Executive Pastor of Connections & Care

What is Willow Ridge Sermons?

Sermon audio from Sunday services at Willow Ridge Church.

Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast.

This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons.

We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear

the latest message.

Thanks for listening.

Good morning.

Thank you so much for being here this morning.

Thank you for joining us online.

If you would, take your Bible, turn to Luke chapter 14.

We're in our series on the parables of Jesus.

We're going to be looking at this parable of the great banquet found in verses 12 through 24.

I want to ask you, though, before we get going, to be praying for our student mission team.

Actually, Pastor Bo and Aaron are actually already up in the Asheville area as they prep

to get ready for the students to come.

They're cooking for the week, so they need extra prayer on that.

Actually, Cal and Karina, our interim youth ministers, are leading the team of students and adults

as they're going to be ministering at the children's orphanage there in Black Mountain, North Carolina.

So they've got a lot of different things planned for them up there, but I know they would love for you to be praying for them this week

as they have opportunities to share the gospel, as they have opportunities to be the hands and feet of God

as they minister in that area.

So please pray for them and join me, if you would, now as we pray for them as well.

Lord, we do thank you for the opportunity that our students and our adults have this coming week to serve you,

to serve you in the Black Mountain area, to serve you at the children's home.

Lord, we just pray that you would open doors of opportunities for them to share your gospel

with everyone they come in contact with.

Lord, be with them as they are your hands and feet, as they do work.

Lord, we are grateful to you that you allow them this opportunity to serve you

and to serve your people that you've created.

Lord, we thank you, and we ask this prayer in your name. Amen.

Well, let me set the scene for you, kind of like what the little cartoon did for us.

The beginning of chapter 14, we see that Jesus has been invited to the lead Pharisees' home on the Sabbath

for a meal, and so in this home are other adults in which this, other men in which this Pharisee has invited to the table.

Jesus knows that entering into such a scene means that they are looking for a way to trap him.

Anytime you had the Pharisees and Jesus in the same context, it was their way of looking for a way to trap Jesus,

find out anything they could on him, and it says in that scripture,

even to observe him, to be able to discount who he is.

Jesus had a large following.

They didn't like that.

Ultimately, that would be, give reasons to crucify Christ.

We know crucify him for the sacrifice of our sins,

but that was the whole slant of the Pharisees that trapped Jesus.

Jesus being who he is,

God in human form, in divine form, had the wisdom to see past what they were trying to do.

And so, he was able to present a question to them which he knew they couldn't answer.

And part of it dealt with the healing of a man who had dropsy.

And so, Jesus actually does heal him, but in the context of that, he avoids the trap in which they're trying to set up.

So, in the context of this, they're still sitting around this table together.

Jesus continues to point out to the leader in this home, the person of this home,

that, hey, your motives are not right.

Your intent is to invite only the rich.

Your intent is to only invite the close friends that you have into your home,

while you miss all the others in your community.

And so, that then leads us to the parable in which we're going to look at now.

Jesus is constantly trying to challenge not only everybody he comes in contact with,

like the Pharisees, but he's also challenging even his disciples

to have a shift in thinking, to have a shift in their attitude,

to have a shift in their character that represents God in their life.

So, if you would, take your Bible.

Let's look and pick up in verse 12.

In chapter 14, he said,

So, once again, he's telling this man of who not to invite.

At least they also invite you in return, and you will be repaid.

But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

and you will be blessed because they cannot repay you,

for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.

When one of those who reclined at the table with him heard these things,

he said to him,

Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God.

But he said to him,

A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.

And at the time for the banquet,

he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited,

Come, for everything is now ready.

But they all alike began to make excuses.

The first said to him,

I have bought a field.

I must go out and see it.

Please have me excused.

And another said,

I have bought five yoke of oxen,

and I go to examine them.

Please have me excused.

And another said,

I have married a wife,

and therefore I cannot come.

So the servant came and reported these things to his master.

And then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant,

Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city,

and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.

And the servant said,

Sir, what you have commanded has been done,

and still there is room.

And the master said to the servant,

Go out to the highways and hedges,

and compel people to come in,

that my house may be filled.

For I tell you,

none of those men who were invited

shall taste my banquet.

So Jesus here is telling us an earthly story,

a story that has practical application,

but at the same time in this parable,

we also see that it has an eternal application as well.

What kind of throws me off is the fact that the Pharisees,

not once do we see in this passage,

have a clue of who they are really sitting in the presence of.

Yes, they know he's Jesus.

Yes, at this point, they know that he's done miracles.

They know these things,

yet they truly don't understand that they sit in the presence of God.

And that just simply goes way above their head.

But Jesus begins, once again,

the second time around,

to press in on who they are,

to press in on their own belief systems,

to get them to realize

what is asked of them.

So let's break it down together.

Let's kind of pull back some things,

and let's look at some key words and phrases

that we see in this passage.

In verse 12, we see,

once again, he said also to the man who invited him,

Jesus is saying this,

when you give a dinner or a banquet,

do not invite.

He's telling him who he needs to invite.

Now this man's already invited rich folks.

He's already invited his closest friends.

Jesus is saying,

you've given the wrong invitation.

Your friends or your brothers or your relatives

or rich neighbors,

at least they also invite you in return,

and you be repaid.

You see, the whole idea of building their status was,

I invite you to a meal,

I expect you to invite me back to a meal.

That was the whole mindset.

If I take you to lunch,

well, next week I expect you to take me to lunch.

You see, their goal was to keep a certain status

in their culture, in their society.

And they played to that end.

Then in verse 13, it says,

but when you give a feast,

Jesus continues to say,

but when you give a feast,

invite the poor.

Change your invitee list.

Change who you bring around the table with you.

He says, invite the crippled, the lame, the blind,

the same group of people that he mentioned earlier

in the chapter.

Verse 14,

and you will be blessed.

You see, if you just take somebody out for a meal

or you invite them to your house for a meal

and they do that in return,

that's not really a blessing.

You're just putting on an expectation.

But Jesus says,

if you invite someone to your table

who can't invite you back,

then you're inviting out of compassion.

You're inviting out of a need.

And as a result of that,

you're going to receive my blessing.

A blessing is not going to come to you

in a monetary sense,

but the blessing is going to come to you

because you've done something for someone else.

And that's a problem that they had.

They were so caught up on their self,

exalting their self,

that we see earlier in the chapter,

that humility wasn't even in their vocabulary.

But Jesus continues to press in on them

to help them to realize

what he calls people to do.

And you will be blessed

because they cannot repay you,

for you will be repaid

at the resurrection of the just.

In several other translations,

that resurrection of the just

also reads rejection,

not rejection,

resurrection of the righteous.

Resurrection of the righteous

is resurrection for those who follow Christ,

who serve him,

who love him as their Lord and Savior.

That's what that reference is.

You see, you and I know

that Jesus' goal

was to build relationships

with an invitation.

Not to build relationships

in hopes to get something back.

We also see in here

that there is an earthly blessing

by inviting someone

out of compassion

and out of humility,

but there's also

the eternal repayment

for doing what God calls you and I to do.

as his child.

You see, new friendships

are a blessing.

When you and I

get to know somebody

for the first time,

we begin a journey with them

and in turn,

it becomes a blessing to us.

I don't know how many times

in my own life

where I've prejudged someone

to thankfully learn

that they were far away

from what I thought.

God began to open up a door

to open up clearly

what that person means.

God clearly showed me

the investment that I can make

and the investment

that they can make in my life

to help me to be a person

that God desires for me to be.

God uses relationships

to refine us.

God uses relationships

to bring us closer to him

as they speak into our lives.

But when we only invite

a certain circle of friends,

we lose out

on all the other blessings

around us

that come in the form

of relationships.

And they couldn't see that.

But yet,

Jesus was trying

to help them realize that.

When was the last time

that you blessed somebody

simply by saying a kind word?

When was the last time

you blessed somebody

by simply acknowledging

their presence?

Have you ever been surprised

when you're at Walmart

or Target

or wherever you find yourself

and you simply extend

a kind gesture of hello?

How are you doing?

Are you having a good day?

There's been many times

when I've said those phrases

that I get this look

of shock

in the person's face

because nobody

has said that to them.

It's amazing

what you and I

through the power of God

can do

through a simple gesture

of kindness

by greeting someone

and acknowledging

that person

because too many times

they go through their day

where nobody acknowledges

their existence.

And Jesus wanted help

to help these men

in this room

in this home

to realize

that they need

to acknowledge

those

that they normally

don't acknowledge.

And the final point

of that verse

says to you and I

as Christ followers

our repayment

comes at the resurrection.

We're not getting chips

we're not getting coins

we're not getting

anything like that

on earth

because God

doesn't work that way.

But what God does

for you and I

is at the resurrection

when we spend

eternity with him.

In verse 15

as we go on

we see this

when one of those

who reclined

at the table

with him

heard these things

he said to him

this man said

to Jesus

blessed is everyone

who will eat bread

in the kingdom

of God.

Now we kind of

get the idea

that maybe he's

getting ahead

of himself.

Now here's a Pharisee

who doesn't know

who is actually

sitting in his presence

but yet

he is projecting

the fact

that he's going

to be blessed

when he gets

into the kingdom

of God.

And I think

we realize

and we see

in this passage

of scripture

Jesus' approach

to his comment

by how Jesus

responds

to his comment.

Truly

he made

a true statement

but yet

his own life

this Pharisee

his own life

did not represent

the statement

that he made.

Because listen

to what Jesus

says

but he

Jesus

said to him

a man once

gave a great banquet

so he's beginning

to unfold

a story

for this man

to help him

see a truth

that he's not

seeing any other way.

A man once

gave a great banquet

and invited many.

Now you and I

got to realize

as followers

of Christ

in our relationship

with God

and God's

relationship

with the world

it's not about

a few

it's about

the many.

It's about

his message

of the gospel

reaching everybody

in this world

that he has created

and he's created

everyone.

So when we see

there that

this man

when we look

at it from

an eternal

perspective

of this parable

this man

is representing

God.

Not just

an ordinary man

there's two

stories going on

here.

There's the

earthly story

the practical

side of it

but there's

also the

spiritual side

of it

there's the

eternal side

of it

that God

is pointing

out.

A man once

gave a great

banquet

and invited

many

and at the

time for

the banquet

he sent

his servant

to say

to those

who had

been invited

come

for everything

is now

ready.

It was a

custom of

that day

to send

out two

invitations.

It kind

of reminded

me as I

read that

it kind

of reminded

me of

you know

if you get

one of those

cards in

the mail

that says

save the

date

you know

mark this

date on

because here's

our celebration

coming whether

it be marriage

whether it be

some other type

of announcement

but in that

day and time

two invitations

went out.

The first

invitation was

to find out

who is actually

going to come

to the banquet.

They got the

yes or they

got the no

and so they

would come back

based on the

yes and they

would plan and

they would prep

for that

banquet.

Everything

that was

involved, all

the food

that was

involved, all

the extra

special things

that were

involved in

setting up

this banquet

that was

the first

invitation.

But then

when the

person who

put on the

banquet or

put on the

gathering had

everything ready

everything was

prepared and

prepped and

ready to serve

then he would

send that

servant back out

to those who

said yes to

say now is

the time.

So it's not

like you get

an invitation

in the mail

and it says

on July 21st

at 7pm

show up at

my house.

When the

food was

ready that's

when you got

the second

invitation.

When the

banquet was

ready that's

when you got

the second

invitation.

So the

servant goes

out and

invites and

tells everybody

come for

everything is

ready.

Now again

the second

part of this

parable is

talking about

eternity.

And as I

read this

part there's

another thing

in scripture

that talks

about eternity.

Jesus is

talking to

his disciples

in John

chapter 14.

And so

when I read

this my mind

also went to

this passage

because it

helps us see

the mind of

God and

how God

prepares for

his people

who love

him, who

serve him,

who obey

him, who

call him

father.

John 14

2-3 says

in my

father's

house are

many

rooms.

Once again

we get that

word, that

concept of

many, not

a few.

God has

plans for

everyone,

everyone who

will call

on his

name.

He goes

on to

say,

if it

were not

so, would

I have

told you

that I

go to

prepare a

place for

you.

Jesus'

story, in

parable, he

talks about

preparing a

meal.

In this

message to the

disciples, he

talks about

preparing a

place.

And if I

go and

prepare a

place for

you, I

will come

again and

will take

you to

myself, that

where I

am, you

may be

also.

God's

desire for

you, God's

desire for

me, God's

desire for

all creation

is that we

live in

eternity in

the presence

of God.

And that

is a part

of what

this parable

is about.

We go on

to see,

but they

all alike

began to

make

excuses.

not just

one of

them that

said yes,

not just

two of

them that

said yes,

but every

one of

the invitees

who said

yes to

coming to

the banquet

came up

with an

excuse for

why they

couldn't.

The first

said to

him, I

have bought

a field

and I

must go

out and

see it.

Please

have me

excused.

And another

said, I

have bought

five yoke of

oxen and I

go to

examine them.

Please

have me

excused.

So in

this case,

these two

have possessions

that are

more important

than coming

to this

banquet.

Now this

is the

banquet.

This is

the most

important

banquet of

their life.

This is

God's

banquet.

And yet

they have

excuses for

why they

can't.

Their

possessions

became more

important to

them than

becoming a

part of the

banquet that

God was

throwing,

that this

man was

throwing.

It goes

on to say

there, it

says, and

another said, I

have married a

wife and

therefore I

cannot come.

Now he's

blaming his

spouse.

He's blaming

his wife for

why he can't

come.

There are

times in a

person's life

that relationships

become more

important than

what God

desires.

In this

scenario, the

relationship with

the spouse was

more important at

that moment.

Can all these

things that

they brought

up happen

at another

time?

Of course

they can.

Can this

person, this

man go and

see his

property?

Yes, he

can.

Can this

man go and

see the

oxen that

he's purchased?

Of course

he can.

Can he

take one

moment and

not be with

his wife?

Of course

he can.

But they

chose the

excuse over

the presence

of the man

throwing the

banquet.

They chose

an excuse

over the

opportunity to be

in the

presence of

God.

Which causes

me to ask

myself a

question.

When do

I allow

possessions and

relationships to

get in the way

of my

relationship with

God?

Not only when

do I, but

when have I

allowed

possessions and

relationships to

get in between

my relationship

with God?

Because it

happens.

God speaks

about possessions.

God speaks

about relationships

all throughout

his word.

And the whole

point is for

you and I to

have relationship

with God.

Everything else

filters itself

out.

Why did God

say in the

Ten Commandments,

do not have

any other God

before me?

Because God

desires our

attention.

God desires our

full focus.

It's not that

he doesn't want

us to have

possessions.

It's not that

he doesn't want

us to have

relationships.

But he does

want to have

our attention.

He does want

to have our

relationship with

him.

And it's

actually a

question that I

got to continue

to ask myself

and to continue

to evaluate

myself to make

sure possessions

don't supersede

my relationship

with God.

To make sure

that my

relationship with

my wife,

my relationship

with my sons,

my relationship

with my friends

and the people

that I minister

with and minister

to do not

become the top

priority and

supersede my

relationship with

the Lord.

Jesus goes on

to continue to

tell the parable.

He says,

so the servant

came and reported

these things to

his master.

And then the

master of the

house became

angry and said

to his servant,

go out quickly

to the streets.

Here's one of

those turning

point moments

for this man

throwing this

banquet.

He could have

easily scattered

everything.

He could have

easily thrown

out all the

preparation,

all the food,

just disregarded

it whatsoever.

But yet he

chose to take a

negative situation

and to make

something good

out of it.

He chose to

bring others

into his home

that normally

he would not

have.

Go out quickly

to the streets

and lanes of

the city and

bring in the

poor and the

crippled and

the blind in

the lame.

Once again,

Jesus is pressing

into these men

around the table.

These are the

people that you

need to look for.

Quit always

looking at the

same ones.

Invite those

that you normally

do not invite.

And the servant

said,

Sir, what you

commanded,

I love this,

Sir, what you

have commanded

has been done.

I followed

through with

what your

request was.

But then he

says, and

still there is

room.

There's still a

place for

somebody else.

There's still a

place for more

people to come

in.

And then listen

to what Jesus

says of the

master's response

was.

And the master

said to the

servant, go out

to the highways

and the hedges.

And listen

to this.

I think this

word is so

important right

here.

And compel.

He didn't say

and go out to

the highways and

the hedges and

get people to

come in.

He said, no,

go out to the

highway and the

hedges and

compel people to

come in.

Aggressively

encourage them to

come into my

home and sit at

my table.

Don't be

passive.

Don't settle

for one

response but

do it until

you convince

them to

come into

my house

because I

know how

important this

meal is for

them.

Compel them

to come in.

When's the

last time I

compelled

somebody to

be a part of

what God is

about?

When is the

last time I

pressed in,

and pressed

in instead

of gave in

to a simple

no?

Compel people

to come in

that my

house, once

again, Jesus'

word, the

reflection of

God the

Father, my

house may be

filled.

I just don't

want a few

people in the

room.

I want them

falling out the

windows.

I want them

falling out the

doors.

I want to see a

line of people

trying to get

through the door

to get to

the feast

because that's

what satisfies

me.

That's what

brings glory

to me.

And then the

last verse of

this parable

is just one of

those things

that you can

call it a gut

punch, you can

call it a slap

upside the head,

however you want

to label it.

And Jesus

says,

for I tell

you.

He's gone

now from

telling a

parable,

telling a

story,

to now

making a

statement.

For I

tell you,

none of

those men

who were

invited,

talking about

the men who

came up with

the excuses,

none of

those men

who were

invited

shall taste,

very important

word,

my.

None of

those men

who were

invited shall

taste my

banquet.

None of

those men

who were

invited shall

see my

eternity.

None of

those men

who were

invited shall

be in my

presence for

eternity.

See,

Jesus knew

the heart of

that Pharisee

who said,

blessed is the

one who eats

in the kingdom

of God.

He already

knew the

man's heart.

He knew the

number of

excuses that

man had

come up

with and

would continue

to come up

with.

And right

then and

there,

he said to

him,

it's not

going to be

you.

And all

you who are

also sitting

at the table,

it's not

going to be

you either.

That's a

strong statement.

Because you

being a

Hebrew,

you've kind

of got this

idea that,

yeah,

it's going

to be me

because I'm

a Hebrew.

You be a

Pharisee,

you've got

this idea,

yeah,

it's going

to be me

because I'm

a Pharisee.

And Jesus

says,

no,

you're not

listening.

You have

ears,

but you're

not hearing

me.

You have

eyes,

but you're

not seeing

what I'm

doing.

And he

calls them

on the

table.

You see,

the kingdom

of God is

not an

entitlement.

just because

I'm a

Baptist,

just because

I have a

Christian

faith,

it's not

about

entitlement,

it's about

saying yes

in my

faith to

God as

my Lord

and as

my Savior.

It's saying

yes to

his provision

of his

son for

the forgiveness

of my

sins.

that's

what allows

me to

sit at

the table.

That's

what allows

me to

come into

the banquet

room that

God has.

All through

this parable

that Pastor

Bo's been

leading us

through this

series,

he's asked

us to

think about

three questions.

What does

this parable

teach me

about God?

Where do

I see

myself in

this parable?

And then

lastly,

how does

this change

the way I

view the

world and

the way I

live?

So here

are the

things that

stood out

for me as

I think

about those

questions.

One,

God's

invitation is

for everyone.

God's

invitation into

a relationship

with him is

not limited

by our

status.

It's not

limited whether

we're rich or

whether we're

poor.

It's not

limited whether

we're on the

invite list or

the uninvited

list.

We are

invited by

God because

we are

created by

God from

the very

beginning.

We all

have the

opportunity to

either accept

or reject

that invitation.

But God's

invitation is

for everyone.

Excuses will

keep you from

the presence of

God.

I've had

excuses in

my life where

God through

his Holy

Spirit has

prompted me

to speak,

to say,

to do.

And I

came up with

an excuse.

And you

know what

happened?

I missed

the blessing

that would

have happened

if I would

have said

yes.

By saying

no to a

simple word

or expression

from God,

I didn't

get to receive

the blessing.

See,

excuses keep

us out of

the presence

of God.

Excuses

keep us

from joining

God in

what God

is doing.

God is

always at

work around

us.

It doesn't

matter what's

going on.

God is

always at

work.

my wife

and I

went out

and got

something to

eat the

other night

and we

sat at

this table

and we

were like,

oh man,

ain't no

practice going

on here.

And man,

I felt like

claustrophobic

even if it

was no

COVID.

And hearing

this conversation

going on at

the table

behind me,

I'm like,

wow.

And then

Trish and I

were having

a conversation

about,

you know,

what does

God call

us to do

in moments

like this?

And then

all of

a sudden

that

conversation

took a

turn.

And it

went from

an earthly

mindset to

all of a

sudden God

entered into

the conversation.

And one

person at the

table was

asking him,

when's the last

time you've

been to

church?

And that

opened the

door to

that person's

thought of

God,

that person's

thought of

Jesus.

And it

was on and

on and

on.

And I

was like,

wow,

that took

a turn.

But in

that moment,

Trish and I

were saying,

what do we

do?

And in

that moment,

God says,

I'm going to

change this

conversation.

And I'm

going to give

you an

opportunity to

do something.

And I'll

be honest

with you.

In all my

life as a

Christian and

a minister,

I have never

done this.

I wrote

my name and

my church and

my phone

number on

my receipt.

And I

went to

their table

when I

left and

I said,

hey,

don't mean

to eavesdrop.

They started

to laugh because

they knew the

conversation was

pretty loud.

And the person

says,

you just

happened to

be sitting

near a

pastor tonight.

And that

guy started

to laugh.

And I

heard him

laugh as I

laid that

paper down

and walked

away.

But God

spoke pretty

clearly.

He spoke

even clearly

through my

wife.

He said,

what are you

going to

do?

But God

was in

that

moment

and I

stepped

forward.

What's

going to

come of

it?

I have

no idea.

But in

that moment

whatever

seed that

God called

me to

do,

I did.

Thankfully

I didn't

come up

with an

excuse that

I needed

to get

out of

the

restaurant.

But I

enjoyed an

opportunity to

be in the

presence of

God,

however God

chooses to

use that

moment.

but most

importantly

constant

excuses

will lead

you to

an eternity

without

God.

Hear me

out now.

Constant

excuses

will leave

you in

an eternity

without

God.

Because there

will come a

day when you

say no,

when you

come up with

another excuse

will be the

last opportunity

you have.

You and I

do not know

the day or

the time in

which we're

called to

our eternal

existence.

That existence

is either in

the presence of

God as we

see scripture

talk about

heaven,

or it is in

an eternal

existence away

from God,

apart from

God,

what we see

in scripture

is called

hell.

We don't

know the

day or the

time,

but our

opportunity for

excuses will

run out by

our opportunity

to be able

to say

yes and

to step

into a

relationship

with the

Lord who

created you

and who

loves you.

We don't

know how

long that

will be.

The other

thing that I

see here is

God doesn't

have limited

seating.

God's invitation

is for everyone,

but also God

doesn't have

limited seating.

There's always

a chair at

the table.

Somebody fills

up that chair,

guess what?

Another one's

going to pop

up.

There's

always a

seat at

the table

with God

in the

presence of

God.

And that

is the

beauty of

having a

relationship

with God.

That is

the beauty

of you

and I

as believers.

We have

the opportunity

not only to

receive the

invitation,

but to also

extend the

invitation to

others.

We have the

opportunity to

allow God

to be spoken

of.

The church I

grew up in,

I was a

student ministry

intern, me and

another guy.

And each

week we had

to sit with

our youth

pastor, our

boss, and

basically it was

a time of

discipleship where

he poured into

us and he

challenged us.

And we

happened to be

talking about

sharing our

faith that day

and he simply

looked at me

and he said,

David, you

know what

your problem

is?

He said,

you think you've

got to begin

the conversation

of salvation and

you've got to

finish it at the

finish line and

see that person

come to know

the Lord.

He said,

that becomes a

stumbling block

for you.

He says,

Dave, you've

got to look for

an opportunity

and a way just

to bring God

up in the

conversation and

let God do

the rest.

And over 30

plus years that

has stuck with

me.

That God just

wants me to

drop a seed.

God just wants

me to bring his

name up in the

conversation,

however that can

happen.

You're having a

conversation with

a friend and

maybe they're

going through

something and you

simply say,

I'm going to

pray for you.

Most people know

that when you're

talking about

prayer, you're

talking about

going to God

regardless of

who they are in

their faith and

their walk or

what they know

of God or

not.

When you say

prayer, they

kind of have an

idea of what

you're talking

about.

You and I

look for ways

and opportunities

to bring God

up in the

conversation.

You know,

one of the

simplest things

for you and I

to do as

believers is to

invite somebody

to worship.

It's really

that simple.

Hey, you

come worship

with me?

Let God do

the rest.

God never

said he

wouldn't.

God just

wants you and

I to be

obedient.

He's going to

do the rest.

What about

inviting somebody

to your small

group?

Hey, we're

getting together.

Please come.

You know, we

do this Bible

study together.

Come check it

out.

There's no

pressure there.

If they

don't come,

they don't

come.

But if they

do, it has a

high probability

of being a

moment in their

life that they

come to know

the Lord or

begin the

process of

becoming to

know the Lord

as their

personal Lord

and Savior

by a simple

invitation.

What are you

going to do

with your

invitation?

What have you

done with your

invitation to

come to know

the Lord as

your Lord and

Savior?

I look around

this room and

I know several

of you have

stepped through

and said yes

to Jesus'

invitation to

coming to

know him as

your Lord and

Savior.

Others, I do

not know that

answer for you.

What are you

going to do

with that

invitation?

You see, the

Pharisees at

lunch believed

because of

their Hebrew

DNA, they

would be in

the kingdom

of God.

There's many

who think today

because of their

religious or

denominational

affiliation that

they're granted

into the

kingdom of

God, but

none of that

is true.

We only get

to experience

eternity with

God when we

say yes to

God's invitation

to come into

relationship with

him through the

forgiveness of

our sins and

saying yes to

him as our

Lord and Savior.

God's invitation

is into a

relationship with

him, nothing

else.

a relationship

with God

the Father.

What will

you do with

your invitation

that God

gives you?

Lord, thank

you so much

for your

word.

It is a

constant of

how you

press into

our life.

It is a

constant in

how you

challenge us.

It is a

constant in

how you

lead us to

shift our

mindset, to

shift our

attitude and

our character.

Lord, any

time we open

up your

word, may

it not go

void in

how it

applies to

us, in

how you

desire for

us to

live it

out.

Lord, whoever

we need to

extend an

invitation into

relationship with

you, Lord,

give us the

strength to do

that.

Lord, remove

any barriers

that may be in

the way from

us doing that,

whatever the

case might be,

Lord.

Lord, help

us to be

obedient to

you in

what we say

and how we

live.

Lord, thank

you for

loving us.

Thank you

that when we

step into

relationship with

you, that

you restore

us and set

our life on

a course where

we get to

know you

more and

where we

become who

you desire

for us to

be.

Lord, we

thank you.

We ask this

prayer in your

name.

Amen.

Thanks again

for listening

to the

Willow Ridge

Church weekly

podcast.

We hope that

you enjoyed

listening to

this week's

message.

If you'd

like to learn

more about

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or explore

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