The King Throws a Party [Part 1]

Pastor, author and Bible teacher Alan Wright you can't even wrap your mind around the vastness of creation, much less the vastness of God. The rains I tell you he is a keen and he is supreme and also the whole holy.

There is no one like a whole new light excited for you to hear the teaching today. In the series that we called the top 10 from Pascarella is presented remove the church in North Carolina in the first 10 years of pastoral challenge radio broadcast.

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I will make sure you know how to get our special resource right now, a digital copy of the top 10 from pastor out and write this digital download can be yours for your donation this month to Alan Wright Ministries, or if you prefer we do have a CD album available. Your choice as you listen to today's message go deeper as we send you today special offer contact as a pastor and how and.org that's pastor out and.org or call 877-544-4860 877-544-4860 will to you more about it later in the program but right now let's get started with today's teaching here is Alan writing in the kingdom of God consists of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, according to Romans chapter 14 the kingdom of God consists of righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Spirit tell you today that when Jesus had opportunity to explain to his followers what the kingdom of God is like you chose is one of his primary examples of wedding party. The biggest party they knew of in the Middle East, and he said that's what the kingdom of God is like when I was in seminary I took in evangelism class and we were given many different assignments. One of the assignments was supposed to go and share our faith share the gospel with a complete stranger. I had shared my faith. Of course sometimes her family and friends before I was so shy and I wasn't the kind of person to go up a complete stranger and talk to about the gospel my mine so it is pushy and I saw it is uncomfortable and it wasn't something that I was accustomed to doing, and so I did what I would usually do in such a situation. I put it off until the last minute so I was putting off and dreading this moment where I had to go and find a helpless victim. I met a stranger.

I mean, I person that I could go and tell all the gospel to and I get my assignment done and then I'm supposed to write down your what happened. I waited to the last moment and it was actually due the next day and I was out playing some tennis and I said I've got to find a stranger somewhere and share the gospel. Or else I'm a mess of this assignment and so there was a person there that also finished playing tennis. I went over and cornered them at the tennis fence where they couldn't get away and blurted out the four spiritual laws and lay the gospel on a really quick and I can walk away and said, glad that's over with and the person I shared with have something in common.

They were glad it was over with also. Years ago Becky Pemberton said that Christians and non-Christians have this in common when it comes to evangelism. They are both uncomfortable with it and for so much of my life. That's the way I thought of it. I thought you know this is not very attractive to me to think of going up to strangers and basically telling them they better hurry up and accept Jesus less they go to hell. I just didn't seem like the kind of thing I wanted to be doing in my everyday life and I come today to Matthew chapter 22, which is an amazing story that Jesus tells that is about the kingdom of God because, as were thinking about missions throughout this month where were thinking along the theme of he rain so the kingdom of God. The message of the gospel is a message of the kingdom Jesus came and when he came he did not just announce that he was had arrived as the Messiah wasn't just announcing that there was good news.

He was announcing a particular message to change your way of thinking that's what repent means for the kingdom of God is at hand. In other words he was saying that there is an invisible kingdom. The king has a domain and the king is God and that he has common all grading this kingdom and that anyone who trusts in Christ is part of this kingdom and that God is supreme over all. And so the kingdom message is on my heart and mind these days and soak thinking about this king and if you think about God as a king you can envision God is the one who is supreme and powerful and awesome and that he is, for he is so vast and infinite cannot be understood by the human mind in our prayer time this morning. Kelly was his marbling were done with all God is that there is there is there is a machine that was put into spaces traveling to the edge of our solar system. It is getting close now traveling thousands of miles an hour is about now getting close to the edge of our solar system, but is taken at 34 or 35 years to get there. And this is how big our solar system is just a regular little star in the midst of so many solar systems in one galaxy in the midst of so make. You can even wrap your mind around the vastness of creation, much less the vastness of God. The rains I tell you he is a king, and he is supreme and awesome and holy, holy, holy. There is no one like God. But when you look at the image of God is king and you read along to the Gospels, you come to Matthew chapter 22 and you will be stunned to realize that this is a king who not only rains overall but is a king who likes to throw a party and we come to Matthew chapter 22 to learn something about the king who throws a party. Matthew 22 verse one again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who give a wedding feast for his son is in his servants to call those who are invited to the wedding, but they would not come again he sent other servicing tell those who are invited.

See, I have prepared my dinner, my auction, my fatcats have been slaughtered and everything's ready notice that I've done everything necessary for the party. Everything happened all the provisions made come to the wedding feast verse five but they paid no attention when off went to his farm to his business while the rest seized his servants treated them shamefully and killed them. The king was angry. He sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

They said to his servants, the wedding feast is ready for those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find those servants went out into the roads and gather all whom they found, both bad and good.

So wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the gas he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. They said to him, Fran, how did you get in here without a wedding garment and he was speechless. King said to the attendance, bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called but few are chosen.

Everything about this whole story is surprising, it is just loaded with surprises for Jesus's listeners in his day, and it is loaded with surprise for us as we read the story from Taiwan number one is surprising is this to me of the was anybody else heard a story is surprising that Jesus would compare the kingdom of God to a party to a party. I grew up in a formal liturgical church in my childhood along with formality or liturgy, but in my particular situation didn't feel very life-giving and I grew up in this church as a kid and we go to church and what I be thinking about was how quickly can we go home from church.

If you'd asked me as an eight-year-old boy. For example, what word would you describe would best describe what church is like I could've spent all day coming up with words and I can assure you that one of those words would not have been party to what was like to go to a birthday party church was not a birthday party. It was altogether different polemic that me see where the comparison might go parties. Well, it was an honor to get invited to somebody's birthday party and it's like a privilege in your felt like a special guest and you were honored church to me just felt like something you had to do. The parties are. If it's a good party is not like you got to do this or else parties are special privilege assessment which church felt parties were places where there's lots of laughter and church to me. Felt somber or at least heavy or least I had to be really quiet around mom would pinch me really hard on me that happen at parties where if you talk to my pinches.

You parties are place where you sell but I didn't put that on the video my moms watching this morning.

Parties are places where you celebrate celebrate you not worried about you making too much noise or you're not doing things right just celebrating and church. I just felt like it was the place where you thought about everything that was wrong with you parties you get when you receive presence church you you give but you do so is preacher made to feel guilty parties you relax church you tighten up it is felt.

A party is the place where you just feel so good when you leave in charge. Can't believe how many people come to know church and the big thing they say when they leave.

As I said, I feel first time in my life feel better when I leave church. I like the testimony about how much the church hasn't been like a party think the best part even been to the best parts not talk about that frat party where you threw up on your roommate afterwards. That's not fun. Okay what you know that's not fundamental real party in good party party that was celebrating something up big party and I was the best one you ever been to Alan Wright will have more teaching moment today important series ministries for quite some time now. Every one of this message is cast hadn't really hit home, and special rates in gratitude of more than a symbol of the most powerful messages each year. The first time together in one special gift to Alan Wright Ministries this month. Alan Wright's top 10 CD album Digital you ready for some good news gift to discover God's grace afresh with Alan Wright's top 10. The first decade the gospel is shared when you get to Alan Wright Ministries. This broadcast is only possible because of listener financial support.

When you get today. We will send you a special offer.

We are happy to send this to you as I thanks from Alan Wright Ministries. These are the final days. This offer is being made available to you this month, seven 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website past Rowan.like today's teaching now continues here once again is just one probably that I have experienced in my behalf as my wife did. My 40th birthday my wife the big celebration and 40th birthday was approaching and she shouldn't mention much to situate take me up to Ryan's restaurant where we go for special occasion we go there every winter and eat and then go to the Nutcracker ballet was the tradition that we've done almost every year of our married life, and I like it I like I like the food I like the place.

I like the memories celebrated many birthdays and anniversaries.

There it was there that Ann's little present across the table one evening open it up and it was a little pair of booties and she let me know that she was expecting our second child is just been that kind of place are set on what it will take you to Ryan's for your birthday so I was looking for to we went and I went to the back room where we had sat before and step back there in the room was full of family and friends, number of whom had flown in from distant places, be there for my 40th birthday party and we had scallops wrapped in bacon as an appetizer and we had primary and we had laughter and joy. And then she gave this big scrapbook and it was a collection of blessings and encouragements that mentors and teachers and friends from distant places had sent in to just encourage me and gave me the book to look through and feel a sense of honor and that was some party thousand party going year and 1/2 ago to Papa New Guinea and watching people get the Bible for the first time in their language, having raised their pigs and their gardens in order to celebrate and dance down the beach in their native garb. That's a party there. There been some good parties to think about the best party that you ever been to and probably the best party you've ever been to doesn't compare to a wedding party and ancient Palestine. Even if you were poor you would scrape together everything you have so you could celebrate for at least a week.

The bride and the groom are treated like king and queen that week. They are they are, even if they're not from a royal family. It feels like royalty. And this is the time to kill the fatted calf. This is the time in which you show hospitality to every friend and family member that you have and you celebrate and you celebrate and just when you feel like you can keep celebrate your soak your worn-out salvation. You people celebrate. That's the kind of party. And this is a party. Note that the king is throwing so this isn't a poor person throwing this party. This is the king who has all the resources of the kingdom. He's throwing the wedding party for his son. That's the party that's going on.

And Jesus said if you want to know what the kingdom of God is like never been to a wedding party. You know the best celebration you ever go to where all the wonderful foods and fruits enjoy strength and fellowship in celebration. Well, that's what the kingdom of God is light, but is not just like any old party is like the king of the universe is throwing the party that's with the kingdom of God is like. That's a big surprise to the somber Pharisees as a surprise to a lot of people who've grown up in religious environments. Some of been raised in church have no concept of what the kingdom of God is really like Fred its essence it is a place that is filled with righteousness and joy and peace. Pleasant surprise of one second surprise is not just that it is given. Got party. The second surprise is that the people who come to the party. What happens the king sends out the invitation to nobleman aristocrats, people who are accustomed to the royal court and they refuse they don't come. This is shocking, who turns down the king's invitation to his sons wedding party who don't want to go to the palace for the princes. Big party. I thought the Cinderella story was about. Everybody wants to go to the party who don't want to go this.

This should stop and arrest your attention right here is an amazing Jesus telling the story about the cumulative same that some people are invited to it and say no. Are you kidding me. The only two reasons. One, the people are busy in their working some to his farm, some to his business. The text as and others said just got mad and they disdained king and despised the invitation and rose up and killed the messengers so they were to reason people didn't come either. They were consumed with their work or they were consumed with their hatred of the kingdom is only to ask but I consider here. You have to be completely preoccupied with your own work in your own endeavors or you have to be completely repulsed by the king completely bilious to the point, you'd be treasonous and say nobody is going to tell me what to do, even if it's inviting me to a party when people reject God. There are basically two reasons just gone like the prodigal son. We call him the younger son who went off to a faraway land and squandered his inheritance while living was rebellion said I don't want to live with my father.

I don't want to be here. I want to do it on my own or like the older brother who said that he been slaving for all those years in the field working working working and when the father pleaded with him to come into the party.

He refused to come in. He was more concerned with his own work. In other words, there are two ways that people reject the celebration of the kingdom of God and one is a preoccupation with your own attempts at righteousness you could call this religiosity or such a pride that rejects any sovereign leadership over your life and you could just call that rebellion so the king sent out this invitation.

It is just amazing that anybody would say no sleep the more than a walk with God and the board that I take delight in the beauty of the gospel in the offer that he has made to us having come to die in our place and love us with an everlasting love and infuse us with his Holy Spirit beers fruit in our lives of love and joy and peace and patience and goodness of and everything good. You could ever imagine. I just wanted who would not want that celebration. Who would not want the grace of God is shocking to me is surprising. People say no they don't, and so the party is too important to just cancel because nobody comes the king is going to celebrate. This is very important theological point, God loves you and he wants you celebrating in the kingdom of God with him for all eternity. He loves the whole world he would do all would be saved but you must also understand this, that the kingdom of God and the celebration for eternity of what God has done and Jesus Christ is going to go along with us all without us what you might as well realize is that there is this great party that's going on and you are invited to come into it, but it is so important for God is going to make sure that the party goes on.

Is he was at his as I've done everything you send a second invitation to the aristocrats goes back to him says no firstly invited they said no. Is Gobain is still kill the fatted calf box and have been slaughtered. The fruit has been imported.

The cheeses are in place. The choice wind is ready to serve in schools have been hired. The plans have been made all the arrangements are there.

Everything is in order.

Want to come I don't have to do anything but just calm I've already done all of this. I've already accomplished. This is the heart of God. This is what God's sake. I have already come to the world. I've already died for your sent.

I've already bled for you.

I've already made a place for you.

I've already prepared for you.

Please come so hardhearted God. Jesus is being celebrated and the children and and and and disciples. I got José was out and in the religious once I tell these to be quiet.

Jesus please get quite the stones will shout out to the parties and today's message the king throws a party from the series. Allen writes top 10 ministries for quite some time now. Everyone cast hadn't really hit home, and special rates, gratitude of more than a symbol of the most powerful messages each year.

The first time together in one special album when you make a gift to Alan Wright Ministries?

Allen writes top 10 CD album Digital you ready for some good news. Gift to discover God's grace afresh with Allen, writes top 10. The first decade gospel is shared when you get to Alan Wright Ministries.

This broadcast is only possible because of listener financial support. When you get today. We will send you a special offer now these are the final days.

This offer is being made available to you this month, seven 877-544-4860 877-544-4861 come to our website past Rowan.work in the victorious life.

We realize that we are nothing without him, but he's given us. Every power when you are life switches from being preoccupied with your own performance and shifts over to being preoccupied with the grandeur of Christ's performance when your life shifts away from always asking the question how my doing. Have I done well enough how people think about me and instead it shifts to what is Christ done, how well his Christ done see what that does is it moves you away from preoccupation with self to preoccupation with the grace of God.

The question is not, are you worthy or have you accomplished and do you have something to brag about. This is not a question anymore God wants you to feel great about yourself. They want you to have tremendous inward estate. But the question is not whether you've done well enough real gospel living means. That's just not the question.

The question is has Christ done well enough and the answer is he's done perfectly and that's the gospel visit us online@pastor.org or call 877-544-4860 that's 877-544-4860 if you only caught part of today's teaching. Not only can you listen again online but also get a daily email devotional that matches today's teaching delivered right to your email inbox free. Find out more about these and other resources@pastorout.org that's pastor out.org. Today's good news message is a listener supported production Alan Wright Ministries