Invitation

Sacrifice is a must.

You are sinful.

God is perfectly holy.

You cannot approach God it doesn't matter what rules you made or who you hard preacher. What book you read it doesn't matter. The laws of all.

So what sacrifice are you bringing some of us are virtually honest our sacrifices.

I grew up in a good home our sacrifices. I went to a Bible believing church are sacrifices I help the poor, the hungry, the needy are sacrifices serving church to listen all those are defective and broken sacrifices. The only thing that is acceptable to God is Jesus Christ, sacrifice, or you bring a portion of the upcoming sermon titled Dr. Robert on show here cleaving our goal is to make Christ visible in everything we do in the way we worship to at least would love to see one of our services here 3485 Fox River. For more information over ways to get plugged in. Check our website likely BBC.org now joins the rest of this week talking about invitation this morning in my 20+ years of ministry of the latter weddings and what I've observed is that one of the toughest things for any couple getting married to do is to decide on who to send the invitations. I hate to say it but who not to anybody else can identify with that. If we send them an invitation. We need to send them an invitation if we don't send them an invitation, but send them an invitation than these folks here will be upset. I may just stay tough decision. I've had to talk some couples out of eloping as it was just done with this can be as low as a no-no. You need to just go ahead and invite the best you can and move on. So also the kingdom of God is like a wedding to which everyone is invited.

Every person ever come into this world. Since Adam and Eve receive an invitation to come to the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, not everyone accepts the invitation, but if you do accept the invitation. Don't forget that it is a gracious gift. You did not earn the invitation of God is been given to you amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. So when you receive the invitation and you go to the banquet dress appropriately your confession may get you into the banquet but it's your clothing that will keep you in and you will see this morning.

What that truly means. What is your clothing as a Christian confession may get you in the door, but clothing will keep you there.

The question is are you truly dressed in the righteousness of Christ. If not, today's the message is for you become to the final message in our series on the parables of Christ, the parable of the wedding banquet. The messages call invitation. Let's all stand together for the reading of God's word. If you have the Bible's turn to Matthew chapter 22.

Starting in verse one hour you can turn to the screen and Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables, and said the kingdom of heaven is like a certain King who arranged a marriage for his son and he set out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding and they were not willing to come again, he sent out other servants, saying, tell those who are invited.

See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatted cattle are killed and all things are ready come to the wedding, but they made light of it and went their ways.

One, to his own farm, another to his business and the rest the sin of this seized his servants treated them spitefully and kill them over. The king heard about it. He was furious and he sent out his armies destroyed their those murderers, and burned up their city, and then he said to his servants, the wedding is ready, but those were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find invite to the wedding so the servants went out into the highways and gather together all of whom they found, both bad and good and the wedding hall was filled with guests. It would invitation as to this banquet is very simple. Jesus came died on the cross for your sins according to the Scriptures was buried, rose again and believing in him you can have eternal life invitation is like this. Jesus, I repent of my sins, I need you to be my Savior. And from this day I will follow you. Whatever you say goes.

Invitation accepted. If you haven't done that.

Would you pray with me right now, right where you are. Simple prayer that says Jesus is the first time I really understood that I have to received invitation and so I do ask you to come into my life. Forgive me of my sins and take over. I will follow you the rest of my life as you help me thank you for saving me and father we pray today. Those who have truly prayed to receive the invitation to that wedding banquet, we pray God that you would confirm to them that now they belong to you.

Now they have the privilege to enjoy the banquet that never ends God. We pray for the rest who still have not received invitation open their eyes, they may receive it and be saved today. Thank you God again for this morning in Jesus name we pray, let everyone stay together and please be seated.

The parable of the wedding banquet.

This is one of the most difficult parables that Jesus gave in his ministry let you know by now to understand the parable you need to look at it in its context. You heard me repeat that over and over again.

Look at the context look at the verses leading to the parable in the look of the verses following the parable and you will understand the correct meaning of the parable. So this morning to understand this parable of the wedding banquet, we have to back up to verse 14 of Matthew chapter 21. Listen to what it says Matthew 21 verse 14.

Then the blind and the lame came to him to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them very important for us to understand that statement, the blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. What was the reaction of the religious leaders achieve priests and the scribes listen to their reaction in verse 15 but when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did and the children crying out of the temple. They were not weeping. They were rejoicing saying hosanna to the son of David, what is the reaction they were indignant they were angry they were insulted. How dare you do such things. Don't you know what the Bible says don't you know what Moses has said in the Old Testament now what exactly is going on here for the understanding of this parable. I want to focus on the blind and the lame part of that verse. Why were the chief priests and the scribes so indignant that the blind and the lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them could be. Could it be that they misunderstood what the Bible says in Leviticus chapter 21 you have your Bibles go in and turn their Leviticus chapter 21 starting in verse 16. I think they misunderstood this passage listen to what it says and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying speak to Aaron member Aaron was Moses's brother, but he was also the high priest.

It was his descendents who were to sacrifice in the temple. They were to be the priests to the people of God. Listen to what Moses said to Aaron, as God told him, verse 17 no man of your descendents in succeeding generations who has any defect may approach to all for the bread of his God.

This is not for every person.

This is only for Moses his descendents who will be the priests for generations to come.

They cannot have any defect in their physical body. Listen to verse 18 for any man who has a defect shall not approach a man blind or lame, and the list goes on. Verse 21. No man of the descendents of Aaron the priest, who has a defect, is as if you didn't get the first time here comes a second time, shall come near to all for the offerings made by fire to the Lord. He may eat the bread of his God.

Both the most holy and the holy only.

You shall not go near the veil or approach the altar because he has a defect now. My mind says what in the world to truly understand we need to go further in Leviticus 2, chapter 22. Listen to verse 17 and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, again same thing. Verse 18 speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the children of Israel and say to them whatever a man of the house of Israel. So this is not about the priests. This is not about Aaron's sons and grandsons. This is about every person, every person who is an Israelite. Whatever a man of the house of Israel or of the strangers in Israel who offers his sacrifice for any of his vows, or for any of his free will offerings which he offered to the Lord as a burnt offering. Listen to verse 19 you shall offer of your own free will. A male without blemish. From the cattle from the sheep or from the goats.

Verse 20 whatever has a defect, you shall not offer so if you are a priest, a descendent of Aaron. You cannot have any defect. If you're going to serve. But not only that the offering that the general people will bring cannot be defective cannot be blind to not be lame. The limbs cannot be broken. None of that.

But please listen very carefully.

Why is there so much emphasis on perfection. Why did God make so much big deal that the person who is offering the sacrifice has to be perfect, and the sacrifice itself has to be for. Why is that, please listen carefully sin is imperfection and it cannot be countered by imperfection. You see the point I'm making here is this. Although sacrifices were simply a picture of the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, the Old Testament laws are simply pointing towards Jesus Christ. The reason the priest had to be perfect. Listen, is because our high priest, Jesus is perfect. So God was not being prejudiced towards those who are blind and lame and have defects. He was simply saying hey listen, don't forget all that you're doing right now is gonna come to an end because the high priest, the sacrifices coming and he is perfect and he will be the perfect sacrifice limit me to verse do you in the first Peter chapter 1 and verse 18. Listen to this on the screen knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, corruptible means, what defective stuff you were not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers by the precious blood of Christ as a for Lamb stayed with me without blemish and without spot. Perfect. Not everything that you can just waltz in and to the presence of God. You have to bring a sacrifices out of believing that you can not believe in the law of gravity. But if I step over, I am coming down sacrifice is a must. You are sinful. God is perfectly holy. You cannot approach God it doesn't matter what rules you make, or who you heard preacher what book you've read it doesn't matter the law is the law.

So what sacrifice are you bringing some of us are virtually on us are sacrifices. I grew up in a good home are sacrifices of into a Bible believing church are sacrifices I help the poor, the hungry, the needy are sacrifices serving church to listen all those are defective and broken sacrifices. The only thing that is acceptable to God is Jesus Christ will cover sacrifice. Are you bringing my keep that in mind our time is short. Let's go to the park parable again, the parable of the wedding banquet. The king arranged a marriage for his son and sent out his servants to those invited to come to the wedding so the wedding invitation already gone out and the king said go tell them.

Dinner is served and what is the response they were unwilling to come. So he sent out other servants to plead with the guests saying please I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatted cattle are killed. Things are ready come to the wedding but listen to what it says in verse five, but they made what essay they made light of it you of the word is there. The Greek word is a male ale, a male ale sorta means they acted flippantly. Sometimes when people come to Clearview. They have a very exciting spirit is like wow this is amazing how we love it.

Everything is awesome.

This is great. It is different than what I grew up in. But but I love this place is awesome sometimes when people come to Clearview. The almost have a flippant attitude. Please listen very carefully is that you is God's gracious invitation coming to you.

God is speaking to you, but you're making a lot of you have no care for it. Do you think you are too good for many of your going like what in the world passed a shop you don't meet everybody. Do you I do and he can pick it up just like that to go. You making a lot of okay and here's where I tell you if this is not the place for you, go somewhere else. Honestly God bless you. Love you talk in the community go somewhere where you'll be happy but don't sit somewhere and think that this is not as good as your home church and here's a sad reality when you have the spirit is contagious and you're giving it to your children and your grandchildren and their walking around going. This is substandard is never the real deal will go to the whole life believing that this not the real deal. Let's get more practical.

God speaking to you right now but it's not good enough is not like back there but some went beyond that.

Listen to what they did in verse six they seized his servants treated them spitefully and what is what the dude held down while the keep in mind that this parable is coming to us in the language of Israel's history. That's what many of them did to their profits the godsend to them.

But listen, the application is to all of us. This is not just to Israel or to the Jewish people is to all of us. God's gospel comes to us. He sends his messengers to us, but many have rejected the messengers and destroy them for their two levels of destroying a messengers one level is outrightly killing them. Hey look I grew up in India were missionaries have been killed. But listen to verse seven when the king heard about it. He was furious and he sent out his armies destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city, which means this there is judgment that I talk to you about judgment against countries and people groups but listen sitting here this morning and under the sound of my voice. People have also rejected the messengers of God. So what happens, short, the king decides to revise his list and he said to his servants, the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. What we do. Therefore, going to the high weights the Greek word for highways is the word D Exodus.

That's where we get our the title of the book of Exodus Exodus means the people of Israel left Egypt and went out D Exodus in this parable means leaving the city limits and going outside the streets and but they keep on going outside, that's why they translated those that were as highways.

The king says going to the highways, and as many as you find invite to the wedding. Listen this again both bad and good and the wedding hall was filled with guests. I think about my my own history.

My spiritual history.

My dad did not grow up in a Christian home when I grew up in a very wealthy home very influential home very powerful home, but a Muslim home and the gospel came to him that amazing. I'm standing here because a blind and the lame man receive the gospel and came to the city on reaping the benefit of his willingness to take the invitation of God even though he was an outsider and that there are people sitting here today are not here today, your family, your friends who grew up in church, who grew up in the Christian world. Nobody is ever persecuted you. Nobody ever told you Jesus is a fraud. You grew up in the Christian world and you have rejected invitation of God.

I guess what folks were coming in where the outsiders you're going out were coming in.

Ironic, just when you think of the parable is done. There's a twist in the story. Listen to verse 11. The banquet is going. People are enjoying themselves and look at the book of the crowd of people to blind, the lame, they've never even been inside the city of Udo forget the banquet hall. Dave never even been inside the city limits and there watching to enjoy the eating the food there enjoying the conversation there, meeting new people and the king is walking around in the banquet hall to see the guests, and he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment that keep in mind these are the blind and the lame who were outside the city limits.

They were the worst of the worst, but at least you're coming in beg, borrow or steal put on something that's a little better than what you had put on your Sunday best.

I remember that some the best, but here you go. The king is walking around there's a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment and he was speechless. UK man because of God's gracious invitation. You are not on the list but you came in because the king sent his servants outside the city limits into the highways way outside in the country brought you in at least have the sense enough to dress up. Maybe your jacket is torn but put on the torn jacket.

This one man. Please listen carefully.

This one man didn't care. You know they're inviting me over there but you know what, I'm not changing me. This is who I am and if there were like me half as is always all big and you know what those people down there. They're not as bad.

Well, does that mean he is doing me a favor use the application. Don't miss this. There people sitting here today you left the old lifestyle by the old lifestyle hasn't left you when you talk about your past you don't talk about it with regret and shame you talk about it as if Mandela those with some days we used to partake nonparties part hey we used to have so will our riverbed you remember those days, and sometimes alas those people do you miss those days so sure sounds like you do now you see what I would temper bail on the day I got a temporary that's the old you. You are in the banquet hall of the King of Kings and you still bragging about your temper as it was something commendable.

Shame on you. You still wearing those filthy rags in the banquet hall of the Kings, and one thing I loved about my dad is even though he has such an amazing testimony. He never bragged about it. Never say it all paid laboratory. It was mostly that I would drive her tell you about my time back home with he never you have to beg them to say had not share your testimony about you have never done that people would ask him. Would you please share your testimony. If if if if that's still you still have the taste for it. Maybe that's where you belong and that's exactly what happens. Listen to verse 13 then the king said to the servants, bind him hand and foot. Take him away, and cast him into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. What is that that's hell of a lot of what it does to your theology that I don't know what it does to my theology but I believe once saved always saved.

I believe in the ghetto eternal life. I believe in the perseverance of the states all of that total security was somehow Jesus is saying here. You may get into the banquet hall but if your tire is not appropriate. You may be escorted out and cast into hell, not as a Christian. What is much higher will listen to Isaiah chapter 61 verse 10. I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorned herself with her jewels. This is my new garment. So when I leave the old and go into the new into the banquet hall.

There needs to be a change in my attire. Now please don't misunderstand reason. Misunderstand the change in attire does not mean that now that you're saving a walker with a three-piece suit leaving the overcoming the new older tattoos of this and that this that's evil and you know if that's you, please, and come to meet your legalist stay where you are. What I am talking about leaving the old going in the new is putting on the garment of salvation, but people see you, they should see Jesus. This is what Paul says in Galatians chapter 3 and verse 27 Kenny savored me for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ say I'm about to get angry but I have put on Christ. I want to misrepresent him when you do those things you're still living in the highways and proud of it.

There's a change that comes into our lives, go back again to the parable will close with this this universe. 14 Matthew 22 for many are called but few are chosen out of what it does to if you're Calvinist your belief in unconditional election because here it is a conditional election. Please listen very carefully your confession will be powerless. On the other side.

God will also look at your clothing and your clothing better be Christ to that's why you cannot go around ghetto reveling in your past. That's why you can go around acting like the old and I can't please don't bring the legalism.

Legalism is somebody's list.

King James know that's a lives out that that keep that away. Not into that true righteousness is how you live by the Holy Spirit.

There is a kindness about you.

There is mercy about teachers holiness about you. Do people see Christ thank you for listening this week's message. Who are you in the spirit.

How have you responded to the invitation that God has for more information or for the sermons, notes, check out Dr. Shah's blog that I would on shop.com for more information, including check out Clearview VC.org would love to see you here. Our Christmas Eve service at 8 o'clock. It'll be an awesome service filled with worship and communion so that we can set our hearts on Christ this Christmas season. We hope to see their