Give the Invitation, Dinner is on the Table

Luke 14:15-24
 
Supper is ready and the invitations have been sent. But what is an invitation? An invitation is to request someone to be present, a summons to participate, or an attempt to get someone to join you at a specific event.
 
The man with Jesus saw the brilliance of God’s Kingdom, yet he did not yet see how to get in. In Jesus’ story, many turned down the solicitation to the dinner because the circumstance was badly arranged; the timing was inconvenient. We also can oppose or postpone reacting to God’s greeting, and our reasons may sound sensible. Our work obligations, family duties, monetary need, or whatever might be the situation. In any case, God’s invitation is the most important occasion in our lives, regardless of how awkwardly it could be coordinated. Is it true that we are rationalizing to try not to react to God’s call? Jesus advises us that the opportunity will come when God quits inviting us, and it will be past the point where it is possible to get into the banquet.
 
A king makes a marriage for his son, some responded, some did not.
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• Matthew 22:1-10, And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

 
In Biblical times, it was customary to give two invitations. First to announce that an event was to take place, this is a preparatory invitation. The second was to state that the event was ready, now it is time to arrive. The guests in Jesus' story offended the host by rationalizing when he gave the subsequent greeting. The first invitation came from Moses & the prophets, the second invitation came from Jesus. The religious leaders accepted the first invitation but not the second one. They accepted that God had called them to be his people, however they offended God by declining to acknowledge his Son. Consequently, as the master in the story sent his servant into the roads to welcome the poor to his feast, so God sent his Son to the entire world of destitute individuals to reveal to them God's Kingdom had shown up and was prepared for them.

• Revelation 19:9, And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
• Isaiah 1:18, Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

 
These guests insulted the host with excuses when the second invitation was sent. The first man was concerned with his possessions. The second man was concerned with his business. The third man was concerned with his family.

• Acts 13:46, Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.

 
An invitation is:

1. Providential – needful.
2. Practical – useful.
3. Private – intended for a particular person.
4. Public – affects all.
5. Personal – you.

 
When a ship is sinking, do you have to invite people to get in the lifeboat? Size of the boat is not the problem; it is that there are not enough rowers. The entrance to heaven is by God’s invitation only. We cannot buy our way in or use our social status. When God calls, man will have to answer in one way or another. If people act today as did these pious Jews, the invitation may not come again.

• Matthew 8:12, But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
• Matthew 21:43, Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
• Hebrews 3:18-19, And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 
Is your invitation for salvation, or to get your heart right with God?

• Acts 26:28, Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.