WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:07.839 We're going to be in Luke chapter 14. We started 00:00:07.839 --> 00:00:11.460 last week working through these kingdom parables 00:00:11.460 --> 00:00:15.220 of Jesus in Luke chapter 14. They're so life 00:00:15.220 --> 00:00:18.500 -giving, challenging. So we'll be in Luke chapter 00:00:18.500 --> 00:00:24.839 14. As you're turning there, I would like to 00:00:24.839 --> 00:00:31.920 say to you... You are doing a great job. You're 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:36.899 a blessing. I'm really not trying to blow smoke. 00:00:38.679 --> 00:00:41.880 I'm being honest with you. I've been in church 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:46.780 a long time. And I've never been around a people 00:00:46.780 --> 00:00:51.439 that hunger for the Lord like you do, that take 00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:54.579 the kingdom seriously like you do, that are living 00:00:54.579 --> 00:00:57.829 lifestyles. that you really want to please the 00:00:57.829 --> 00:01:01.929 Lord. And I just want to encourage you not to 00:01:01.929 --> 00:01:04.849 give up. Keep going. I know sometimes it feels 00:01:04.849 --> 00:01:08.030 like the more you press in initially, the more 00:01:08.030 --> 00:01:11.510 pushback you get from the world, the enemy, your 00:01:11.510 --> 00:01:15.650 own spouse, whatever it may be. I know that that's 00:01:15.650 --> 00:01:17.689 definitely happened between Jill and I when we're 00:01:17.689 --> 00:01:20.469 trying to press into obedience to the Lord in 00:01:20.469 --> 00:01:22.909 some things. And I just want to encourage you, 00:01:22.930 --> 00:01:25.879 don't go back. Don't give up. He's worth the 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:28.959 press. And I'm proud of you. I'm proud of you. 00:01:30.560 --> 00:01:33.180 Could I take just a moment before we read the 00:01:33.180 --> 00:01:36.159 scripture? Normally in the life of our church 00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:39.079 in the month of October, towards the middle to 00:01:39.079 --> 00:01:41.780 the end of the month, we have what we call Seek 00:01:41.780 --> 00:01:44.700 Week. And it's a week we set aside. We set aside 00:01:44.700 --> 00:01:51.799 one week in October and one week in spring. In 00:01:51.799 --> 00:01:55.870 which we really just... uh deny ourselves and 00:01:55.870 --> 00:01:58.030 really lay ourselves you know before the lord 00:01:58.030 --> 00:02:00.950 in a in a spiritual way and just say we want 00:02:00.950 --> 00:02:04.930 you and we fast and we pray uh as a church and 00:02:04.930 --> 00:02:07.890 um i think god has honored that over the years 00:02:07.890 --> 00:02:10.710 and i just feel like we're in a season of really 00:02:10.710 --> 00:02:14.729 hungering for the presence of jesus uh and i'm 00:02:14.729 --> 00:02:17.629 encouraging us to do that so this year instead 00:02:17.629 --> 00:02:22.030 of seek week we're gonna have seek month okay 00:02:22.030 --> 00:02:25.810 so This year, for the entire month of October, 00:02:26.030 --> 00:02:29.789 we're just going to really have a focused effort 00:02:29.789 --> 00:02:32.710 when we gather that we just are longing, hungering, 00:02:32.710 --> 00:02:36.250 and expecting the presence of the Lord. He's 00:02:36.250 --> 00:02:39.449 so faithful. What is that going to look like 00:02:39.449 --> 00:02:43.110 in October? Basically, not a lot of difference 00:02:43.110 --> 00:02:48.469 to what we're doing normally in Sequi, except 00:02:48.469 --> 00:02:51.090 for this. Would you mark your calendars in the 00:02:51.090 --> 00:02:54.430 month of October on Saturday nights? We're going 00:02:54.430 --> 00:02:57.969 to have a worship night where we're not going 00:02:57.969 --> 00:03:01.129 to set any time limits. We're just going to come 00:03:01.129 --> 00:03:04.330 together at 6 p .m. We're going to seek after 00:03:04.330 --> 00:03:06.770 His presence. We're going to enjoy the presence 00:03:06.770 --> 00:03:08.909 of Jesus and we're going to minister to each 00:03:08.909 --> 00:03:12.030 other in whatever way He wants us to. No agenda 00:03:12.030 --> 00:03:15.210 and no time limit, okay? And we'll leave when 00:03:15.210 --> 00:03:19.909 He's done. I hope that you'll do that with us 00:03:19.909 --> 00:03:22.889 in October. That's every Saturday night. And 00:03:22.889 --> 00:03:24.969 I don't know if you were here last year, but 00:03:24.969 --> 00:03:28.090 we did on October 31st, instead of Halloween, 00:03:28.229 --> 00:03:30.889 we did a worship night. And it was glorious. 00:03:30.990 --> 00:03:34.229 And I said to myself, you dummy, why have we 00:03:34.229 --> 00:03:37.349 not been doing this for the past 18 years? And 00:03:37.349 --> 00:03:39.210 it just so happens, this wasn't really in the 00:03:39.210 --> 00:03:43.430 plan, but the last Saturday of October is October 00:03:43.430 --> 00:03:46.870 31st, Halloween night. So we're going to... end 00:03:46.870 --> 00:03:50.830 our month of just loving and hungering and desiring 00:03:50.830 --> 00:03:54.370 for the Lord with just worshiping Him on Halloween 00:03:54.370 --> 00:03:58.250 night. So that's what October is going to look 00:03:58.250 --> 00:04:03.250 like. Normally during Sikh week, we fast, you 00:04:03.250 --> 00:04:06.189 know, and I encourage you to really fast from 00:04:06.189 --> 00:04:08.830 something that hurts your flesh, not just, you 00:04:08.830 --> 00:04:15.639 know, Brussels sprouts. I really don't think 00:04:15.639 --> 00:04:21.879 it would be... Jesse, hush. Okay, I get it. What 00:04:21.879 --> 00:04:25.279 I'm asking us to do in the month of October is 00:04:25.279 --> 00:04:32.279 give God a gift that would fast from our flesh 00:04:32.279 --> 00:04:38.949 for the entire month. So would you just be praying 00:04:38.949 --> 00:04:42.689 about that? I prayed and the Lord was very clear. 00:04:43.470 --> 00:04:46.290 Something that he wanted me to give up for the 00:04:46.290 --> 00:04:49.550 entire month. So are you with me? October is 00:04:49.550 --> 00:04:51.430 the seek week. So we're going to have worship 00:04:51.430 --> 00:04:53.350 nights on Saturday night. We're going to seek 00:04:53.350 --> 00:04:55.629 him intentionally together on Sunday mornings. 00:04:55.910 --> 00:04:59.569 And we're going to give him a gift of something 00:04:59.569 --> 00:05:03.970 that pleasures our flesh. We don't fast to manipulate 00:05:03.970 --> 00:05:06.370 God. Do you understand that? We don't fast to 00:05:06.370 --> 00:05:09.569 get things from God. We fast to quiet the loud 00:05:09.569 --> 00:05:12.949 voice of our flesh so that our inner man hungers 00:05:12.949 --> 00:05:17.069 more for God, right? And so I would encourage 00:05:17.069 --> 00:05:21.389 you to do that. So with that said, September 00:05:21.389 --> 00:05:25.949 27th, that week before Sikh month. in just a 00:05:25.949 --> 00:05:29.649 few weeks, is going to be a week of just consecrating 00:05:29.649 --> 00:05:31.870 ourselves, getting ready for the month of October. 00:05:31.930 --> 00:05:37.310 On Sunday, September 27th, what I'm going to 00:05:37.310 --> 00:05:44.550 ask you to do is bring whatever God has asked 00:05:44.550 --> 00:05:47.790 you to give up for the month of October. I want 00:05:47.790 --> 00:05:50.269 you to bring that thing or a representative of 00:05:50.269 --> 00:05:55.379 that thing wrapped as a gift. And during worship, 00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:59.360 we're just going to lay those on the altar, consecrate, 00:05:59.360 --> 00:06:02.100 which just means set ourselves apart for the 00:06:02.100 --> 00:06:04.379 Lord for the month of October. But that's going 00:06:04.379 --> 00:06:08.540 to be a gift of our worship. So your assignment, 00:06:08.660 --> 00:06:12.100 if you would so choose to accept it, would be 00:06:12.100 --> 00:06:14.279 seek the Lord. Is there something I can do without 00:06:14.279 --> 00:06:16.480 that would quiet my flesh and make me more hungry 00:06:16.480 --> 00:06:19.040 for you for the month of October? And on the 00:06:19.040 --> 00:06:23.800 Sunday of September 27th, take that thing. gift 00:06:23.800 --> 00:06:26.779 wrap it bring it we're going to get it here and 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:28.540 afterwards it's all going to go in the dumpster 00:06:28.540 --> 00:06:31.259 okay nobody's going to look at nobody's going 00:06:31.259 --> 00:06:34.060 to be like oh what did scholar bring gift wrap 00:06:34.060 --> 00:06:37.079 there you know we're just going to give it as 00:06:37.079 --> 00:06:40.120 our gift we're throwing the dumpster uh and that's 00:06:40.120 --> 00:06:41.959 going to that's going to kick off our month of 00:06:41.959 --> 00:06:47.019 worship um would you i guess i'm asking this 00:06:47.019 --> 00:06:52.980 would you trust me because i i think i have I've 00:06:52.980 --> 00:06:57.220 attempted for the past 18 years to never lead 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:00.560 us into places where I don't feel strongly the 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:03.699 Lord is leading us. And I just feel like this 00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:07.120 is a season for us to hunger and desire the Lord 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:09.860 in a special way. And I think He's going to bless 00:07:09.860 --> 00:07:13.079 it. And so, if you would, just be praying about 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:15.800 the gift you want to give Him. If you're like, 00:07:15.920 --> 00:07:19.379 Jesse, I'm not going to do that. Okay. That's 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:24.199 fine. I love you. Jesus loves you. I'm just trying 00:07:24.199 --> 00:07:30.120 to help us with some practical things that are 00:07:30.120 --> 00:07:36.779 real life. Alright, Luke chapter 14. Let's read 00:07:36.779 --> 00:07:40.019 it together. Let's read verses 15 through 24. 00:07:44.600 --> 00:07:50.660 Luke chapter 14, verse 15. When one of those 00:07:50.660 --> 00:07:54.680 at the table with him heard this, pause, one 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:58.259 of those meaning he's at the house of the Pharisees 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:01.600 on the Sabbath, okay. When one of those at the 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:04.199 table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, 00:08:04.500 --> 00:08:08.199 blessed is the man who will eat at the feast 00:08:08.199 --> 00:08:12.579 in the kingdom of God. And Jesus replied, a certain 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:15.379 man was preparing a great banquet and invited 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:19.100 many guests. At the time of the banquet, he sent 00:08:19.100 --> 00:08:21.319 his servant to tell those who had been invited, 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:25.819 Come, for everything is now ready. But they all 00:08:25.819 --> 00:08:28.740 alike began to make excuses. The first said, 00:08:28.899 --> 00:08:31.860 I have just bought a field and I must go and 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:35.460 see it. Please excuse me. Another said, I have 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:38.960 just bought five yoke of oxen and I'm on my way 00:08:38.960 --> 00:08:42.279 to try them out. Please excuse me. Still another 00:08:42.279 --> 00:08:46.370 said, I just got married, so I can't come. The 00:08:46.370 --> 00:08:49.470 servant came back and reported this to his master. 00:08:49.570 --> 00:08:52.269 Then the owner of the house became angry and 00:08:52.269 --> 00:08:55.230 ordered his servants, go out quickly into the 00:08:55.230 --> 00:08:59.710 streets and alleys of the town and bring in the 00:08:59.710 --> 00:09:02.529 poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame. 00:09:03.019 --> 00:09:05.419 Sir, the servant said, what you ordered has been 00:09:05.419 --> 00:09:08.100 done, but there is still room. Then the master 00:09:08.100 --> 00:09:11.639 told his servant, go out to the roads and country 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.000 lanes and make them come in so that my house 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:18.919 will be full. I tell you, not one of those men 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:22.120 who were invited will get a taste of my banquet. 00:09:22.980 --> 00:09:27.600 So some beautiful words of Jesus here. Let's 00:09:27.600 --> 00:09:31.879 just ask the Holy Spirit, our teacher. Holy Spirit, 00:09:31.980 --> 00:09:35.580 we thank you. Jesus said that you will guide 00:09:35.580 --> 00:09:37.840 us into all truth and teach us all things. You 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:40.820 are a wonderful teacher. And we're asking for 00:09:40.820 --> 00:09:44.059 a miracle right now. We're asking that by your 00:09:44.059 --> 00:09:48.700 Spirit, you would take these words of Jesus and 00:09:48.700 --> 00:09:52.559 touch us in such a way that we're never the same 00:09:52.559 --> 00:09:55.919 and more like our King. And we ask it with faith 00:09:55.919 --> 00:10:00.460 and expectation in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, 00:10:00.460 --> 00:10:04.539 today is entitled Lessons About Kingdom Expansion 00:10:04.539 --> 00:10:08.419 in Our Own Hearts. I really could spend a lot 00:10:08.419 --> 00:10:10.419 of time just talking about this journey we've 00:10:10.419 --> 00:10:13.539 been on, but I don't want to take that time. 00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:16.399 All that to say, if you're just joining us in 00:10:16.399 --> 00:10:19.399 the last weeks or months, we're in an assignment 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:23.519 from the Lord to expand the kingdom of heaven 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:26.860 on the earth in a supernatural way. He's worthy 00:10:26.860 --> 00:10:29.240 of that. The world needs it. It's our assignment. 00:10:29.789 --> 00:10:32.990 And so we're on that. And I think from time to 00:10:32.990 --> 00:10:37.090 time it's so good that Jesus brings our focus 00:10:37.090 --> 00:10:41.190 back home to the heart. Because if you're like 00:10:41.190 --> 00:10:46.970 me, we can tend to get assignment or task oriented. 00:10:47.149 --> 00:10:49.929 Like he's called us to do this thing and we're 00:10:49.929 --> 00:10:53.809 going to do it. And obedience is Jesus' love 00:10:53.809 --> 00:10:56.389 language. I believe he made that clear in the 00:10:56.389 --> 00:11:00.600 Gospel of John. It's good. If obedience comes 00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:05.179 from anything but true, genuine communion with 00:11:05.179 --> 00:11:08.899 the Father, it will eventually be perverted and 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:14.419 it will dry up. Yes? That's why Jesus said the 00:11:14.419 --> 00:11:17.899 greatest commandment is this, that you love me 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:21.820 with all your heart. That's the primary importance. 00:11:21.980 --> 00:11:26.740 So, if we want authentic, lasting kingdom expansion, 00:11:27.019 --> 00:11:29.409 does anybody want that? Do you want authentic, 00:11:29.470 --> 00:11:33.610 lasting kingdom expansion on the earth? If we 00:11:33.610 --> 00:11:37.529 want that, it has to originate from a heart that 00:11:37.529 --> 00:11:41.529 genuinely loves and enjoys God. I hope that you 00:11:41.529 --> 00:11:45.490 love and enjoy God. He is extremely enjoyable. 00:11:45.970 --> 00:11:50.490 And He is glorious to love. And He loves us like 00:11:50.490 --> 00:11:55.090 no one ever does. And no one ever will. And what 00:11:55.090 --> 00:11:58.100 we want is this. kingdom expansion lifestyle 00:11:58.100 --> 00:12:05.700 that comes from a heart that is in an intimate 00:12:05.700 --> 00:12:09.320 relational fellowship with God through Jesus, 00:12:09.440 --> 00:12:13.080 facilitated by the Holy Spirit. This is what 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:15.679 we're longing for. And I think this is the heart 00:12:15.679 --> 00:12:19.039 of the matter that Jesus is speaking about here. 00:12:19.929 --> 00:12:22.250 I did my best to just seek the Lord. I want to 00:12:22.250 --> 00:12:24.669 present what I feel like are some lessons from 00:12:24.669 --> 00:12:27.129 Jesus about kingdom expansion in our own hearts. 00:12:27.370 --> 00:12:29.789 So if you're taking notes, I would encourage 00:12:29.789 --> 00:12:32.330 you to write these down. Might be helpful to 00:12:32.330 --> 00:12:36.429 you in the future. Number one, kingdom lesson, 00:12:36.610 --> 00:12:39.490 kingdom expansion lesson in our own heart. Number 00:12:39.490 --> 00:12:43.950 one, reject the apathetic numbness of religion 00:12:43.950 --> 00:12:49.620 and return to a place of wondrous awe. You and 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:54.740 I are invited to the banquet table of the triune 00:12:54.740 --> 00:13:02.360 God. Can I read that again? Reject the apathetic 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:07.080 numbness of religion and return to a place of 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:11.919 wondrous awe. Why? Because you and I are invited 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:24.590 to the banquet table of the triune God. I'm just 00:13:24.590 --> 00:13:30.970 asking the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to the 00:13:30.970 --> 00:13:35.210 reality of this. God, the everlasting Father. 00:13:36.210 --> 00:13:40.490 Jesus, the King of glory. Spirit, the breath 00:13:40.490 --> 00:13:47.190 of God. These beautiful people have invited someone 00:13:47.190 --> 00:13:51.350 like you and someone like me to the banqueting 00:13:51.350 --> 00:13:58.730 table. to enjoy, to commune, to fellowship. And 00:13:58.730 --> 00:14:02.309 somewhere along the way, in all the do's and 00:14:02.309 --> 00:14:05.190 don'ts of religion and all the man -made portions 00:14:05.190 --> 00:14:10.370 of what we call religion in the world today, 00:14:10.450 --> 00:14:15.029 somewhere along the way, we lost the wonder and 00:14:15.029 --> 00:14:18.929 the awe of the fact that you and I have the opportunity 00:14:18.929 --> 00:14:26.850 to sit with God. In communion. And really. It's 00:14:26.850 --> 00:14:30.450 not all your fault. It's not all our fault. Because 00:14:30.450 --> 00:14:34.769 we live in a very. Different culture. Than what 00:14:34.769 --> 00:14:39.129 Jesus does. And if you're like me. And you're 00:14:39.129 --> 00:14:44.330 kind of like. An introvert. Then the last thing 00:14:44.330 --> 00:14:46.289 you want to do. Is be in a banquet room. With 00:14:46.289 --> 00:14:49.549 a bunch of people. It's not my favorite thing 00:14:49.549 --> 00:14:53.590 to do. And when I think of. a great banquet. 00:14:53.629 --> 00:14:55.769 I'm thinking of a lot of people that I have to 00:14:55.769 --> 00:14:59.529 awkwardly struggle to make small talk with and 00:14:59.529 --> 00:15:02.110 look like a dodo. That's what I feel like when 00:15:02.110 --> 00:15:06.710 I get in mass crowds, right? But in Jesus' day, 00:15:06.789 --> 00:15:12.470 in his culture, to dine with someone at the table 00:15:12.470 --> 00:15:17.789 was completely different. It was a fellowship 00:15:17.789 --> 00:15:21.669 of great intimacy. That's why Really, I would 00:15:21.669 --> 00:15:24.610 encourage you, if you're going to invest two 00:15:24.610 --> 00:15:28.350 hours of your week into your spiritual development, 00:15:28.490 --> 00:15:31.990 I'm encouraging you to join a house church instead 00:15:31.990 --> 00:15:36.210 of coming to this service. Because there's something 00:15:36.210 --> 00:15:40.909 about finding a group of people around a kitchen 00:15:40.909 --> 00:15:45.149 table and opening up your life in the intimate 00:15:45.149 --> 00:15:47.409 fellowship and communion that you will never 00:15:47.409 --> 00:15:54.460 receive on a Sunday morning. And when Jesus is 00:15:54.460 --> 00:15:57.980 inviting us to the banquet table of God, I was 00:15:57.980 --> 00:16:01.340 just doing a little online research about the 00:16:01.340 --> 00:16:05.399 culture and about what was the significance of 00:16:05.399 --> 00:16:10.460 banquet in Jesus' day. I was just reading this. 00:16:10.500 --> 00:16:13.440 It says, in Jesus' culture, eating together was 00:16:13.440 --> 00:16:15.879 an event of intimate fellowship and communion. 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:19.860 And a banquet was even more significant because 00:16:19.860 --> 00:16:24.460 it signified covenant relationship, honor, and 00:16:24.460 --> 00:16:28.360 social acceptance. In Jesus' day, that's why 00:16:28.360 --> 00:16:31.259 the Pharisees were always like, they were always 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:36.820 coming with him like, why are you eating? With 00:16:36.820 --> 00:16:40.779 tax collectors and prostitutes. Why are you eating 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:44.620 with sinners? Because what they were in their 00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:48.139 culture saying, why are you inviting into your 00:16:48.139 --> 00:16:51.179 intimate covenant these people who are in sin? 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:54.360 And when you invite them into your home to eat 00:16:54.360 --> 00:16:56.940 with them, you are raising them up to social 00:16:56.940 --> 00:17:00.340 acceptance saying, I accept you. I honor you. 00:17:00.659 --> 00:17:03.919 And the Pharisees were saying, you cannot honor 00:17:03.919 --> 00:17:08.180 sinners. You can't. You can't socially lift up 00:17:08.180 --> 00:17:14.880 the prostitutes and the tax collectors. And so, 00:17:15.019 --> 00:17:20.259 in this moment when we read this passage, we 00:17:20.259 --> 00:17:23.339 understand that there is an invitation that we 00:17:23.339 --> 00:17:30.779 have received. Could we turn to 2 Peter just 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:35.430 for... An auxiliary passage here that I think 00:17:35.430 --> 00:17:39.789 just kind of proves the heart of God in this. 00:17:39.910 --> 00:17:43.569 In 2 Peter chapter 3, some of you are very familiar 00:17:43.569 --> 00:17:46.029 with these verses, but it says in verse 8 and 00:17:46.029 --> 00:17:52.309 9. 2 Peter chapter 3, verse 8 and 9. But do not 00:17:52.309 --> 00:17:55.410 forget this one thing, dear friends. With the 00:17:55.410 --> 00:17:58.450 Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand 00:17:58.450 --> 00:18:02.009 years are like a day. And the Lord is not slow 00:18:02.009 --> 00:18:05.890 in keeping His promise as some understand slowness. 00:18:05.890 --> 00:18:11.609 Talking about the return of Jesus. The Lord is 00:18:11.609 --> 00:18:13.890 not slow in keeping His promise as some understand 00:18:13.890 --> 00:18:18.210 slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting 00:18:18.210 --> 00:18:23.490 anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 00:18:24.410 --> 00:18:27.450 I need you to understand that if you're taking 00:18:27.450 --> 00:18:32.150 breath today, God wants you. If you are breathing, 00:18:32.369 --> 00:18:34.950 you have been offered the gift of repentance 00:18:34.950 --> 00:18:39.549 and God has invited you into His kingdom to sit 00:18:39.549 --> 00:18:45.410 at His table. And that, I think, should blow 00:18:45.410 --> 00:18:51.470 our minds. And should maybe stir some fresh awe 00:18:51.470 --> 00:18:56.599 and wonder. in our hearts. Let us not be so familiar 00:18:56.599 --> 00:19:01.640 with these words when Jesus, speaking to a Pharisee, 00:19:01.640 --> 00:19:07.279 says, for God so loved the world that He gave 00:19:07.279 --> 00:19:11.700 His one and only Son so that anyone who believes 00:19:11.700 --> 00:19:16.119 in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. 00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:20.960 There is an invitation to all of us. And here's 00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:25.859 what I want to say to you. The Father wants a 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:30.440 house full of us. Your pastor, I do better in 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:33.380 a few of us. Like, you know, if we hang out, 00:19:33.420 --> 00:19:37.380 there's a few of us. I struggle in crowds. But 00:19:37.380 --> 00:19:40.940 the Father, He wants a full house. That's what 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:45.359 verse 23 says. When you look at verse 23, it 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:47.819 says, Then the Master told His servant, Go out 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:51.319 to the roads and country lanes and make them 00:19:51.319 --> 00:19:56.500 come in so that My house, will be full. God wants 00:19:56.500 --> 00:20:00.519 you at His table. Will your seat remain empty? 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:09.980 Can I ask you again? God wants you at His table. 00:20:10.160 --> 00:20:23.440 Will your seat remain empty? opportunity this 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:29.200 week to take the congressman to a Rangers game. 00:20:29.599 --> 00:20:32.740 Went to the Rangers game, and we sat in the owner's 00:20:32.740 --> 00:20:35.299 box. I don't know if you've seen the owner's 00:20:35.299 --> 00:20:37.160 box at a Rangers game, but it's not elevated. 00:20:37.559 --> 00:20:40.759 It's down below, dug into the field so that your 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:44.019 face is level at home plate, and there's just 00:20:44.019 --> 00:20:46.839 a net, and the players walk out of the dugout, 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:49.700 come by and say, hello, sir, like within feet. 00:20:50.140 --> 00:20:52.980 And so you're watching the game from eye level 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:57.500 of home plate and in really comfortable chairs, 00:20:57.700 --> 00:21:03.119 you know. And in this owner's box, not only do 00:21:03.119 --> 00:21:05.400 you have the game like this, you have your own 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:08.619 private chef. And there's a private chef preparing 00:21:08.619 --> 00:21:11.980 food. And you could have, I was just looking 00:21:11.980 --> 00:21:13.799 at the food table because I don't get to touch 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:16.819 it. But I was looking at it and you could get 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:20.940 anything from Cracker Jacks. to sushi, diced 00:21:20.940 --> 00:21:24.920 tuna, prime rib, barbecue. I mean, it's just 00:21:24.920 --> 00:21:29.720 this, like, massive layout. Ice cream, Coke floats. 00:21:29.900 --> 00:21:32.259 I mean, just anything in the, this chef's just 00:21:32.259 --> 00:21:36.640 waiting to create for you and put together. And 00:21:36.640 --> 00:21:39.559 I'm just sitting there because, you know, our 00:21:39.559 --> 00:21:42.200 job, we're in the corners, you know, standing 00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:47.309 there, you know, while all these... really wealthy, 00:21:47.349 --> 00:21:50.589 important people enjoy the baseball game together. 00:21:50.930 --> 00:21:57.490 And I was just thinking about that, that, I mean, 00:21:57.509 --> 00:22:01.150 I'm just being honest, it would really be awesome 00:22:01.150 --> 00:22:04.250 if just one time, like, the owner of the Rangers 00:22:04.250 --> 00:22:06.769 that we, you know, we're there quite a bit, if 00:22:06.769 --> 00:22:10.049 he said, hey, what's your name? I'm like, uh, 00:22:10.069 --> 00:22:13.329 Jesse. He's like, hey, why don't you come over 00:22:13.329 --> 00:22:17.380 here and sit with me? Like, let's have some prime 00:22:17.380 --> 00:22:22.920 rib together. And he's like, hey, you want a 00:22:22.920 --> 00:22:27.759 Coke float? I can get you a Coke float. How's 00:22:27.759 --> 00:22:33.680 your life? Need any money? Yeah, it's just like, 00:22:33.799 --> 00:22:40.680 I mean, that would be awesome, you know? It would 00:22:40.680 --> 00:22:42.460 be awesome, but that's never going to happen 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:51.279 in my world. And yet, Yahweh, I am that I am, 00:22:51.460 --> 00:22:56.420 is inviting each of us out of the corner where 00:22:56.420 --> 00:23:01.599 we feel insignificant, unseen. And he's inviting 00:23:01.599 --> 00:23:04.180 us to sit with him at a table and say, everything 00:23:04.180 --> 00:23:08.480 that's mine is your son, daughter. Everything 00:23:08.480 --> 00:23:11.940 I am, you have access to. Can you believe that? 00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:17.880 This is the gospel. And we don't get to sit there 00:23:17.880 --> 00:23:20.480 because we're good people. We get to sit there 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:23.619 because of the body, the torn body, and the spilt 00:23:23.619 --> 00:23:29.700 blood of Jesus. And not only is God saying, you 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:32.680 wouldn't be that bad to sit at my table. He's 00:23:32.680 --> 00:23:41.039 saying, I want you. I long for you. Can I ask 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:45.640 you, can I ask me, will our chair remain empty? 00:23:54.000 --> 00:24:00.720 Number two, despite your current level of spiritual 00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:05.339 poverty and brokenness, the invitation is for 00:24:05.339 --> 00:24:09.559 now. Don't buy into the lie that you're not clean 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:12.279 or dressed appropriately or tomorrow would be 00:24:12.279 --> 00:24:16.339 a better opportunity. The table is ready today. 00:24:17.049 --> 00:24:19.750 What I'm asking the Holy Spirit to do right now 00:24:19.750 --> 00:24:23.809 is to create a little bit of exigency and urgency 00:24:23.809 --> 00:24:28.089 in our hearts. Because if we're not careful, 00:24:28.230 --> 00:24:31.769 the religion of man will always put off the glory 00:24:31.769 --> 00:24:35.009 of the encounter till tomorrow, till we're ready, 00:24:35.150 --> 00:24:37.690 till we're dressed appropriately. You notice 00:24:37.690 --> 00:24:40.630 when Jesus sent out his servants, what did he 00:24:40.630 --> 00:24:44.180 say? He said to the servant, come back. He said, 00:24:44.220 --> 00:24:46.680 the servant came back and reported this to the 00:24:46.680 --> 00:24:49.019 master. Then the owner of the house became angry. 00:24:49.200 --> 00:24:53.400 He became indignant and ordered his servant, 00:24:53.480 --> 00:24:56.579 go out quickly. Go quick. You see the urgency 00:24:56.579 --> 00:24:59.700 of it. Go quickly because the table is prepared 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:03.599 now. That's what it says in verse 17. Come, for 00:25:03.599 --> 00:25:07.039 everything is now ready. Go out quickly and what? 00:25:07.849 --> 00:25:10.769 Go into the streets and the alleys of the towns 00:25:10.769 --> 00:25:14.430 and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, 00:25:14.549 --> 00:25:17.369 and the lame. And you know what the master didn't 00:25:17.369 --> 00:25:21.009 say? The banquet's ready right now. Go out, find 00:25:21.009 --> 00:25:23.950 these people. Go get the poor and make sure they 00:25:23.950 --> 00:25:26.349 have a good job and some good income before they 00:25:26.349 --> 00:25:30.299 come to me. Go get the lame, make sure you get 00:25:30.299 --> 00:25:32.299 them all fixed up, cleaned up, and make sure 00:25:32.299 --> 00:25:34.400 they can walk before they come to me. That's 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:37.220 not what he said. He said, go into the places 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:41.380 that everyone else has cut off and invite the 00:25:41.380 --> 00:25:45.039 most poor, crippled, lame, blind people to come 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:49.299 now and sit at my table. Because the table is 00:25:49.299 --> 00:26:09.359 set now. I know it's the tendency of the flesh. 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:13.299 It's the tendency of the religion of man. It's 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:17.079 the lie of the devil to say you're not worthy 00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:20.859 to come to the table yet. You need a couple of 00:26:20.859 --> 00:26:24.059 more weeks of sobriety. You need a couple of 00:26:24.059 --> 00:26:26.720 more months of not looking at porn on your phone. 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:30.559 You need a couple of more days of fasting from 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:34.400 Instagram. You need to do this to make yourself 00:26:34.400 --> 00:26:37.849 ready to come to the table. And I just want to 00:26:37.849 --> 00:26:40.890 tell you, friend, you were never ready to be 00:26:40.890 --> 00:26:45.130 invited in the first place. He's not waiting 00:26:45.130 --> 00:26:48.930 for you to clean yourself up to you think is 00:26:48.930 --> 00:26:52.089 appropriate to come to the table. The table is 00:26:52.089 --> 00:26:56.150 ready now. And he sent his servant to go find 00:26:56.150 --> 00:27:01.029 the poor, broken, blind. And that's us. And welcome 00:27:01.029 --> 00:27:05.319 us to the table. Do not put off. The invitation 00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:11.880 of God. Till you're ready? Till you're righteous? 00:27:12.839 --> 00:27:20.220 No, no friend. The invitation is for now. And 00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:29.180 now is the time of response. Working patrol Wednesday 00:27:29.180 --> 00:27:33.019 night. Had a friend do a ride along with me. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:36.240 We were on the interstate. Here came this guy, 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:38.880 come down the interstate in a 60 -mile -an -hour 00:27:38.880 --> 00:27:45.420 construction zone at 102. So I feel like there's 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:47.900 no argument in pulling this guy over. I don't 00:27:47.900 --> 00:27:50.519 even feel a bit of shame about it. Yeah, so get 00:27:50.519 --> 00:27:53.859 out there, initiate a traffic stop, get up to 00:27:53.859 --> 00:27:56.940 the window, and it's just like, boom, alcohol, 00:27:57.180 --> 00:28:01.180 right? This alcohol, the odor of alcohol, its 00:28:01.180 --> 00:28:04.430 eyes are red. glossy and heavy his speech is 00:28:04.430 --> 00:28:06.950 slurred I asked for his license he gives me his 00:28:06.950 --> 00:28:13.930 debit card all right so turns into driving while 00:28:13.930 --> 00:28:16.009 intoxicated arrest when you arrest someone for 00:28:16.009 --> 00:28:18.190 driving while intoxicated you put them in the 00:28:18.190 --> 00:28:20.630 back seat of the patrol car and then there's 00:28:20.630 --> 00:28:25.779 this ridiculously long legal jargon called the 00:28:25.779 --> 00:28:28.559 DIC 24 and while they're sitting in the back 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:30.519 seat you have to give them a copy so they can 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:33.880 read along and you have to read the DIC 24 word 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:37.079 for word and it's just legal jargon the whole 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:40.140 thing right and so you read this thing till basically 00:28:40.140 --> 00:28:43.500 there's no alcohol left in a person's system 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:46.680 you know and then you get down to the end and 00:28:46.680 --> 00:28:50.400 the end says I'm now requesting a specimen of 00:28:50.400 --> 00:28:54.759 your breath Do you consent? And you've read this 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:56.720 whole thing. If they deny consent, they lose 00:28:56.720 --> 00:29:00.339 their license for 180 days, I think it is, at 00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:02.420 that point. And there's all these consequences 00:29:02.420 --> 00:29:05.079 for denying. But it comes down to it. And so 00:29:05.079 --> 00:29:07.680 this guy, he's like, I don't want to read that. 00:29:07.859 --> 00:29:10.799 And I was like, you have to. I'll hold it in 00:29:10.799 --> 00:29:12.559 front of your face, and I'm going to read it. 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:15.279 So we finally get to the end, and I'm like, all 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:18.740 right, I would like to ask for a specimen of 00:29:18.740 --> 00:29:23.539 your breath. Do you consent? And he says, I don't 00:29:23.539 --> 00:29:28.079 know. And I said, well, you can give a specimen 00:29:28.079 --> 00:29:30.759 of your breath, and like I read, or if you don't 00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:33.779 want to, I'll go write a warrant, the judge will 00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:36.180 sign it, and we'll draw your blood from the hospital. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:38.599 So it's really your choice. I was like, would 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:41.099 you like to consent for breath? And he's like, 00:29:41.240 --> 00:29:44.700 no. I was like, okay, so we're going to do a 00:29:44.700 --> 00:29:46.339 blood draw? He's like, no, I don't want to do 00:29:46.339 --> 00:29:50.609 that either. I was like, sir. You have to give 00:29:50.609 --> 00:29:52.549 consent one way or the other. And he said, what 00:29:52.549 --> 00:29:55.109 are my options? I mean, we're having this conversation, 00:29:55.289 --> 00:29:57.890 you know, like he's the same person. You know, 00:29:57.890 --> 00:30:00.170 but this is all on camera. You have to be very 00:30:00.170 --> 00:30:01.970 patient. You have to give consent one way or 00:30:01.970 --> 00:30:04.529 the other. So we go back and forth. I mean, for 00:30:04.529 --> 00:30:07.029 a long time, what are my options? I just told 00:30:07.029 --> 00:30:09.430 you, here they are again. Do you consent? No. 00:30:09.549 --> 00:30:12.630 Okay. Then we're going to, no. Oh, my goodness, 00:30:12.809 --> 00:30:15.769 you know. And I'm getting frustrated. And so 00:30:15.769 --> 00:30:18.529 eventually I just say to him, all right, sir. 00:30:19.669 --> 00:30:23.869 If you do not say that you give me consent in 00:30:23.869 --> 00:30:26.670 the next 20 seconds, I'm taking that as your 00:30:26.670 --> 00:30:29.730 no. He's like, well, what are my options? I'm 00:30:29.730 --> 00:30:35.930 like, oh my goodness. So he did not consent. 00:30:36.150 --> 00:30:40.329 We had to go draw blood, the whole thing. Takes 00:30:40.329 --> 00:30:42.509 four and a half hours to write that report, ask 00:30:42.509 --> 00:30:44.069 some of these guys in this room. It's ridiculous. 00:30:45.809 --> 00:30:51.900 But I feel like... I feel like in many ways I 00:30:51.900 --> 00:30:59.539 am that person in which God is making this unbelievable 00:30:59.539 --> 00:31:04.940 offer, an invitation that has been really crystal 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:08.559 clear. It's written out. It's demonstrated by 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:12.000 the person of Jesus. And I'm like, yeah, but 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:16.079 what are my options? Because I'm looking around, 00:31:16.319 --> 00:31:19.559 right? Does anybody else feel like that? I'm 00:31:19.559 --> 00:31:21.759 looking around at all the other things that appeal 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:27.859 to my flesh, that I want to do for me, that I 00:31:27.859 --> 00:31:36.359 want to accomplish. And maybe you can relate 00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:41.059 to that. And I feel like this morning, just the 00:31:41.059 --> 00:31:46.539 Lord saying, hey, make a decision. Like, don't 00:31:46.539 --> 00:31:49.119 keep putting this thing up. Some of you have 00:31:49.119 --> 00:31:56.799 been half -heartedly trying out God and the kingdom 00:31:56.799 --> 00:31:59.720 thing to see if it works for your lifestyle. 00:32:00.279 --> 00:32:02.619 And I want to say, there's great mercy. We were 00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:06.440 all there. There's great mercy. God is so patient. 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:14.000 He's so kind. But the invitation is now. The 00:32:14.000 --> 00:32:18.640 kingdom is now. Listen, we don't have time to 00:32:18.640 --> 00:32:22.319 mess around. Like, are you feeling the earth 00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:25.920 shaking and quaking and groaning? The return 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:31.279 of our King is not long delayed. And there should 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:38.240 be a sense of urgency. People all around us, 00:32:38.240 --> 00:32:42.200 not just in Pakistan and India and Fiji and everywhere 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.839 we're going to go on mission trips this world, 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:46.779 there's people around us at our family gatherings, 00:32:47.099 --> 00:32:49.880 at our workplace, on our sports teams, in our 00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:52.220 neighborhoods, in our sphere of influence, that 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:56.140 if we are not serious about the kingdom, they 00:32:56.140 --> 00:33:00.519 will spend eternity in hell. That's a reality. 00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:06.619 And it's not... The onus is not on you to save 00:33:06.619 --> 00:33:10.200 people. The onus on you is to come to the table 00:33:10.200 --> 00:33:15.000 and commune with the living God so that He will 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:17.799 fill you with His glory and His presence so that 00:33:17.799 --> 00:33:20.799 when you walk into these places, the kingdom 00:33:20.799 --> 00:33:25.940 of heaven collides with their lives. And they 00:33:25.940 --> 00:33:28.779 see what salvation and deliverance can look like. 00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:40.730 And they begin to hunger for the King. Does that 00:33:40.730 --> 00:33:45.930 make sense? Jesus said, the table is now ready. 00:33:46.009 --> 00:33:53.369 Go quickly and bring them in. Go quickly. Let's 00:33:53.369 --> 00:33:56.269 just take a moment. If you need to repent for 00:33:56.269 --> 00:33:58.769 like just testing this thing out and the Holy 00:33:58.769 --> 00:34:01.049 Spirit right now is just speaking to your heart 00:34:01.049 --> 00:34:03.670 and you're getting a sense of urgency that this 00:34:03.670 --> 00:34:13.849 has to become real for you. Or if you would like 00:34:13.849 --> 00:34:15.889 a little more hunger than you currently have 00:34:15.889 --> 00:34:18.489 for it to be real for you, just an honest prayer 00:34:18.489 --> 00:34:22.170 to God. Would you just be honest with them? Say, 00:34:22.309 --> 00:34:25.329 Jesus, I hear you saying the table is now ready. 00:34:25.829 --> 00:34:31.630 Would you make my heart hungry to come? Would 00:34:31.630 --> 00:34:34.909 you give me boldness to make the decision to 00:34:34.909 --> 00:34:44.050 count the cost and be all in? Amen. Proud of 00:34:44.050 --> 00:34:48.650 you. Number three, truth number three, supernatural 00:34:48.650 --> 00:34:53.269 expansion of the kingdom in our own hearts. Don't 00:34:53.269 --> 00:34:55.650 let the pursuit of wealth, a career, a to -do 00:34:55.650 --> 00:34:58.769 list, or inferior relationships distract you 00:34:58.769 --> 00:35:02.389 from your invitation to sit with the only one 00:35:02.389 --> 00:35:05.789 who can fulfill your heart and give your life 00:35:05.789 --> 00:35:10.949 purpose. When we look at Jesus sends these invitations 00:35:10.949 --> 00:35:16.190 out, And we see their response. Jesus is telling 00:35:16.190 --> 00:35:18.150 this parable. The servant goes out and says, 00:35:18.190 --> 00:35:20.610 Come, for everything is ready right now. And 00:35:20.610 --> 00:35:24.710 this is their response. But they all alike began 00:35:24.710 --> 00:35:29.130 to make excuses. I don't know if we have this 00:35:29.130 --> 00:35:32.289 slide up there, but I did like the English word 00:35:32.289 --> 00:35:34.750 excuses, and I gave like the Greek, thank you, 00:35:34.769 --> 00:35:37.130 thank you. This is right out of Strong's Greek 00:35:37.130 --> 00:35:41.639 Concordance. The word excuses here in the Greek 00:35:41.639 --> 00:35:44.139 means to deprecate, which means to make little 00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:46.559 of. I didn't know. I had to look that one up. 00:35:47.360 --> 00:35:51.000 To decline, to shun, to avoid, to make excuse, 00:35:51.199 --> 00:35:55.280 to refuse, to reject. And I guess that very first 00:35:55.280 --> 00:36:00.000 definition is what hurts my heart the most. That 00:36:00.000 --> 00:36:04.800 if we're not careful, we have this invitation 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:09.000 from the Father that we make little of. because 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:11.699 of these other things in our life and listen 00:36:11.699 --> 00:36:15.900 to their excuses i have just bought a field right 00:36:15.900 --> 00:36:20.039 i just bought a field i mean it's the same today 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:22.280 as it was then real estate is one of the most 00:36:22.280 --> 00:36:25.360 sure ways to protect and and withhold your wealth 00:36:25.360 --> 00:36:30.320 right and so he's saying hey i hear the invitation 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:35.239 to come to the banqueting table but right now 00:36:35.239 --> 00:36:37.619 i've got a field that i bought and i just want 00:36:37.619 --> 00:36:43.059 to challenge you Jesus was very clear that the 00:36:43.059 --> 00:36:45.519 seed of the message of the kingdom was choked 00:36:45.519 --> 00:36:48.559 out by the cares of the world and the deceitfulness 00:36:48.559 --> 00:36:53.840 of wealth God is not opposed to money he's not 00:36:53.840 --> 00:36:56.760 opposed to very wealthy people because money 00:36:56.760 --> 00:36:59.280 is required to advance the kingdom on the earth 00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:03.610 just like anything else in this world But the 00:37:03.610 --> 00:37:06.750 scripture is also very clear that the love of 00:37:06.750 --> 00:37:10.570 money is the root of all evil. And so you want 00:37:10.570 --> 00:37:14.730 to be careful. Yes, we have things that we're 00:37:14.730 --> 00:37:16.630 doing. We have projects. There's things God's 00:37:16.630 --> 00:37:19.110 called us to. We want to leave an inheritance 00:37:19.110 --> 00:37:21.909 for the kingdom and for our children. But be 00:37:21.909 --> 00:37:25.210 careful that in the American way, that pursuit 00:37:25.210 --> 00:37:29.070 of wealth does not so distract you that you don't 00:37:29.070 --> 00:37:32.039 say yes to the invitation to come. Would anybody 00:37:32.039 --> 00:37:35.179 just be bold enough to say, Jesse, my pursuit 00:37:35.179 --> 00:37:39.059 of wealth has distracted me from my invitation 00:37:39.059 --> 00:37:43.099 to the table? Anybody? I'm raising my hand. It 00:37:43.099 --> 00:37:48.019 absolutely has. And I'm just coming to Jesus' 00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:50.880 words here. And the pursuit of a career, right? 00:37:50.960 --> 00:37:54.099 I just bought five oxen, right? I mean, five 00:37:54.099 --> 00:37:57.780 teams of oxen. I think that, you know, you can 00:37:57.780 --> 00:38:00.460 look at that as like... There's things that I'm 00:38:00.460 --> 00:38:03.739 wanting to do. Projects to get done. Giving a 00:38:03.739 --> 00:38:07.039 to -do list. It says I just got married. How 00:38:07.039 --> 00:38:11.119 many of you know that God loves marriage? Yeah? 00:38:11.219 --> 00:38:13.559 Okay, that was a freebie and nobody said anything. 00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:17.099 Okay, if you didn't know, God loves marriage. 00:38:17.400 --> 00:38:21.699 Okay, He created it. He loves it. But your spouse 00:38:21.699 --> 00:38:24.559 is an inferior relationship in comparison to 00:38:24.559 --> 00:38:30.829 your invitation to sit at His table. Every relationship 00:38:30.829 --> 00:38:38.130 is inferior to the One. The One who truly fulfills 00:38:38.130 --> 00:38:46.329 us and gives us purpose. Yahweh, the Great I 00:38:46.329 --> 00:38:48.869 Am, has personally invited us to commune with 00:38:48.869 --> 00:38:53.030 Him. What possible excuse is worth making little 00:38:53.030 --> 00:38:57.110 of His invitation? I'm just challenging you. 00:38:57.670 --> 00:38:59.570 if you're like, hey, I don't have any excuses. 00:38:59.650 --> 00:39:02.210 I'm up at the table right now. I'm scooting up 00:39:02.210 --> 00:39:07.929 closer. Then pray for the rest of us. Because 00:39:07.929 --> 00:39:12.030 we tend to be extremely distracted from the offer 00:39:12.030 --> 00:39:18.889 of communion. Sometimes communing with God just 00:39:18.889 --> 00:39:21.369 doesn't seem like enough to get our blood flowing, 00:39:21.650 --> 00:39:26.960 to get our excitement, our adrenaline. Oh, we 00:39:26.960 --> 00:39:34.800 have missed it. I don't get very many personal 00:39:34.800 --> 00:39:38.800 invitations to, you know, like, I don't know, 00:39:38.860 --> 00:39:44.699 hang out with really important people. But when 00:39:44.699 --> 00:39:51.929 we got back from our combat tour, we got... invitations, 00:39:51.929 --> 00:39:54.789 personal invitation on two -star general letterhead 00:39:54.789 --> 00:40:00.329 to every NCO in our brigade combat team to come 00:40:00.329 --> 00:40:03.050 to the general's house for drinks and cigars. 00:40:03.650 --> 00:40:06.670 Now, whether you're against drinks and cigars, 00:40:06.750 --> 00:40:11.570 whatever you think in that, but when a two -star 00:40:11.570 --> 00:40:15.329 general invites you to his house for drinks and 00:40:15.329 --> 00:40:18.650 cigars and you're an E -5, the last thing you 00:40:18.650 --> 00:40:21.590 do is make an excuse of why you can't come. Now, 00:40:21.610 --> 00:40:23.610 you don't have to drink, you don't have to smoke 00:40:23.610 --> 00:40:26.150 a cigar, but you're going to be there, right? 00:40:26.929 --> 00:40:29.849 When you get an invitation from a two -star general 00:40:29.849 --> 00:40:34.329 to come to his house, and it's glorious, you 00:40:34.329 --> 00:40:37.809 know, the housing, the military housing for two 00:40:37.809 --> 00:40:40.909 -star generals are quite impressive, quite impressive. 00:40:41.739 --> 00:40:45.400 But to go and be in that place and to be invited 00:40:45.400 --> 00:40:49.239 to his house and to sit at a table with him, 00:40:49.340 --> 00:40:53.300 there's no way, there's no way that I'm going 00:40:53.300 --> 00:40:58.980 to let, whatever it may be. And I think you get 00:40:58.980 --> 00:41:02.840 the point. Some two -star army general that nobody 00:41:02.840 --> 00:41:05.820 can remember his name of now, Pels in comparison. 00:41:06.780 --> 00:41:10.559 to the invitation that Yahweh is continually 00:41:10.559 --> 00:41:15.820 giving us, what possible excuse do we have to 00:41:15.820 --> 00:41:21.000 not come to the table? And can we lay that down? 00:41:21.800 --> 00:41:24.599 Can we lay that down? Can we just... I think 00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:27.559 repentance is an appropriate response in this 00:41:27.559 --> 00:41:30.639 time. Like if we've been giving God excuses, 00:41:30.739 --> 00:41:33.159 and I know we're not saying out loud, God, I'm 00:41:33.159 --> 00:41:35.320 not going to spend time with you because of X, 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:40.519 Y, Z, or G. I don't know. It depends on how drunk 00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:44.059 you are in the alphabet thing. But I know we're 00:41:44.059 --> 00:41:46.119 not spelling that out, but I'm talking about 00:41:46.119 --> 00:41:50.639 how we live our lives, right? Could we just take 00:41:50.639 --> 00:41:53.320 a second, hear what Jesus is saying in this parable 00:41:53.320 --> 00:41:56.420 about the kingdom, and say, Jesus, it's alright 00:41:56.420 --> 00:41:58.440 if you need to put your finger on that thing 00:41:58.440 --> 00:42:03.659 in my heart. So Father, we just ask for the gift 00:42:03.659 --> 00:42:05.739 of repentance to come to our hearts right now. 00:42:08.159 --> 00:42:10.619 I'm just thinking about the excuses I've made 00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:15.170 lately. I repent. I know that the only thing 00:42:15.170 --> 00:42:17.989 enjoyable and fulfilling in the morning is not 00:42:17.989 --> 00:42:24.429 my hot coffee, it's your presence. I know that 00:42:24.429 --> 00:42:27.010 you're the only one that gives my purpose in 00:42:27.010 --> 00:42:30.469 life, God, and I'm sorry for making excuses. 00:42:31.610 --> 00:42:45.199 And I receive your invitation. Amen? We don't 00:42:45.199 --> 00:42:47.019 really have time for number four. Can I just 00:42:47.019 --> 00:42:49.300 read it to you and then you can take it to the 00:42:49.300 --> 00:42:52.039 Lord and meditate on it for you. Number four. 00:42:53.519 --> 00:42:57.059 Warning. I believe Jesus is teaching that those 00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:59.480 who are in covenant relationship with the Father 00:42:59.480 --> 00:43:02.619 and continually reject His invitation will be 00:43:02.619 --> 00:43:04.800 passed over for those who will bear fruit for 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:08.739 His kingdom. The context here is Jesus talking 00:43:08.739 --> 00:43:10.840 to the Pharisees who were in an old covenant 00:43:10.840 --> 00:43:13.500 relationship, but God was inviting them into 00:43:13.500 --> 00:43:16.360 more and they were continually saying no. And 00:43:16.360 --> 00:43:19.179 so he said, those people will not even taste 00:43:19.179 --> 00:43:22.760 anything at my banquet. It reminded me of a passage. 00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:32.099 Can we turn here? Matthew 21. Matthew 21, verse 00:43:32.099 --> 00:43:35.929 42. through 44 i mean just read this passage 00:43:35.929 --> 00:43:39.789 this week it's phenomenal of course it's the 00:43:39.789 --> 00:43:41.710 bible but you know what i mean like it's really 00:43:41.710 --> 00:43:45.449 impactful verse 42 jesus said to them have you 00:43:45.449 --> 00:43:47.809 never read in the scriptures the stone the builders 00:43:47.809 --> 00:43:51.369 rejected has become the capstone the lord has 00:43:51.369 --> 00:43:55.130 done this and it is marvelous in our eyes therefore 00:43:55.130 --> 00:43:59.050 i tell you the kingdom of god will be taken away 00:43:59.050 --> 00:44:02.130 from you and given to a people who will produce 00:44:02.130 --> 00:44:05.630 its fruit He who falls on this stone will be 00:44:05.630 --> 00:44:09.550 broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will 00:44:09.550 --> 00:44:14.210 be crushed. I understand the direct context is 00:44:14.210 --> 00:44:16.530 the Jews rejecting God, so God's saying, I'm 00:44:16.530 --> 00:44:18.849 going to now take the Gospels to the Gentiles. 00:44:19.190 --> 00:44:23.409 That's the direct contact of the passage. Would 00:44:23.409 --> 00:44:25.269 you just seek the Lord and see if there's not 00:44:25.269 --> 00:44:28.190 also a biblical stewardship principle in there? 00:44:28.760 --> 00:44:31.179 That God says, we're in covenant relationship, 00:44:31.539 --> 00:44:34.260 but if you continue to reject my invitation, 00:44:34.639 --> 00:44:37.119 I'll find somebody who will steward it well, 00:44:37.239 --> 00:44:40.059 who will bear the fruit of the kingdom, and I'll 00:44:40.059 --> 00:44:43.019 use them. Because I believe that that's a biblical 00:44:43.019 --> 00:44:46.579 principle. So you take that to the Lord, and 00:44:46.579 --> 00:44:49.860 I know the Spirit will guide you in that. But 00:44:49.860 --> 00:44:51.860 I don't know about you, I don't want to risk 00:44:51.860 --> 00:44:58.489 it. I don't want to be that person. I want to 00:44:58.489 --> 00:45:02.170 be the person that says, I'm hungry, Lord. I 00:45:02.170 --> 00:45:05.429 accept your invitation, Lord. I will joyfully 00:45:05.429 --> 00:45:08.650 come to your table, Lord. I will bear fruit for 00:45:08.650 --> 00:45:11.550 your kingdom. If that's you today, let's just 00:45:11.550 --> 00:45:14.610 close in this way. Actually, why don't all of 00:45:14.610 --> 00:45:16.369 us stand up? I don't want to isolate anybody. 00:45:16.909 --> 00:45:19.750 I'm not interested in manipulating you in one 00:45:19.750 --> 00:45:24.789 bit, in one way. But if it's your desire to say, 00:45:24.949 --> 00:45:28.449 here am I, Lord, send me. I want to bear the 00:45:28.449 --> 00:45:31.849 kingdom fruit. I say yes to the invitation. I'll 00:45:31.849 --> 00:45:35.429 scoop my chair up to the table this week. I want 00:45:35.429 --> 00:45:38.610 to know you more. I want to love you more deeply. 00:45:38.610 --> 00:45:41.090 I want to be more devoted in my heart to you 00:45:41.090 --> 00:45:43.869 so that the outflow of my life is production 00:45:43.869 --> 00:45:47.989 for your kingdom. If that's you, would you just 00:45:47.989 --> 00:45:50.289 make that commitment in your heart to God right 00:45:50.289 --> 00:46:01.739 now? Would you just say yes to Him? Father, I 00:46:01.739 --> 00:46:04.460 thank you for these beautiful people that are 00:46:04.460 --> 00:46:07.980 saying yes to you. Thank you for this invitation 00:46:07.980 --> 00:46:11.780 today. Thank you for this invitation every day. 00:46:11.900 --> 00:46:14.420 Thank you for grace and mercy and the gift of 00:46:14.420 --> 00:46:17.500 righteousness that makes us able to approach 00:46:17.500 --> 00:46:21.659 the glory of your presence. I pray for my friends 00:46:21.659 --> 00:46:26.480 this week. I pray a ridiculous amount of grace 00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:30.380 from your heavens to stir in our hearts hunger, 00:46:31.079 --> 00:46:35.179 to come to the table. I pray for encounters with 00:46:35.179 --> 00:46:38.440 them at the table, times in Your Word, times 00:46:38.440 --> 00:46:43.380 in prayer that shake them, that shape them. Father, 00:46:43.480 --> 00:46:49.659 I ask that we would so be overwhelmed by the 00:46:49.659 --> 00:46:53.760 beauty of Your presence that our lives are changed 00:46:53.760 --> 00:46:56.219 and so is our sphere of influence this week. 00:46:56.880 --> 00:46:58.960 Would You do it in them and would You please 00:46:58.960 --> 00:47:01.719 do it in me, Father? We ask these things for 00:47:01.719 --> 00:47:03.659 the glory of your name. Thank you for today. 00:47:03.820 --> 00:47:06.239 Thank you for your presence. Thank you for your 00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:09.239 word. We'll love you forever until we get to 00:47:09.239 --> 00:47:11.199 see you face to face. Amen.