The Great Invitation (1)*
Matthew 11:28-30
Introduction:
1. The
significance of invitations (wedding, graduation, party, etc.). Invitations are
especially important when they come from certain people (ex: invitation from
president to have dinner at the White House would make you think you were
"special"). But you are special because someone far greater than the
president is extending an invitation to you.
2. The
greatest invitation of all. "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am
meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my
yoke is easy, and my burden is light" - Matthew 11:28-30.
3. This
invitation is great because of those who extend the invitation.
1. Christ.
See Hebrews 1:1-2. "God, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spake
in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his son…." - Hebrews 1:1-2.
a) To
become a sheep in his fold.
i)
John
10:11-17 - As the good shepherd, Jesus laid down his life for his sheep.
b) To
become a member of his body.
i)
I
Corinthians 12:13 - Baptized into his body.
ii) Ephesians
5:23 - Christ is the savior of the body .
iii) Ephesians
1:22-23, Colossians 1:18 - Christ’s body is his church.
c) To
become a citizen of his kingdom.
i)
Colossians
1:13 - translated from the power of darkness into his kingdom .
d) To
become a child in his family.
i)
John
3:3 - We must be born again.
ii) Ephesians
2:19 - fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God.
iii) Galatians
6:10 - especially those of the household of faith.
2. Spirit.
a) II
Peter 1:20-21 – no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation.
b) II
Timothy 3:16-17, Revelation 22:17 - now speaks to us through his written word.
3. Bride.
a) The
bride of Christ is the church.
i)
Ephesians
5:22-23 – Paul drew parallel between church and marriage.
b) Matthew
28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16 - church is to seek and save the lost.
c) Bride
is inviting today – Revelation 22:17.
d) Do
you sometimes get the impression we have confused the work of the church with
the worship of the church? Work of church is to seek and save the lost -
Revelation 22:17.
4. Individual
Christian.
a) Revelation
22:17 – Let him that heareth, say come.
b) Dr.
Jonas Salk – discovery of polio vaccine announced in 1955 (worked 8 years in
developing the vaccine). He refused to patent the vaccine. How would world have
felt toward Jonas Salk if he had discovered the vaccine but then kept the news
to himself? How does God feel toward us when he has given us the cure for man’s
spiritual disease yet we keep the cure to ourselves?
