At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
1. INTRODUCTION.
INVITATIONS COME IN A VARIETY OF FORMS. YOU HAVE THE WEDDING INVITATION, THE GRADUATION INVITATION, THE PARTY INVITATION, THE HOUSE WARMING INVITATION; AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.
Note, ALL OF THESE INVITATIONS CAN BE WITHDRAWN AT ANYTIME. IF THE SENDER OF THE INVITATION GETS ANGRY, THEY CAN REVOKE THE INVITATION. IF THEY HAVE MISCALCULATED THE NUMBER OF INVITATIONS SENT, YOUR INVITATION CAN BE REVOKED. If the event is canceled, your invitation can be revoked.
TO SHED LIGHT ON THIS IRREFUTABLE CONCEPT, this month the Nobel Foundation, which administers the Nobel awards, withdrew invitations to Russia, Belarus and Iran to attend ceremonies after criticism from Swedish lawmakers. Lawmakers cited Russia’s war on Ukraine and the crackdown on human rights in Belarus & Iran as reasons for the proposed boycott.
BUT MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE IS AN INVITATION, that WHEN IT IS EXTENDED, WILL NEVER BE REVOKED OR RESCINDED. THIS IS THE IRREVOCABLE INVITATION THAT IS EXTENDED BY OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS THE CHRIST.
Vs 28: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Ill: A.B. Simpson
“Once my hands were always trying,
Trying hard to do my best;
Now my heart is sweetly trusting,
And my soul is all at rest!
Once my life was full of effort,
Now it’s full of joy and zest;
Since I took his yoke upon me,
Jesus gives to me His rest!”
2. THE TEXT
JESUS HAS BEEN TEACHING HIS DISCIPLES, THEN HE GOES INTO OTHER CITIES TO TEACH AND PREACH.
a) IN THE 28TH VERSE HE EXTENDS AN INVITATION TO ALL WHO WOULD ACCEPT IT.
b) TODAY, JESUS IS STILL EXTENDING HIS INVITATION TO THOSE WHO WOULD ACCEPT IT.
c) THE PROBLEM IS THAT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS ARE IGNORING HIS INVITATION.
Ill: Consider the woman who was busy cleaning her house because she expected a visit from the king.
As she cleaned her house a beggar knocked on her door and asked for a morsel of bread. The woman refused saying I can't give you my bread, I'm saving it for the king.
Later, a traveler knocked and asked for a drink of water. The woman refused again saying that she did not have anything for him to drink from since all of her glasses had been washed to be used by the king.
Finally, a lame man came looking for someone to help him walk. She told him as she told the others that she could not respond because she needed all of her energy to assist the king.
As the day progressed the woman sat patiently, with her house clean and in order, waiting for the king to arrive. Hours passed but the king did not come. Disappointed she sat down and wrote the king a note, complaining of the great pains that she went through to prepare for his visit and then he did not even come.
Soon however a carrier brought an answer to her note. The king's response read in this fashion: I came to your home three times, but each time you turned me down. First I came as a beggar, but you had not food for me. Then I came asking for a drink of water but your glasses were to clean for my dirty hands. Then I came asking for help, but you didn't want to tire yourself out.
In the future madam, may I suggest that you treat everyone as if they were the king himself, for we are all the children of our eternal king! At that, the woman dropped her head in shame.
d) HE SAYS “COME UNTO TO ME ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.
e) WHO CAN COME?
f) THE WEARY
g) THE WORN
h) THE DISENFRANCHISED
i) THE LAME
j) THE FORGOTTEN
k) THE PIMP AND THE PROSTITUTE
l) THE DRUG DEALER AND DRUG ADDICT
m) THOSE WHO FEEL LIKE GIVING UP
n) THE DEPRESSED
o) THE OPPRESSED
q) JESUS PROMISES REST FOR THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.
r) IS THERE ANYBODY HERE TODAY THAT NEEDS THE KIND OF REST THAT ONLY JESUS CAN GIVE?
3. HIS INVITATION IS DIVINE BECAUSE HE IS DIVINE. HIS INVITATION IS RIGHTEOUS BECAUSE HE IS RIGHTEOUS.
a) WHILE THE Russians, Belarussians AND Iranians WILL NOT BE GOING TO Sweden, THEY CAN COME TO GOD’S HOUSE.
b) HIS INVITATION IS AN INVITATION TO…
c) FIND REST
d) TO FELLOWSHIP AND FOLLOWSHIP
e) TO BE LOVED
f) TO BE FORGIVEN
g) FIND SALVATION
h) TO DELIVERANCE
i) TO PEACE
j) TO FIND JOY AND HAPPINESS
k) TO SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM.
Ill: There was a little old cleaning woman that went to the local church. When the invitation was given at the end of the service, she went forward wanting to become a member. The pastor listened as she told him how she had accepted Jesus and wanted to be baptized and become a member of the church.
The pastor thought to himself, oh my, she is so unkempt, even smells a little, and her fingernails are not clean. She picks up garbage, cleans toilets - what would the members think of her. He told her that she needed to go home and pray about it and then decide. The following week, here she came again. She told the pastor that she had prayed about it and still wanted to be baptized. I have passed this church for so long. It is so beautiful, and I truly want to become a member.
Again the pastor told her to go home and pray some more. A few weeks later while out eating at the restaurant, the pastor saw the little old lady.
He did not want her to think that he was ignoring her so he approached her and said, "I have not seen you for a while. Is everything all right?" "Oh, yes," she said. "I talked with Jesus, and He told me not to worry about becoming a member of your church." He did? said the pastor. "Oh, yes" she replied. "He said even He hasn't been able to get into your church yet, and He's been trying for years."
4. IF MORE PEOPLE WOULD ACCEPT HIS INVITATION, THE WORLD WOULD BE A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.
a) WE COULD RIGHT THE WRONGS DONE IN THE WORLD.
b) HOMES WOULD BE HAPPIER.
c) JOBS WOULD BE MORE ENJOYABLE.
d) PRISONS WOULD BE EMPTIER
e) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WOULD DECLINE.
f) WORSHIP SERVICES WOULD BE POWERFUL.
g) CHURCHES WOULD BE FULL.
h) EVANGELISM WOULD SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE LAND.
5. WHY ISN’T THE INVITATION BEING ACCEPTED BY SOME?
a) BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMFORTABLE LIVING IN SIN.
b) BECAUSE SOME DON’T WANT TO CHANGE THEIR LIFESTYLES FOR JESUS.
c) OTHERS DON’T WANT TO BE DISTURBED.
d) MANY DON’T HAVE TIME FOR JESUS…
e) SOME FEEL THAT THEIR GOOD WORKS WILL SAVE THEM WITHOUT GOING THROUGH JESUS.
f) THERE ARE THOSE WHO MAKE EXCUSE AFTER EXCUSE. LUKE CHAPTER 14 TALKS ABOUT A MAN WHO PREPARED A FEAST AND SENT INVITATIONS, BUT THE PEOPLE BEGAN TO MAKE ONE EXCUSE AFTER ANOTHER.
g) WHILE JESUS WILL NOT REVOKE HIS INVITATION, HE WILL EXTEND IT TO OTHERS WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT IT.
h) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON’T MISS YOUR INVITATION.
Ill: THE LAST INVITATION - Dr. J. Mike Minnix
While pastoring at the FBC of Cherryville, North Carolina, a disturbance was observed, and shortly afterward a man was taken from the balcony of the church [and placed] in an ambulance. He was dead before they got him to the hospital. He died before the invitation could be given in that service. Could this be your last invitation? Make the decision that God calls you to make-—now is the appointed time, today is the day of salvation.
6. THREE POINTS/CONCLUSION.
a) ONE, ACCEPTING HIS IRREVOCABLE INVITATION MEANS THAT WE ARE WILLING TO BE OBEDIENT TO HIM. In vs 29, JESUS SAYS TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU AND LEARN OF ME!.
b) TWO, ACCEPTING HIS IRREVOCABLE INVITATION MEANS THAT WE HAVE TO DIE TO OURSELVES. Lk 22:42, JESUS SAYS NOT MY WILL, BUT THINE will BE DONE.
Ill: Les Stobel - OBEDIENCE IS WHAT MATTERS
"… If two angels in heaven were given assignments by God at the same time, one of them to go and rule over the greatest nation on earth and the other to go sweep the streets of the dirtiest village, each angel would be completely indifferent as to which one got which assignment. It simply wouldn’t matter to them. Why? Because the real joy lies in being obedient to God. For a Christ follower, the important thing isn’t what God has us doing; the important thing is that we’re doing what God wants us to do."
c) THREE, ACCEPTING HIS IRREVOCABLE INVITATION MEANS THAT JESUS WILL PROVIDE WHAT THE WORLD CANNOT. HE SAYS I WILL GIVE YOU REST. IN OTHER WORDS, I WILL BLESS YOU BEYOND MEASURE.
Ill: JONATHAN EDWARDS
They who come to Christ, do not only come to a resting-place after they have been wandering in a wilderness, but they come to a banqueting-house where they may rest, and where they may feast. They may cease from their former troubles and toils, and they may enter upon a course of delights and spiritual joys."
Finally,
Ill: THE LAWYER'S INVITATION
A pastor told the true story of one of his church members, an attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than six months. He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical basis and sent 17 debt-canceling letters via certified mail. One by one, the letters began to return, unsigned and undelivered. Perhaps a couple people had moved away, though not likely. Sixteen of the seventeen letters came back to him because the clients refused to sign for and open the envelopes, fearing that this attorney was suing them for their debts.
Well, today we have opened the letter and we have read about God’s offer to pardon your debt. Today would be a good time to accept His offer of forgiveness.
d) SO WHY NOT ACCEPT THE INVITATION FROM THE ONE THAT…
• LOVES US UNCONDITIONALLY
• SHED HIS BLOOD FOR US
• WANTS TO FELLOWSHIP WITH US
• THAT WANTS TO BE OUR SHEPHERD
• WANTS TO BE OUR FRIEND THAT STICKS CLOSER THAN A BROTHER
• WILL LEAD US INTO GREEN PASTURES
• CAN SATISFY THE HUNGRY SOUL
• CAN DRY TEARS FROM OUR EYES
• LOOKS BEYOND OUR FAULTS AND MEETS OUR NEEDS
• IF HE’S FOR US HE’S MORE THAN THE WHOLE WORLD AGAINST US
• WILL STAND BY US WHEN OTHERS TURN THEIR BACKS ON US
• WILL COMFORT US IN THE MIDNIGHT HOUR
• WILL GIVE US BLESSINGS FOR OUR BURDENS
• WILL GIVE US HOPE FOR OUR HOPELESSNESS
• WILL GIVE US DELIGHT FOR OUR DESPAIR
• WILL GIVE US TRIUMPHS FOR OUR TRAGEDIES.
