Sermon Central
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That My House May Be Full
Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Aug 2, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: It is not a pride thing to have a full house, a packed out church (It’s a God thing- A full house is his idea.
“A FULL HOUSE”
Lu. 14:16 –24
Many have disqualified themselves from their place of priveledge and blessings.
By unconcern. Indifference. (self interests.)
They began to excuse themselves.
Excuse (to beg off) i.e. depreicate, decline, shun: refuse, reject.
They allowed their self interests to cause them to devalue, and dispise, and reject their invitation.
They esteemed their personal interests of more value than their invitation to the supper.
The same basic story is told.
Matt 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Matt 22:4-5 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. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Here are the ones who had been bidden, had their invitations, Refusing their place of blessing because they were too wrapped up in their own affairs.
*The church should be full tonight, this church and every church in town, if just those who have received their invitations,= heard and believed the gospel at one time. Were here tonight.
This town, and every other town in america, is filled with people who have heard the gospel, and believed the gospel, But they have simply allowed things, to replace the gospel and the savior in importance.
It begins by something distracting you, Then it becomes more important. Until finally not only do you not want to go. You even demean, ridicule, devalue, and dispise the invitation. ( and then you ridicule those who accept the invitation)
Martha martha, thou art cumbered about many things. But mary hath chosen that good part, which cannot be taken from her
Next
The House of God would be full tonight, if those who have accepted the invitation, were to demonstrate their gratitude, their thankfulness, and their Joy for being invited. Across this land tonight, sit Christians, who have no Joy, no excitement, no enthusiasm. (They are more of a repellant than a drawing agent)
Nobody wants to go or come with you to a place that you don’t want to go to yourself.
If you don’t enjoy your church, Don’t expect any one else to enjoy it.
If you won’t invest in your church, (prayer, time, monies, )don’t expect anyone else to.
The next thing this story of Jesus teaches us, Is God wants his house full
going to church today is viewed as unnecessary, Or overbearing at the very least optional.
but not according to the bible.
Heb 10:25
Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
The first requirement to seeing the house of God full, (Is SEEING) the House of God full
We must see it in our hearts, see it in our minds, think it sing it, speak it.
We must begin to shape our actions to that end, I.E. Act as though the house is full, Pretend? No demonstrate faith.
If we are willing to accept 20-30 people as all that our church can minister to. Then we will never go beyond 20-30 people.
We will never be a growing church, until We see ourselves as a growing church.
What kind of Church do you go to?: A living church, a growing church, an excited church.
Why do you Call it a Growing church?
#1 Because the people in it are growing: growing in grace growing in knowledge, growing in faith. Growing in love.
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
A growing church is a going church, That is to say: We can’t just throw the doors open and expect them to flock in. We must go and get them.
And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
Why does God want his house to be full?
To pat ourselves on the back, to puff up with pride, to count numbers? No !
It’s because he believes, in the ministry of the church, he believes in the power of believers unified in their love and their worship.
He believes that when people come into that atmosphere, of love and compassion, and concern created by the saints, that they will fall in love with Jesus too.
