‘You’ve Been Invited” by Pastor Scott

COME, all who are thirsty… Isaiah 55 – Invitations from God – you’ve been invited!

Anniversaries, birthday parties, weddings and other special events usually involve an invitation being sent out in advance and an RSVP requested or required.  Because of the pandemic this past year, many invitations have been “put on hold” or reduced to only include a few close family members or special guests.  Did you get “left out” of any special celebration this year?  The Scriptures are filled with banquets, celebrations, feasts, worship services and invitations to join in the festivities and to receive the blessings of God’s riches.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, has endowed you with splendor.”

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts.

Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  Isaiah 55:1-8

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. John 7:37-39 

Invitations of the LORD:

• Come you who are thirsty…come and buy without cost
• Listen to me…give ear…come and listen
• Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him
• Turn to the Lord, forsake wicked ways…know the thoughts and ways of the Lord God
• Come you who are weary and burdened & come you who are thirsting for life

Blessings of Promise:

• I will give you life…I will give you rest…I will carry your burden
• You will delight in the richest of fare
• The LORD is near to those who call on Him
• Rest for your soul
• Living water flowing from within…the Spirit of God

RSVP required:

• Call to me
• Turn to me
• Take my yoke
• Believe in Him (Jesus)
• Come for everything is now ready (Luke :17) – no excuses

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’  – Luke 14:15-23

This Sunday we will finish the “In Pursuit of God” series, but really we are just beginning.  What steps have you decided to take to Seek God “with all of your heart and strength” or to Know God “with all your mind and soul” or to Prioritize God above all else – “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek…My heart says of you ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, O LORD I will seek” or to Hear God – “who has listened and heard His word” – Jeremiah 23:16-18

Are we listening, learning and ready to follow God’s leading?
We’ve been invited to “Seek the LORD and His strength” –1 Chronicles 16:11