jim yost - it's now or never

Today: 19 May 2013

Luke 14:15-24

15 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.”

16 Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. 17 At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

18 “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.’

19 “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

21 “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.’

22 “‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’

23 “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.

24 I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”

Lots of Jesus’ parables centered around food!

Why? Because Jesus just likes to have a party!

He likes people to “hang out” with Him

In other words “be His disciple”

We Eat Together!

Because when you eat with people you share life together

Discipleship happens in real life!

Discipleship Hinges on Obeying

Two key commandments

Love God passionately and love your fellow man (Matt 22:37-39)

Go and make everyone followers of Jesus (Matt 28:18-20)

This is the Amazing Race!

We accept the invitation and start a wild adventure with God!

Love God!

Love Others!

Make Disciples!

But in the parable

The people made excuses, and did not enter into the banquet prepared by the master.

Excuse #1

“I’ve got to give attention to my newly acquired land.”

“I’ve got no time for God because every waking minute I’ve got to work to make ends meet.”

Excuse #2

“I’ve got to try out the oxen I’ve just bought.”

“All this new technology and stuff coming out on the market is filling my mind and grabbing my

attention so that I have no time for God.”

Excuse #3

“I’ve just gotten married.”

“I’m so motivated to build a secure and happy family, that I’ve forgotten the Lord who is the key to having a secure and happy family!”

Don’t miss the main course!

There’s lots of good things to do with your life, but don’t let them rob you from accepting the Lord’s invitation.

Because there are things that are

URGENT

The things that are on God’s heart:

–Moms

–Dads

–Kids

–Grandparents …. Everywhere

Does God accept our excuses?

No!

They make Him angry (vs 21)

He doesn’t let us come to the table (vs 24)

So who gets on “the inside track?”

The poor; the crippled; the blind (vs 21).

All the common people from the street (vs 23).

Why did they come?

They were “brought” (vs 21)

and they were “made to come” (vs 23).

NOW or NEVER!

There was someone who realized how URGENT it was to bring people in.

They realized it was NOW or NEVER to get into the banquet!

Every year get

“bankrupted” with God!

Wanting to know “the Father’s business” and doing that!

He’s changing the face of this earth for end times harvest

Today: 19 May 2013