Gtcotr/ss070724
Some things really are a big deal.
Revelation 5 NKJV
9 And they sang a new song,
saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were
slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue
and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and
priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard
the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the
elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And
strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
You get the picture? This is a big deal … Daniel saw … (Revelation 20:12)
Daniel 7
10 A fiery stream issued And
came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten
thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the
books were opened.
14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.
Heaven is no small affair. God has been steadily working His plan to have a big family. God’s family is a big deal. Thousands of thousands and millions upon millions, an innumerable crowd of people from every nation, kindred, tribe, tongue, culture, custom, and ethnicity. God is in salvation mode, and He is inviting every person on planet earth to join Him.
Jesus described this future event to a group of lawyers and rich men at a dinner one night in Jerusalem. They were at the house of one of the Chief Pharisees. Jesus revealed how God feels about having a big family event.
Luke 14
16 Then Jesus said to him, “A
certain man gave a great supper and invited many,
·
“A
certain man” – Jesus is talking about God. It’s a parallel truth.
·
The
“Master of the House” is God.
·
Who
are you in this story? Find yourself.
·
Notice
– God has invited many people to this great supper.
· This man gave a great supper and invited many …
17 “and sent his servant at
supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now
ready.’
·
It’s
supper time for those who have been invited.
·
We
will all get that call at supper time … when God is ready.
·
Matthew
22 details this marriage supper of the Lamb.
· Jesus described their attitude: “They all made light of it …”
18 “But they all with one accord
began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground,
and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’
·
Note
here: Jesus didn’t say they gave their reasons … He said they began to make excuses.
· It’s like no one felt it was important, so they all made up excuses.
19 “And another said, ‘I have
bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me
excused.’
20 “Still another said, ‘I
have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’
· Emphatically – “I have a wife and cannot come.” (Not excuse me.)
21 “So that servant came and
reported these things to his master. 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 here the poor and the maimed and the lame and
the blind.’
·
With
whom is God angry? He is not angry with the messengers.
·
He
is angry with those whom He invited and like Matthew 25:5 says: “They made
light of it.”
·
The
holy messengers of God, including ministers of the Gospel, were sent out quickly
into the common streets and alleys.
· Jesus was prophesying the inclusion of the Gentiles in salvation.
22 “And the servant said,
‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’
·
Yet
there were more seats at the table, so the Master sent His servants out once
again.
·
Why?
Because it’s a big deal!
·
Can
you imagine receiving a personal invitation from a trusted servant to be an
honored guest at the great wedding supper of the Son of God? This is no small
affair and preparation is ongoing now.
· It’s nothing to make light of …
23 “Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
That My house may be full!
God loves a full house, both in heaven at suppertime and on the earth each Sunday. God prepares a table for us each week and invites His family to come and dine. Church is a big deal. It is an overlay of heaven.
Just like Passover was a dress rehearsal for 1500 years before the real deal, when Jesus was revealed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Church is a dress rehearsal for heaven and all the worship and word we will enjoy in the presence of Jesus and the Holy Angels.
What do the scriptures encourage us to do in order to prepare for eternity?
Revelation 14 NKJV
6 ¶ Then I saw another angel
flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those
who dwell on the earth — to every nation, tribe, tongue, and
people —
7 saying with a loud voice, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.”
1.
Respect God. Give Him some credit for being God.
2.
Worship Him. After all, He made heaven and earth and
everything.
3. Proclaim the everlasting Gospel to everyone living on the earth.
It’s a big deal! You are the servant … compel
them to come in so that His house might be full!
