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The Invitation

B-A-C

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Joined
Dec 18, 2008
Messages
12,067
It seems all through the New Testament, Jesus is inviting people.

Matt 4:19; And He *said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Matt 4:20; Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.

Many times, people left what they were doing, and accepted His invite, but other times... they were "too busy".

Luke 9:57; As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, "I will follow You wherever You go."
Luke 9:58; And Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head."
Luke 9:59; And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father."
Luke 9:60; But He said to him, "Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God."
Luke 9:61; Another also said, "I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home."
Luke 9:62; But Jesus said to him, "No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

Some people say they will follow Jesus... "later". Unfortunately later never comes for many of these people.

Rev 3:20; 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

It seems Jesus is asking... "follow me". It seems Jesus is knocking, He will come in "IF" anyone will open the door. Some people never open the door.

John 6:44; "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

I personally believe the Father draws us all. Just about everyone in the US and Europe at least has heard about Jesus. I don't think God ever says no to anyone who accepts Him.

Matt 22:2; "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
Matt 22:3; "And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come.
Matt 22:4; "Again he sent out other slaves saying, 'Tell those who have been invited, "Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast."'
Matt 22:5; "But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business,


Matt 22:14; "For many are called, but few are chosen."

People interpret this verse many different ways, but my take on it is... We are all called. God wants us all to be saved. But some reject the invitation.
The reason they aren't chosen, isn't because they aren't invited... it's simply because they don't accept the invitation.

Matt 22:8; "Then he *said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.
 
Matt 21:28; "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, 'Son, go work today in the vineyard.'
Matt 21:29; "And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went.
Matt 21:30; "The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, 'I will, sir'; but he did not go.
Matt 21:31; "Which of the two did the will of his father?" ....
 
John 6:44; "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

I personally believe the Father draws us all. Just about everyone in the US and Europe at least has heard about Jesus. I don't think God ever says no to anyone who accepts Him.
He said that to ppl to whom He stretched His hands out over and over (it's in the O.T.) and He even did miracles. They had hardened their heart and then you can't be drawn to Him I think. Because He gives to anyone who asks, so they didn't even ask.
Then they turn that into: God randomly picks this one and not that one, so too bad, it hasn't been given to you.
Lot of atheists now would convert if they saw those miracles.
 
Thing is God Still performs miracles.

True, and just like in Bible times, sometimes it doesn't change anyone's mind about accepting Jesus.

Acts 4:16; saying, "What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.
Acts 4:17; "But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name."
Acts 4:18; And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Matt 11:21; "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Matt 11:23; "And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day.
 
The problem with what unbelievers see as miracles today comes in the form of people like Todd White and Benny Hinn. Not Good.
 
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