The power of invitation
Series: One Hit Wonders
Speaker: Debbie Gould
Date: 7th October 2012
Passage: John 4:1-26
00:00:00 --> 00:00:06 Today's topic is the power of invitation and we all love an invitation.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:14 It tells us that there's something great going to happen and invitations come for a variety
00:00:14 --> 00:00:14 of reasons.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:23 Only just two weeks ago I received, this is not normal I have to say, two birthday invitations,
00:00:23 --> 00:00:31 a 50th, a 60th, two wedding invitations, a baptism invitation and an invitation to my
00:00:31 --> 00:00:32 own birthday.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:35 So all within one week.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:46 But today we're going to talk about a particular invitation and this particular invitation is
00:00:46 --> 00:00:49 one that has power attached to it.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:58 But before we do that we need to review what happens when we accept the invitation to come
00:00:58 --> 00:01:01 to Jesus when we first came to know him.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:07 Now we know and we've been doing this through Romans, we know that the gospel of Jesus Christ
00:01:07 --> 00:01:15 has the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes and we accept that the gospel
00:01:15 --> 00:01:23 we commit, sorry, for everyone who believes and when we accept that gospel we are committing
00:01:23 --> 00:01:24 to three things.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:32 I'm not sure that you actually notice that we commit to these things but first and foremost
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 we all know that we're committing to Jesus Christ.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:42 It is Jesus who has come into the world to live the perfect life, to die the perfect death
00:01:42 --> 00:01:50 death on our behalf and who has risen from death to life to proclaim his power over sin and death.
00:01:51 --> 00:01:53 We know that when we see the gospel.
00:01:54 --> 00:02:01 But the second commitment is to the church, to the universal church and to our local church.
00:02:02 --> 00:02:06 We're committed to the body of Christ when we come to the gospel.
00:02:06 --> 00:02:14 We participate together in worship, in serving each other, in loving each other.
00:02:14 --> 00:02:24 It's why our mission statement here at St Paul's is to know Jesus, to treasure Jesus and to represent
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 Jesus for God's glory and the joy of all people.
00:02:27 --> 00:02:37 But the third commitment is that when we come to the gospel is to the cause of Jesus.
00:02:38 --> 00:02:41 It's to Jesus and his mission is what we come to.
00:02:42 --> 00:02:51 If we are not committed to what Jesus is committed to, then it's going to question that first and
00:02:51 --> 00:02:52 second commitment.
00:02:52 --> 00:03:03 You cannot truly be committed to Jesus and his saving power for us personally and truly committed
00:03:03 --> 00:03:12 to the church locally and universally if in fact you are not committed to the cause and
00:03:12 --> 00:03:14 the mission of Jesus.
00:03:15 --> 00:03:21 You can, on the other hand, be committed to church and to serving and doing lots of things
00:03:21 --> 00:03:31 within a church and to a mission and not be committed to the cause of Jesus, to his mission.
00:03:32 --> 00:03:36 And if that was the case, then we have a serious problem.
00:03:38 --> 00:03:40 So we need all three commitments.
00:03:41 --> 00:03:43 Now, what is the cause of Jesus?
00:03:44 --> 00:03:50 Well, 1 John 3.8, and I will be jumping from verse to verse all over the place.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:55 So if you're a person who wants to reflect on what has been said, you might want to just
00:03:55 --> 00:04:01 jot those verses down or flick quickly in your Bible.
00:04:02 --> 00:04:11 But in 1 John 3.8, it tells us the reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's
00:04:11 --> 00:04:11 work.
00:04:11 --> 00:04:15 And 2 Corinthians 5.18 says,
00:04:15 --> 00:04:34 That is, Jesus' ministry is to destroy the devil's work.
00:04:34 --> 00:04:40 And the Father says that we too have that ministry.
00:04:41 --> 00:04:50 Not only do we have the ministry, but we are given the message as well in verse 19, where
00:04:50 --> 00:04:50 it says,
00:04:50 --> 00:04:55 And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.
00:04:55 --> 00:05:07 So, every one of us here who is a child of God's, who has Jesus as their saviour, has a job title.
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 That is, we are all ministers.
00:05:12 --> 00:05:16 And not only do we have a job title, but we have a job description.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:20 And that is the ministry of reconciliation.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 So how do we do that?
00:05:23 --> 00:05:28 Well, we follow the example that scripture gives us.
00:05:28 --> 00:05:32 And of course, we follow God's example.
00:05:33 --> 00:05:35 So God says to come.
00:05:36 --> 00:05:37 We read this.
00:05:38 --> 00:05:39 Come all you who are thirsty.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:41 Come to the waters.
00:05:41 --> 00:05:45 And you who have no money, come buy and eat.
00:05:45 --> 00:05:49 Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
00:05:49 --> 00:05:54 Why spend money on what is not bread and your labour on what does not satisfy?
00:05:54 --> 00:06:01 Listen, listen to me and eat what is good and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:08 The only thing that will satisfy is if you come.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:14 You cannot buy it and you cannot earn it, these verses tell us.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:17 Matthew 11, 28 says,
00:06:17 --> 00:06:24 Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 So Jesus says come.
00:06:27 --> 00:06:28 God says come.
00:06:29 --> 00:06:30 Jesus says come.
00:06:31 --> 00:06:32 John 14, 6.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:35 Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the life.
00:06:36 --> 00:06:40 No one comes to the Father except through me.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 So Jesus is the way.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:50 And if we go to the very end of the Bible in Revelation 22, 17, we read,
00:06:51 --> 00:06:55 The Spirit and the Bride say come.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 And let him who hears say come.
00:07:00 --> 00:07:03 Whoever is thirsty, let him come.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:10 And whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:15 The Spirit and the Bride say come.
00:07:16 --> 00:07:18 Who is the Bride?
00:07:19 --> 00:07:20 It's you and me.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 It's the Church.
00:07:23 --> 00:07:26 The Universal Church says come.
00:07:26 --> 00:07:32 It's the heart of the Trinity to call people.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:41 And we have the pleasure and the privilege to be part of the work that the Trinity is doing.
00:07:42 --> 00:07:46 Don't you find that absolutely amazing?
00:07:46 --> 00:07:50 That the Trinity is actually saying,
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 Come on, church.
00:07:51 --> 00:07:55 You are part of the same work that we're doing here.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:59 We want you to be part of this same ministry.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:06 And did you notice the flow on effect in this verse?
00:08:06 --> 00:08:11 The one who hears is also to say come.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:18 That is for every person who responds to the call to come
00:08:18 --> 00:08:24 is also then to give that same call to others to come.
00:08:25 --> 00:08:26 It's a mandate.
00:08:26 --> 00:08:29 It's something that we have to be part of.
00:08:30 --> 00:08:32 If we have accepted the call to come,
00:08:32 --> 00:08:34 we then must,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:36 not if you wish
00:08:36 --> 00:08:40 or if you feel like it,
00:08:40 --> 00:08:45 but we must be giving that same invitation to others.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:49 Why did Jesus call us to himself?
00:08:50 --> 00:08:52 Well, you most probably know this,
00:08:52 --> 00:08:56 because God the Father knows that we have a serious problem
00:08:56 --> 00:09:00 and he also knows how to fix that problem because we could not.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:06 Many of us have problems that we're not even aware of.
00:09:06 --> 00:09:10 And then some of us have problems that we know about,
00:09:10 --> 00:09:12 but we know that we cannot fix.
00:09:13 --> 00:09:18 A really simple problem often can happen with my computer.
00:09:18 --> 00:09:22 I know very clearly when I have a problem with my computer.
00:09:23 --> 00:09:26 I also know I have no idea how to fix it.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:30 And so I have to take it to the geniuses,
00:09:31 --> 00:09:33 the genius bar down at the Mac shop,
00:09:33 --> 00:09:35 and they fix it for me.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:40 Because I know I'm totally inept when it comes to that.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:46 But you see, we have a much larger problem than my computer.
00:09:49 --> 00:09:54 We know that we cannot fix the problem of our sin
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 by our own efforts.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:00 Only God has the answer through Jesus.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 So there's an invitation to come,
00:10:03 --> 00:10:07 and we have the ministry of giving that invitation
00:10:07 --> 00:10:12 if we are committed to the cause of Jesus.
00:10:13 --> 00:10:15 But I believe that there's actually power
00:10:15 --> 00:10:18 in this particular invitation.
00:10:20 --> 00:10:22 There's power in this one,
00:10:22 --> 00:10:27 not so much in the invitation to my birthday lunch
00:10:27 --> 00:10:30 or to the weddings or anything of that nature,
00:10:30 --> 00:10:32 even though they're really lovely invitations.
00:10:32 --> 00:10:36 But this one, there is power attached to it.
00:10:36 --> 00:10:38 Why would I say that there's power?
00:10:38 --> 00:10:41 Well, if you look at John 6, 44,
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 it says,
00:10:44 --> 00:10:46 No one can come to me
00:10:46 --> 00:10:49 unless the Father who sent me draws him,
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 and I will raise him up on the last day.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 John 16, 8 says,
00:10:55 --> 00:10:57 Speaking of the Holy Spirit,
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 Jesus says,
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 When he comes,
00:10:59 --> 00:11:02 He will convict the world of guilt
00:11:02 --> 00:11:06 in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:11 We see again that the Trinity is involved.
00:11:12 --> 00:11:14 The Father, by the Spirit,
00:11:15 --> 00:11:17 draws a person to Jesus.
00:11:18 --> 00:11:21 So we are joining with God
00:11:21 --> 00:11:24 as co-laborers to say,
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 Come.
00:11:26 --> 00:11:29 And there's a power linked to any invitation
00:11:29 --> 00:11:32 when you are working with God.
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 It's the power of God.
00:11:34 --> 00:11:37 The one who created the world
00:11:37 --> 00:11:40 adds his power to these invitations.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:44 But there's also a power
00:11:44 --> 00:11:47 that stops that from happening.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:52 There is an enemy to a person's soul.
00:11:53 --> 00:11:56 Satan is prowling around
00:11:56 --> 00:11:57 like a roaring lion
00:11:57 --> 00:12:00 ready to kill and destroy,
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 Scripture tells us.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 In the parable of the banquet
00:12:03 --> 00:12:06 that we had read in Luke 14,
00:12:07 --> 00:12:09 we saw that there's an escalation
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 of the invitation that went out
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 to attend that banquet.
00:12:14 --> 00:12:16 There was every excuse given
00:12:16 --> 00:12:18 to stop those who were invited attending.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 Some were distracted
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 by their real estate purchases,
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 others by their work,
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 others by their relationships.
00:12:29 --> 00:12:30 And so the invitation went
00:12:30 --> 00:12:33 to other people
00:12:33 --> 00:12:35 who were ready to hear
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 and accept
00:12:36 --> 00:12:40 that very special invitation
00:12:40 --> 00:12:40 to a banquet.
00:12:41 --> 00:12:42 And you would have noticed
00:12:42 --> 00:12:43 there's an urgency.
00:12:43 --> 00:12:45 near the end,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:45 it's, you know,
00:12:45 --> 00:12:46 a compelling,
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 go out and compel people
00:12:48 --> 00:12:49 to actually come.
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 So what are we to do?
00:12:52 --> 00:12:54 We're the children of God
00:12:54 --> 00:12:56 led by the Spirit of God.
00:12:57 --> 00:12:59 And so we are not to have
00:12:59 --> 00:13:01 a scattergun approach
00:13:01 --> 00:13:03 to sending out invitations.
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 That is,
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 we're not called
00:13:07 --> 00:13:09 to just go and put
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 some flyers
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 maybe down in the mall
00:13:12 --> 00:13:12 and hope that,
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 for an invitation
00:13:14 --> 00:13:15 and hope that one day
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 somebody's going to pick it up
00:13:16 --> 00:13:19 and come and be here at church
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 and see Jesus.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 That might happen.
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 But that's not what
00:13:24 --> 00:13:26 we're being called to do.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:26 No,
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 we are relational people
00:13:29 --> 00:13:32 and our invitations
00:13:32 --> 00:13:36 are to be about relationships.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 Let me give you
00:13:38 --> 00:13:39 three really quick tips.
00:13:39 --> 00:13:43 Pray and ask God
00:13:43 --> 00:13:44 who he would like you
00:13:44 --> 00:13:45 to invite
00:13:45 --> 00:13:47 to either church
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 or to your community group
00:13:49 --> 00:13:51 social event
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 or maybe
00:13:52 --> 00:13:54 to your own home
00:13:54 --> 00:13:55 to a barbecue
00:13:55 --> 00:13:56 where you have invited
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 some other Christian friends
00:13:57 --> 00:13:59 just so that
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 you can get to know
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 other people
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 and your friends
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 can get to know
00:14:03 --> 00:14:04 your Christian friends.
00:14:04 --> 00:14:09 The Holy Spirit
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 is about
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 the Father's work.
00:14:11 --> 00:14:12 Drawing people
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 to the Father
00:14:13 --> 00:14:15 so why not
00:14:15 --> 00:14:17 partner
00:14:17 --> 00:14:18 with the Father
00:14:18 --> 00:14:20 in the work
00:14:20 --> 00:14:20 that God
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 is already doing?
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 Open up
00:14:23 --> 00:14:25 your spiritual eyes
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 and be aware
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 of when God
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 is leading you.
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 So ask God
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 who are you working
00:14:31 --> 00:14:33 with at this moment
00:14:33 --> 00:14:33 in time?
00:14:33 --> 00:14:34 Who are you drawing
00:14:34 --> 00:14:35 to yourself
00:14:35 --> 00:14:37 and let me
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 invite them
00:14:38 --> 00:14:38 to something.
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 That's the partnership
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 that I'm talking about.
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 Pray for the person
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 or the persons
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 that God has laid
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 on your heart.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 We're in a spiritual battle
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 and we need
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 to take that role
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 very seriously.
00:14:54 --> 00:14:56 Give an invitation
00:14:56 --> 00:14:57 and when you've given
00:14:57 --> 00:14:57 the invitation
00:14:57 --> 00:14:58 then follow up
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 on the invitation
00:14:59 --> 00:15:01 a few days
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 before whatever
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 the event might be.
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 Opposition
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 as we've seen
00:15:06 --> 00:15:07 in the parable
00:15:07 --> 00:15:07 for the banquet
00:15:07 --> 00:15:09 opposition
00:15:09 --> 00:15:10 will come
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 in the form
00:15:10 --> 00:15:11 of distractions
00:15:11 --> 00:15:13 just like
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 that banquet.
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 So be on your guard
00:15:15 --> 00:15:17 be in prayer
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 and follow up
00:15:18 --> 00:15:19 in love.
00:15:20 --> 00:15:21 Now let me
00:15:21 --> 00:15:22 quickly remind us
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 that church
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 is not
00:15:23 --> 00:15:25 an exclusive club.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 We are
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 always
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 to be on the ready
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 for change
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 and for growth.
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 We are
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 always
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 to have
00:15:35 --> 00:15:36 a heart
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 to reach out
00:15:38 --> 00:15:38 to others
00:15:38 --> 00:15:40 as mentioned
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 right at the beginning.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 To be committed
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 to the cause
00:15:44 --> 00:15:45 of Jesus'
00:15:45 --> 00:15:45 ministry.
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 And it is
00:15:47 --> 00:15:48 our heart
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 that will test
00:15:50 --> 00:15:50 the validity
00:15:50 --> 00:15:52 of your commitment
00:15:52 --> 00:15:54 to the person
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 of Jesus
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 by the commitment
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 to his cause.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 Let me say
00:15:59 --> 00:15:59 that again.
00:16:01 --> 00:16:01 It is
00:16:01 --> 00:16:02 your heart
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 that will
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 test the validity
00:16:04 --> 00:16:05 of your commitment
00:16:05 --> 00:16:06 to Jesus
00:16:06 --> 00:16:08 by your commitment
00:16:08 --> 00:16:10 to his cause.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 So
00:16:12 --> 00:16:13 who do we invite?
00:16:13 --> 00:16:14 Let me
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 actually tell you
00:16:15 --> 00:16:15 really quickly
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 there are four
00:16:16 --> 00:16:18 groups of people
00:16:18 --> 00:16:19 that are
00:16:19 --> 00:16:20 in your circle
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 of influence
00:16:21 --> 00:16:23 without even
00:16:23 --> 00:16:24 working hard
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 to go and
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 meet people.
00:16:26 --> 00:16:26 Okay,
00:16:26 --> 00:16:27 the first one
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 is your family.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:29 John
00:16:29 --> 00:16:30 1,
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 35 to 42.
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 John the Baptist
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 is with two
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 of his disciples
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 and
00:16:36 --> 00:16:37 he sees
00:16:37 --> 00:16:38 Jesus
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 and he points
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 the two disciples
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 to Jesus.
00:16:41 --> 00:16:42 In verse 40
00:16:42 --> 00:16:43 it reads,
00:16:44 --> 00:16:44 Andrew,
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 Simon Peter's
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 brother,
00:16:47 --> 00:16:48 was one of the two
00:16:48 --> 00:16:48 who heard
00:16:48 --> 00:16:49 what John had said
00:16:49 --> 00:16:50 and who had
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 followed Jesus.
00:16:52 --> 00:16:53 The first thing
00:16:53 --> 00:16:54 Andrew did
00:16:54 --> 00:16:55 was to find
00:16:55 --> 00:16:55 his brother
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 Simon
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 and tell him
00:16:57 --> 00:16:59 we have found
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 the Messiah,
00:17:00 --> 00:17:01 the Christ
00:17:01 --> 00:17:03 and he brought
00:17:03 --> 00:17:04 him to Jesus.
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 And then
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 as we know
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 the story
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 there's a
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 transformation
00:17:07 --> 00:17:09 occurs in
00:17:09 --> 00:17:09 Simon,
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 Jesus gives him
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 a new name
00:17:11 --> 00:17:13 and that
00:17:13 --> 00:17:14 becomes Peter
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 and then Peter
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 has this
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 amazing ministry
00:17:17 --> 00:17:19 but his brother
00:17:19 --> 00:17:19 was the one
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 who introduced
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 him to Jesus.
00:17:21 --> 00:17:23 You see,
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 it seems
00:17:24 --> 00:17:25 that it's
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 a fruit
00:17:25 --> 00:17:26 of a disciple
00:17:26 --> 00:17:28 is to have
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 a passion
00:17:29 --> 00:17:31 and a heart
00:17:31 --> 00:17:32 to bring people
00:17:32 --> 00:17:32 to Jesus.
00:17:34 --> 00:17:35 Don't allow
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 your heart
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 to go
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 cold.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:40 Irrespective
00:17:40 --> 00:17:41 of your age,
00:17:42 --> 00:17:42 irrespective
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 of how much
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 ministry
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 you may have
00:17:45 --> 00:17:45 already have
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 done,
00:17:46 --> 00:17:48 ask yourself
00:17:48 --> 00:17:50 who have
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 I
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 introduced
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 to Jesus
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 of late?
00:17:56 --> 00:17:56 Be it
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 even in a
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 small way,
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 ask yourself
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 who am I
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 praying for
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 at this
00:18:02 --> 00:18:02 moment
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 that I
00:18:03 --> 00:18:04 can say
00:18:04 --> 00:18:05 come and
00:18:05 --> 00:18:05 see?
00:18:07 --> 00:18:07 So the
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 first group
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 is your
00:18:08 --> 00:18:08 family,
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 the second
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 group are
00:18:10 --> 00:18:10 your friends.
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 Following on
00:18:12 --> 00:18:13 in John
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 chapter 1,
00:18:14 --> 00:18:16 we see
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 in 43
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 to 46,
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 Jesus invites
00:18:19 --> 00:18:21 Philip to
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 join him
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 and Philip
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 then invites
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 his friend
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 Nathaniel.
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 Nathaniel
00:18:25 --> 00:18:27 then goes
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 into this
00:18:27 --> 00:18:29 little discussion
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 and questions,
00:18:30 --> 00:18:31 is there anything
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 good that can
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 come out of
00:18:32 --> 00:18:32 Galilee?
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 Because Jesus
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 has come out
00:18:35 --> 00:18:35 of Galilee and
00:18:35 --> 00:18:36 so he's sort
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 of asking
00:18:37 --> 00:18:37 questions.
00:18:37 --> 00:18:38 Surely we can't
00:18:38 --> 00:18:39 trust this guy,
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 he's coming
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 out of Galilee.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 And what is
00:18:42 --> 00:18:43 Philip's answer?
00:18:43 --> 00:18:43 It's not a
00:18:43 --> 00:18:45 great apologetic
00:18:45 --> 00:18:45 discussion.
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 What he says
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 is come
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 and see.
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 See,
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 we actually
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 don't need
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 all the
00:18:53 --> 00:18:54 answers that
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 our friends
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 might give
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 us.
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 Jesus can
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 stand for
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 himself.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:01 We just
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 need to
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 give the
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 invitation.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 But there
00:19:05 --> 00:19:05 will always
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 be a cost
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 involved.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 It may be
00:19:08 --> 00:19:09 your time,
00:19:09 --> 00:19:09 it might
00:19:09 --> 00:19:10 be your
00:19:10 --> 00:19:10 money,
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 it might
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 be your
00:19:11 --> 00:19:11 energy.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 And we
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 may need
00:19:14 --> 00:19:14 to lay
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 aside
00:19:15 --> 00:19:17 our own
00:19:17 --> 00:19:17 plans
00:19:17 --> 00:19:19 when we
00:19:19 --> 00:19:20 are about
00:19:20 --> 00:19:21 the father's
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 business.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 So there's
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 your family,
00:19:24 --> 00:19:24 there's your
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 friends,
00:19:25 --> 00:19:25 there's your
00:19:25 --> 00:19:26 neighbours.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 John 4,
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 28-30,
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 it's the
00:19:30 --> 00:19:30 story of
00:19:30 --> 00:19:31 the woman
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 at the
00:19:31 --> 00:19:31 well.
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 And you
00:19:32 --> 00:19:32 all know
00:19:32 --> 00:19:33 this story
00:19:33 --> 00:19:34 well.
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 This woman
00:19:35 --> 00:19:36 is someone
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 who is
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 already
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 rejected by
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 her community.
00:19:40 --> 00:19:40 She's
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 ostracised
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 and that
00:19:42 --> 00:19:42 is why
00:19:42 --> 00:19:43 she's out
00:19:43 --> 00:19:43 in the
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 middle of
00:19:44 --> 00:19:44 the day
00:19:44 --> 00:19:45 gathering
00:19:45 --> 00:19:46 water at
00:19:46 --> 00:19:47 the hottest
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 part of
00:19:48 --> 00:19:48 the day.
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 But she's
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 touched by
00:19:51 --> 00:19:52 God when
00:19:52 --> 00:19:53 she meets
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 Jesus.
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 And even
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 though she
00:19:56 --> 00:19:57 is an
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 outcast in
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 her community,
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 she didn't
00:20:01 --> 00:20:01 let that
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 stop her
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 from the
00:20:03 --> 00:20:04 possibility
00:20:04 --> 00:20:05 of being
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 shunned
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 again when
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 she goes
00:20:08 --> 00:20:08 back to
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 the community
00:20:09 --> 00:20:09 with a
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 message.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 She ran
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 and told
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 the community
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 that they
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 must see
00:20:15 --> 00:20:17 the man
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 who could
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 be the
00:20:18 --> 00:20:19 Christ.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:19 She's not
00:20:19 --> 00:20:20 even certain
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 at this
00:20:21 --> 00:20:21 moment in
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 time.
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 She's been
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 ostracised
00:20:24 --> 00:20:24 by her
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 community
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 and yet
00:20:26 --> 00:20:27 she still
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 has an
00:20:27 --> 00:20:27 important
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 message
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 that she
00:20:29 --> 00:20:29 wants her
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 community
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 to know
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 about.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 How did
00:20:32 --> 00:20:33 they respond
00:20:33 --> 00:20:34 to the
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 person
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 that they
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 had cast
00:20:35 --> 00:20:35 out?
00:20:36 --> 00:20:37 They
00:20:37 --> 00:20:37 responded
00:20:37 --> 00:20:38 by going
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 and seeing
00:20:39 --> 00:20:40 Jesus.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:41 Friends,
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 this story
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 I think
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 is remarkable.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 It's not
00:20:45 --> 00:20:46 just remarkable
00:20:46 --> 00:20:46 from the
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 woman's
00:20:47 --> 00:20:47 perspective
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 but it's
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 remarkable
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 from the
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 community's
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 perspective
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 in responding
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 to her.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 This is
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 the woman
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 who they
00:20:55 --> 00:20:55 thought
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 was a
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 nobody
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 and yet
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 she comes
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 with this
00:20:59 --> 00:20:59 message
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 come
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 I think
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 I've
00:21:01 --> 00:21:02 actually met
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 the Christ
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 come and
00:21:03 --> 00:21:03 see for
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 yourselves.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 You see
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 if we
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 bring people
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 to meet
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 Jesus
00:21:09 --> 00:21:11 it's
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 Jesus
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 who does
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 the rest.
00:21:14 --> 00:21:14 It actually
00:21:14 --> 00:21:15 is very
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 freeing
00:21:16 --> 00:21:17 in so
00:21:17 --> 00:21:17 many ways.
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 And the
00:21:19 --> 00:21:19 fourth group
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 is our
00:21:20 --> 00:21:21 work colleagues.
00:21:21 --> 00:21:22 Luke 5
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 27
00:21:23 --> 00:21:23 to 32
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 the passage
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 is the
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 calling of
00:21:25 --> 00:21:25 Levi
00:21:25 --> 00:21:26 the tax
00:21:26 --> 00:21:26 collector.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 He later
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 gets a
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 name
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 Matthew.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:29 Remember
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 Levi
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 is rich
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 because
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 he skimmed
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 money
00:21:34 --> 00:21:34 from the
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 taxes
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 for
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 himself
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 and the
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 Jews
00:21:37 --> 00:21:37 looked down
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 on all
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 tax collectors.
00:21:39 --> 00:21:39 Levi
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 was a
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 hated
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 man.
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 But Jesus
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 sees something
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 different in
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 Levi
00:21:45 --> 00:21:47 and Levi
00:21:47 --> 00:21:48 in turn
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 sees
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 Jesus
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 for who
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 he is
00:21:52 --> 00:21:52 as well.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:53 Levi
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 then throws
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 a banquet
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 and who
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 does he
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 invite to
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 the banquet?
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 his fellow
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 tax collectors.
00:22:01 --> 00:22:01 It's his
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 work colleagues.
00:22:03 --> 00:22:03 They're all
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 the people
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 that are
00:22:04 --> 00:22:04 hated.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:05 It's
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 great.
00:22:07 --> 00:22:07 The banquet
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 is to
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 honour
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 Jesus
00:22:11 --> 00:22:11 because
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 Levi
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 has found
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 that his
00:22:14 --> 00:22:14 deepest
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 needs
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 have been
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 met
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 in Jesus.
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 He uses
00:22:19 --> 00:22:20 this banquet
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 to testify
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 to what
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 Jesus has
00:22:23 --> 00:22:23 done
00:22:23 --> 00:22:25 and it's
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 a non-threatening
00:22:26 --> 00:22:26 way
00:22:26 --> 00:22:28 to invite
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 work
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 colleagues
00:22:28 --> 00:22:29 to your
00:22:29 --> 00:22:29 home
00:22:29 --> 00:22:30 to have
00:22:30 --> 00:22:30 a meal
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 and introduce
00:22:31 --> 00:22:33 the person
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 who has
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 met
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 his deep
00:22:36 --> 00:22:36 needs.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:38 There is
00:22:38 --> 00:22:40 great work
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 going on
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 in this
00:22:42 --> 00:22:42 banquet.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 You can
00:22:43 --> 00:22:43 see it
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 all happening.
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 God
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 has changed
00:22:47 --> 00:22:49 Levi's
00:22:49 --> 00:22:49 heart
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 and his
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 heart has
00:22:51 --> 00:22:51 gone out
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 to all
00:22:52 --> 00:22:52 of his
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 friends
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 and so
00:22:55 --> 00:22:55 there is
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 great work
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 going on
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 and yet
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 the Pharisees
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 are still
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 complaining.
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 So we
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 must be
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 very
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 careful
00:23:07 --> 00:23:08 that we
00:23:08 --> 00:23:09 do not
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 hinder
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 the great
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 work of
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 Jesus
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 by our
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 complaints
00:23:14 --> 00:23:15 and our
00:23:15 --> 00:23:15 criticism
00:23:15 --> 00:23:17 when things
00:23:17 --> 00:23:17 are not
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 happening
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 as we
00:23:19 --> 00:23:19 might think
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 that they
00:23:20 --> 00:23:20 should.
00:23:20 --> 00:23:23 So in
00:23:23 --> 00:23:23 a nutshell
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 being
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 committed to
00:23:26 --> 00:23:26 the gospel
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 of Jesus
00:23:27 --> 00:23:29 means that
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 we are
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 committed
00:23:30 --> 00:23:32 to
00:23:32 --> 00:23:33 Jesus
00:23:33 --> 00:23:35 the church
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 and his
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 cause.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 The
00:23:39 --> 00:23:39 Trinity
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 is involved
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 in giving
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 the invitation
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 to come
00:23:43 --> 00:23:44 and we
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 are commanded
00:23:45 --> 00:23:46 to do
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 so as
00:23:47 --> 00:23:47 well.
00:23:49 --> 00:23:49 There is
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 special power
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 attached
00:23:52 --> 00:23:53 when we
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 are co-workers
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 with God.
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 We have
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 a circle
00:23:58 --> 00:24:00 of influence
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 where we
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 can give
00:24:02 --> 00:24:04 an invitation
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 to come
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 and see.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 Pray for
00:24:09 --> 00:24:10 your hearts
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 to be warm
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 friends.
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 Warm
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 to Jesus
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 and warm
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 to his
00:24:15 --> 00:24:15 mission
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 and in
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 so doing
00:24:17 --> 00:24:18 we will
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 see
00:24:19 --> 00:24:19 God's
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 kingdom
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 grow.
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 Let me
00:24:22 --> 00:24:22 pray.
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 Our
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 Father we
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 just thank
00:24:25 --> 00:24:25 you that
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 you have
00:24:26 --> 00:24:26 invited us
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 to come
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 and Father
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 I ask
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 right now
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 that by
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 your spirit
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 you will
00:24:32 --> 00:24:33 touch each
00:24:33 --> 00:24:33 person here
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 who knows
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 you with
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 a person
00:24:36 --> 00:24:37 to invite
00:24:37 --> 00:24:37 to just
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 come and
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 see.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 Father might
00:24:40 --> 00:24:40 you give
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 us divine
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 appointments
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 this week.
00:24:43 --> 00:24:43 Divine
00:24:43 --> 00:24:44 appointments
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 where we
00:24:44 --> 00:24:45 can see
00:24:45 --> 00:24:45 your hand
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 at work
00:24:46 --> 00:24:46 and that
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 we give
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 a little
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 bit of
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 ourselves
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 so that
00:24:49 --> 00:24:50 our friends
00:24:50 --> 00:24:52 might meet
00:24:52 --> 00:24:52 Jesus.
00:24:53 --> 00:24:53 We thank
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 you in
00:24:54 --> 00:24:54 Jesus name.
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 Amen.