THE POWER OF AN
INVITATION"
INTRODUCTION
1. There
is something about an invitation...
a. An invitation makes us feel special
b. An invitation makes us feel wanted and
accepted
2. An
invitation is a powerful way to reach out to others...
a. A man invites a lady out for a date
b. A business person invites a client out
for lunch
c. A housewife invites a friend over for
coffee
d. A family invites another family to supper
3. Invitations
are important in the Bible as well...
a. Both God and Jesus extended invitations
b. People extended invitations to their
families and friends
[In
this study we will look at some of the invitations found in the
Bible. Beginning with...]
I. DIVINE
INVITATIONS
A. GOD INVITED SINNERS...
1. "Come now, and let us reason
together" - Isa 1:18-19
2. Offering forgiveness of sins to those
willing to obey
B. GOD INVITED THE DESTITUTE...
1. "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come
to the waters; And you who have
no money, Come, buy and eat..." -
Isa 55:1-3
2. Offering those willing to hear that
which truly satisfies
C. JESUS INVITES THE WEARY AND HEAVY
LADEN...
1. "Come to Me, all you who labor
and are heavy laden..." - Mt 11:
28-30
2. Offering spiritual rest for those
willing to become His
disciples
D. THE HOLY SPIRIT INVITES THE THIRSTY...
1. "And the Spirit and the bride
say, 'Come!' And let him who
hears say, 'Come!' And let him who
thirsts come..." - Re 22:17
2. To all who desire the water of life
[We see
that God's message is often in the form of an invitation. It
should
not surprise us, therefore, that servants of God would often
reach
out to the lost in the form of...]
II. HUMAN
INVITATIONS
A. AS PROPHESIED...
1. "Many people will shall come and
say, 'Come, and let us go up
to the mountain of the Lord...'"
- Isa 2:1-3
2. As foreseen by Isaiah, many would
invite their friends to learn
about God
B. AS PRACTICED...
1. By Andrew, who invited Peter to
meet Jesus - Jn 1:40-42
2. By Philip, who invited
Nathaniel to meet Jesus - Jn 1:43-46
3. By the Samaritan woman, who
invited her neighbors - Jn 4:28-30
4. By Matthew (Levi), who gave a
feast to introduce Jesus - Lk 5:
27-29
5. By Cornelius, who invited his
family and friends to hear Peter
[We see
that many came to know Jesus by way of an invitation. And so it
can be
today! Consider, therefore...]
III. THE
POWER OF AN INVITATION
A. WE HAVE SEEN IT WORK...
1. God and Jesus extended their
invitation, and souls were saved!
2. The disciples extended invitations,
and won souls to Christ!
3. Most people today have been saved by
receiving an invitation
B. LET US PUT IT TO WORK...
1. Invite people to services of the
church
a. "Come, and let us go..."
- Isa 2:3
b. "Come and see..." - Jn 1:46
2. Invite people to study the Bible
a. "Come now, and let us reason
together" - Isa 1:18
b. "Come...He will teach us His
ways..." - Isa 2:3
3. Invite people to obey the gospel of
Christ
a. "Come...all you who labor and
are heavy laden" - Mt 11:28
b. "And now why are you
waiting? Arise and be baptized..."
- Ac 22:16
4. Never give up extending invitations
a. People will often make excuses -
cf. Lk 14:16-20
b. Simply extend the invitation to
others - cf. Lk 14:21
CONCLUSION
1. Have
we made evangelism more difficult that it really is...?
a. Of course, calling it "personal work"
may not help
b. When it can be as simple as extending an
invitation: "Come..."
c. And should someone decline an invitation,
we are free to offer it
to someone else
2.
Never underestimate the power of a simple invitation...
a. It transformed the life of Peter, brother
of Andrew
b. It has transformed the lives of countless
thousands ever since
c. Perhaps souls are not being saved because
they are simply not
being invited!
God and
Jesus believe in the power of an invitation. They invite us to
believe
and obey the wonderful gospel of Christ.
Have you accepted that
wonderful
invitation...? - cf. Ac 2:36-41
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