THE GREATEST INVITATION

REV. 22: 8 – 21

 

8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

 

We offer an invitation at every service.  The scripture teaches the importance of inviting one to come to Christ.  We try to say something that is meaningful to those present.  We try to pick a scripture that will make you stop and think before we sing the invitation song.  There is no greater invitation than this one.

I.                  Rev. 22: 17  “…the Spirit and the bride say come…”

A.      The Spirit is the Holy Spirit.  King James gives a capital S because it is translated from a greek word mining the Holy Spirit or spirit of God.

1.                 2 Peter 1: 21  The Word was given by the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

 

 

 

                          2.                 Mark 12: 36  Jesus ask in ver. 35 How say the scribes that Christ is                                       the Son of God.

                                      36 For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to

my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.

      3.         1Cor. 2: 12 – 13  Paul says the apostles speak by the Holy Ghost.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.         

          B.      Eph. 5: 25  The bride is the church.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Our work on this earth is to glorify God.  This can be don by inviting people to come to worship.  The Spirit and the bride say come.  Do we say come to our friends and neighbors?

II.      Rev, 22: 17  “…and let him that heareth say, come…”

A.               What kind of hearers are we?

1.                 Rev. 2: 7, 11, 17, 29  The Bible places great emphasis on hearing.  Jesus says hear.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

 

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

 

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

 

29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

                   2.       Heb. 5: 11  Some are dull of hearing.

11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.

III.    Rev. 22: 17  “…and let him that is athirst come…”

A.               Matt. 5: 6  We can not make them come, there must be a thirst.

6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

How is our thirst?

1.                 Psa. 42: 1 – 2  David expressed it this way.

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

                   2.       Psa. 63: 1  Again David thirst for God.

O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;

          B.      James 4: 2  Some may have a thirst but refuse to asked.

2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

We need more people to become truly thirsty enough to ask.

 

IV.     Rev. 22: 17  “…and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely…”

A.               Luke 9: 23  Where is our will today?

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.       

          B.      Rev. 22: 17  Look at the words “whosoever” and “freely.”

Eternal life is available if we want it bad enough.  Some want it, but not bad enough to put off sin and repent.  Not bad enough to confess Christ as the Son of God.  Not bad enough to be baptized for the remission of sins.  Not bad enough to live the Christian life in obedience to God and His word.

Do you want to be saved bad enough to let go of the pew and come forward.  Do you want to be saved bad enough to put aside you greatest fear and obey Jesus Christ?  You make your own decisions.  You will make one today.  Don’t be ashamed of the decision you make.  Hold your head up high and come to Jesus.  Your Christian family will welcome you.  Sure your earthly family may not be happy but they do not know the truth you know.  If they understood the truth like you do, would they be here?  Yes the truth can set you free and Jesus says come.