Good morning,
Praise the Lord for this new day. It is going to be another awesome Autumn day, colorful and brilliant. The Lord blessed us with a wonderful Wednesday fellowship and study last evening. Alice and I walked for over 4 miles between 9 and 10-something PM last night. It was a sparkling and brillian starry night along with an abundance of moonlight that was so gentle and mild.
In Luke 14 it is recorded that our Lord Jesus told a story of an invitation to a banquet that was turned down. The invitees offered feeble excuses to defend their abrupt change of plans. They initially agreed and were expected to come…but then they backed down. Had they been honest, they would have admitted they really had no intention to come. There is nothing wrong with tending to the business of fields, oxen, or getting married, but there are no grounds for missing God’s banquet. There are, however, many excuses for rejecting what God has to offer, and God sees through them all. People are too occupied with their lives to have God be part of their plans. They don’t see their need and they’re not willing to commit to faith. They find the invitation inconvenient and may think the party won’t be fun. But no excuse is valid when God calls us.
There is far more to this than rejecting hospitality. This parable is also about the honor of God. We dishonor Him by choosing to refuse His mercy. God offers Heaven itself and people refuse it. They make a free decision to remain alienated from God. C.S. Lewis described the doors of Hell as being locked on the inside. We make Hell for ourselves when we refuse Heaven and God and joy .
In Jesus' story, the host was outraged over these rejections but he turned his anger to grace. He could not let the food go to waste, so he chose an unexpected option: he told his servant to invite the outcasts -- not the “beautiful people” but the so-called “unwashed masses” who offer no excuses (the kind of people Jesus was known to eat with). Matters such as real estate and livestock didn’t impede them, and many couldn’t afford to be married. They were told, “come on in; the food’s on the table!” They were welcome to enjoy the Host’s hospitality. This was not a meal for the full but for the hungry. If we are full of the world we will have no appetite for Heaven.
These outcasts regarded themselves as unworthy. They had to be reassured of their invitation to attend the banquet. The host said, “Compel them to come in” (23/NASB). In the same way, we share the Gospel message with a great sense of urgency, eager to have people come join the party! We are servants of the Host and our mandate is to go out and invite people to come to His table, to let them know they are most welcome. “The greatest favor we can do for any human being is to introduce them to Jesus Christ” (Paul Little).
What became of the original guest list? Those who snubbed the host would not get even a taste of the meal. The door was shut and the invitation was withdrawn for those who refused to come. One commentator gets to the point of the host’s withdrawal: “They don’t know what they’re missing but it serves them right that they’re missing it!” None were excluded except those who excluded themselves. Who missed out, but those who rejected the invitation? We should let nothing stand in the way of accepting Christ’s invitation.
Jesus suggested to his fellow dinner-guest that, “We’re enjoying this fine meal because we accepted our gracious host’s invitation. We need to accept God’s all-inclusive invitation to His table.” Scripture warns, “Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Psalm 95:7-8). There’s a peril in rejecting God. If we think we can live without God, we are indeed on our own, but we are also without excuse. The offer’s been given…dinner is served.
In Christ,
Brown
http://youtu.be/WklhFbJdbCU
Saturday , October 2.2011
Praise and worship service:
First United Methodist Church , Endicott
Sponsored by Union Center UMC
6PM Gathering- Coffeee- Fellowship
6.30PM Worship
Music: Laureen Naik
Speaker: Jim Nedlik
PRAYER CONFERNCE:
Union Center United Methodist Church:
128, Maple Drive, Endicott, New York 13760
PRAYER CONFERNCE:
Friday October 14 through Sunday October 16,2011
Need hope?
Need a reason to continue?
Need joy?
Need peace?
Need an answer?
Need rest?
" COME TO JESUS AND LIVE "
Need NEED LIFE?No matter what you need…
JESUS says “Call to Me & I will Answer!”
~ Jeremiah 33:3
Join us for a weekend of Hope, Joy, Peace & Life!!
Friday Oct. 14 – 6:00 pm: Opening session at Union Center UMC with Kelly Johnson from Two By Two Ministries
Saturday Oct. 15:
9 am – Noon at Union Center UMC: Open Prayer Time: A refreshing time of personal prayer and community prayer for any storm you’ve weathered. Prayer teams available to pray with those who desire it.
5:30pm – Community Dinner at Endicott First Methodist
6:30pm – Worship service with Kelly Johnson at Endicott First Methodist.
Sunday Oct. 16 – 8:30 & 11:00 am at Union Center UMC– Join us for morning worship with guest speaker Kelly Johnson.
***Please note our two locations for these events***
Union Center United Methodist Church is located at 128 Maple Dr. Endicott
Endicott First Methodist is located at 53 McKinley Ave. Endicott
For information please call 607-748-6329-748-1358 or 427-4359
If you are unable to come but have a need you’d like to have us pray for, please email it to umcgospel@aol.com or you can mail it to the Union Center UMC address listed above attn: Prayer Team
We praise the Lord for the following who will be leaders in the Prayer conference:
Kelly Johnson from Memphis, TN.
Sunita and Andy from Washington, DC
Rob and Jenn from Washington, DC
Melanie from Baltimore
Laureen from Binghamton
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