The Great Invitation

Hebrews 12: 26-28

Luke 21: 25There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea26 People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.    

Hebrews 12:1-3.  Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart

1.    THE GREAT INVITATION.           Matthew 11: 28-3028 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

2.    THE GREAT COMMISSION – Matthew 28:18-20Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 11:25-27  At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.27 All things have been committed to me by my Father. (Matthew 28:18 – All authority has been given to me). No one knows the Son, except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

John 6:37.All the Father gives me will come to me and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.    

John 6:44    No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him 

John 10: 8b-11 “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. . 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.  They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.   

John 6:35.  Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.    

John 4:14.  whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”  

Isaiah 8:11-14.  This is what the Lord says to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people: 12 Do not call conspiracy everything this people calls a conspiracy;do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, He is the one you are to fear,He is the one you are to dread. He will be a sanctuary; but for both houses of Israel He will be a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.

Isaiah 10:24-27.   Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord Almighty, says:  “My people who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians, who beat you with a rod and lift up a club against you, as Egypt did. Very soon my anger against you will end and my wrath will be directed to their destruction.” The Lord Almighty will lash them with a whip, as when he struck down Midian at the rock of Oreb;and he will raise his staff over the waters, as he did in Egypt.27 In that day, their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken because you have grown so fat.Isaiah 11:9 b for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.

Romans 15:13. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.