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Today is Wednesday October 27, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of Luke, chapters 14-16. In these chapters we will read about, Jesus having dinner with some Pharisees, the parable of the wedding feast, rejoicing in heaven, the parable of the prodigal son, and Lazarus, all Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-27

Today's Message: You Are Invited
The word bidden means invited or called, the Bible says, “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:11-13. That word, whosoever, was put there as an invitation to all, the Lord is Jesus Christ and He has invited you to enjoy all His riches. Have you accepted the invitation? “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” - I John 5:10-12. Praise God!

There is a song called, “All Who Call Upon The Lord”, a verse says, rich or poor, king or beggar are the same. God is no respecter of persons, He will save all who call upon the Lord. All throughout His earthly ministry you would hear of Jesus eating dinner with the poor, rich, even the Pharisees, whom were completely against Him. Why? In hopes that He would find that one person who would put aside all they have been taught about their religion and trust in Him to accept His invitation. While He already knows who believes in Him and will accept His invitation, it is a matter of them taking that step. While eating with the Pharisees, Jesus explains this in a parable. “When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”- Luke 14:8-11.

The word exalted means to be praised, honored, and approved, those who humble themselves before Jesus and accept His invitation are praised by God and will join Him at the feast. The word abased means to be deprived of ones self esteem, dishonored, and disgraced, those who ignore Jesus' invitation and praise themselves are disgraced by God and will not join Him at the feast. However, Jesus never stops inviting anyone, “And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.”- Luke 15:3-7.

God, the angels, and everyone else in heaven rejoice when that one person humbles himself before Jesus, acknowledges that he is a sinner, and that only Jesus can save Him, then bows down his head and asks Jesus to save him. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10. No priest, rabbi, or religion will save us, only by trusting in and confessing to Jesus Himself saves us.

So, you were saved and have gotten away from God? Think you are no longer saved or that God has cast you out? Think again. You are still saved and God loves you all the same. God hates the sin, not the person. Jesus explains this parable. “And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”- Luke 15:11-14,17-20.

Many people fall away from God for a season, but God does know the heart. I was one of those who left Him for a season, I went my own way, thinking I was missing something, I suffered and was ashamed of all that I allowed myself to get into, but I humbled myself, asked God to forgive me, and all of those dumb situations that I had gotten myself into, all on my own, were forgotten and God has given me a richer, more fuller life, with Him in it. Jesus died on the cross once to give us eternal life, that means you only have to get saved once. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” - Hebrews 7:25-27.

Jesus said to the covetous (greedy, jealous) Pharisees who were mocking Him, “Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.” - Luke 16:15. What Jesus is saying is that they appear to the world to be living righteously and as if they know God, but God truly knows their hearts and deception and it is an abomination to Him. The Bible says, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” - Revelation 21:7,8. All are invited, but those who do not humble themselves before Jesus and mick Him will not be saved. Praise God that while we are here on earth He we still have a chance to learn, accept, and tell the truth. You know, you are called up to testify in court, you have to say a pledge, “I solemnly swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing, but the truth.” If you had to go before the mighty throne and face the judge, Jesus Christ, can you truthfully say with all your heart that you have accepted His invitation? If not, He is calling you right now, accept it and enjoy the feast.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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