THE GREAT INVITATION

MATTHEW 11:25-30                            

 

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. CONSIDER THE GREAT MESSAGE

 

1. It is a Purposeful Message [v. 28-30]

-this message has God’s interest for you- Psalms 8:4...What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [quoted in Hebrews 2 in relation to the incarnation]

-this message has God’s purpose for your life – salvation- John 6:37...All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

-this message has God’s pattern for your life-His Yoke- Eph. 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

2. It is a Powerful Message [v. 28-30] this message has life-changing, destiny-altering, eternal implications

-life changing- 2 Corinthians 5:17… Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

-destiny altering- Col. 1:13-14… Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

-eternal implications- Ephesians 2:7... That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

 

3. It is a Personal Message [v. 28, Acts 4:12, John 1:12, 14:6]

-Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

-But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name…           -Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

II. CONSIDER THE GREAT MASSES “all ye that labour and are heavy laden”

 

1. It is Universal –“All ye” for all the masses

- John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

- Acts 17:30...And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent

- 2 Peter 3:9... The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

2. It is Utilitarian, that is, It works because you can’t

- Isaiah 64:6... But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

- Titus 3:5... Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

 

3. It is Useful – it does for us what we cannot do for ourselves-removes our sin

- Ephesians 2:13...in context

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

- 1 John 1:7... But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

- Revelation 1:5... Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood

 

III. CONSIDER LASTLY, THE GREAT MASTER [v. 27-28]

 

1. He is Willing [Mark 1: 40-42]

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

 

2. He is Able [Mark 2:7-12]

Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

 

3. He is Compassionate

Mark 1:41... And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Mark 5:19... Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

Mark 6:34... And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.