Text:  Matthew 11:28-30

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Introduction:

You can’t read anything about God without finding him issuing invitations.  He invited Eve to marry Adam, the animals to enter the ark, David to be king, Israel to leave bondage, Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem.  God is an inviting God.  He invited Mary to birth his son, the disciples to fish for men, the adulterous woman to start over, and Thomas to touch his wounds.  God is the King who prepares the palace, sets the table, and invites his subjects to come in.

See Text (Jesus invites us to COME)

respondez si’l vous plait RSVP (respond please)

Invitations require a response

There are 3 main categories of invitations extended unto us by Jesus that require a response from us.

1.      Salvation

a.       Jesus invites sinners

Luke 5:32

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

John 6:35

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

John 7:37

In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

b.      We must accept Jesus invitation to eternal life.

John 5:40

And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

2.      Obedience

a.       Jesus invites His children to obey Him 

Matthew 16:24

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

b.      We must accept the invitation to obedience.

John 6:66

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

c.       The first act of obedience is Baptism, it identifies us with Jesus.

Matthew 3:13-15

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Acts 2:41

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

3.      Church

a.       Jesus invites His children to worship with Him and serve Him through His Church

Matthew 16:18

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

b.      Church - NT:1577 ‎ ‎ekklesia (ek-klay-see'-ah); from a compound of NT:1537 and a derivative of NT:2564; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):
KJV - assembly, church.

c.       Jesus immediately after His baptism called 5 disciples, thus starting His church. (4 of them were Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael.)

John 1:36-39, 43 

36 And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Matthew 9:9

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Hebrews 10:25

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

d.      We must accept Jesus invitation to be part of His church, Jesus will be there, will you be there – It is an assemble we must join

Matthew 5:15-16

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Revelation 1:20

20 The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

4.      Closing

a.       Jesus last word were that of an invitation to you.

Revelation 22:16-17

16 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.

17 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.

Isaiah 1:18

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.