September 21, 2014

Invitations create opportunities, open doors, and change our destinies when we accept them.
1. God invites us to salvation. We are all born sinners. As we grow, our outward selves may become polished, but our souls on the inside won’t come clean through any amount of maturing or self-effort. To RSVP for salvation we must accept what God has done for us through Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

2. God invites us to rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”-Matthew 11:28
God doesn’t say, “Try as hard as you can to work things out on your own first, and then I will help you.” No. He says, “Come to Me first.” “Bring your burdens to Me.” He didn’t qualify what burdens He will accept, so they are all game. Financial burdens, physical burdens, mental and emotional burdens, relational burdens, burdens of our own making and burdens placed on us by others. What He is saying is that He can help us through every situation we are facing. RSVP for rest today.

3. God invites us to satisfaction. John 7:37-38-Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”

The Holy Spirit is One who provides the “streams of living water.” We not only receive ongoing cleansing in our lives through Him, but ongoing understanding of what it means to be connected to Christ. The closer we are to Christ, the more satisfied we will live life.

4. God invites us to change the world. Matthew 4:18-20 18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.

Maybe in those first few weeks and months Peter and Andrew couldn’t comprehend how they would ever become the kind of people who could change the world. But little by little, they were taught, they were led, they were empowered, they were given authority, they were given responsibility, they tried, they failed, they tried again, they failed again, and by the time Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, they knew what they needed to get started on their mission. They had the know-how. They just needed the power.

When the Holy Spirit descended on the Day of Pentecost all of the disciples were empowered to be world changes for Christ, and Peter began to preach. The Church of the Living God went from a small group of disciples and other followers to a mega church with 3000 people in ONE day. What a world changer Peter had become.

Invitations create opportunities. Invitations open doors. Invitations change our destinies. Will you accept the invitations and explore the endless opportunities not only for yourself but for the world?

Pastor Melissa