THE DANGER OF DISTRACTION

And continuing, Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man—a king—who gave a wedding celebration for his son. And he sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the wedding celebration, and they did not want to come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding celebration!” ’ But they paid no attention and went away—this one to his own field, that one to his business. And the others, seizing his slaves, mistreated them and killed them. And the king was angry and sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding celebration is ready, but those who had been invited were not worthy. Therefore, go out to the places where the roads exit the city and invite to the wedding celebration as many people as you find.’ And those slaves went out into the roads and gathered everyone whom they found, both evil and good, and the wedding celebration was filled with dinner guests. But when the king came in to see the dinner guests, he saw a man there not dressed in wedding clothes. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here, not having wedding clothes?’ But he could say nothing. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’ For many are called but few are chosen.”

I. YOU ARE INVITED TO THE CELEBRATION OF SALVATION

Matthew 22:3 LEB

And he sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the wedding celebration, and they did not want to come.

Matthew 22:9 LEB

Therefore, go out to the places where the roads exit the city and invite to the wedding celebration as many people as you find.’

A. God wants YOU to be saved.

John 3:16 LEB

For in this way God loved the world, so that he gave his one and only Son, in order that everyone who believes in him will not perish, but will have eternal life.

John 3:17 LEB

For God did not send his Son into the world in order that he should judge the world, but in order that the world should be saved through him.

B. God has done EVERYTHING needed for YOU to be saved.

Matthew 22:4 LEB

Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding celebration!” ’

B. YOU Choose How to Respond to God’s Invitation

Matthew 22:5 LEB

But they paid no attention and went away—this one to his own field, that one to his business.

II. BEING A CHRISTIAN MEANS BEING FOCUSED ON LIVING DAILY WITH AND FOR JESUS CHRIST

Matthew 22:9–10 LEB

Therefore, go out to the places where the roads exit the city and invite to the wedding celebration as many people as you find.’ And those slaves went out into the roads and gathered everyone whom they found, both evil and good, and the wedding celebration was filled with dinner guests.

Matthew 22:11 LEB

But when the king came in to see the ⌊dinner guests⌋, he saw a man there not dressed in wedding clothes.

A. God Invites You In BUT…YOU decide if you’ll be WORTHY

Matthew 22:12 LEB

And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here, not having wedding clothes?’ But ⌊he could say nothing⌋.

“WORTHY” = BEING DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING

B. SALVATION HAS A COST TO IT - YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.

i. Jesus took your SIN & your DEATH, but Jesus did NOT take YOUR CROSS

Matthew 16:24–26 LEB

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life on account of me will find it. For what will a person be benefited if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? Or what will a person give in exchange for his life?

III. ARE YOU DRESSED?

Matthew 22:14 LEB

For many are called but few are chosen.”

A. You must DRESS YOURSELF for the Kingdom or you don’t get to STAY

Matthew 22:12–13 LEB

And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here, not having wedding clothes?’ But ⌊he could say nothing⌋. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie him up ⌊hand and foot⌋ and throw him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!’

B. Salvation comes with EXPECTATIONS

I. “Wedding Clothes” = Fruit of Salvation = SANCTIFICATION

II. ARE YOU GROWING TO LOOK MORE LIKE JESUS?

III. DO YOU LOVE THOSE WHOM JESUS LOVES?

IV. DO YOU HAVE THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT MANIFESTING IN YOUR DAILY LIFE?

Galatians 5:22-23 (LEB)

Galatians 5:22–23 LEB

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self control. Against such things there is no law.