A Royal invitation

Intro:     We live in a world of telemarketers. Everyone has something that if we’d just listen would be the best thing going in our lives. Each has a sales pitch that is rehearsed and are taught not to take no for an answer. Each has an invitation to try their product for a nominal fee. From get rich quick schemes to changing your phone service, each are aimed at appealing to your quest for improving your standard of living or getting more for your money. May is the month that we recognize our graduates and wish them well in their endeavors in life. This morning I want us to look at a Royal invitation that God gives each and every one of us. It’s royal because the king of kings offers it. It’s an invitation to live life on the edge.

I.  It’s an invitation to invest wisely    ( Luke 18:28-30)

  A. To invest my greatest gift received, my life-----Peter said, we have left all and followed thee----When Jesus Christ is allowed to be Lord of a man’s life, that man is a wise investor. There are many are investing their lives in things that will not pay off. Things that they cannot ultimately keep. The invitation God gives us is to follow Him. What does that mean? It means I don’t allow idols to take the place of God in my life.

What did Jesus say about this? 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Mt 10:37-38

  B.  That translates to giving Him my dreams-------Do you have dreams this morning of what you’d like to accomplish in life? Hey there’s nothing wrong with dreams as long as we give them to Him.  Is Jesus Christ Lord of your dreams and ambitions? If in that dream will it bring you closer to Him and glorify Him? If He’s my Lord and Savoir of my life that question about my dreams is most important. ( tell about running into Josh We see polls in our nation as how we claim to be a nation under God, ( around 80% claim to believe in Jesus Christ) yet we have a moral decline that rivals the days of Noah. Don’t be swept away in it as Lot was in his day.We know according to God’s word that we are living in the last days. I want us to ponder a question this morning. Are we living  Why is that? As a nation we have bowed down to the gods of this world for what they promise. 

  C. To trust Him for my needs (Psalms 84:11-12) 11    For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

12        O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.

When we trust the Lord for needs, we stop and pray about all things in our lives. When we make purchases we should stop and pray to see if this is God’s will. Use that as a witnessing opportunity. When you go to buy a car, never without praying.

II. It’s an invitation to receive true blessings (in this present day)

God can abundantly bless me and lead me through this life. When we walk with Him we will trust His judgment of what we need. He will as the Bible says give us manifold blessings. If we fail to yield to that in our lives and go after what the flesh desires, there will come a hinderance in our lives that will effect our testimonies.

  A. Not to be hindered by a desire to acquire and trust in riches

     1. That would choke the word(Mt.13:22) 22            He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

 It will choke the word and effect our testimonies of just who God is. There is nothing wrong with riches as long as you remember whose it is and the acquisition of it doesn’t come between you and the Lord.

     2. That would cause us to forget God     ( Deut 8:13-14)--- 13        And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14        Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the LORD thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;   Friend can I tell you this morning it would be better if we were paupers serving the living God than to be wallowing in earthly riches that steal our hearts from God and cause us to forget Him.

     3. Lead us into temptation and sin( I Tim. 6:9-10) 9  But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10        For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

One thing is sure and that is the truth of God’s word.

III.  It’s an invitation to live forever(vs30)

  A. To give up my dreams, hopes and expectations

  B . To understand the fact that this life is short……..

  C. To live with the one who loves us the most…….