The Great Invitation

Text: Revelation 22:17

Revelation 22:17 NLT

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

ETS: Jesus issues his great invitation to all people to come to Him.

ESS: The Gospel of Christ is open to all who will receive it.

OSS: To urge unbelievers to repent and turn to Christ, and urge believers to invite people to come to Christ.

PQ: What is the substance of Christ’s final invitation in scripture?

UW: Questions

INTRODUCTION:

A- Illustration of Little Johnny “I dared him to come!”

TS: Unlike little Johnny’s invitation, Jesus extends an invitation that he hopes that all people will accept.

B- In the book of Revelation, the Lord has revealed events that are yet to occur. The events of the Great Tribulation, the millennial reign of Christ, and the Great White Throne Judgment are described for all to read. It is remarkable that the book of Revelation ends—not only with encouragement for believers—but with a personal invitation to escape the wrath of God. In Revelation 22:17, we find these words…

“The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.”

These words constitute the final biblical call to salvation…”The Great Invitation.” Let’s take a look at the answers for three crucial questions about this invitation.

I- WHO EXTENDS THE INVITATION? (Revelation 22:17a).

Revelation 22:17a NLT

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.” Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

A- The Holy Spirit.

1- It is his job to convict a person of his need.

(John 16:7-14)

John 16:7–14 NLT

7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. 12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.

2- He is the one who draws men to Christ.

(John 6:44)

John 6:44 NLT

44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.

(John 6:37) “

John 6:37 NLT

37 However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.

B- The Bride of Christ.

1- The Bride is the Church of Jesus Christ.

(2 Corinthians 11:2) “For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride* to one husband—Christ.”

In Matthew 25:1-13 and Mark 2:19, Jesus refers to himself as the bridegroom of his people. John the Baptist referred to the relationship between Christ an his people as a bride and bridegroom. In John 3:29 he says, “It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success.”

2- The members of the Bride are to invite others to join them.

(Acts 1:8) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(Mark 16:15) “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”

Mark 16:15 NLT

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

(Matthew 28:18-20) “Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,* baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:18–20 NLT

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

* In the Book of Acts the believers went everywhere telling others about Jesus!

(Acts 8:1–4)

Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison. 4 But the believers who were scattered preached the Good News about Jesus wherever they went.”

C- The person who hears and understands the warnings of scripture.

(Note Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) are all addressed to those who will hear.

* Warning issued 18 times in scripture.

1- People who understand the serious nature of the warnings must warn others.

(2 Corinthians 5:11) “Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.”

2 Corinthians 5:11 NLT

11 Because we understand our fearful responsibility to the Lord, we work hard to persuade others. God knows we are sincere, and I hope you know this, too.

(2 Corinthians 5:20-21) “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,* so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”

2 Corinthians 5:20–21 NLT

20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

II- TO WHOM IS THE INVITATION EXTENDED?

A- The one who is thirsty in spirit.

1- Like the Woman at the Well

(John 4:13-14) “Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

a. Physical things won’t satisfy your soul.

b. Religion won’t satisfy your soul.

c. Only a relationship with Christ will fill the void within.

B- Whosoever will may come.

1- The Gospel is for all who will believe in Christ.

(Romans 10:13) “For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”

(John 3:14-18) “14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.*

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave* his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.”

2- It does not matter what you have done.

a. Examples:

(1) The Thief on the Cross (Luke 23:39-43)

(2) Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9; 1 Timothy 1:15)

(3) Woman caught in Adultery (John 8:1-11)

(4) Nicodemus (John 3:1-21)

(5) Timothy (2 Timothy 1)

III- WHAT IS THE CONTENT OF THE INVITATION?

A- Come

1- Come to Christ—meet him and find forgiveness of sin.

(Acts 13:38-39) ““Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.

(Colossians 1:13-14) “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom (with His own blood) and forgave our sins.

2- Come to Christ—find real intimacy and acceptance from the one who loves you most—Jesus.

(John 17:3) “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”

(Romans 8:15) “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children.* Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”

(Galatians 4:6) “And because we* are his children, God has sent the Spirit

of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

3- Come to Christ—receive eternal life.

(John 6:40) “For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”

B- Take the water of life freely.

(John 6:35) “Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

(John 7:37-38) “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.”

1- Your spiritual thirst will finally be quenched!

2- There is no limit to how much you can drink!

* Little boy—“How deep can I drink?”

CONCLUSION:

A- The Invitation is for you…