How can many of us go through life and have what we believe to be a good time and never invite the most important person we will ever come in contact with.

I.                   He shows up!

-          He never declines an invitation

                                                               i.      Shortly after Dallas Seminary was founded in 1924, it came to the point of bankruptcy. All the creditors were going to foreclose at noon on a particular day. That morning, the founders of the school met in the president’s office to pray that God would provide. In that prayer meeting was Harry Ironside. When it was his turn to pray, he prayed in his characteristically refreshing manner: “Lord, we know that the cattle on a thousand hills are thine. Please sell some of them and send us the money.”

While they were praying, a tall Texan came into the business office and said, “I just sold two carloads of cattle in Fort Worth. I’ve been trying to make a business deal go through and it won’t work, and I feel that God is compelling me to give this money to the Seminary. I don’t know if you need it or not, but here’s the check.”

A secretary took the check and, knowing something of the financial seriousness of the hour, went to the door of the prayer meeting and timidly tapped. When she finally got a response, Dr. Lewis Chafer took the check out of her hand, and it was for the exact amount of the debt. When he looked at the signature, he recognized the name of the cattle rancher. Turning to Dr. Ironside, he said, “Harry, God sold the cattle.”

-          As a matter of fact, he awaits invites…He said, in Rev. 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

-          Ask Paul will he show up when you invite him.  Paul was with Silas in jail and they invited Him to prayer meeting.

-          Christ shows up when and wherever he is invited.

-          The question is not whether or not He will show up, the question ought be has He been invited.

   II.          Control is shifted

-          Mary gives us a piece of advice, which I believe will keep many of us from our failures and frailties.

-          He was not getting smart, he was not being sensitive, he was opening the eyes of Mary and us to know that His mission was not just to perform miracles.  He was not some comic Copperfield, some Heavenly Houdini.  His mission was not to save the party.  His mission was to save the world.

-          ILLUS: When local authorities call the FBI in to the state…

-          See when Christ is invited into our lives we are actually saying to him, no more do I want to make the decision…

-                        III.            He Makes A Difference

-          Things change, isn’t it interesting how easy it is to get comfortable with the pleasures of life and never realize how much sweeter life is when we acknowledge Christ has been there all the time.  I’m simply saying friends, he makes a difference.

-          Not only did the wine change but so did some attitudes

-          The party changed

-          Joseph Walker said, When he was playing checjers with his friend his friend was demolishing him.  He got down to