Go Ye Into the Highways and Hedges

Go Ye Into the Highways and Hedges

Text: Luke 14:12–35 (KJV 1900)

15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. 16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: 17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. 18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. 21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. 22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. 23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Introduction:

* The Gospel is taken away from Israel and giving to the Gentiles:

Matthew 21:28–22:14 (KJV 1900)

28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first.

* Israel here is the disobedient son. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

* Israel rejected the Gospel.

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? * God took the privilege of proclaiming the Gospel away from Israel and has given it to the Church. 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

22 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. * Because of disobedience Israel was found not worthy to proclaim the Gospel and so the church was commissioned by Jesus to take the Gospel to the world.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

I. Who are we to go to?

A. To those in need.

* In the verses right above our text in Luke 14, we see who God has a heart for:

Luke 14:12–35

12 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. 13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: 14 And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

* In the Bible the Lord is especially compassionate for the poor, the lowly, and the needy! Oh the compassion of God for those who need His help! Psalm 72:11–13 (KJV 1900)

11 Yea, all kings shall fall down before him: All nations shall serve him. 12 For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; The poor also, and him that hath no helper. 13 He shall spare the poor and needy, And shall save the souls of the needy.

* My friend God desires for His church to reach out to those who are in need!

B. To those in sin.

* Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners.

Matthew 11:18–19 (KJV 1900)

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.

* Jesus was not afraid to associate Himself with sinners!

* The Lord does not want us to behave like sinners. He does not want us to partake of their sin, but He does want us to interact with sinners, to show compassion to sinners!

* God looks down at the destroyed, broke lives of those who are enslaved to sin- those who have been overtaken by sin and now live in bondage to their sin- He looks down with compassion, and a tender heart.

* Jesus said He didn’t come to those who think they have no need, but to those who know they are sick!

Luke 5:27–32 (KJV 1900)

27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. 28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him. 29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them. 30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

* The church needs to humble it’s self and reach out to the sinner.

* The church is not a country club for saved people to come and fellowship with each other and entertain each other.

* God means for His churches be soul-saving- soul- servicing stations!

* God means for His church to be a triage center for those who have been wounded by sin!

* God’s plan for His church is to be like a hospital, not a country club! The church is supposed to be place where sinners come and are healed and then go out bring some more in to be healed!

II. Where are we to go?

A. Go into the highways and hedges.

23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges,

* The highways are the public places of ministry.

- What we did with the yesterday with the benefit and the horses

- The nursing home ministry

- The wagon trains

- The saddle club

- At work- ie. Debbie holding prayer meetings I the school

- The church camp

* I was talking to Stan Moore Friday about starting a saddle club to reach our community’s youth.

* I pointed out to Stan that the young people in our community have given up on the church because they have grew up in our churches watching the older folks just sit around arguing and having church fights and splits.

* The younger generation doesn’t want to have anything to do with our churches because the churches have left their mission and have sit around and soured.

* I pointed out that if good Christian men established a saddle club that we could create an environment where we could live out the Gospel in front of our young people and begin to reach them again.

* Stan told me this week that he wrote in his Bible, “The service does not start until after church.

* The hedges are the far away, hard to get to places of ministry.

* The hedges would include the mission field. * God intends for His churches to send out missionaries around the world! * The hedges include the, the nursing homes, those who cannot get out because of bad health.

* The hedges would include the places were not one wants’ to go. The hard places.

- the inner cities of places like Atlanta, Detroit and so on

- the prisons and the jails

* (Bledso County Jail revival)

B. House to house.

* God has a plan set forth in the book of Acts that He intends for His church to use to grow the church and reach the lost.

* God will greatly bless a church that will be faithful and follow this plan.

* What’s the plan?- Taking the Gospel house to house!

Acts 2:46–47 (KJV 1900)

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 20:19–21 (KJV 1900)

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

III. How are we to go?

A. Go weeping.

Psalm 126:4–6

. 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

* We need a burden for souls today! * We should be heartbroken because of the plight of people who are being deceived by sin this morning!

* We should be moved to tears with compassion for those around us who are suffering because of sin this morning!

* We should be moved to tears when we think of those around us who will be doomed to an eternal Hell if we don’t have a burden for their souls this morning!

Psalm 142:3–4 (KJV 1900)

4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, But there was no man that would know me: Refuge failed me; No man cared for my soul.

* Oh let it not be said by any man, woman, boy, or girl that lives in this community that God has given us that “no man care for my soul!”

B. Go with power.

* God’s show of power and miracles in the Bible are always associated with the furtherance of the Gospel.

* God doesn’t just flash His power around just willy nilly for men to amuse themselves. God’s power is always revealed in connections with His plan and purpose.

* God does not give out His power as toys for the church to play with! * I want you to realize that God is not going to unleash his Holy Spirit to empower and work modern day miracles in the church until the church is going out with the Gospel!

* When the church faithfully goes out with the Gospel, then and then only will the power of God come upon us.

* Miracles will happen like in the book of Acts, prayers will be answered! God will miraculously provide for the church that is obedient and goes into the highways and hedges with the Gospel!

Mark 16:14–18 (KJV 1900)

14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Luke 24:45–53 (KJV 1900)

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things. 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

C. Go bearing precious seed.

* We are to go with precious seed this morning!

* We have been given by God the miracle of the Bible this morning!

* Oh how I love the Bible this morning!

* Thank God for the precious word of God this morning!

* If it were not for the miracle of the Bible this morning I would still be on my way to an eternal Hell!

* If it were not for the Bible, each and every one of us would still be lost in our sins, ready to fall at any moment headlong into the hands of the Devil and his angels in the pit of Hell!

* The Bible is so precious and powerful and complete this morning! * The Bible is the perfect, infallible, in-errant, literal, Words of God this morning!

* Because of the completed Bible this morning, there is no longer any need for all the signs and wonders of the Old Testament and the book of Acts!

* The Bible this morning that is more sure than all of the wonders and miracles that could ever be performed!

2 Peter 1:19–21 (KJV 1900)

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

* We have a more sure prophecy this morning than if we had watched God part the Red Sea!

* We have a more sure record of God this morning, than if we could call down fire from heave like Elijah did!

* We have a more sure relationship with God this morning than if we had seen Elisha raise the widow’s son from the dead this morning!

* We have a Bible this morning that is the answer for every man’s need!

* The Bible has the answers for all of society’s problems this morning!

* Oh how we need the Bible back in our government, back in our schools, back in the lives of ever child of God!

* We are to go out my friends bearing precious seed!

D. Go with compassion.

Jude 22–23 (KJV 1900)

22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

IV. Come rejoicing!

* My friend can you imagine the wonderful reunion day in heaven when we see all those we have won to the Lord!

Daniel 12:2–3 (KJV 1900)

2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

* When I get to Heaven the first thing that I would like to do is be able to tell Jesus face to face how much I love him!

* I want to tell Jesus thank you for how He suffered for me on that bloody cross!

* But you know the very next thing I want to do is thow my arms around my daddy’s neck and tell him thank you for taking the Bible and showing be how to be saved!

* The Bible talks about a soul winners crown. I want one of those this morning!

* I want one of those soul winners crowns so I can, like those in the book of Revelation, cast that crown at the feet of Jesus.

* I want to cast that crown at His feet, and say like those in the Book of Revelation, “You are worthy O Lamb of God!”

Conclusion:

* Let our church not be like the disobedient children of Israel this morning!

* Let us not be the disobedient son this morning! Let’s get out and work in the father’s fields!

* How are we to go?

A. Go weeping.

B. Go with power.

C. Go bearing precious seed.

D. Go with compassion.

* Come rejoicing!

* Is your Christian life empty and void? There is not greater joy that the joy that God gives those who live to see others saved!