Tuesday, March 15, 2011

House Rules - Full House

NLC WEDNESDAY LC@AL 030911
Sermon Text: Luke 14:23
Sermon Title: House Rules: Full House
Introduction: God’s House rules are that his house be full. God demands it. God requires it. God insists his house be full. God’s total attention is that his house be full. If that’s Gods focus it should be our focus. The text makes it clear God wants all types of people to fill his house. God’s dilemma is seen in the text and is the case today; God is dependent on his servants to fill his house.
Point 1: Go
God tells us we cannot get anything done at a standstill. Notice the servants in the text never question whether they should go or not. When the Master of the banquet told the servants to go they immediately went.
So it is with you and I. We are servants of God. Our job is to carry out what God wants.
Jesus sent them out two by two - Luke 10:1 After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
Jesus said just be happy your name is written. - Luke 10:20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” In other words, you did what was expected of you. To go is simply what is expected of us.
Point 2: Gather
In order to gather you must do three things: a) build relationship; b) compel with hospitality; c) tell your story.
a) Build relationship – the best way to make people come to Christ and to his house is through relationship. The days of carrying your big bible or standing on the corner with a sandwich board on is gone. Remember:
a. 2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
b. 2 Corinthians 3:3 KJV-Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
This scripture is good isn’t there another one that says we are living epistles. In other words you don’t always have to bring up Christ they are looking at Christ.
b) Compel with hospitality – when you are being hospitable, you are offering something that you are excited about and you believe the other person will enjoy. This is how you must feel about your savior and your church. Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
c) Tell your story – It is the simplest way to gather. Telling your story requires transparency. Candor. Excitement. You are the authority. Requires no scripture memorization.
Point 3: Grand – A grand house is a full house. The power of a full house is seen in at least 3 instances in the bible.
a) Completion of Solomon’s Temple - 2 Chronicles 5:14 So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God. 1 Kings 8:10-14 - 10 When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. 11 And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple. 12 Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in a dark cloud; 13 I have indeed built a magnificent temple for you, a place for you to dwell forever.” 14 While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them.
b) Is. 6:1-8 - 1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
c) Acts 2:1-5, 11 - 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”

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