“THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED”
THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED
Luk 14:16-24 KJV 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.
In the text we read, a certain rich man organized a party. He sent invitations to people who had been earlier invited but each and every one of them began to give one excuse or the other.
The first man said he just bought land and he wanted to be excused so he could go and see it.
the second person just bought 5 yoke of oxen and wanted to go and test them
The other person just got married and so cannot come. And on and on they refused to come.
The rich man then told the servants to go to the highways, street, into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
Even after doing that the servant said they still have more empty chairs and so the rich man asked him to go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled.
The people that were invited disqualified themselves and so were disqualified and less privileged people were to replace them. May your seat of honour not be taken by another person in Jesus name.
The Lord asked the servants to compel them to come. He said they use every means possible: persuasion, cajoling, talking, and any means to get them and his purpose was that his house may be filled.
This parable tells us the mind of God. His desire is that His house should be filled with people irrespective of that placement in life. It is not only the well to do, academic people, educated, career workers but all manner of people are welcome into the house of God.
Paul gave us his experience in his epistle
1Co 9:20-23 KJV 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
Paul became everything and adapted himself to all categories of people so that he can achieve his aim of winning them to Christ.
Lessons from the life of Paul:
We can reach any kind people without compromising ourselves: We don’t have to partake in what they do
Nobody is too bad to be invited: Eph 2: 1-4
We can invite them wherever we find them and just as they are
We can adapt ourselves like them so we can bring them
We can reach them with the same love used in reaching us
Who was Paul before his conversion?
This is how he described himself:
1Ti 1:13 KJV Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
Paul was a persecutor and he destroyed churches.
Act 8:3 KJV As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
Act 22:4 KJV And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.
But one day, he met Jesus. May you encounter the Lord.
Act 9:1-4 KJV 1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, 2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. 3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
There are many people today like Paul who are persecuting the church, people of God and who are living wrong. But the church then was not cursing Paul who was formerly called Saul. I believed they were praying for him. It was their prayers that got him arrested.
As we pray for people, may they encounter Jesus.
When Paul became born again and he began to preach the same Jesus he was persecuting, many could not believe. Act 9:21
Gal 1:23-24 KJV 23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed. 24 And they glorified God in me.
May God’s name be glorified in their lives in Jesus name.
Why are people not receiving the gospel?
2Co 4:4 KJV In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The devil is the god of this world and his desire is to lure many people to hell with him. It is our duty to break that blindness of heart
The Lord Jesus gave us the mandate before He left.
2Co 5:18-19 KJV 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Mat 28:19-20 KJV 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Our responsibility
Go ye into the world and don’t sit down and wait for them
Invite them to Jesus like Andrew invited Peter: John 1:40-41 KJV 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
Even if we don’t know how to preach, we can ask them to just come and see: John 1:46 KJV And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.
We should share our testimony, it will bring others like woman of Samaria:: John 4:42 KJV And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
We can go to our friends and house to share: Mar 5:19 KJV Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
What are the benefits of reaching out?
We make heaven to be glad: Luke 15:7 KJV I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
We may God to be glad: Luk 15:10 KJV Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
We become wise before God: Pro 11:30 KJV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
We shall receive a crown: 1Pe 5:4 KJV And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
We are fulfilling the great commission
Conclusion: How will they hear the good news of the Lord Jesus?
1. We should not be ashamed of the gospel. Many believers are ashamed of sharing the gospel. ROM 1: 16: Rom 1:16 KJV For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2. When we engage in kingdom activity, our needs are met automatically. MT. 6:33: Mat 6:33 KJV But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Rom 10:14-15 KJV 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Today most chairs are empty, it should not be so, men, women, boys and girls hold a duty to bring them so that His house may be filled.
