NORTHSIDE CHURCH OF CHRIST

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA

THE INVITATION / PART #2                                          7/31/11

6)  ALL ARE INVITED IN THE INVITATION
     A.  MATT 11:28; TITUS 2:11
     B.   IT IS FOR THE WORLD, IT IS FOR "WHOSOEVER" - REV 22:17; ACTS 2:21
     C.  FOR "ANY MAN" - MATT 16:24; JOHN 7: 17
     D.  EVERY SOUL- MK 16:15; HEB 2:9
     E.  GOD IS NO RESPECTER OF PERSONS - ACTS 10:34-35, HE DESIRES ALL TO BE SAVED 

7)  GOD'S WILLINGNESS TO SAVE
      A.  WHY DO WE MENTION THIS?  DO WE HAVE A GOD WHO WE HAVE TO PLEAD WITH, TRY TO COERCE, AND BEG FOR FORGIVENESS.  DO WE HAVE A GOD WHO REQUIRES US TO MUTILATE AND SELF-INFLICT OURSELVES HOPING THAT HE WILL FORGIVE US?
      B.  WHAT IS THE FATHER'S ATTITUDE?
           1.  " HE WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED" - 1 TIM 2:4
           2.  "NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE" - 2 PET 3:9
           3.  A"GOD READY TO PARDON - NEH 9:17
           4.  HE "WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON" - ISA 55:7

8)  THERE IS A BENEFIT IN COMING
      A.  THE SINNER IS PROMISED "REST". REST FROM THE POWER OF SIN.  CHRIST DELIVERS US AND MAKES US FREE ROM 6:16-18
      B.  INDEED, CHRIST WILL CLEANSE US - JOHN 15:3
      C.  CHRIST WILL GIVE US REST FROM THE PENALTY OF SIN - ROM 6:23
      D.  CHRIST WILL GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE - THERE WE WILL HAVE FREEDOM FROM THE PRESENCE OF SIN. THERE WILL BE NO SIN IN HEAVEN. - HEB 4: 9-11
      E.  THE SINNERS THIRST WILL BE QUENCHED - JOHN 7:37

9)  WHY SOME DO NOT COME
      A.  EXCUSES
           1.  "I AM NOT GOOD ENOUGH"
           2.  "I AM TOO OLD"
           3.  " I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH AND CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE BIBLE"
           4. ETC...
      B.  JESUS SAID THERE ARE 4 THINGS SOMEONE MUST OBTAIN TO BE A DISCIPLE. - MATT 16:24
           1.  DESIRE - SOME DON'T HAVE IT
           2.  SELF-DENIAL - SOME ARE NOT WILLING TO CRUCIFY SELF.  ATTITUDE CHANGE IN THE PRODIGAL-
LK 15: 11-32...HE LEFT SAYING "GIVE ME" AND RETURNED SAYING "MAKE ME"
           3.  CROSS BEARING - SOME ARE NOT WILLING TO LIVE BY THE "RULES"
           4.  FOLLOWING CHRIST - SOME ARE NOT WILLING TO SAY "LORD, YOU ARE THE LEADER AND I WILL FOLLOW YOU WHEREVER YOU GO".  MANY WANT HIM TO BE A SAVIOR, BUT NOT THE LORD OF THEIR LIVES. BUT,
THE SINNER FORGETS THAT HE STILL HAS A LORD - THE DEVIL! A REAL TASKMASTER 

10)  RESULTS OF REFUSING THE INVITATION
      A.  REST IS FORFEITED 
      B.  DEATH IS CHOSEN, AS OPPOSED TO LIFE - REV 21:8
      C.  DISCONTENTMENT, AS OPPOSED TO A DEEP, ABIDING FULFILLMENT
      D.  THE SINNER CAN GO BEYOND THE POINT OF NO RETURN 
           1.  LK 14:24 - THERE ARE SOME WHO WON'T "TASTE OF MY SUPPER"
           2.  1 TIM 4:2 -  A SEARED CONSCIENCE
           3.  PRO 28:14 - A HARDENED HEART
           4.  1 THESS 5:19 - THE SPIRIT CAN BE QUENCHED 
           5.  HEB 6: 1-6 - YOU CAN FALL AWAY
           6.  ROM 1  - SOME WILL BE "GIVEN UP"
           7.  2 THESS 2: 11-12 - A "STRONG DELUSION" CAN BE SENT

WON'T YOU RESPOND TO THE LORD'S INVITATION?