HONORING GOD’S CALLING AND CHOICE

Matthew 22:2-14 >>

2 “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son.

3 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

4 “So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’

5 But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. 6 Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

7 “The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town.

8 And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. 9 Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’

10 So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding.

12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply.

13 Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

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1. The people who were invited to partake in the banquet [blessings] did not realize the significance and honor that was brought upon them, and they rejected the king’s invitation and went about doing their own business. Some of their reasons to turn down the invitation was to go tend to their own farm, business or just go their own way.

2. The kind of attitude we should have in receiving God’s calling is one that is happy and prepared [verses 11-12].

3. Self reflection: My attitude these days in responding to the tasks and responsibilities that God has given to me is that I need to be more taking it as an honor and responding to His calling wholeheartedly and excitedly, doing what I can to make myself ready for the wedding party.

Consequences of Running Away from God’s Calling (2)

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Jonah 1:8-17
8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”

9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.”

10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the LORD, because he had already told them so.)

11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”

12 “Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”

13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the LORD, “O LORD, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O LORD, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the LORD, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows to him.

17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights.

Psalm 40:12
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.

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1. When Jonah fled from God and the tasks he has entrusted in him, it impacted the people around him because his disobedience caused them to suffer too. Although in the end, when he admitted his mistake, praise the Lord, God saved the others and He was glorified-Hallelujah!
2. The consequences of Jonah’s disobedience was that his journey was not under the blessing of God. And he was thrown overboard and got swallowed by a big fish for 3 days and 3 nights–what suffering!!! X__X That must have been uncomfortable. But God was in control and had mercy; He led Jonah to have a heart that surrenders and obeys. Though the storms seemed bad, they were in the end good, to lead Jonah to obedience again, although God could have used anyone…for some reason, He still wanted Jonah despite his being naughty, lol.

Consequences of Running Away from God’s Calling (1)

Wednesday, Sept 17, 2008
Jonah 1:1-7, Psalm 139:7

1. God’s calling in Jonah’s life was to go to Ninevah and announce God’s great judgement against it because He’s seen how wicked they are. God’s called me to intercede for my family before, and I did.
2. Jonah’s response was to run in the other direction and the result was that God “hurled a powerful wind over the sea that caused a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart.” God was not blessing the journey.
3. I think I have run away and avoided God’s commands. What caused it was my own selfishness and not wanting to hurt other’s feelings. I want to change though so this is avoided and hopefully I don’t do this anymore in the future.