“Then said he unto him,
A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at
supper time to say to them that were BIDDEN, Come; for all things are now
ready. 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. And another said, I have bought five yoke of
oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me EXCUSED. And another said, I
have married a wife, and therefore I CANNOT COME. So that servant came, and showed
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. And the servant
said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is ROOM. 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. For I say unto you, That NONE OF
THOSE MEN which were bidden shall taste of my supper. Luke 14:16-24
Jesus our Lord used the
parable above to describe the end time behavioral pattern of those who are
called and invited to partake of the marriage supper of the Lamb whose name is
Jesus Christ, the King of kings and the Lord of lords. They were full of
excuses not to partake of the supper better still the placement in the paradise
of God.
Key word here is that
many that were invited EXCUSED themselves from coming to the marriage supper
hereby losing out from the benefit of those invited that is eternal bliss on
earth and being part of the Church that transited from the earth realm into the
kingdom of our God called PARADISE having paid the price and qualified
themselves to be part of that heavenly kingdom.
“He also that received
seed among the thorns is he that hears the word; and the care of this world,
and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he become unfruitful” Mat
13:22
The WORD of God is the
seed and those that received it into their heart and hearken in obedience to
the ordinances of God are those that made eternity. In the parable of the
sower, Jesus Christ spoke about the third group of people who received the word
of God but thorns choked off the plant that germinated and it was unfruitful.
These are those who the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches
choke and killed their spirituality to the point that though they have the
testimony among men as serious Christians alas their gunning for deceitful
pleasures that money can supply and cumbered with worries of life like what to
eat or wear, which kind of house to live and those who live about their
standard copycatting those who really can afford such status until Satan take
advantage of their weaknesses and ensnare them to do evil contrary to the
lifestyle of the kingdom of God. Eternal damnation awaits them!
“…pleasure and delight
and glamour and deceitfulness of riches choke and suffocate the Word, and it
yields no fruit” Matt. 13:22 AMP
Yielding to too much earthly
pleasures are not always expedient, profitable or beneficial for eternity and
may work eternal harm, injury or mischief (Luke 8:14). The days of Noah and Lot
were days of pleasure and self-indulgence, when God’s WRATH fell suddenly on
the devotees of eating and drinking and marrying (Luke 17:27-28). Such sensual
pleasures turn men from following the principle of the kingdom of God and they
turn away from what is pleasing in the sight of God.
The sons of
unrighteousness love this world and live uncontrolled lives doing what pleases
their flesh and contrary to what the Spirit of God bid them to do (Luke 20:34),
but Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, those in it follow the leading of
the Spirit, obey and serve God with all their heart (John 18:36).
The citizens of Christ
the King must beware of careless indulgence in pleasure, Satan who has come to
steal, kill and destroy will come against them like a flood but they must forcefully
disobey the advances of the devil to make them walk contrary to the scriptures
knowing that the uncontrolled pursuit of pleasures is disloyalty to God.
“Again, the kingdom of
heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found,
he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sell all that he hath, and buys that
field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking
goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and
sold all that he had, and bought it” Mat 13:44-46
We must let go or get rid of all the worldly or carnal behavior for the excellence of
knowing and doing the will of God from our heart. For the Christian it is subversion,
disobedience or rebellion to pursue carnal pleasures instead of leaving all and
following God (Luke 5:11).
“But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you” Mat 6:33
In return, the Lord has
unfailing promises of blessedness here and hereafter (Luke 18:29-30, Mar 10:29-30);
but the true disciple must renounce everything this world offers, to be counted
worthy of the eternal joy (Mat 16:24, Mar 8:34, Deut. 28:1-14). The carnal life
of the soul must not be found in true Christians (Mat 16:25; Matt. 10:39, Mark
8:35, Luke 9:24; Luke 17:33, John 12:25). All the pleasure the world can offer
to you will never compensate for what is lost in such a pursuit especially hell
fire that is awaiting those who refuse to do what is right in the sight of God.
“And He said to all, If
any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself,
forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up
himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me,
conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also]” Luke
9:23 AMP
The habit of daily
self-denial is to be adopted and strictly pursued (Luke 9:23). Self-denial is
just when we begin to yearn for the likeness of Christ, and long to be
conformed to His image. Self-denial have to do with letting go of all earthly
craving and passions that is opposed to spiritual lifestyle like self-will,
self-satisfaction, self-love and focus on doing those things that are contrary
to nature but are replica of Christ like character and pleasing in the sight of
God. Taking up our cross daily has to do with nailing those carnal passions to
the cross, mortifying them or punishing all disobedience until our obedience is
complete.
TWO TYPES OF DEATH
PHYSICAL DEATH
And as it is appointed unto
men once to die, but after this the judgment” Heb. 9:27
SPIRITUAL DEATH
“…but you are not to
eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, because you will certainly
die during the day that you eat from it." Gen 2:17
When men sinned and
come short of the glory of God both physical death and spiritual death come
upon man. Those who habitually continue to live in sin come into spiritual
death while at an appointed time all men come into physical death or cessation
or termination of physical life while their soul return to the Almighty
awaiting the White Throne Room judgment where all will be rendered eternal
blossoming or condemnation according to their works while on earth. Those who
do evil perpetually and refused to walk in the spirit or obey the commandment
of God incur wrath and curses while yet on earth and when they eventually die
physically they head for hell fire. Those who diligently hearken and obey God
enjoys blessings while on earth and spend eternity in Paradise when they
eventually die physically.
ONLY TRUE DISCIPLES GUARANTEED ETERNITY
“He that love father or
mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that love son or daughter more
than me is not worthy of me. And he that take not his cross, and follow after
me, is not worthy of me. He that find his life shall lose it: and he that
lose his life for my sake shall find it. Mat 10:37-39
There are four types of love 1. Phileo – friendship, tender or
platonic, fondness love. 2. Agape – Christ like love, unconditional or
sacrificial love. 3. Eros – Romance, passionate, intense, erotic, emotional or
sexual love. 4. Storge which is family love , like what parent have for their
children
We are not being
stopped from having Phileo, Eros or storge love BUT that our first love must be
Agape love with God. That is why Jesus said MORE THAN ME. We will surely derail
from seeking God and His righteousness first if we love anybody or anything
more than we love God. That is why the bible said that “the love of money is
the root of all evil. [1 Tim. 6:10]. It leads astray from the faith and divine
judgment or sentence may be hell fire.
We must be on fire for
God and do what is right in His sight. There is no room to be lukewarm or cold,
we must be hot else, we will draw closer to hell fire as we progress in our
carnal walk and Christ will spit us out.
“I know thy works, that
thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then
because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit thee out of my
mouth. Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need
of nothing; and know not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that
thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the
shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye-salve, that
you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous
therefore, and repent” Rev 3:15-19
Being rich and
increasing in earthly goods like fine house and posh car is not the yardstick
for measuring godliness. You must be like Christ in thoughts, character and
nature. You must do those things that are pleasing to God
EXECUTION OF JUDGMENT
“Verily, verily, I say
unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of
the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life
in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given
him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. Marvel
not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves
shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto
the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection
of damnation” John 5:25-29
We must be transformed
and be in conformity with Christ else we will head towards the lake of fire
after the White Throne Judgment. Those who live and do good in the sight of God
are guaranteed eternity.
“Who will render to every
man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well
doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto
them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man
that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory,
honor, and peace, to every man that work good, to the Jew first, and also to
the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God” Romans 2:6-11
It is appointed unto
man to die and after that judgment [Hebrews 9:27]. Sinners and the unrepentant
will be sent to everlasting damnation, and partake of shame, and reproach; they
shall be condemned by the Judge of the whole earth, and shall be pronounced
cursed; and shall be ordered to go into everlasting fire, and shall go into
everlasting punishment.
SOWING AND REAPING
“Be not deceived; God
is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sow, that shall he also reap. For he
that sow to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sow to
the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary
in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we
have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them
who are of the household of faith” Galatians 6:7-10
It is our CHOICE! If we
sow corruption we will reap hell fire. Let us not be tired of doing what is
right in the sight of God so that eternal bliss can be guaranteed.
“Whosoever reward evil
for good, evil shall not depart from his house” Prov. 17:26
KEY TO INHERITING ETERNAL
BLESSING
“Finally, be ye all of
one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be
courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but
contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye SHOULD
INHERIT A BLESSING. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him
REFRAIN his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him
eschew [avoid or shun] evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue
it. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open
unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil” 1
Peter 3:8-12
So we must refrain from
speaking and doing evil, speak no guile, do no craftiness nor live a
treacherous life, do what is good in the sight of God, seeking peace and living
at peace with all men
WAY OUT OF ENDING IN
HELL
“Repent ye therefore,
and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of
refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord” Act 3:19
When convicted of our
sins, we need to ask God for forgiveness and repent, let our minds be changed
and transformed by renewal through the Scriptures, and our hearts become
remorseful for the sins we have committed and we must now live a different
lifestyle patterned after Christ.
We must turn to God
through this Christ, deeply deploring our sins, and believing on his name; that
our sins may be blotted out, which are not only recorded against us, but for
which we were condemned by the justice of God; and the punishment due to us can
only be done away with by our repentance, and turning to obey and serve the
Living God. It is penitent that we must receive or accept Jesus Christ as our
Lord and Savior to partake of the Kingdom of God and its benefits.
The end point being that
we will be part of the Kingdom of God, being refreshed from spiritual heat and
partake of all the blessings that God gives all genuine believers [Deut. 28],
including peace, joy, love and fellowship with God. Of course, we will have the
guarantee of being with Christ in Paradise after this life is over.
“So put to death your
worldly impulses: sexual sin, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which
is idolatry). It is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming on
those who are disobedient. You used to behave like them as you lived among
them. But now you must also get rid of anger, wrath, malice, slander, obscene
speech, and all such sins. Do not lie to one another, for you have
stripped off the old nature with its practices and have clothed yourselves
with the new nature, which is being renewed in full knowledge, consistent with
the image of the one who created it. Col 3:10 ISV
