PREACHING SEPTEMBER 08, 2024:

Pastor Antonio Russo

COMPEL THEM TO ENTER 2nd Part

We want to pick up where we left off last Sunday, inspired by the words of Jesus: "Compel them to come in", and delve into what this truly means and its real implications. Now, let's briefly recap what we discussed last Sunday regarding how God calls us to fill His Church with people who are saved and brought into the light. Jesus has given us the Great Commission to evangelize the world and make disciples of all nations, not by relying on our own strength, but on God's, so that we do not burn out. We cannot take for granted what God is doing today; we are blessed to have been part of a work for over thirty years that reaches the lost, sharing the Gospel with those who do not know Jesus, fishing not from other churches, but in the world, where thousands need the love and grace of God. Jesus also exhorted us to watch until His return, to remain vigilant and pray, so that we do not fall into the temptation of indifference. His promise is to return for a glorious Church, without spot, holy and blameless; He will not return for a sleeping bride, but for one who eagerly awaits His coming, as written in Revelation: "The Spirit and the bride say: come". God's heart for His Church is that one day, Jesus will return, take her up, and bring her to Himself for eternity, and we will meet Him in the clouds, see Him as He is, and in the twinkling of an eye, we will be transformed to be like Him. Last time, we discussed the strategy God gave us thirty years ago, which continues to be solidified in our lives and our community: to evangelize the world and disciple the nations, one person at a time, directly sharing the message of the Gospel. In this regard, we talked about the Samaritan woman’s experience with Jesus: at first, she argued with Him, then she recognized that He was a prophet, and finally she discovered that He was the Messiah. After that encounter, she went to Samaria and testified about the change that had taken place in her life. The Samaritans, hearing her testimony, asked Jesus to stay with them, and He stayed for two days; in the end, they no longer believed just because of her story, but because they had personally experienced His presence. This example highlights the importance of bringing people to Jesus, not to ourselves, because if they become attached to us, we risk creating expectations we cannot meet; instead, we must point them to the pastor of the Church, who in turn will lead them to the Good Shepherd, who is Jesus. Let us remember that we are merely ambassadors sharing what we have experienced, while it is He who intervenes and changes people’s lives; for this reason, as Jesus said, we are servants and, indeed, unworthy servants. God does not send us to win souls without His power and vision because every divine calling is accompanied by the necessary equipment and strength to bring souls into His Kingdom. In Luke 14:12, Jesus instructs us on whom we should invite: not just the rich, friends, or relatives who can repay us, but also those who cannot, like the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Jesus was not referring literally to physical conditions but used this example to highlight the motivations of our hearts, emphasizing that we should not evangelize to receive something in return, but to reflect the love of God that has been poured into our lives. In the verses we read, we see two groups of people: those who can repay us and those who cannot. Jesus told us to focus on those who cannot repay us; therefore, God speaks to us about the motivations of our hearts, which affect the outcome of our work. We are only ambassadors of Jesus’ message, not the message itself; our task is to share what we have experienced while it is He who intervenes and changes lives. If we expect something in return, we risk being disappointed and harming both ourselves and others; we must therefore act without expectations, serving as God has called us to do. Jesus said we will be blessed if we reach out to those who cannot repay us because our reward will be in the resurrection of the righteous. This reward represents our recompense for bringing souls into the Kingdom of God and for shining like stars in the sky, as described in the book of Daniel. Our mission is to preach the Gospel and offer everyone the opportunity for salvation, knowing that the ultimate goal is either eternal life or eternal condemnation. Finally, in Luke 14:18-20, we see three people who found excuses not to respond to the Lord’s invitation: the purchase of land, the testing of oxen, and marriage. All three were wealthy, and with their attitude of self-sufficiency due to their riches and health, they declared they had no need for Jesus a danger that prevents one from recognizing their need for salvation. Reflecting on Luke 14:21, we see two groups of people: those who can repay you and those who cannot. This is precisely why Jesus calls us to focus on those who have nothing to offer us in return, thereby testing our motivations. We are ambassadors of His message, and we must serve without expecting anything in return, knowing that Jesus has sent us with urgency to preach the Gospel. When the primary invitees refused, being too preoccupied with their wealth and excuses, Jesus changed His strategy, turning to those with the deepest needs: the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. These people represent spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical disabilities, and we are called to evangelize those who, like us in the past, are in desperate need of salvation. We clearly remember where God brought us out from: we were blind, poor, lame, spiritually crippled, yet God had mercy on us, seeing us not as rejects but as precious treasures, forgiving us and giving us a new life. Jesus said that those who love much do so because they have been forgiven much, and this great forgiveness compels us to love deeply and commit ourselves to God’s work, not seeking recognition from men but out of gratitude to God. We should not compare ourselves to others or seek human approval, because we serve God, not men; He calls us to give our best, to live with excellence, knowing that our service is dedicated to Him. So, our mission is clear: go to those in need, preach the Gospel, and bring souls into the Kingdom of God, remembering that the reward does not come from men but from God, at the resurrection of the righteous. We must understand that before knowing Jesus, we didn’t know which direction to give to our lives, but in coming to Him, we discovered that He had a purpose for us and that in His name we would accomplish great things. The people God uses are the beggars, the blind, the lame, and those who are spiritually marginalized by society because they are the ones who will be effective in God’s work. Jesus speaks of the poor and the beggars because those who trust in their own abilities, wealth, or health often believe they need nothing. Let us remember that money and wealth are neutral by nature, and their morality depends on who possesses them and the heart of the one who manages them.

Proverbs 11:28; 28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

We must never trust in our wealth, because those who rely on it may fail to recognize their need for Jesus; likewise, those who enjoy good health or are intellectually gifted may struggle to perceive the necessity of turning to Him.

Mark 10:23; 23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

Jesus did not say that it is impossible for the rich to draw near to God, but that it is difficult, because those who possess wealth often tend to trust in it and fail to recognize their need for God. This is evident from His encounter with the rich young ruler: despite his apparent devotion, his heart was tied to material possessions, as shown by his reaction to Jesus' words. Although there are rich people who are aware of their spiritual poverty, the majority do not recognize their true need for God. The apostle Paul, writing to Timothy, warns the rich not to be proud or to place their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but to trust in God, who abundantly provides everything we need. This shows us that true certainty and security are found in God, not in wealth.

Luke 14:22-24; 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.

Therefore, we must preach the Word to everyone, without limiting ourselves to just one group, because Jesus urges us to extend the invitation beyond the squares and the city, reaching out to all the outskirts and every possible corner, for there is room for everyone.

Verse 24; 24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

God has not called us because of our intellectual abilities or wealth, but because of our willingness to share His message with the blind, the beggars, and the lame. God does not look at outward appearances, but at the heart, as shown when Samuel, in search of Israel’s future king, discovered that God had chosen David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons, who was out tending the fields. You know, we should be grateful to God for those who evangelized us, and we must pray for them and bless them, because God used them as instruments to share the Gospel message with us. In the same way, when we evangelize and bring people to Jesus, they too will be grateful to God for us and will pray for us, recognizing our role in God’s work. Returning to verse 23, we see the focus of this message: "compel them to come in". The Lord told the servant to go out into the roads and hedges and compel them to come in so that the house might be filled. We wonder how it is possible that stadiums are full while the house of God remains empty, but this happens because many Christians are too busy with work, business, and family, and do not find the time to share Jesus with others. We are not just Christians but children of God, and we should have the Father's heart, looking in the same direction He does toward the lost, the depressed, the oppressed. It is time to wake up and share the message that can change people's lives, compelling them to come in, meaning applying positive pressure on them, because God's heart is for the lost. The world exerts subtle pressure through social media and issues like gender, abortion, and euthanasia, pushing people toward wrong choices, yet we are told not to pressure people when it comes to Jesus, the one who wants to save them. We preach the love of God because He so loved the world that He gave His Son, but sometimes, when we see people’s hearts hardened, we must speak the truth: "If you do not repent, hell and the lake of fire await you". Do you know what that is? It’s nothing more than an expression of God’s great love, desiring to free people from their condition and bring them to salvation. God has chosen each one of us and called us to respond to His call, just as He told David to prepare an army of valiant men ready to expand His Kingdom in Israel. David responded to the Lord by asking for a determined team to do His will, and God gave him just that a strong and ready team.

1°Samuel 22:1-2; 1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

If we desire to be disciples and trained, we must accept that God will lead us into the cave of Adullam, which means justice, just as He did with David. Today, many people seek only comfort, but God calls us to prepare even in uncomfortable situations, like the cave of Adullam, which didn’t offer air conditioning or comfort, but where God invites us to grow and be prepared. God brought David to a cave and told him that there He would send disciples for him to train for His purpose. He sent him 400 men, of whom 37 would become mighty warriors. This shows us that God doesn’t look for appearances, but He looks at the heart of those who respond to His call. But how did these men come to David? When they were sent to him, how did they present themselves?

Verse 2; 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

When those men came to David, they were poor, crippled, lame, and blind in spirit, disabled at various levels. At first, they were prejudiced and doubtful, but their encounter with God transformed their lives: they were touched, freed, and healed, and they began to rejoice and dance. How many of us can identify with these people? We were also indebted, disappointed, and bitter, but God began a work in our lives, changing things and freeing us from our condition, making us people ready to fulfill His will. The 400 men who were initially indebted, bitter, and disillusioned, whom God had given to David, transformed their lives through their encounter with God: they became 37 mighty warriors, as described in 2 Samuel 23:8-39. God transformed them from afflicted men into valiant warriors, capable of performing extraordinary feats, like the one who single-handedly killed 850 Philistines, to the point where it is written that his sword clung to his hand. This change occurred because of the anointing they received from being associated with David, showing that God looks at the heart and not at outward abilities, so we must put our trust in Almighty God and not in our own skills. Now, we see how the apostle Paul concludes by speaking of those who have been chosen by God, saying these words:

1°Corinthians 1:26-29; 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Now, thanks to Him, we are in Christ Jesus, whom God has made to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." When we came to God, we were afflicted and discouraged, but His intervention transformed our lives. Today, God calls us to share Jesus with others and to make His love known to those around us: if we have never done it, it’s time to start; if we have done it, we must continue; if we have stopped, we need to pick it up again. We were in a state of blindness, infirmity, and depression, but God, in His mercy and compassion, saved us and calls us to bring this same salvation to others.