WORSHIP BANQUET I

Recently in the night I heard this word: ‘Worship like it is a Banquet.’ As I started to process this word, the Parable of the of the Great Banquet quickly came to mind. In Luke 14 we read of the three invitations: first, was those making excuses for not being able to attend. The three excuses were, bought land and needed to go look at it (bought it unseen?), next, a man bought some oxen and wanted to try them out (bought without trying them?), and last man said he just got married and could not come (could have brought his wife with him?) (Luke 4:18-20).

Second invitation: “‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’” These are the helpless. Invite those who are thankful and cannot repay you. “Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you” (14:14,21).

Third invitation: “‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet’” (14:23-24).

A banquet is a feast, special occasion, party, gala, a spread, a special table, dinner and entertainment. A perfect description of a kind of worship. It’s Party Worship and we certainly could use a healthy dose right now.

The invitation is this:
“What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” (14:15)
“Come the banquet is ready” (14:17).
“There is still room for more” (14:22).
“…urge anyone you find to come, so that my house will be full” (14:23). 

“There is still room for more.” Jesus