In the Bible the word Come is used more than 3000 times. When Jesus used the word Come He was inviting a person to come and join Him in a certain place or activity. Jesus is already there. It requires faith and obedience to go and join Him.
Let's look at Nine different times where the Lord used the word Come, and what He is teaching in every one of His invitation .
1) COME INTO THE ARK OF SALVATION The first time God says Come is in :
Genesis 7:1 "And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation."
i) The Ark Is A Type Of Salvation. God designed it. Gen. 6:14-22. By Noah following that design , he was guaranteed total safety for him and his family.
ii) God designed salvation for mankind today . Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
2 Timothy 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
iii) The ark had only one door. And everyone used the door to enter into the ark.
Noah used the same door. Every animal also used the same door. There were no exits--only an entrance. This speaks of eternal security. Once a person enters the ark of salvation there are no exits.
iv) Jesus is the Door of salvation. John 10:9 "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
v) Noah acted upon God's command and was saved. Genesis 6:22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
God's directions didn't make much sense, but Noah followed them anyway. Common sense would tell him to do just about anything other than what he did in order to advance his life and prosper, but God knows better!
vi) Man must act upon God's invitation to salvation. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
vii) The Ark Was Safety For All Who Were In It. Gen 7:23 "And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark."
Gen 7:21 "And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man:"
Are you in the Ark of Salvation? God said, Come thou and all thy house into the ark.
Today God is calling you to be saved from eternal separation & judgement. The only way is to come to Jesus who is our ARK today.
2) COME OUT SEPARATION 2 Cor 6:16-18 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." 17 "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
We cannot be a temple of God and at the same time a temple of Idols God will not share His glory with Idols Idolatory is like the Sin of Witchcraft
Illustr: From time to time, lobsters have to leave their shells in order to grow. They need the shell to protect them from being torn apart, yet when they grow, the old shell must be abandoned. If they did not abandon it, the old shell would soon become their prison--and finally their casket. The tricky part for the lobster is the brief period of time between when the old shell is discarded and the new one is formed. During that terribly vulnerable period, the transition must be scary to the lobster. Currents gleefully cartwheel them from coral to kelp. Hungry schools of fish are ready to make them a part of their food chain. For a while at least, that old shell must look pretty good. We are not so different from lobsters. To change and grow, we must sometimes shed our shells--a structure, a framework--we've depended on. Discipleship means being so committed to Christ that when he bids us to follow, we will change, risk, grow, and leave our "shells" behind.
i) As Used Here, Come Is A Command. This is not an invitation. It is God's Word that He expects us to follow. It is not a suggestion or a request.
ii) A Command Is Not Acted Upon At Our Convenience. The Lord had instructed Paul to pen down the instructions concerning Christian Separation. This is not to be followed at our convenience.
Separation begins immediately after salvation.
2 Cor 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
You and I as believers have no authority to do as we please in our lifestyle and our daily walk for God. We are bought with a price. The precious blood of Jesus bought us. God owns us. Hang a sign around your neck, "Under new management!"
2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." It is easy to see that many attempt to fake spirituality. Don't attempt to fake separation, you can't. When Jesus says come out and be separate you'd better go!
3) COME AND FOLLOW ME – SACRIFICE Mark 10:21-22 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." 22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Illustr: Martin Luther said, I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all; but whatever I have placed in God's hands, that I still possess.
Jesus said - Go and sell! Are you sold out for Jesus? Is He Lord or not? If He is not Lord OF ALL then He is not Lord AT ALL ! If Christ is worth anything then He is worth everything !
We Christians have not been promised a paradise on this earth. Jesus instructed the rich young ruler to go liquidate all his assets and give all to the poor. That is a sacrifice.
Romans 12:1 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."
i) A Sacrifice For Others.
1 Cor 10:24 "Let no man seek his own, but every man another wealth."
Phillipians 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."
Galatians 6:2 "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
I wish we could get this principle across to our whole church--The principle of sacrifice for others. What would happen if this was practiced throughout this church? There would be a spirit develop among us that would take Christianity to this whole community. We would be unstoppable. Why don't we do it? Why don't we put others before ourselves? Why don't we go out somewhere looking for someone carrying a burden and then take it from them and carry it for a while.
It would cost some time. It would cost some money. It would cost some energy. But the pay would be so great.
ii) Sacrifice For Christ.
2 Tim 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."
Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
There is no Glory without Suffering There is no Crown without Cross There is no Gain without Pain
1 Pet 5:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you."
4) COME AND REASON - REPENTANCE & FORGIVENESS. Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
God is calling us into Repentance and not just confession
5) COME AFTER ME - SOUL WINNING Mark 1:17-18 17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." 18 At once they left their nets and followed him. When Jesus says, Come you had better go. Not just keepers of the aquarium, but fishers of men! You catch them and He'll clean them ! When we fish for fish we take them out of a beautiful life to death. When we fish for men we take them out of death to a beautiful life!
i) Every Christian Should Be Burdened About Winning Souls To Christ. If every member of this church would get a taste of what soul winning is our auditorium wouldn't be large enough for our nursery. If every member of this church would win one person to Christ and bring them to church by this time next year this room would be filled.
ii) There's Wisdom in Soul Winning. Prov 11:30 "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise."
iii) There's Glory in Soul Winning. Daniel 12:3 "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
iv) There's Urgency in Soul Winning Jude 1:23 "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh."
6) COME UNTO ME – SOLACE / REST Mat 11:28 "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (NIV)
Illustr: A driver of a Truck was on his way to market when he overtook an old man carrying a heavy load. Taking compassion on him, the driver invited the old man to ride in the wagon. Gratefully the old man accepted. After a few minutes, the driver turned to see how the man was doing. To his surprise, he found him still straining under the heavy weight. He had not taken the burden off his shoulders. When the driver asked the old man why he was still carrying his load instead of putting it on the truck. The old man explained, I knew you would carry me, but I did not know you would also carry my burden.
Too many Christians continue to carry the heavy burden of trying to be good enough to please God. We work feverishly to gain God's approval by doing religious stuff. We don't understand that Jesus finished work on the cross gave us permission to REST.
Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge, Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer; In His arms He'll take and shield thee, Thou will find a solace there.
Jesus says, Come to the bereaved. He says Come to the down hearted. He says Come to the discouraged. He says Come to the outcast. He says Come to the weary. If you have a burdened soul, He says Come to you.
7) COME DOWN - SURRENDER Luke 19:5-6 "And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house."
V.6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
Pride is a great temptation that keeps many from receiving the blessing of Jesus in their life.
Pride to say I am Sorry, forgive me. Is holding many people in bondage today Pride to say Pray for me, I am sick or I have a problem You rather live with you sickness than come for prayer ?? Am I talking to someone here ? Pride to say Lord Jesus ,help me to change what is not pleasing to you BUT we live on our terms and expect Jesus to bless us.
Imagine if Zacchaeus did not come down ? what would he be losing ? How about you? Jesus says to come down.
i) Come Down From Your Pedestal. Some people are too high up in the tree for God to use them.
ii) Come Down From Your Throne. Let the Lord be your king. Take self off the throne. No one can serve two masters. God's throne is not a duplex!
iii) Some Christians Are Too Big For God To Use. God would use all of you if you would allow Him to. Some feel too important for God to use them if it means lowering themselves.
God will use anyone that is useable. Only ability needed is availability! You need to Come Down and surrender yourself to the Lord.
8) COME AND DRINK - SATISFACTION John 7:37-38 37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."
Rev 22:17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.
God wants us to be filled with the presence , Power and anointing of the Holy Spirit in our life.
9) COME UP AND SEE - REVELATION Rev 4:1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this."
When this event takes place the next sound you will hear will be the trumpet signaling for all the saints of God to ascend up to ever be with the Lord.
What a day that will be; When my Jesus I shall see
When the Lord says those words then the waiting will be over. Satisfaction begins. No more cancer. No more heart attacks. No more work! No more surprises and reversals.
Not everyone will hear the words, Come. The unsaved won't hear them. The ear of the unsaved is not tuned to the heavenly channel. When Jesus says come up my child, will you be the one going?
Remember the 9 stages that God is calling us to:
1) Come in Into the Ark Salvation 2) Come out of the world Separation 3) Come and follow me Sacrifice 4) Come and reason Repentance - Forgiveness 5) Come after me Soul winner 6) Come unto me Solace / Rest to the tired & burdened 7) Come down life of surrender 8) Come and drink satisfaction 9) Come up and see - Revelation
Will you respond to the call of God in every area of your life or will you resist in some areas the call of God in your life ?
Today, choose to say Yes to the Lord and experience true joy of living for Christ. The joy of Salvation comes when we walk in totally obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ.
May the Lord Bless you.