RSVP Invitation

These words must have been a shining light of hope streaming through the bars of Jeremiah’s dungeon.

Jer 331 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name; 3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

RSVP:InvitationMotivation AmplificationExamination

I. Invitation- “Call upon Me.”

A.Who gives this invitation?

Jer 33:1-2 1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying, 2 Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;

“The Lord” His voice it is we hear inviting us.

Every ear should be attentive when the word of the LORD speaks and

request a call.

B.Who receives the invitation?

A lonely prophet, in a dungeon.

Jer 33:1-2 1 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

To all who are “prisoners of hope” this invitation is given.

C.How to respond to the invitation.

Vain is all other refuge, insufficient and temporary are all other sources of consolation.

Ps 60:11 Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man. (Ps 108:12)

Isa 30:7-11 For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD: Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

Zech 10:2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told

false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.

Gal 3:3-4 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.

D.What is the dead line to respond?

RSVP- ASAP

Ps 81:13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!

Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

Matt 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Heb 3:7 Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice,

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

E. Benefits of response

God has promised to teach us how to pray.

Rom 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

God doesn’t stop with just an invitation but he further gives motivation for communication.

II. Motivation- Jer 33:3 “I will answer thee”

The promise is general and unlimited.

“I will answer thee.” Nothing said as to the time, or place.

A. Sometimes answered “before they call”

Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

B. Sometimes He “makes as though He heard not”

Temporary denial adds zeal to the suppliant, and sweetens the blessing

when it arrives.

Luke 24:28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

John 8:6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not .

C. Sometimes different from our expectations.

Paul “besought the Lord thrice” for the thorn to be removed, but God answered by making “grace

sufficient.”

We ask deliverance from trials, but God opens only “a way of escape that we may be able to bear it.”

2Cor 12:8-9 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

1Cor 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

We pray for spirituality, to be weaned from the world, and “He takes away the desire of our eyes

with a stroke.”

Ezek 24:16 Son of man, behold, I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke: yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep, neither shall thy tears run down.

As if you had already been motivated to answer the invitation God increases the value.

III. Amplification Jer 33:3 “I will show thee great and mighty things”

This invitation is more than a simply an answer to prayer; it is “great and mighty things,”

A. Healing, and Health (Jer 33:6)

Jer 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

B. Liberty from Bondage (Jer 33:7).

Jer 33:7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

C. Purification and Justification (Jer 33:8).

Jer 33:8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

D. Guarantee (Jer 33:14)

Jer 33:14 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

E.Promise of Continued Revelation, “I will show thee,”

1) There are more wonderful things to be seen

than the best of past experiences new wonders continue to build for the “abundant life”

John 1:50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Jer 33:6 Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

1Cor 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

2) The Promise that builds

As they “go from strength to strength,” who “follow on to know the Lord.”

Ps 84:5-7 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them. Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools. They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.

Hos 6:3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.

F. Many refuse this reasonable offer-

“Call upon Me, and I will show,”

Job 19:23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!

Ps 14:7 Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Unlike the “emperor’s new clothes” a robe of righteousness is not fashioned by imagination, or

convenient whim; let’s make Examination.

IV. Examination

Where do you stand?

2Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

A. No response to the request, forfeits the name of Christian.

Paul uses this phrase to identify believers…

1Cor 1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

To live without prayer is to live without Christ and without hope.

B. Those who profess “Christianity” are duty bound to commune with Christ.

1Thess 5:17-19 Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.

Isa 55:6-8 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

Matt 21:44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.

RSVP InvitationI. Invitation- “Call upon Me.”

A. Who gives this invitation?

B. Who receives the invitation?C. How to respond to the invitation.D.What is the dead line to respond?E. Benefits of response

II. Motivation- Jer 33:3 “I will answer thee”A. Sometimes answered “before they call”B. Sometimes He “makes as though He heard not”C. Sometimes different from our expectations.

III. Amplification Jer 33:3 “I will show thee great and mighty things”

A. Healing, and Health (Jer 33:6)B. Liberty from Bondage (Jer 33:7).C. Purification and Justification (Jer 33:8).D.Guarantee (Jer 33:14)E. Promise of Continued Revelation, “I will show thee,”1) There are more wonderful things to be seen2) The Promise that builds

F. Many refuse this reasonable offer-IV. Examination

A. No response to the request, forfeits the name of Christian.

B. Those who profess “Christianity” are duty bound to commune with Christ.