February 3, 2014: Large and In Charge!

Matthew 22:1-22

Amplified Bible (AMP)

22 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables (comparisons, stories used to illustrate and explain), saying,

2 The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son

3 And sent his servants to summon those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they refused to come.

4 Again he sent other servants, saying, Tell those who are invited, Behold, I have prepared my banquet; my bullocks and my fat calves are killed, and everything is prepared; come to the wedding feast.

5 But they were not concerned and paid no attention [they ignored and made light of the summons, treating it with contempt] and they went away—one to his farm, another to his business,

6 While the others seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and put them to death.

7 [Hearing this] the king was infuriated; and he sent his soldiers and put those murderers to death and burned their city.

8 Then he said to his servants, The wedding [feast] is prepared, but those invited were not worthy.

9 So go to the thoroughfares where they leave the city [where the main roads and those from the country end] and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.

10 And those servants went out on the crossroads and got together as many as they found, both bad and good, so [the room in which] the wedding feast [was held] was filled with guests.

11 But when the king came in to view the guests, he looked intently at a man there who had on no wedding garment.

12 And he said, Friend, how did you come in here without putting on the [appropriate] wedding garment? And he was speechless (muzzled, gagged).

13 Then the king said to the attendants, Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the darkness outside; there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

14 For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen.

15 Then the Pharisees went and consulted and plotted together how they might entangle Jesus in His talk.

16 And they sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians, saying, Teacher, we know that You are sincere and what You profess to be and that You teach the way of God truthfully, regardless of consequences and being afraid of no man; for You are impartial and do not regard either the person or the position of anyone.

17 Tell us then what You think about this: Is it lawful to pay tribute [levied on individuals and to be paid yearly] to Caesar or not?

18 But Jesus, aware of their malicious plot, asked, Why do you put Me to the test and try to entrap Me, you pretenders (hypocrites)?

19 Show me the money used for the tribute. And they brought Him a denarius.

20 And Jesus said to them, Whose likeness and title are these?

21 They said, Caesar’s. Then He said to them, Pay therefore to Caesar the things that are due to Caesar, and pay to God the things that are due to God.

22 When they heard it they were amazed and marveled; and they left Him and departed.

So the guy without the wedding garment on was full of rebellion. He wanted to be noticed. In a bad way. I fear for these people who show up to "worship", but are only there for one purpose. To openly rebel. Against the One who died for them. The One who is extending the wedding invitation. Why would someone, on purpose, get cast into darkness? This reminds me of satan getting cast out of heaven.

Revelation 12:7-12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

7 Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought.

8 But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer.

9 And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.

10 Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out!

11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

12 Therefore be glad (exult), O heavens and you that dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in fierce anger (fury), because he knows that he has [only] a short time [left]!

These type of people will stop at nothing. They lift themselves above God Almighty. They have the spirit of satan. 

"Oh Great and Terrible God,

Psalm 47:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 For the Lord most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.

I fear nothing except for You. You are to be feared and adored. You are large and in charge! I submit myself to You. Cleanse my heart once again. I don't want even a trace of rebellion to enter my heart. I want to be clothed in my wedding garment at all times. Please cover Your precious sheep with Your protecting blood. Please open our eyes to the evil that can sneak into the very house of God. And lurk among the newborn babes. Please cast them out in a hurry. And send some mighty angels to bar the door! Thank You that we have Holy Ghost power within us. Thank You that we don't need to fear these people. You are mighty! You are to be honored and adored. In Your precious name, the name of Jesus, AMEN."