The greatest invitation of all | Bill Berry

This message was preached by  Bill Berry at Word of Grace Church  Pune, on the 14th Sept 2014. You can listen/download the  audioby clicking here

 Don’t confuse command with “demand”. It’s an invitation and not enslavement. It’s an invitation into a relationship to walk one with Him.

Matt 22:34-

Jesus knew that he was on the way to the cross; however the teachers of the law were looking for ways to trap him. They asked him questions to try and trap him with his own words. They asked him questions. They wanted a reason to put him to death.

The 4 gospels correlate to different writing in the Old Testament.

Matthew correlates with the first 5 books of the O.T

Mark – with the prophetic writings

Luke- Is a historical record

John – poetic writer

This is the amazing harmony in the writings. No one set out to do this intentionally but it was the work of the Holy Spirit. The Torah/Law was about living out a particular lifestyle.

Often when we hear the word “command” we think military. But in the Greek, Hebrew and English the first part of the word is “come”. So it’s come join in my mandate. Don’t confuse command with “demand”. It’s an invitation and not enslavement. It’s an invitation into a relationship to walk one with Him.

So the lawyers of that day ask what the greatest mandate to live this life is. Jesus said to “Love the Lord your God…”He is quoting Deut 6:14. They were to be constantly reminded that their lives were about living God. Why does God want us to love him? Does he need out love? But he invites us to live him because He first loved us and he created us.

In Gen 1:26-27 We are made in his image but that does not mean that we have every characteristic of God. We are to reflect God. God showed this love by sending His son to die for us. He wanted to defeat our greatest enemy, death. We are called Children of God.

1Jn. 4:10, John 3:16, 1 Jn. 4:19

God initiated and we responded.

How do we love Him?

With all your heart soul mind i.e with everything- give it all. Hold nothing back. Give your life away to him.

Jn14:18-24If we love Him, you will obey His commandments. Obedience has a negative connotation todday. It’s a virtue in life where self will is sacrificed and the individual comes in union with God at the foot of the cross. Obedience is relational and thus active in nature.

Commandments and obedience is relational and not judicial. Obedience is joining in the will of another.

Phil 2:5 Jesus gives himself to be one with the Father ‘s will and not coming under the  will of the father therefore becoming one with the fathers will. That is what God wants from us – an act of love and not an act of slavish love.

It’s the same ones s in marriage- mutual submission.

Parenting – the reason we want them to obey is out of love rather than fear and or positional authority. It’s an expression of love.

Jn 7:17 The way we show that we love God is also loving our neighbour and our enemies. It’s not about those who are easy to love. We have to go beyond that. Jesus died even for those who opposed him and for those who were not on his side.

Oh if the church could learn this – to love God and to love one another!!

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again),  Spirit filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that have people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.