1 Samuel 14:8 Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them. If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us. And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.
Invitations accompanied by peace are for me a sign of God’s direction. Like a traffic directional light. The invitation accompanied by peace helps me to know that God is usually behind it. Even if He isn’t at first, if you see God in everything you do, He is present and being glorified in everything you do.
This is not to be confused with invitation to sin or to do anything that is a bad witness. However worldly people who do not know God sometimes invite me to things that I know is God’s leading. For example, I did not want to come back to Miami for my VA stuff. I wanted to go to VA Salt Lake City, the hospital is a lot easier and peaceful. But the personable and wonderful doctors in VA Miami wouldn’t let up. They sent me invitations non stop. Until 1 AM the night before I flew here, I still didn’t have peace about going to Miami VA (the flight was in a few hours). Mike MacIntosh sent me something encouraging (completely unrelated) and I had immediate peace about going. Instantly joy and happiness accompanied it, and I knew that the invitation from Miami VA was from God. We’re leaving tomorrow back to Managua and I’m a little sad.
God shows us that invitations are helpful to complete the task He has for you to do. I was invited to be a missionary in Nicaragua by a little child over 30 years ago. I had just gotten saved. I turned on a TV shortly afterwards, and a guy was telling the viewers to go to the mission field (not Nicaragua). Turned on the radio and J. Vernon McGee said (in referring to knowing God’s will) that a school bus was hard to steer if it was just sitting there, once it started moving it got easier to steer. Family Radio told me to ‘spread the word’. Every time I opened the Bible I read about someone ‘going’. Matt Bowen needed a ride to Costa Rica, and before I knew it, I offered to drive him down. (I immediately looked at a map to see if I could catch a ferry from the Gulf of Fonseca bypassing Nicaragua to go to Costa Rica). I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO NICARAGUA! But the invitations kept coming. The more I resisted the more invitations came. Once I caved, it was all over. Hooked on Jesus, missions and Nicaragua for life.
The Bible is full of stories about invitations, how God uses invitations to set the stage. The Bible says ‘2 or more witnesses’ but they are not just about people talking to you. Witnesses can be whole Biblical stories or verses as well. Here’s another biblical story about how God uses invitations for His glory. It’s about Goliath inviting the Israelites to fight him.
1 Samuel 17:8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.
Btw, did you know that Palestine comes from the word Philistine? It’s a people group, not a land.
The Goliath story here makes the same point as Jonathan’s story. Invitations lead God’s people to victory. Worldly people (or situations) who overly confide in their own strength invite the seemingly weaker believers to fight and usually end up with mud on their faces (if the believers fully trusted and had faith in God). If you are seeking God, even the most suspicious of invitations (again, non sinful of course) will lead to the glory of God, if you let them.
Invitations are my ‘secret sauce’ as a Christian missionary. I try to only go where I am invited (again, if it’s not a seemingly sinful situation, avoid all appearance of evil). The reason is, God showed me a long time ago that when I am invited, He’s ahead of me! The road is clear. Exactly like He did when Israel was invited to send their strongest man to fight Goliath. When I am invited, God is already working out the victory. An easy win. Do I see the victory? Hardly ever. But I know God is working. Most importantly, that He is being glorified.
Romans 8:28 All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord
Invitation shows favor. Being a Christian has been a very favorable experience to me. The closer I walk to Jesus, and genuinely imitate His love for others, the more favor I get along with invitations. I have been invited to pray for a FARC guerrilla’s mom. This same guerrillero wanted to kidnap me in Colombia. But he invited me to lay hands on his sick mother. The day is coming, and in some regions already here, when they think killing Christians is doing God a favor. It’s not yet here in America but coming soon.
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
The good news is that everyone, absolutely everyone in this world today wants living proof that this ‘Jesus thing’ is real. You, most times, will be the only ‘proof’ that your inner circle will see. Don’t be a grouchy old meanie. People that say that being a Christian means living a life of rejection leaves me bewildered. Before Jesus’ time came, He grew in favor with God and man. Jesus was invited to all the good parties because of that. He was a friend of sinners. Most Christians in modern society who feel that everyone hates them usually are the cause of their unpopularity. People don’t like them because they’re mean and abrasive, not because they are truly trying to please the Lord with everything they do. People don’t like jerks, face it! but that doesn’t mean you’re being persecuted for your faith. The fact is, you’re being persecuted for your bad mood, obnoxiousness and surly big mouth.
In this day and age, everyone I am in contact with face to face basically wants to see me represent Jesus’ love to them. Even my own kids. Love is not religious traditions and rites and boooooooring history lessons. God is love, and you show Him by His fruit.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Jesus only yelled at the religious, never at the sinner. If homosexuals don’t invite you to their own children’s birthday parties, there’s maybe something wrong with the way you are expressing God’s love to the lost. When Jesus sent the disciples two by two, He was strict about flowing in the favor of God and the people. First rule was be nice!
Luke 10:5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
Here’s the best invitation!
Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.