(Matthew 22:1-2 NIV) Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. THE BANQUET INVITATION 1. The HOST sets the of His Kingdom . Father God has chosen ! (Psalm 116:11 ESV) You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. His presence imparts even while . (Hebrews 12:2 NIV) Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (Matthew 22:3-4 NIV) He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. “Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ 2. His expectation is that those invited . (2 Peter 3:9 NIV) The Lord … he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (Matthew 22:5-7 NIV) “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. (Matthew 22:8-10 NIV) “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 3. He invites those to become in the . (Matthew 9:10-11 NIV) While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matthew 22:11-14 NIV) “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” 4. Proper attire is and . (Isaiah 61:10 NIV) I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness… Living the Party Lifestyle Live for the . (Matthew 24:44 NIV) You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. Live the before . (Matthew 5:16 NIV) let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Live a life. (Philippians 4:4 NLT) Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!