Thank you for listening to Servants for Christ. In all that we do, in all that we say, we want to give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Thank you for tuning us in as we get into the wonderful Word of God. For the next few minutes, let's take the beautiful Word of God and share it with each and every one of you as we have a sense of anticipation to take the Word of God and to listen to its truth for each and every one. for tuning us in, I'm Darrell Bailey, service for Christ. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord, in ourselves, your service for Jesus' sake. Take your Bibles this Sunday morning, amen. Over into the book of Luke, chapter five. Luke, chapter five. When we look at the invitation of grace, Luke, chapter five, verse 33, down to verse 39. where we talk about fasting that it deals with in this area here because in this passage from Luke chapter 5 verses 33 down to verse 39, Jesus responds to a question about fasting and the traditional practices of Pharisees offering a lesson about the nature of his ministry and the invitation of grace. You see, the Pharisees and the scribes, they criticized Jesus and his disciples for not following the customary religious practices but Jesus uses the imagery of a wedding feast, new cloth, and new wine to explain the transformative nature of his coming. Jesus likens himself to a bridegroom, indicating that his presence is a time of joy, not mourning. He teaches that the new covenant he brings cannot simply be patched on to old religious systems or mixed with old traditions, the new wine of grace requires new bottles, symbolizing a complete renewal and transformation that comes from accepting the gospel. And so, we emphasize how Jesus invites us to embrace the newness of his grace, letting go of all the rigid religious structures and receiving the freedom and the joy that comes through faith in him. And so, when we look at Luke chapter five, verses 33 down to verse 39, It challenges us to reflect on our own hearts. Are we holding on to old mindsets and traditions, or are we open to the fresh work of God's grace in our lives? And so, let's open up with a time of prayer, and then we'll read the mighty Word of God. We ask your blessing on the reading of the Word of God. We come before you this morning grateful for your grace and mercy. We ask for your forgiveness of our sins, acknowledging our need for your cleansing and daily renewal. Help us to put on the full armor of God, Lord, so that we may stand firm in our faith and live out your calling in our lives. And may your words speak to our hearts today. Transform us as we seek to follow you. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ, amen. I was reading a story about a man named George who, despite his successful career, felt a deep void in his life. One day, he stumbled upon an old letter from a long-lost friend reminding him of a time when he was passionate about his dreams and his values. Inspired by this reminder, he decided to reach out to his friend, which ultimately led him to reevaluate his priorities and rediscover his purpose. And so, Just like George, we often find ourselves caught in the daily grind, forgetting the calling that truly matters. Because this morning, we explore how Jesus calls us just as he called Matthew, and how that calling invites us to a life of grace and purpose when we look at the invitation of grace. And so, I'm glad that first of all, when we look that the greatest life ever lived on earth was the life of Jesus Christ. There's no mission that can ever compare with the mission which he was sent to do. The Great Commission of Christ was a quickening mission to make people alive to God, an eternal mission to give people life forever, and a purposeful mission to cause people to commit their lives to God unconditionally. Luke's very purpose in this passage is to reveal the great mission of Christ with the skillful mind of a man who knew the Lord intimately that he weaves several events together to spell out the great mission of the work. When we look and we see the invitation of grace. We see joy in Christ's presence. Jesus, the bridegroom, brings a time of celebration and joy, inviting us to partake in the feast of grace. Not only joy in Christ's presence, but transformation through grace. The newness of the gospel cannot coexist with old legalistic practices. It calls for a transformed life. And then the invitation to renewal, because just as the new wine requires new wineskins, accepting the invitation of grace means embracing a renewed heart and life in Christ. And so it encourages all of us to examine how that we respond to the invitation of grace, seeking transformation, renewal in Christ, rather than clinging to the outdated religious practices that are out in the world today. And so the first thing that we see is there is an inquiry. inquiry behind the criticism that when we look at it we begin to see that that first of all that we see in verse 33 The invitation of grace. Let's read the Word of God first and then we get into the outline. In verse 33, the Bible says, And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often and make prayers? And likewise the disciples of the Pharisees put thine eat and drink? In verse 34, and he said unto them, can you make the children of the bride chamber fast while the bridegroom is with them? In verse 35, but the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days. In verse 36, and he spake also a parable unto them. No man putteth a piece of new garment upon an old. If otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new garment not with the old. Verse 37 and no man put a new wine into old bottles else the new wine will burst the bottles and be spilled and the bottles shall perish in verse 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles and both are preserved and lastly in verse 39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new for he saith the old is better and so when we look at The question here is what we saw. First of all, that when we look and we realize that God is giving us one of the greatest blessings because out of this, when we look and we see that what God has done for each and every one of us, amen, God has given us one of the most blessed things because we have the invitation of grace. And by that invitation of grace, amen, none of us knows a better than when we look at the inquiry behind the criticism of verse 33. Because he said, And they said unto him, Why doeth the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees, but dine, eat, and drink? We see the dilemma of fasting. The religious leaders were quick to criticize Jesus' disciples for not adhering to their customs of fasting. They questioned, why do your disciples not practice this piety? Their question was not rooted in genuine concern, but in a desire to undermine Christ's authority. We saw the dilemma of fasting, but the intention behind the question. This inquiry reveals a deeper issue. The critics, the Pharisees, sought to challenge the very essence of Jesus' ministry. They were more interested in establishing their superiority than understanding the grace that Jesus brought. And then the truth of true holiness, because as Jesus later clarifies, true holiness is not merely about external acts, but about the heart's condition. The critics failed to see that their ritualistic fasting was empty compared to the relationship that they could have had with Christ. I'm glad that a quote that's anonymous said one time, a true disciple is not defined by their adherence to rules, but by their relationship with Christ. That was the mission of bringing real joy. And the religionists questioned Jesus's behavior and the fact that he was teaching his disciples a bad behavior. what is meant by this behavior. Jesus' disciples were eating and drinking, actually feasting, when they should have been fasting. But by law, religious Jews fasted twice a week, every Monday and Thursday. But Jesus was not only religious, he was a religious teacher. And even more, he was claiming to be the Messiah himself. So why was he not fasting? And so the religionists fasted as a ritual. Their days for fasting was already determined. The ritual, the custom, the tradition, that determined their fast. Their need for God, for a very special sense of God's presence, had nothing to do with fasting. Fasting was merely a matter of ritual and custom. But Jesus' answer was revealing and utmost important because he claimed that he was the bridegroom. And as long as he was with them, there was no need for them to fast because what was Jesus saying? His presence brought joy and fatality to life, not the ritual and not the ceremonial demand. There was no need to be fasting for a special sense of God's presence. If the bridegroom, the son of God was already present, amen. His mission was that of a bridegroom, to bring joy and vitality to life. And so, when we look and we see out of all of this, that we begin to see the inquiry behind the criticism in verse 33. But in verses 34 down to verse 39, secondly, we see the response of grace. Praise His mighty name. And He said unto them, Can you make the children of the bride chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? You see, here we see the celebration of presence. Jesus illustrates that his presence among his disciples is a time for joy, not mourning. He likens himself to a bridegroom, emphasizing that there is a season for everything, that when he is present, it's a time of celebration. There is the mission of dying, but we note that Jesus said the bridegroom shall be taken away. He meant that he was appointed to die. Dying upon the cross was his primary mission for coming to earth. And so, His death enabled his spirit to be present with all the believers around him. His death brings sorrow to the heart of any that see it and understand it, but his death brings joy soon after, for there is knowledge that Jesus lives forever and ever, and his death and his cleansing power can be forgotten. because the Lord's presence can fade from our consciousness. We can become so busy, so preoccupied with the affairs of the world that we lose our sensitivity to the Lord's presence. That's why I love communion, because communion often always reminds us of the Lord's presence. And so at such times we need to get along with God and our concern for God's presence should be so great that neither food nor sleep matter. Nothing matters except regaining the consciousness of God's presence. We need to fast, we need to pray, and we need to do both. And so his death caused the first disciples to fast. And it ought to cause us to fast because when we first learn of his death and what it really means, there was the mission of dying. Jesus said the bridegroom shall be taken away. He meant that he was appointed to die. Dying upon the cross was his primary mission. But I'm glad also that when we look and we realize that his death caused the first, we see the analogy of a new cloth and old garments. Jesus points out that the grace that he offers cannot be contained within the old traditions. Just as the new cloth would tear old fabric, his teachings challenged and redefined what it means to follow God. And so when we look, We see out of all of this that we look and we can make out that through the teaching of the Word of God, amen, that what he talks about, amen, that through the wonderful Word of God, amen, the inquiry behind the criticism, the dilemma of fasting, the attention behind the question, the truth of true holiness, amen, that we see and that we look and we realize that through this, amen, that uh the analogy of that the compatibility of christ and his message amen because i'm glad that when we look and we see the response of grace a celebration of his presence amen and uh we look and we see that not only the celebration of his presence, but we see the compatibility, or the new and the old that he compares, using the analogy of the new cloth and the old garments. And also, thirdly, the compatibility of Christ and his message. The metaphor of new wine and new bottles reinforces the idea that his message is incompatible with outdated practices. Christ brings a new covenant, and we must be willing to embrace it fully. Tim Chester said one time, the gospel is not an improvement of the old, it is a creation of the new. And so there's the mission of a new life and a new spiritual movement. Jesus gave three points to illustrate what he meant. And I'm glad illustration one was a piece of a new cloth that's not used to patch an old garment for it fails to match the old garment. Jesus will say that he was not patching up the old life, but he was starting a new life and a new movement Amen the second illustration of new wine is put into old bottles For the new wine would burst the old bottles and Jesus was saying that he was not putting his teachings in the old life and and movement but he was launching a new life and movement for God. And the third illustration, a new wine that is difficult to accept if one has been drinking old wine because Jesus was saying that his new life and spiritual movement would be difficult to accept but it would take time. Men were slow to give up the old for they were too content with it. Their religious ways and self-righteousness and therefore meant that men would often refuse to even consider the new life and movement. And so when we look and we realize that through this, that we see everything that God is doing, amen, when we look and see of what he's trying to accomplish, the inquiry behind the criticism in verse 33, amen. And then we look and we see the response of grace from verse 34 down to verse 39. But lastly, in closing, in verse 39, the reluctance to change. No man, also having drunk old wine straightway, desires new, for he saith, the old is better." When we look at this, lastly and closing, we see the comfort of the familiar. Many people resist change, even when it leads to something better. But just as the Jewish leaders clung to their traditions, we too can find comfort in our routines, even when they don't align with God's purpose. And so the comfort of familiarity, the danger of stagnation because of the unwillingness to embrace the new can lead to spiritual stagnation. Jesus urges us to let go of the past, embrace the transformation that comes from him. And then thirdly, the call to renewal. Each of us is called to continually renew our minds and hearts. Embracing Christ's call means letting go of what holds us back, stepping into the new life that he offers. Mahatma Gandhi said, and I quote, you must be the change you wish to see in the world." And so, we see how the criticism of Christ by the religious leaders stem from their misunderstanding of true holiness and grace. Jesus invites us into a relationship that transforms us from the inside out, urging us to let go of the old habits and embrace the new life that he offers. We're called not just to follow rules, but to follow him. who is the embodiment of grace, the invitation of grace. I wonder what is one area in your life where you are holding on to old habits and traditions that may be hindering your relationship with Christ? How can you actively participate in celebrating the presence of Christ in your life daily? And then, in what ways can you reach out to others that may be stuck in the old habits and beliefs that are sharing the message of Christ. You know what? We look at the areas of our life and we need to set aside time each day for prayer and worship to recognize His work and presence in our daily life. We look for opportunities to engage in conversation about faith, share our testimony, invite someone to church, amen. And so as we conclude, we reflect on how the invitation of grace speaks and relates to our personal lives. Jesus is calling each one of us to experience a fresh, transformative relationship with him. One that isn't based on empty traditions or religious rituals, but on the overflowing grace that only he can provide. Just as new wine requires new wineskins, he wants to pour his grace into the heart that's willing to be made new. Some of us may be holding on to past hurts, old habits or traditions, that have kept us from fully experiencing the joy and freedom of his grace. Jesus is inviting you this morning to let go of those things and embrace the new life that he offers. His grace is more than enough to cover our sins, heal our hearts, and renew our lives. I'm glad that for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. I'm glad that he says, for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. But God commended his love toward us, and that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thy heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. But listen to this, put your name in this, for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. As I close, I want to invite you to respond to the invitation of grace. If you've never accepted Christ into your heart, this is your opportunity. His grace is sufficient for you. No matter where you've been or what you've done, you don't have to clean yourself up first to try to fit into an old system of works or religion. Jesus is offering you a new heart and a new life right now this morning. If you want to accept that invitation, you can do so right now by simply praying. and confessing your need for His salvation. For those of you who already know Christ, perhaps God is calling you to let go of the old mindsets and truly live in the joy and the freedom of His grace. But either way, His arms are open and wide, and the invitation is right here. Would you take a moment to pray with me? And if you need to accept Christ's gift of salvation, would you pray with me right now? Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner and I believe that you died for my sins and you rose again to give me a new life. I confess my need for your grace and ask you for forgiveness. Make me new. May you be the Lord of my life and may I surrender to you this morning and accept your gift of salvation, Father, as we embrace you and your calling, Father. I pray for those that not only do not know you, but I also pray for those to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. Those Christians that are seeking to repent and grow closer to you, I give them an opportunity to repent And Lord, get back in a right relationship with you. Equip us with the armor of God as we go forth into the world, ready to share the hope of the gospel. And all of this as we look at the invitation of grace, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen. you