There are 52 parables that Jesus spoke of, and one of the significant parables He put forth is the allegory of the guests who were invited to a wedding feast. Matthew 22:2-4 says; “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.” We learn from this parable that the guests who were initially invited to the wedding reception refused to respond to the invitation and declined to show up. Irrespective, of the king’s continual call and plea for them to come to the wedding reception, they snubbed and turned down the invitation.

I want us to examine a few points: The King represents God; The King’s son is the bridegroom; The King’s son represents Jesus; The bride represents the church; The feast represents a church service. The people the king sent out to call the guests to the feast, Jesus calls them “servants.” As we established earlier, the king represents God the Father. Hence, His servants would be called servants of God.

Life is like a long-distance journey that when making, you must stop at various points to climb some hurdles and level some mountains before you can proceed with the trip. I want you to imagine a straight, vertical line with you traveling on the line from west to east. This straight, vertical line shows you on the journey of life. However, on this line I want you to also envisage plotted points. These plotted points signify hurdles you must climb; mountains you must level; problems you must solve; questions you must answer; red seas you must divide; and giants you must conquer. Until you prevail over the challenges at these points you will not be able to crossover to arrive at your destination.

What you need to face all of these challenges and climb all these hurdles is strength and that is exactly what the angle told Elijah. He said the journey is too great for you and what you need is strength for the journey. Without strength you will crumble and be crushed under the pressure of the challenges, crisis, calamities and catastrophes that unavoidably and inescapably show up at certain points in the journey of life.

1 John 3:4-7

4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.

The three main keywords in the passage are sin, lawlessness and righteousness. The author points out in verse 7 that because Christ is righteous, anyone who has also been made righteous by Him must as well practice righteousness. To practice righteousness is synonymous to bearing fruits of righteousness.