Richard Ellis Talks

Announcer: Today on Richard Ellis Talks.

Richard Ellis: Do you know that 80% of people who go to a church come because they are invited by someone who goes to that church? People need an invitation. Guys, I'm telling you, it is so simple. You just say, hey, I don't know if you go to church. I've had people repeatedly say to me, I just moved to town or I've been looking for a church. Do you know why people don't go to church? They're not welcome.

Announcer: You're listening to Richard Ellis Talks with Richard Ellis. Richard's style is unlike anyone else where he shares the life-changing message of the gospel in a way that's real, refreshing, focused, and fun. We know that life is pretty challenging these days, but these talks will help you meet those challenges head on with biblical truth, encouragement, and direction. Now, if you're not able to stick around with us for all of today's talk, you can always listen to, download, and even share this entire message with a friend right from our website, richardellis.com. So, let's jump right in with today's talk.

Here is Richard Ellis.

Richard Ellis: The title of today's message is You're Welcome. And I've had this on the brain all week. Let me run something by you. Rebecca and I got something in the mail from a Charles Jackson at a wedding. It's Chad Jackson, not Charles Jackson. Anyhow, that's his formal name, but I want to use this illustration. They're getting married. Who do you suppose will show up at their wedding? Who will show up at Chad and Christy's wedding? All right, do you usually have to get invited to a gig like this to show up? Okay, so usually people who show up at a wedding or some kind of party, a lot of times show up because what?

They were invited. Now guys, this is very simple, but go with me. The reason you'll show up Now, they may stand up and say, everybody's invited. You know what? That means you're invited. Now follow this. If they say to me, Richard, I want you to and I'm doing the ceremony, so I know I'm invited. But if they said to me, If they said, Richard, we want you to our ceremony. We're inviting you to come to our wedding and do the ceremony. And I say, thank you, what do they say to me?

Guest (Male): You're welcome.

Richard Ellis: You're welcome. Why do they say you're welcome? You are welcome. What does that mean? You say this thing every day. Hi, how are you? Come on to my house. Well, thank you. You're welcome. Can I get that coat for you? Sure, thank you. You're welcome. Why am I welcome? I mean, what I'm not going anywhere. I mean, what's this welcome thing? Every time you say thank you, somebody usually says you are welcome. Now this is very simple, guys, and I'm going to talk to you today about invitations and thank yous and somebody saying you are welcome.

Do you know that 80% of people who go to a church come because they are invited by someone who goes to that church? People need an invitation. Guys, I'm telling you, it is so simple. You just say, hey, I don't know if you go to church. I've had people repeatedly say to me, I just moved to town or I've been looking for a church. Do you know why people don't go to church? They're not welcome. They don't think. You say, well, sure they are. Every church door is open. Let me tell you something. There are churches if you walk in, if I walk in as a white man in some churches, they'll turn around and look at me and say, you're not welcome.

There are churches if you walk in as a black man and the place is white, they'll look at you and say, they will not say you're not welcome, but everything about what they look at you and everything about their demeanor will say, you're not welcome here. Anybody ever experienced that? Sure you have. People don't know they're welcome. You say, well, this is silly. This is stupid. It's too simple. The whole deal is too simple. That's why we miss it. All some people are waiting for is an invitation. Some people Now listen, some people crash a party, but they usually aren't welcome.

That's one of the funnest things in the world to do, isn't it? Crash a party. You find out some big wedding's going on. You get all dressed up, put a tux on, just see if you can go in there. Hi, how are you? Oh, you're friend of the bride or the groom? No, I'm the bride. Well, I'm a friend of the groom. You know, you just go the other way. I know too much about this, I think. Um, you can crash a party, but guys, it takes a lot of guts to crash a party. And some people perceive church as a party that a bunch of people are having that are members of some club and only people who get personally invited or who are members of that club can go to.

You can't crash this party, can you? Sure you can, but it's not normal cuz most of these parties that happen are not open to the public. Now how can you have church that's not open to the public? I don't know, guys, but it happens every day all over town, in all over the planet. And certain people walk in if you got certain clothes on, you got a certain kind of job, you got a certain kind of car, then you're welcome at church. If you're rich enough or if you're poor enough, it can get wacky in a lot of categories.

You can be too wealthy and dressed too nice to go to some churches because they're poor people and they'll discriminate cuz you're rich. It shouldn't be about these things. You ought to know that you're welcome anybody can come. A lot of people never visit a church without an invitation because they fear they will not be welcome. They feel like they're crashing our party. Let me tell you something. This is not our party. It is his party. God's throwing this party. And I'm going to tell you what, Luke 15, you can read it today. There are three parties that God throws in that and it is unbelievable.

You thank you party. You got a God that parties and there's a party coming one day that will whoop any party you've ever been to or seen. Catered by the God of the universe. And I'll read you a verse about that in a minute. Now let me give you some background. Listen to Matthew 11. If you want to turn to Matthew 11:28, turn to there. I'm going to read you three verses out of this. Matthew is the first book in the New Testament. Matthew 11:28. Here's what he says. Let this Jesus talking. He says, come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. You know what people looking for? An invitation to go somewhere where there's peace of mind and some rest. Come to me. We're going to everybody but Jesus. You say, well, I don't even believe this Jesus thing. Let me tell you something. I'm not here to make you believe anything. I'm here to communicate to you what has changed my life. This is not some religious exercise.

Let me tell you what I get out of this deal. I got the God of the universe that loves me, proved it by giving his own son to live, die, be buried, and raise from the dead. I got peace in my heart. I have joy. I have forgiveness from sins. I don't wake up feeling guilty and with shame. And if I do screw up, I can go to this God and he is merciful and forgiving and will take me back. Now if you got something like that, you just knock yourself out and keep going. If your deal's working and you wake up with peace and you have rest in your life even when you're working.

I'm not telling you I got it all figured out, guys, but it works a lot of the time. And I am interested in helping people who are interested in finding this kind of stuff find it. And it is not in a place and really not in so much of people as it is in one person and his name is Jesus Christ. And I will never back off of that one. You say, I don't believe that stuff. That's fine. But I'm still going to tell you about it and that's what we're here to do. Now if you want a Buddhist thing, there's Buddhist things.

If you want a Muslim thing, there 's Muslim things. But this is a Jesus thing. Okay? Just a little disclaimer there kind of underwriting deal. Come to me, Jesus said, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. You tired? Go to sleep tired, wake up tired, tired of feeling the way you feel, just tired in general? Jesus says, come to me, I'll give you rest. You got a lot of burdens, a lot of heavy stuff you're carrying around. You know what some people carry in. I carried this junk around for a years.

Guilt. I'd carry this guilt junk around for years and Claude Towns is my mentor. I'm going to tell you something, guys. I don't recommend much stuff, but that gentleman God has used to change my life. And I wouldn't give a rip about any of you probably if he hadn't cared about me. And the reason I have time to sit down with you one on one and listen is cuz somebody gave me time. And the reason I have any truth to dispense is cuz somebody gave me some truth and helped me understand and was patient with me and said, you know what?

There's some of this that's an event, but it's a process and I'll stick with you through the process. You are not going to figure this all out in one sitting. It is a lifetime experience of growth. I am interested not in filling a room on a Sunday morning with people. I'm interested in our church changing people's lives 24/7. I wanted to work tomorrow at lunch. I wanted to work Thursday night. I wanted to work Saturday morning. I want you to live it, breathe it, wake up where your joy is not for 10 minutes on Sunday and then you get clobbered again, but where it works all the time.

And when you get hit, there are people to help you. And when you go down, you can get back up. And where it 's not some religious experience, it's about a relationship with God, yourself, and other people that works. Okay? Jesus said, come to me. That's the invitation. Turn to Luke 14. Gosh, I love this stuff. Unbelievable. Luke 14. Matthew, Mark, Luke. Chapter 14. Jesus told some awesome stories and here's one of the stories he told. Now when one of those who sat at the table with him heard these things, he said to him, blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.

Then he said to him, Jesus said, a certain man gave a great supper and invited many people, invited many. He threw this huge party and invited all these people. And he sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, come for everything's ready now. You know, they're not showing up. He's like, hey, the party's about to start. Get in here. But they all with one accord began to make excuses. Now listen, guys, be very careful when God invites you to his party. You start making excuses. Listen to these excuses. First guy says, well, I just made a real estate deal and I got to go see my piece of property.

I ask you to excuse me. I've just bought a piece of ground. I've got to go look at it. Now think about that. You got some piece of real estate to go look at instead of spend time with God? Number two says, well, I just bought some new trucks. I know that's not what yours says. I bought five yoke of oxen. The guy worked with his stuff. It's like he's buying 12 new trucks, 10 new trucks for his business. Well, I just bought all this new equipment. I bought five yoke of oxen and I'm going to test them.

I ask you to excuse me. I got some business equipment stuff I got to go take care of. I can't make it to your party. You're going to spend time in real estate and your business and office equipment as opposed to going to a party where you can be with the God of the universe. Third guy, still another said, man, I just got married. I just I've married a wife and therefore I cannot come. Well, you got to bound to understand that, guys. So, that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house being angry, he got mad.

Why? The God of the universe is inviting you to a party and you're busy. He got angry and look what he says the servant. Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. You know what most churches don't want? The poor, the lame, the maimed, and the blind physically or spiritually or emotionally. We don't want problem people. We don't want problems in church. Where the heck are they going to go if they can't come to God? God extends this invitation to his people.

And never forget this. Jesus was a Jewish little boy. He was born in a Jewish family, Jewish descent, Bethlehem. He was a Jewish little boy. There's no way around it. And he even told the disciples say, let's go over and talk No, we're sticking to the Jewish people. These are my people. We're going to tell them first. And he invited them and you know what they said? We don't believe. We don't want you. We want a knight in shining armor. We want a king that sits on a throne. We don't want a humble lowly servant.

We don't want a carpenter. We don't want some kid born in a manger. We don't want somebody without power cuz if you're powerful, then we'll be powerful. We want power. And he said, I'm going to give you a different kind of power. It isn't about here and now. It's about here and forever. So, Jesus says, look, they won't come. I'll tell you what, go out in the streets and bring in the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind who nobody cares about. Invite them. Some of you all know the story. There's a story about a girl.

I think she was in Chicago and playing this huge wedding. Her husband backed out of the wedding and she had paid a deposit like 14 grand. Do you remember this? She made a deposit and the hotel said, well, if you cancel, you lose your deposit. She said, you know what? We're going to have a party. And she went out in the streets of that city and invited all the homeless people to come to this huge dinner party in this swanky hotel. And she fed them all this unbelievable dinner. That's what God says. He says, you know what?

If the ones I invited first won't come, let me tell you what, you're invited to my party. And Jesus says here, send them out. Tell everybody to come. Tell the people who no one usually wants they're welcome in my house. Now it gets even better. And the servant said, master, it's done as you commanded. There's still room. Still there's room. We got room for more people. Now look what he says. Then the master said to the servant, go out into the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled, for I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.

Guys, the first guys missed it, but guys, you know what he said? Keep going. It's not full yet. Keep going. You know what? I want people who nobody else wants. I want people who don't think anybody gives a rip. You know, it's hard to rescue somebody who doesn't think they're lost. It's hard to save someone who's not dying. I'll be okay. It's just a little chest pain. I know I'm breathing a little heavy and I'm, you know, breaking out in hives and all, but I'll be okay. I'll be okay. Sir, why don't we take you to the hospital?

No, I'll be okay. I can take care of myself. I'm having a heart attack. Somebody help me. Somebody help me. You know, it's Do something here. But see, people who don't want help, you can't help. But sooner or later, there are enough people out there, guys, who know their life is screwed up. It's not working and something's got to give. They're looking for someone to what? To invite them, to say, you know what? There's a party and you're invited. We're all invited. Jesus said, go out and get anybody anywhere, no matter what their physical, mental, emotional state, bring them in cuz there's still room in my house.

You got any friends like that? Screwed up lives, drugs, alcohol, all kind of sexual immorality, whatever their deal is. You got any friends like that? Just think, you know what? God wouldn't take me. That's who he died for. You can't fix something's not broken. When you realize your life's broken, you need somebody to fix it. That's the whole deal, guys. That 's the only reason we do what we're doing is cuz he came to seek and to save that which was lost. God invites, but not everybody shows up. And this is one party you don't want to miss.

And guys, if you think this is fun and I'm telling you what, there's a party coming on the other side that will never end. It'll never end. And I won't have to talk about a Jesus I've never seen. I'll see. In a lot of ways, this is like falling in love with somebody you've never seen. You write them love letters. You talk to them on the phone. You never seen them and your heart loves them and everything about you wants to be with them. And then finally one day you get to see them, you get to hold them.

And that day is coming. Don't let some real estate deal, some equipment purchase, some new relationship. Don't let anything get between you and God and experiencing this abundant life that he died to provide. Couple of the spots here. John 7, verse 37 says this. On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out. And I want you to imagine Jesus in this place, some place in the temple here. He cries out, if anyone thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.

But this he spoke concerning the spirit who those believing in him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified. You tired? You need rest? You thirsty? Need something to drink? Look what he says. If you're thirsty, come to me and drink. And out of your heart will flow rivers. You know what these tears are about? I'm either going to run some kind of Oscar for me to get up here and cry and be dramatic. You know, this is all some big hocus pocus thing, man. He's really good.

He can cry on cue, you know, rocking the notes and says cry and he cries. I'm either manufacturing this, guys, or there's something to this. Let me tell you how I explain this verse. I got thirsty and I went to somebody who had something to drink that changed my life. And when you fill a glass up and you keep filling it, you know what it happens? It starts overflowing. I can't keep this in me any more than you should be able to keep it in you. When you get full, you overflow. And I want you to experience that.

You know why? Not for me, not even just for you, because if you go to the office tomorrow and you sit in your desk or you hoe your row, whatever you're doing, and you start to overflow, you're going to get everybody around you soaked. They're not going to be able to get away from you. They may even hate you because there's so much joy, there's so much peace, and it's not concocted. There is a difference in cranking a well and watching a spring. Religion is a cranked well. Relationship is where God fills you and it just comes out.

It just coming out your pores. I can look people in the eyes and tell you if there's something different about their life. The Bible says that the eyes are the windows to the soul. You ever looked in somebody's eyes and they look like they're dead? Just dead, just deep sunken holes. They're just gone. The Bible talks about people going from darkness to light, from death to life, from the power of Satan to the power of God. It's the real thing. One of the verse in Revelation 22, verse 17. And the spirit and the bride say, come and let whoever hears say, come and let him who thirst come.

Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely. And that's one of the last things that's said in the whole Bible. Revelation 22, last chapter in the final few verses. Let who hears say, come and let who thirst come. Whoever desires let him take the water of life freely. Here's the deal. God comes to you and says, let me tell you what the deal is here. I'm going to give you an invitation. I'm inviting you to know me personally and to spend eternity with me in heaven. That's the invitation. Now what would anybody in their right mind do to an invitation like that?

God says, you know what? This party is very expensive. It costs me my son's life. He had to die, be buried, and raise from the dead, but because of that, I can invite you to this eternal party and I'm offering you this invitation. Now what can you say if someone invites you to something like that? What are your options? You can say, thank you and take it, or you can say, no, thank you and walk away and miss the party, right? Now think about this, guys. God says, I'm inviting you to the party. And if you choose today or you've ever said this, you say, God, thank you.

Do you know what God says? You're welcome. You're welcome. The day I understood finally that I was welcome in God's house and in his family, not because of how good I was or ever could be, but because he loved me enough to let his own son die for me. Then when I say, thank you and just take it, and hear God say in my heart, you know what? You're welcome. It's an awesome thing to not crash a party, but to know that somebody paid your way and that you truly are welcome because of who he is, not because of who I am or what I've done.

And I want you to turn around one more second. Now what if I go to the God of the universe and I say, God, I understand you died for me. All this God stuff, all this church stuff is finally making sense. And I don't think I've ever received this gift of eternal life that Jesus died and was buried and raised from the dead to pay for. And I am sunk. I'm lost. I'm clueless. I'll never make it without you. But God, I'm coming to you and I'm giving you an invitation. I'm inviting you to come into my heart, to come into my life.

What do you suppose God would say? He'd say, thank you. And you know what I'd say? You're welcome. That's what this is about. That's what I'm asking you today. Invite the God of the universe into your heart, into your life. All he's going to say is thank you. I've been waiting for that invitation. And then what you say is, you're welcome.

Announcer: Richard Ellis will return in a moment to wrap up today's talk with a few final words, but first I want to share some important information about the program. The reason we do this is to share with you the good news. When you open your heart and life to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, that's the beginning point of the most amazing journey you'll ever experience. But it's also a journey that we want to join with you. So, if you've been on this road for a while or just getting started, let us know how we can help.

Maybe you've got some questions stuck in neutral or even wondering how to take the next breath. We get it and want to help you in any way we can. Give us a call at 855-6 Richard. You can also connect with us through our website, richardellis.com. We're here to celebrate with you, too. So, if this program has made a difference to you and encouraged you in any way, tell us about it. We'd love to hear your story. So, let's keep this conversation going by giving us a call at 855-6 Richard or send us an email through our website, richardellis.com.

That would really make our day. To know how Richard's talks have helped you, call 855-6 Richard or email us through the website, richardellis.com. And speaking of the messages, you can find today's talk along with every audio and video message from Richard at our website, richardellis.com. Finally, we really believe that these talks with Richard are making a big difference in your life. So, this is how you can make a difference to ours. You can contribute to this ministry by giving us a call at 855-6 Richard or at our website, richardellis.com. And Richard's back now to wrap up today's talk.

Richard Ellis: Father, thank you so much for this morning. In this passage in Isaiah 55, Lord, that I never even got to read, the verse six says, seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he's near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord and he will have mercy on him and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. Father, I thank you so much for your mercy, for your grace that it is not your desire for anybody to perish. It's not your desire to send anybody to hell.

This deal cost you your own son, his very life, and it's a free gift. And I pray, Father, this morning for whoever does not understand, never has, they've been religious, they've gone to church, they've heard all this stuff, but somehow today, maybe for the first time, they understand that you love them, that you died for them, you're buried raised from the dead to give them eternal and abundant life and they want to receive the person of Jesus Christ into their life. Father, I pray that as they sit right there, they just say in the quietness of this moment, dear God, I know I'm a sinner and I need your forgiveness.

I do finally understand and I believe that Jesus died for me to pay my way and was buried and raised from the dead that he's alive and I want him to be alive in me. I receive this gift. I invite you to come in. And I'm telling you, you're welcome to live in me and through me, to take my life and make a difference with it. I thank you that you've shown me my way will never work, but your way always does and that I can trust you because you love me and you've got a plan and a purpose for my life.

And Father, for Christians who have done that, who know that they have this gift and know you personally, but have gotten away and the spring is stopped overflowing. Father, I pray that today, whatever it is that keeps them from you, that once again they'd say, Father, you're welcome in this house. And I'm not going to lock you out anymore. I'm not going to try to hide from you anymore. You're welcome. And I thank you that you've welcomed me. We love you, God. We thank you so much for loving us. And just pray that your will will be done in each heart and the sound of my voice.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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