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Welcome to the Daily Blade. The Word of God is described as the sword of the Spirit, the primary spiritual weapon in the Christian's armor against the forces of evil. Your hosts are Joby Martin and Kyle Thompson, and they stand ready to equip men for the fight. Let's sharpen up.

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This week we are spending some time delving into the great sermon by Charles Spurgeon called Compel them to Come In. The focus of that sermon is a parable from Jesus, the parable of the great banquet that we see in Luke 14, verses 12 through 24. Today we're going to focus in on verses 21 through 23. I'll read them here and again. I'm going to read in the King James Version, out of respect for the Sp spurge so that servant came and shewed his Lord these things. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in hither the poor, the maimed and the halt and the blind. And the servant said Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the Lord said unto the servant Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

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So let's go to Spurgeon's sermon here, that's Revelation 22, 17. Rags upon your back, though. Your own righteousness has become as filthy clouts. Yet must I lay upon you and invite you first, and even compel you to come in. So who is Spurgeon talking about here? He's talking about people that are nothing on their own. They have no faith, no virtue, no good work, no grace, and on top of that they're in poverty. And yet, even though they don't have good numbers on the backs of their baseball cards, they yes, they still get an invitation Back to the sermon. And now I see you again. You are not only poor, but you are maimed. There was a time when you thought you could work out your own salvation without God's help, when you could perform good works, attend to ceremonies and get to heaven by yourselves, but now you are maimed. So now Spurgeon is addressing all the people that got high scores in conscientiousness on their big five personality tests. So these are the doers, these are the orderly ones, these are the people that say what they're going to do, and by golly they're going to do it and get it done right, and get it done early, right, but we don't have that option here. We have the law, but we have zero ability to follow it. We can't do our way out of the mess or into the great banquet. So back to the sermon.

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Here there is yet another class. You are halt, you are halting between two opinions. You are sometimes seriously inclined and at other times worldly gaiety calls you away. What little progress you do make in religion is but a limp. You have a little strength, but that is so little that you make but painful progress. Ah, limping brother, to you also is the word of this salvation sent.

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Though you halt between two opinions, the master sends me to you with this message how long halt ye between two opinions? If God be God, serve him. If Baal be God, serve him, that's 1 Kings 18.21. Consider thy ways, set thine house in order, for thou shalt die and not live, because I will do this. Prepare to meet thy God, o Israel, halt no longer, but decide for God and his truth. So who is Spurgeon addressing here? He's talking to those who are serious about living, right sometimes, but rather unserious at other times. These are the people that are always looking for the next shot of motivation to do the right thing, as opposed to just relying on boring old discipline. And even though these people are like that, does the master still send them an invitation? Yes, he does.

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Back to the sermon one more time. And yet I see another class the blind. Yes, you that cannot see yourselves, that think yourselves good when you are full of evil, that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, darkness for light and light for darkness. That put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter, darkness for light and light for darkness. To you am I sent you, blind souls that cannot see your lost estate, that do not believe that sin is so exceedingly sinful as it is and who will not be persuaded to think that God is a just and righteous God. To you am I sent, to you too, that cannot see the Savior, that see no beauty in Him that you should desire Him, who see no excellence in virtue, no glories in religion, no happiness in serving God, no delight in being his children. To you also am I sent I? To whom am I not sent, if I take my text?

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For it goes further than this. It not only gives a particular description so that each individual case may be met, but afterwards it makes a general sweep and says Go into the highways and hedges. Here we bring in all ranks and conditions of men my lord upon his horse in the highway, the woman trudging about her business, the thief waylaying the traveler. All these are in the highway and they are all to be compelled to come in. And there away in the hedges, there lie some poor souls whose refuges of lies are swept away and who are seeking not to find some little shelter for their weary heads. To you also are we sent this morning. This is the universal command Compel them to come in. Who is Spurgeon talking about here? The people that are so lost that they can't even see how lost they really are. And yet, guys, even though these people be poor, maimed, halt and blind, they all receive invitations to the great banquet. What great fortune they actually have. And we are to compel them to come in. More on that tomorrow.

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Thank you for listening to today's episode Before you go. If you want to help equip other men for the fight, share this podcast around and leave us a five-star rating and review. Stay sharp.