YES, LORD, I HAVE SINNED

BUT I HAVE SEVERAL EXCELLENT EXCUSES!

Luke 14:15–24 NIV

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” Jesus replied: “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ “But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’ “The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ “ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ “Then the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’ ”

THIS LINE COMES FROM THE BOOK BY TOLSTOY’S NOVEL CALLED WAR AND PEACE.

YES, WE HAVE SEVERAL EXCELLENT EXCUSES FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE HAVE DONE OR MIGHT WANT TO DO. WHATEVER THE SITUATION, THERE IS AN EVER READY EXCUSE AVAILABLE.

FOR ONE THING, WE EXCUSE OURSELVES WITH WORDS.

MISSING CHURCH

JIM MOORE TELLS OF ONE OF HIS CONGREGANTS THAT IN THE FIVE YEARS HE WAS AT THE CHURCH HE NEVER CAME TO CHURCH ONCE, YET HE KEPT RUNNING INTO HIM AT CROWDED MALLS AND BALL GAMES, THEATERS AND PARTIES. HE PROMPTLY TURNED TO PASTOR JIM AND SAID HE WISHES HE COULD COME TO CHURCH BUT HE HATES TO BE IN A CROWD!!! TRY FIGURE THAT ONE OUT.

THEN THERE WAS THE LADY WHO CLAIMED THAT IF SHE CAME TO CHURCH SOMETIMES SHE FELT SHE WANTED TO GO ALL THE TIME AND SINCE SHE CANT GO ALL THE TIME SHE DECIDED TO NOT GO AT ALL THAT WAY SHE DID NOT FEEL GUILTY FOR WANTING TO GO ALL THE TIME?? THAT IS A GENUINE EXCUSE IF THERE EVER WAS.

STEALING

THERE WAS A MAN THAT WAS CAUGHT SHOP LIFTING AND WHEN ARRESTED HE SAID THAT HE WAS NOT STEALING BUT HE WAS “OBTAINING” AND THE REASON HE DID IT WAS BECAUSE THE SHOP KEEPERS CHARGED TOO MUCH FOR THEIR GOODS.

UNFAITHFULNESS

THIS IS THE MOST UNIVERSALLY AND AMAZINGLY JUSTIFIED SIN IN THE WORLD ALL THE WAY FROM THE CLASSIC “ MY WIFE / HUSBAND DOES NOT UNDERSTAND ME” TO “ IF YOU LOVE SOMEBODY WHY ISN’T IT ALL RIGHT?”

THIS HAS EVEN BEEN LABELED THE NEW MORALITY, THIS MY FRIENDS IS WHERE WE GET FOOLED BECAUSE IT IS THE OLDEST IMMORALITY IN THE WORLD.

GOSSIP

IT IS SO DANGEROUS, SO CRUEL, SO HURTFUL, SO DEVASTATING, SO SINFUL!

YET WE INDULGE IN IT SO FREQUENTLY.

WE JUSTIFY THAT WE WONT TELL ANYBODY ABOUT ANTHER PERSON UNLESS ITS GOOD AND “OH BOY THIS IS GOOD....”

THEN THERE IS TEMPER

WE EXCUSE OUR BAD TEMPERS BY SAYING EVERYONE KNEW I WAS BORN WITH A HOT TEMPER, BUT MY TEMPER IS LIKE A CYCLONE, BLOWS UP QUICKLY AND BLOWS AWAY QUICKLY. WHAT THEY DON’T REALISE IS THAT CYCLONES LEAVE BEHIND A LOT OF DEVASTATION AND SOMETIMES IT’S IRREPARABLE.

OR EVEN VENGEANCE

SEVERAL TIMES IN THE GOSPELS JESUS WARNS AGAINST A VENGEFUL SPIRIT HE CAUTIONED NOT TO GIVE INTO A VENGEANCE.

AS ARCHIE BUNKER PUT IT WHAT IS WRONG WITH REVENGE ITS A PERFECT WAY TO GET EVEN.

YES WE HAVE SINNED, BUT WE HAVE SEVERAL EXCELLENT EXCUSES.

WE EXCUSE OURSELVES WITH WORDS, WELL CHOSEN WORDS.

WE ALSO EXCUSE OURSELVES BY BLAMING OTHERS OR HAVING A SCAPEGOAT

WHEN GOD HAD CREATED THE EARTH AND HE LOOKED AND SAID NOPE THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING, HE CREATED MAN AND THEN HE SAID HE SHOULD NOT BE ALONE AND GOD CREATED THEM FOR RELATIONSHIP. THEN THEY CHOSE TO DISOBEY GODS ORDERS AND EAT FROM THE TREE OF GOOD AND EVIL. SO LETS SHOW YOU WHAT HAPPENED WHEN GOD COMES TO MEET THEM THAT AFTERNOON.

Genesis 3:10–13 NIV

He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

WE HAVE LEARNED THE ART OF BLAMING AND MAKING SOMEONE ELSE OUR SCAPEGOAT.

STORY OF ROCKING ROOF OF NEIGHBOUR

WE ALSO EXCUSE OURSELVES BY BLAMING PAST CIRCUMSTANCES OR EVENTS.

WE ALSO BLAME THE EVIL SPIRITS - AKA THE DEVIL

WE ARE WELL AWARE OF THE FACT THAT THERE ARE EVIL FORCES AT WORK AGAINST THE PLANS OF GOD. GOD GAVE US FREE CHOICE AND WE CHOOSE THE THINGS WE DO AND AND WORSHIP. AND WE CAN EASILY GO TO THE PLACE OF SAYING THAT THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT.

LIKE THE STORY OF THE MAN WHO WAS NOT HAPPY THAT HIS WIFE SPENT A FORTUNE ON A DRESS AND SHE SAID TO HIM THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT, HE WAS VERY QUICK OFF THE MARK TO SAY TO HIM - WELL THEN WHY DID YOU NOT SAY TO HIM GET THEE BEHIND ME SATAN. SHE RESPONDED BY SAYING I DID AND HE TOLD ME IT LOOKED AS GOOD FROM THE BACK AS IT DID FROM THE FRONT, SO I BOUGHT IT.

WE LAUGH BUT THE SOBERING THING IS THAT WE DO THESE THINGS AND SOMETIMES WE COVER IT UP WITH SCAPEGOATS.

LETS JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO SEE WHAT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH SAYS ABOUT EXCUSES.

GOD SEES THROUGH OUR EXCUSES

JUST THE SAME AS A PARENT KNOWS THEIR CHILDREN, SO GOD KNOWS US BEST. HE IS FULLY AWARE OF ATTITUDE AND WHAT WE ARE MOTIVATED BY

GOD CANNOT BE CONNED. HE KNOWS US BETTER THAN WE KNOW OURSELVES.

THIS IS WHAT THIS PARABLE IN IS ABOUT

Luke 14:18–20 NIV

“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ “Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ “Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’

IN JESUS’ STORY MANY PEOPLE TURNED DOWN THE INVITATION O THE BANQUET BECAUSE THE TIMING WAS INCONVENIENT.

THE CUSTOM AT THE TIME WAS TO SEND TWO INVITATIONS TO A PARTY - NOT UNLIKE TODAY - WE SEND A SAVE THE DATE AND THEN THE INVITE.

BUT THIS SECOND INVITATION IS SENT WHEN EVERYTHING IS READY - SO COME TO THE PARTY.

SO REALLY WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN INVITED IT WAS INSULTING TO THE HOST TO TURN AROUND AND THEN REFUSE.

IN ISRAELS HISTORY GODS FIRST INVITATION CAME FROM MOSES AND THE ISRAELITES ACCEPTED THE INVITATION THAT WAS ISSUED THROUGH THE PROPHETS AND MOSES. WHEN HE SAID GET READY YOU ARE MY PEOPLE I AM MAKING YOU A GREAT NATION. BUT THEY INSULTED GOD BY REFUSING TO ACCEPT HIS SON. THE SECOND INVITATION. THERFORE THE SON SENT HIS SERVANTS TO OPEN UP THE INVITATION TO EVERYONE.

WE TOO CAN RESIST OR DELAY IN RESPONDING TO GOD’S INVITATION.

OUR EXCUSES MAY SOUND REASONABLE - WORK DUTIES, FAMILY RESPONSIBILITIES, FINANCIAL NEEDS, OR OTHER REASONS. NEVERTHELESS GOD’S INVITATION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT EVEN IN OUR LIVES, NO MATTER HOW INCONVENIENTLY IT MAY BE TIMED.

WE CAN MAKE EXCUSES FOR ALMOST ANYTHING WE DO OR DON’T WANT TO DO.

OUR EXCUSES MAY BE THE VERY THING THAT IS KEEPING US OUT OF GOD’S PARTY, GOD’S KINGDOM AND GOD’S PRESENCE.

GOD SEES THROUGH OUR EXCUSES BUT...

HE IS MORE INTERESTED IN FORGIVING OUR SINS THAN HEARING OUR EXCUSES.

SLIDE SCAPEGOAT & CROSS

WE DON’T NEED A SCAPEGOAT - WE HAVE A SAVIOUR!!

WE SEE GODS LOVE AND FORGIVENESS IN THE PRODIGAL SON - WE KNOW THAT THE FATHER WAS WAITING AND LOOKING AND HE RAN. THE SON WAS CONFESSING THAT HE WAS NOT WORTHY, BUT THE FATHER WAS LOOKING AT SOMETHING WE DON’T ALWAYS CONSIDER IMPORTANT - HE CAME BACK!!

THE FATHER WAS NOT CONCERNED ABOUT HIS IDEAS OF WANTING TO BE A SERVANT BUT WAS INTERESTED IN RESTORING HIM TO HIS RIGHTFUL PLACE

THE THING ABOUT GODS FORGIVENESS IT IS THERE ALREADY WAITING FOR US TO ACCEPT IT AND ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE NEED IT.

WE ARE NOT JUSTIFIED - BY OUR ELOQUENT EXCUSES BUT BY THE GRACE OF A LOVING, CARING, FORGIVING FATHER.

NOT EXCUSES BUT A CONTRITE HEART

REMORSEFUL

GENUINE ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR OUR SINS.

One person defined an excuse as “the meat of a lie covered by the skin of reason.”

Excuses are generally self-focused and self-absorbed so that a person can justify themselves.

Do we need to go to such great efforts to justify ourselves? No, not if we are living up to our potential and destiny in God.

We would not need to be making such elaborate excuses for the way we are if we were living under the advice of the apostle Paul who said, “I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

There are 6 ways in which excuses will hold us back.

1. Excuses justify the need to not change.

If we are not changing we are not growing in the Lord. In Christ we are a new creation, sounds like change to me.

2. Excuses validate mediocrity.

Which do you prefer, the best or second best? God does not want us to settle for second best. His desire is to pour blessings into our lives, but those blessings will never come if we settle for second best.

I believe that my God is not a god of mediocrity. His plans for me are the greatest plans.

3. Excuses are self-focused.

They are full of I’s and me’s.

4. Excuses are a part of the language of victims.

They try to seek sympathy and pity from others because of the situation.

5. Excuses breed a culture of hopelessness.

One of the most depressing phases I can think of is the phrase, “I can’t.”

I hate that phrase, just ask my kids: It speaks out of hopelessness. When you speak out of hopelessness you are declaring a position of defeat.

When we feel hopelessness we are declaring that we cannot do all things through Christ who gives us strength. That is not what the Word says. The Word says, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

When we begin thinking that we can’t we have already lost and that sense of hopelessness can be overwhelming which will lead to the 6th way excuses will hold us back.

6. Excuses put success out of reach.

When the going gets tough, excuses enable us to turn and run away. When we are running away we are not heading towards the awesomeness that God has planned for us.

ARE YOU MAKING EXCUSES TO AVOID RESPONDING TO GOD’S CALL? JESUS REMINDS US THAT THE TIME WILL COME WHEN GOD WILL PULL HIS INVITATION AND OFFER IT TO OTHERS - THEN IT WILL BE TOO LATE TO GET INTO THE BANQUET.

As we read through this Scripture we will see how the excuses they used are not that much different then the ones people uses today when they fail to fulfill God’s purpose in their lives.

First, He wants all people to be saved.

3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:3–4 NIV

This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

Second, He wants all who are saved to be blessed.

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

These two things are the God-given destiny of the people who choose to accept His invitation.

jeremiah 29:11

That is why is important for us to stop making excuses for the way we are or the way we are not, stop making excuses for why we are not living up to our God-given potential and destiny, and start hitting the mark that He has set for us.

“I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:14 NIV

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

God has set the mark so we can hit the mark. He has given us everything we need so that we can be without an excuse.

LET US NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE END RESULT OF ALL OUR HUMILITY AND SELF SACRIFICE A JOYOUS BANQUET WITH OUR LORD!

GOD NEVER ASKS US TO SUFFER FOR THE SAKE OF SUFFERING. HE NEVER ASKS US TO GIVE UP SOMETHING GOOD UNLESS HE PPLANS TO REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING EVEN BETTER. JESUS IS NOT CALLING US TO JOIN HIM IN A LABOUR CAMP BUT IN A FEAST - THE WEDDING SUPPER OF THE LAMB

Revelation 19:6–9 NIV

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

REVELATION 19

WHEN GOD AND HIS BELOVED CHURCH WILL BE JOINED FOREVER.

That is why is important for us to stop making excuses for the way we are or the way we are not, stop making excuses for why we are not living up to our God-given potential and destiny, and start hitting the mark that He has set for us.

“I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 3:14 NIV

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

God has set the mark so we can hit the mark. He has given us everything we need so that we can be without an excuse.

Let’s determine today to make every day a no excuse day.

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