Excuses Excuses
Notes
Transcript
16 Then Jesus said to him, “Someone gave a great dinner and invited many. 17 At the time for the dinner he sent his slave to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come; for everything is ready now.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’ 20 Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the slave returned and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his slave, ‘Go out at once into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 And the slave said, ‘Sir, what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’ 23 Then the master said to the slave, ‘Go out into the roads and lanes, and compel people to come in, so that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.’ ”
WE’VE ALL SAID OR THOUGHT THINGS LIKE….. IT’S TOO FAR…… I FELL ASLEEP…….I DIDN’T HEAR THE ALARM CLOCK…….MY PHONE WAS ON SILENT…….I’M TOO OLD……..I’M TOO YOUNG……….I DON’T HAVE THE TIME……I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY……..I DON’T WANT TO CHANGE…….IT JUST WON’T WORK……MY CAR WOULDN’T START…..I NEED TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER FIRST…..
SOME OF US CALLED INTO WORK SAYING THAT WE ARE SICK…..WHEN WE REALLY WEREN’T SICK……ACTING LIKE WE WERE SICK ON THE PHONE….. DO I HAVE A WITNESS?
FROM OUR TEXT THIS MORNING I’D LIKE TO USE THE TOPIC....
EXCUSES……EXCUSES
WE HAVE ALL MADE THEM AT ONE POINT OR ANOTHER IN OUR LIVES.
WE HAVE ALL MADE AN EXCUSE FOR SOMETHING.
NOT ONLY HAVE WE MADE EXCUSES, MORE THAN LIKELY WE HAVE HEARD SOMEONE MAKE AN EXCUSE TO US.
SOME OF US KNOW A FRIEND OR FAMILY MEMBER THAT MAKES EXCUSES ALL THE TIME.....THEY ARE LIVING A LIFE OF ENDLESS EXCUSES.
… WHY THEY DIDN’T DO THIS…..WHY THEY DIDN’T DO THAT…… SOMETIMES THEY EVEN MAKE UP WHAT’S CALLED A PRE-EXCUSE……..
THAT’S AN EXCUSE THEY ALREADY FABRICATE…..PRIOR TO EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO OR SAY…
IN WHICH THEY TELL THEMSELVES AND POSSIBLY OTHERS…..THAT THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO GET SOMETHING DONE…..WHEN IN REALITY…..THEY ARE AFRAID TO TRY…..
ONE OF THE POEMS I HAD TO LEARN….WHEN I WAS PLEDGING OMEGA PSI PHI FRATERNITY, INCORPORATED…..WAS TITLED EXCUSES……SOME OF THE OTHER DIVINE 9 GREEK ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH THIS POEM AS WELL….OR A VARIATION OF IT….. IT GOES LIKE THIS….
EXCUSES ARE TOOLS OF THE INCOMPETENT …..USED TO BUILD BRIDGES TO NOWHERE…..AND MONUMENTS OF NOTHINGNESS…..THOSE WHO SPECIALIZE IN USING THEM….SELDOM BECOME ANYTHING……BUT NOTHING AT ALL……
WE HAD TO RECITE THAT POEM IF WE MADE AN EXCUSE ABOUT SOMETHING WE SHOULD HAVE DONE…..OR SHOULD HAVE KNOWN……
IN OTHER WORDS……WHEN YOU MAKE EXCUSES….YOU ARE SELLING YOURSELF SHORT FOR WHAT YOU CAN REALLY BE OR DO…..
AND IF THE TRUTH BE TOLD SOME OF US IN HERE THIS MORNING MAY OF MADE OR THOUGHT OF AN EXCUSE FOR SOMETHING…
WE…..OFTEN RESORT TO EXCUSES….. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE ON THE DEFENSE OF
WHY
WE`RE NOT FAITHFUL IN OUR CHURCH ATTENDANCE
OR WHY WE ARE NOT ATTENDING SUNDAY SCHOOL……OR SHARING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS WITH OTHERS…..
SOME OF US MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT NOT DIALING IN OUR POWER OF PRAYER CALL …
SOME OF US MADE EXCUSES ABOUT WHY YOU DIDN’T TUNE IN TO THE VIRTUAL WORSHIP SERVICES....OR DIALED IN TO LISTEN.....
AND IF TRUTH BE TOLD......IT WILL BE THE SAME PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO KNOW WHEN WE ARE GOING BACK INTO THE CHURCH..........WHO WILL MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT WHY THEY ARE NOT COMING BACK TO IN PERSON WORSHIP SERVICES......
THIS PANDEMIC HAS OPENED UP NEW WAYS TO MEET AND ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICES IN THE VIRTUAL SPACE......BUT SOME PEOPLE STILL MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT WHY THEY AREN’T ATTENDING....
AND WE TEND TO MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT THE BUSYNESS OF OUR LIVES
….. WHEN IT COMES TO READING OUR BIBLES ON A DAILY BASIS
SOME OF US MAKE MORE EXCUSES…..
THESE EXCUSES ARE NOTHING BUT A HINDERANCE TO CHRISTIAN GROWTH
MANY PROFESS TO LOVE THE LORD BUT WITH RESERVATIONS.
THEY SAY…… “I LOVE YOU LORD BUT...”
THEY WANT TO MAKE EXCUSES .......WHEN THEY ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW JESUS CHRIST IN SACRIFICIAL DISCIPLESHIP.......TO COMMIT TO HAVING A CONSISTENT WALK AND WITNESS AS A CHILD OF GOD, TO FAITHFULLY BE PRESENT BOTH IN WORSHIP AND SERVICE TO THE LORD.
EXCUSE MAKING IS NOTHING NEW.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF HUMANKIND MAKING EXCUSES…….WE CAN GO BACK TO THE FIRST MAN……..ADAM…… WE KNOW WHAT ADAM DID………. HE TOOK A BITE OF THE APPLE…….BUT WHEN GOD CONFRONTED HIM…….WHAT DID ADAM SAY……….IT WAS THAT WOMAN THAT YOU GAVE ME……SHE MADE ME DO IT…….. INSTEAD OF OWNING UP TO HIS FAILURE OR SHORTCOMING HE MADE AN EXCUSE……
MOSES MADE 5 EXCUSES ABOUT HIS CALLING……AND WHY HE COULDN’T GO TELL PHAROAH TO LET MY PEOPLE GO…… I STUTTER AND I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK…..WHAT WILL I TELL THEM WHO YOU ARE GOD?
GIDEON MADE A COUPLE EXCUSES TOO……HE SAID LORD……HOW SHALL I DELIVER ISRAEL….MY FAMILY IS THE LEAST IN MANASSEH….. IF I FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR SIGHT…..THEN SHOW ME A SIGN……
THE PROPHET JEREMIAH…..SAID I DON’T KNOW HOW TO SPEAK……..BECAUSE I’M A YOUTH…..
THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER EXCUSE MAKERS THAT WE SEE IN THE BIBLE……AND WE SEE MORE …..EXCUSES…… IN THE PARABLE THAT JESUS GIVES US IN OUR TEXT TODAY…..
AS WE EXAMINE THE TEXT BEFORE US JESUS IS TEACHING THE PARABLE OF THE GREAT BANQUET OR THE GREAT DINNER……
THIS WAS NO ORDINARY DINNER …….IT WAS A BANQUET WHERE THE HOST BROUGHT OUT ALL THE FINE CHINA……. YOU KNOW THAT SPECIAL CHINA THAT YOU KEEP IN CHINA CABINET …..AND NEVER USE…..
BUT NOT ONLY DID THE HOST BRING OUT THE FINE CHINA…..FANCY SILVERWARE…… LINEN TABLE COVERS….AND CLOTH NAPKINS……
THE SUPPLY OF FOOD WAS ABUNDANT…….AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF IT……YOU SEE….. GOLDEN CORRAL…….OR AN ALL YOU CAN EAY BUFFET….COULDN’T COMPARE….. THIS WAS THE FEAST OF ALL FEASTS…….
AND THE WORD OF GOD REVEALS THAT 2 INVITATIONS WERE SENT TO EACH GUEST …..THIS WAS A CUSTOM TO GIVE 2 INVITATIONS
THE FIRST INVITATION WAS SENT TO NOTIFY THE GUEST ABOUT THE DATE OF THE BANQUET…….….
AND IN OUR PARABLE TODAY ALL THE GUESTS ACCEPTED THE FIRST INVITE……….
THE TEXT SAYS THAT THE HOST SENT HIS SLAVE TO GET ALL THOSE WHO WERE INVITED……..
THE 2ND INVITATION WAS SENT TO NOTIFY THE GUESTS THAT THE FOOD WAS PREPARED AND THE TABLES WERE SET
COME; FOR EVERYTHING IS READY NOW……..
BUT THEY ALL MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT WHY THEY COULD NOT COME TO THE GREAT BANQUET……
AFTER THE HOST HAD WENT THROUGH PLANNING…..PREPARING…….SLAVING OVER THE HOT STOVE…….
THE BIBLE SAYS……ALL ALIKE BEGAN TO MAKE EXCUSES…..
WHEN I LOOKED UP THE MEANING OF THE WORD FOR EXCUSE IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE…..THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE THAT THE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN IN……
THE WORD…….PARA….TARE…..MAI…… MEANS TO REJECT OR TO REFUSE…….
WE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT JESUS WAS GIVING A DESCRIPTION OF AN ESCHATOLOGICAL BANQUET ….. ESCHATOLOGY IS THE STUDY OF THE END TIMES……THE END OF WORLD…….THE FINAL EVENTS OF HISTORY….WHEN JESUS COMES BACK FROM THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER….. SO THEY WERE IN FACT REJECTING THE INVITATION TO THE FINAL OR END TIMES BANQUET
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
LET US LOOK AT THE 3 EXCUSES THE INVITED GUESTS USE FOR NOT COMING TO THE BANQUET
B CLAUSE OF VERSE 18
Luke 14:18 (NRSV)
18 The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of land, and I must go out and see it; please accept my regrets.’
1ST EXCUSE – I BELIEVE THE TEXT TELLS US THAT …….MATERIAL THINGS ARE MORE IMPORTANT…… LET`S EXAMINE THE LAND OWNER
THIS EXCUSE THE LAND BUYER GAVE TO
THE SERVANT REVEALS THE GREAT FOOLISHNESS OF THE ONE WHO IS GIVING THE EXCUSE
THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE MAN IS FOUND -WHEN HE WOULD GO INSPECT THE LAND AFTER HE HAD BOUGHT IT
WHY WOULD HE NEED TO GO SEE THE LAND HE ALREADY BOUGHT…… IT’S NOT GOING ANYWHERE…..
ILLUS
QUICK TRIP……. SIDE DOOR…..LADY STOPPED ME……(FIRST THOUGHTS…ASKING FOR MONEY)…..BUT SHE NEEDED GAS…. CAR WAS AT THE PUMP………STANDING IN LINE……STARTED TELLING HER STORY (TOLD ME HER NAME)……OUT OF THE BLUE SHE SAID….YOU MUST BE A CHURCH GOING MAN……TOLD HER I’M A PASTOR….ASKED ME TO PRAYER FOR HER….TOLD ME HER NAME AGAIN…..GOT UP TO THE REGISTER…..WENT TO PAY….AND SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD GET AN ICE CREAM CONE TOO…… SHOOK MY HAND AND THANKED ME AGAIN..
I COULD HAVE MADE THE EXCUSE OF NOT HAVING IT…..BUT I DID HAVE IT.
HOW CAN I BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS…..
2ND EXCUSE …… MY WORK OR BUSYNESS MATTERS MORE……
19 Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out; please accept my regrets.’
AND THIS EXCUSE IS SIMILAR TO THE 1ST MAN EXCUSE
BUT IT ONLY SHOWS THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE MAN WHO BOUGHT SOME OXEN WITHOUT SEEING IF THEY WERE FIT FOR THE WORK…
HE WAS TOO BUSY WITH RUNNING HIS FARM TO STOP AND ATTEND THE BANQUET. HE WAS MORE CONCERNED WITH HIS BUSINESS THAN HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THE HOST.
EVERYTHING ELSE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HIS CONCERNS FOR HIS HOST.
HIS EXCUSE WAS PROBABLY A LIE THOUGH AS ANYBODY WHO BUYS OXEN WITHOUT FIRST TESTING THEM IS NOT THE SMARTEST.
THAT WHY WHEN YOU GO TO BUY A CAR…..THEY LET YOU TEST DRIVE……ASK QUESTIONS…….LOOK UNDER THE HOOD.
I WOULD BUT I HAVE SO MUCH ON MY PLATE. I’M JUST TOO BUSY WITH…THIS OR THAT….
PASTOR RICK WARREN ONCE SAID…….
“IF YOU’RE TOO BUSY FOR GOD, IT’S REAL SIMPLE: YOU’RE TOO BUSY, BECAUSE YOU’RE PUTTING EVERYTHING ELSE IN FRONT OF THE NUMBER ONE COMMANDMENT — LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND MIND AND STRENGTH.”
WE SHOULD FOCUS ON WHAT WE CAN DO TO SERVE GOD……… MATTHEW 6:33
BUT STRIVE FIRST FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD[A] AND HIS[B]RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU AS WELL.
THE 3RD EXCUSE – PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS MATTER MORE…..
20 Another said, ‘I have just been married, and therefore I cannot come.’
THE FIRST TWO EXCUSES SPOKE OF MATERIAL ITEMS AND WORK…..
BUT THIS EXCUSE THE MAN PUT ROMANCE …..BEFORE GOD
WHEN WE PUT OUR FAMILY ABOVE THE LORD, WE HAVE SAID, THAT THEY ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO US THAN THE SON OF GOD - THE ONE WHO DIED A HORRIBLE DEATH ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
I WOULD BUT MY WIFE…I WOULD BUT MY HUSBAND…I WOULD BUT MY CHILDREN…I WOULD BUT…
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS
THIS EXCUSE WARNS US THAT IF OUR MARRIAGES THAT NOT BUILT ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION
WE CAN BE HINDERED IN OUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
BUT I REMEMBER THE WORDS OF JOSHUA
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE ARE GOING TO SERVE THE LORD
WELL THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WHEN THE SLAVE ……CAME BACK TO THE MASTER
AND HE TOLD THE MASTER WHAT THE GUEST HAD SAID …..
THE OWNER……BECAME ANGRY
AND THE MASTER SENT THE SERVANT TO STREETS AND LANES OF THE TOWN…..TO BRING IN…..
THE POOR ………THOSE WHO HAVE NO PHYSICAL OR SPIRITUAL FOOD TO EAT
THE CRIPPLED/MAIMED-THOSE WHO ARE FEEBLE BY SIN
THE LAME AND THOSE WHO ARE CONFUSED ……. ABOUT RELIGION
AND THE BLIND-THOSE WHO LOST…..AND ARE IN NEED OF A SAVIOR
THE WORLD IS FULL OF PEOPLE THAT ARE HURTING……THAT ARE LOST…..THAT ARE SEEKING HOPE IN THEIR LIVES….
TURN TO …….ADDICTIONS….
ELABORATE
AND THE BIBLE SAYS THAT THE SLAVE CAME BACK …….
AND THE SLAVE SAID, ‘SIR, WHAT YOU ORDERED HAS BEEN DONE, AND THERE IS STILL ROOM.’
AND THE MASTER SAID GO OUT INTO THE ROADS AND LANES……..
AND COMPEL PEOPLE TO COME IN, SO THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED. 24 FOR I TELL YOU,[B] NONE OF THOSE WHO WERE INVITED WILL TASTE MY DINNER.’”
THESE WERE PLACES OUTSIDE OF TOWN……. THE GENTILES……
BUT I COME TO YOU THIS MORNING….
TO TELL YOU WE ALL NEED TO GET RID OF OUR EXCUSES
AND WHEN WE GET RID OF THE EXCUSES
OUR NEEDS WILL BE MET -AND OUR LIVES WILL BE CHANGED
OUR PROBLEMS WILL BE CHANGED….. AND WE WON’T LIVE LIFE PARALYZED …….
BARRIERS WILL BE SHATTERED …….AND DOORS WILL BE OPEN
AND I`M GLAD THAT 2000 PLUS YEARS AGO GOD KNEW THAT HUMANKIND WOULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EXCUSES
YOU SEE JESUS COULD HAVE MADE EXCUSES……ABOUT NOT WANTING TO LOSE HIS LIFE….TO SAVE OURS……. I’M SO GLAD JESUS DIDN’T SAY…… I DON’T WANT TO DO IT…….. I DON’T WANT TO GO TO THE CROSS…… I’M SO GLAD JESUS DIDN’T SAY……FATHER……JUST WIPE THEM ALL OUT LIKE YOU DID IN THE DAYS OF NOAH…..AND START OVER……..
I’M SO GLAD JESUS DIDN’T SAY…..I DON’T WANT THE PAIN OF THE NAILS IN MY HANDS AND FEET…….
BUT JESUS SAID….. “FATHER, IF YOU ARE WILLING, REMOVE THIS CUP FROM ME; YET, NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE.”
THAT’S WHAT WE SHOULD BE SAYING…….NOT MY WILL BUT LORD…..YOURS BE DONE……
I DON’T WANT TO SERVE YOU……..NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE…..
I DON’T WANT TO GIVE……….NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE…..
I DON’T WANT TO WORK IN THAT MINISTRY………..NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE….
I DON’T WANT TO SING……..NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE…..
I DON’T WANT TO COME TO CHURCH………NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE…..
I DON’T WANT TO READ THE WORD AND PRAY…….NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE….
I DON’T WANT TO LOVE MY NEIGHBOR……..NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE…..