Pastor Rev. Steven Wagner Telephone: 573-437-5190

Rt 3, Owensville MO. 65066

ONE TO MANY EXCUSES

Scripture: Luke 14:16-35

A. The world is full of excuses today.

a. We can't control our kids. (Because we don't discipline them)

b. We have to work all the time. (Because we buy to much)

c. My marriage is falling apart, my wife/husband won't go to church with me (How did you make your bed)

d. We don't have enough money. (are you paying your tithes, and offerings into Gods store house? are you working? are you buying things you shouldn't)

e. I just can't live for God, there is to much pressure, (separate your self from the world, you can't serve two masters)

B. We could go on and on with excuses because today everyone has excuses, nobody wants to have any responsibility today so we make excuses.

a. As a pastor I get tired of excuses, because excuses never get anything done.

b. But can you imagine how tired of excuses God gets.

c. This morning lets look at three excuses that can literally keep you out of heaven.

1. Jesus said this about excuses:

(Luke 14:16 KJV) Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:

(Luke 14:17 KJV) And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.

(Luke 14:18 KJV) And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.

C. This parable is actually talking about the marriage supper of the lamb, when all the saints of God will sit down in heaven with God and have a supper to celebrate the reunion of God and man.

a. It doesn't get any more important than this, there is nothing greater, or bigger this is the ultimate thing we could ever do but still there is excuses.

b. Lets look at these excuses.

a. "I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it "

b. This person is more interested in a piece of ground then he is in the kingdom of God. Can you even imagine any one being that stupid. Hello

c. Worldly cares had become more important to this person than all the blessings of heaven.

d. You know that there is people today that are trading all the blessings in the Kingdom of God for things on this world. Things they can gain from this world.

e. But I must take care of my family, I can't get involved with God or the Church I have responsibilities in this world. Lets look at what the Bible says about this.

(Mat 6:31 KJV) Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

(Mat 6:32 KJV) (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

(Mat 6:33 KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

f. In fact the Bible even takes it further:

(Mat 13:22 KJV) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

(Luke 21:34 KJV) And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

g. We can become so engulfed in this world that we lose what is most important to us and that is God.

h. As the scripture says (Mat 13:22 KJV) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. We even stop serving God because we have so many other things to do in this world and not in the world we should be worrying about Gods world in the Kingdom of God.

a. (Luke 14:19 KJV) And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.

b. A lot like worldly cares but a added component making money.

c. Some people when It comes to making money everything including God comes second.

d. I can't be a father because I have to make money, I can't do anything for God because my business must go on, I can't go to church because I am making money.

e. It's all in vain:

(Psa 39:6 KJV) Surely every man walketh in a vain show: surely they are disquieted in vain: he heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.

f. When your dead and gone someone else will enjoy your labors.

g. The bible tells us that only what's done for God will last. You know once your family is grown its to late to be that father you should of been, once your old and can't even walk its to late to do great exploits for God. Now is the time to do those things.

h. God expects us to work and support our family, but he also talks about trying to have more than we should:

(Eccl 5:12 KJV) The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.

(Luke 12:16 KJV) And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

(Luke 12:17 KJV) And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

(Luke 12:18 KJV) And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

(Luke 12:20 KJV) But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

A. God has prepared the great marriage supper for us but some people are just to caught up in there own business affairs to come:

(Mat 22:4 KJV) Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

(Mat 22:5 KJV) But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

a. (Luke 14:20 KJV) And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

b. People don't come to God because of other people and even worse there are people that won't serve God even when they know themselves they should because of a husband or wife or even children.

c. God makes a strong statement here in Luke 14:26

(Luke 14:26 KJV) If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

d. God is talking about choosing, if our family stands between us and God who will you choose?

e. God is saying that if you choose family over him then you can't be his disciple.

f. He's not saying we are not to love our families and take care of them, but we are to serve him whether they like it or not. Even if it means loosing them.

A. Sometimes we become engulfed in our own little family and what we are doing as a family, that we are so busy taking care of all the things that come up we never have time to serve God. You can have the most fantastic home, be involved with little league, boy scouts, 4H, band, etc. And never have time to spend with Jesus or spend working in the Kingdom of God.

a. I know what its like to have small kids and work for God, so don't tell me you can't don anything because of your kids or family.

b. Bible talks about a women that was so busy she was missing that greatest things Jesus.

(Luke 10:38 KJV) Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

(Luke 10:39 KJV) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

(Luke 10:40 KJV) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

(Luke 10:41 KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

(Luke 10:42 KJV) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

IV. Fourth Excuse (Refusing to carry the cross)

a. (Luke 14:27 KJV) And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

b. Caring the cross it the ultimate sell out to God, and with it comes many excuses.

c. But excuses won't cut it at the cross, either your in or your out.

1. Cost you your sin.

2. Cost you your worldliness

3. Cost you your self

(Luke 14:33 KJV) So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

e. BUT IF YOUR WILLING TO QUITE MAKING EXCUSES AND MAKE YOUR MIND TO SERVE THE LORD, YOU WILL BE IN THAT GREAT MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB, SITTING WITH JESUS CHRIST AND INJURING ALL THE BLESSINGS OF HEAVEN SOME DAY, WHICH BY FAR IS GREATER THAN ANYTHING THIS WORLD HAS TO OFFER.

f. DON'T SETTLE FOR A BOWL OF POTTAGE ON THIS EARTH WHEN YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE GREATEST THAT GOD HAS TO OFFER.

Closing:

a. There is a real danger with excuses they can keep you out of the kingdom of God.

b. They will cause you to loose out of your blessings and with God.

c. They don't get anything done for the kingdom of God, they don't save one soul they don't help out in the church they don't feed you spiritually there just excuses.

d. It cost to serve God and we have to make up our minds if we really want to serve him or make another excuse.

GOD IS ASKING YOU TODAY WILL YOU COME TO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?