STOP MAKING EXCUSES

Luke 14:16-24/ Prov 26:13

13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

Prov 26:13 (KJV)

Do you like getting invitations?
In our household, we have been inundated with invitations. It’s exciting. There are invitations to weddings, engagement parties, birthday parties and wedding anniversaries.

A millionaire decided to throw a big, fabulous, wonderful party, and invited all his friends. He carefully sent out invitations. The day of the party, he called up his friends and said, "Everything's all set, come on by!"

But everyone began to make excuses. The first said, "I'm buying a house and I need to get it inspected. Sorry, I can't come."

Another said, "I just bought a new car, and I need to test drive it. Sorry, I can't make it."

Another said, "I just got married and we're just too busy now. Sorry, I can't make it after all."

The millionaire got very angry. So now he sent out invitations to the entire city, inviting the street people and all the sick people from the hospitals. And still there was room at the party, so he hired people to bring in everyone they could off the street, so that his party would not go to waste.

And none of the people who were originally invited got to enjoy that party.

“-The Parable of the Great Banquet’- People were invited for a banquet but the invitee made an excuse.

ü The first one said “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. (Luke 14:18)- He made an excuse that he bought a land and he has to go and see it. How come “without seeing how can anyone buy a land- He made an excuse of a land. He was working on the success of his life.( Business & Carreer excuses)

ü The second persons said “And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. “ (vs 19) - He made an excuse that he bought oxen and how come without proving it he bought oxen -Livelihood is based on oxen.- value material things and the things of this world more than God ( Financial excuses)

ü The third person said - And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. (vs 20) - I am married so I cannot come. He could have brought along his wife. – His relationship with people above God. ( Family responsibility)

All of them made an excuse. I am not willing to change. The Devil cannot do anything unless you give him power and authority. The result of excuses is failure. You will fail!

Moses too made excuses which we find in Exodus 3:10>

1. Inadequacy: Look at my own inability. God knew that Moses had the ability to do it.

2. Insufficiency- Insufficiency to speak to people

3. Weakness; Excuses that he is too weak to lead people

4. Low self esteem

Stop making excuses. Excuses are an enemy to make change. If you are willing to make change then stop with excuses. Do something that you have in your hand and stop making excuses. The ten virgins were late in storing something ahead of time.

Let me share with you 7 excuses that could cause you to miss heaven

1. Everybody is doing it- Rom 12:2

2. Time have changed- Time have changed but the word of God haven’t

3. I don’t believe what you do- you still need to be born again

4. It does not matter as long as you are sincere- Faith must be in Jesus.

5. I don’t understand- I don’t understand the intricacy of electricity but I believe it.

6. I put it off later (procrastinate)- I am young but do it later; The Rich man and Lazarus

7. Just too bad- I am just too bad ( I Tim 1:15) we blame our past and make excuses

Stop make excuses! God is calling you to a banquet but we make excuses

Excuses are nothing but nails to build house of failure

A MAN AFTER THE HEART OF GOD!

Indian Idol is one of the most popular prime-time shows on Indian television. The Sony Entertainment Television (India) program is co produced with the makers of American Idol. The format is similar to American Idol and the British program Pop Idol. The premise of the show is to select India's best singer/performer.

In 2005, Sony Entertainment Television (India) audiences were introduced to a popular entertainment show. Since that time, the Indian Idol phenomenon has swept the nation.

Millions eagerly watch each season’s nationwide search process and await their opportunity to participate in the voting. The producers and judges sift through thousands of aspiring entertainers in audition sessions conducted around the country. It is an arduous process, and an extensive search.

As impressive as the scope of the Indian Idol talent search is, another ongoing search is both broader and more important. God Himself is constantly searching for a special kind of person.

2 Chronicles 16:9a (HCSB)

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to show

Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.

God is actively seeking godly men and godly women, whose heart is completely devoted to Him, men after His own hearts.

a. God desires partnership with godly men/ women.

b. The world desperately needs godly men/women

c. The fellowship needs godly men/women

d. Our family needs godly men/women.

About 10 yrs before David was born, God said to Saul, through Samuel the prophet. - "But now your kingdom shall not endure. The LORD has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."(1 Sam 13:14)

The word "seeking" often means desiring or wanting, not the actual act of seeking. For example, when I was single, people would often ask me, "What kind of girl are you looking for?" or "What kind of girl are you seeking?" Basically, they were asking, "What kind of girl do you desire?"

The “heart” is mentioned 743 times in the N.I.V. Bible, ‘Mind and thoughts’ are mentioned 198 times; ‘soul’ is mentioned 136 times; ‘strength’ is mentioned 180 times, ‘feelings’ are mentioned 4 times. The overwhelming is laid upon the heart.

The “heart” is the core of the human life. It is the command center, the ‘CEO’, the leader of all the other elements which make up the person. From our heart, we commit our will to some course of action or decide on some point of view. It is not emotions or thoughts, although they influence the heart. The heart is where we make decisions based upon our thoughts and emotions. The heart is also referred to as the human spirit, where we ‘sense’ things not perceived by our physical being. If a person were a ship, the heart is the captain with one hand upon the wheel and in the other, a guiding light for the way ahead.

What does it mean to be such a man after God’s heart, a man God seeks to find and bless?

J A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART POSSESSES THE VALUES AND PRIORITIES OFGOD.

We must be in tune with God’s heart. It is imperative that we share His values and His priorities. God demands that we share His values and priorities.

B Matthew 6:33 “ But seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”

B Philippians 2:5 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus”

B Colossians 3: 2 “ Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth”

J A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART PURSUES THE CHARACTER OF GOD.

The goal of the disciple is to become Christ-like. A man after God’s own heart will be actively working to develop Christ-like character in his life.

F Romans 12:2 “ And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect”

F Ephesians 1:4 “ Just as he chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love”

What are the characters of God look like in a disciple’s life?

F The Beatitudes ( Matt 5:3-12)

F The fruit of the Spirit ( Gal 5:22,23)

Illustration: If you set out to bake a delicious cake, you will locate the recipe and

place it in front of you. If you use the ingredients the recipe calls for, and follows

the instructions, you will end up with a delicious cake. But if you begin

substituting other ingredients that do not belong in a cake, you will end up with

an unappetizing result.

God has given us a recipe for a godly life, a life that is pleasing to Him. Are you seeking to cultivate a godly character that mirrors the character of God? Or are you substituting other ingredients in your life, things that do not belong in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ?

J A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART PRACTICES THE WILL OF GOD.

g The ultimate test of a godly life is obedience to God. Talk is cheap.

I Samuel 15:22 “…………… Behold to obey is better than sacrifice”

James 1:22 “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves”

g God’s definition of a man after His own heart involves obedience”

Acts 13:22-23

"After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.' "From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus,

Are you willing to give absolute obedience to God? Is your desire to do the will of God in you life? A man after God’s own heart will be consumed with a passion for obeying the will of God.

CONCLUSION

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to show Himself strong for those whose hearts are completely His.” (2 Chron. 16:9, HCSB) God is seeking men after His own heart. He longs to partner with men who possess His values and priorities, who pursue His character, and who practice His will. And He promises His help and blessings to those who are willing to do so.

Are you a man after God’s own heart? What is it that holds you back? Are there things of the flesh or the world that hold a valued place in your heart, rather than the things of God? Are there things in your character that have no place in a man of God? Are you afraid or unwilling to submit your life completely to God in obedience?

Lay aside those things that keep you from being completely devoted to God. Be the kind of man that God is searching for, a man after God’s own heart.

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Questions for Reflection/Discussion

1. What is your reaction to God's call to be a man after his heart? Do you think this is even possible? Why or why not?

2. Can you identify any obstacles in your life that can get in the way of your being a man after God's heart?

3. . Do you believe that being a man after God's heart is more than just trying harder or doing good deeds? Why or why not? What is the difference between doing a good thing versus doing a Godly thing?

4. . In our daily lives, what are some steps we can take that will help us to choose Godly things over non-Godly things?

“AGENTS OF TRANSFORMATION”

Transformation is a divine orchestrated process that God customizes according to His plans and purposes for our living.

Today every born again Christian is invited to be transformed into the image of Christ becoming a true ambassador for the Kingdom of God. (II Cor 3:18)

In a tiny Island of USA where ferocious slaves master had lots of slaves. No one could go there besides the slaves. The master was also antichristian and not outsiders were allowed to come. The Moravians had q vision and a burden for the slaves.

As they were praying two brothers from the mission volunteered to go there. In order to go there, they had to sell themselves as slaves. They boarded a small boat to take them to the Island. As the ship left the shore they uttered these words “May the Lamb have the reward of His sacrifice”. Perhaps they might not come back to be reunited with their loved ones- a deep and solemn sacrifice- They became an agent of transformation among the slaves.

As we enter the auspicious month of March where we remember the sacrificial death and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ- we see Jesus becoming the agents of transformation.

In His mission mandate He quoted from the Book of Isaiah 61:1-2

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me

Because He has anointed me

To preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

And recovery of sight for the blind,

To release the oppressed.

(Luke 4:18)

God is looking for people to be Agents of transformation- a sacrificing person, a person with a dream, a person wiling to take risk.

As we look around people are into slavery- Spiritual, financial, mental, emotional, physical etc

“It is not how long you live, but how well you spent this life”

C.T. Studd (WEC) – a cricket who left his glamorous career to be a missionary to India and China said and I quote

“If Christ be God and if He died for me, then no sacrifice is too great for me to make for Him”

The following is something to Ponder:

· If you wok e up this morning healthy………… you are most blessed than the millions who will not survive this week.

· If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the fear & loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pain of starvation- you are better off than 500 million people in the world.

· If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep …… you are more comfortable than 75% of the people in this world.

· If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ………. you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

· If you can read this…………. You are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

(This 2005 edition is copy-right free. You may reproduce it. Original version by Donella H.Meadows. More information at www.odt.org/pop.htm)

“If sometimes our poor people have had to die of starvation, it is not because God did not care for them, but because you and I didn’t give, were not instruments of love in the hands of God, to give them that bread, to give them that clothing….” (Mother Theresa)

We recognize that the Lord has entrusted the poor to his church and understands that every believer has been commanded to love and remember them, and provide for their needs both spiritually and physically. Therefore, we covenant to transform mindsets, integrate assets and synchronize initiatives to stabilize urban poor and develop rural communities.

We believe God is doing something new through the Body of Christ as we go forward into the 21st century. The Holy Spirit is leading us into fresh forms and fields of ministry. The rising generation is seeing the vision of God’s mission to the world and its place in that mission with new eyes. The call to be agents of transformation has never been more compelling and urgent. Our challenge is to claim all the resources of the Gospel for the task at hand and then to go forth in faith, hope and joy, witnessing to God’s love and compassion for all people.