Excuse Me?

September 15, 2013

Misc Sermon

Excuses Me?

Luke 14:15-24

(Advance Slide 1)

Introduction

John L. Swigert, Jr. was last minute substitution to the the Apollo 13 mission who went to the moon in 1970. 

• On the second day of Apollo 13, April 12, I asked Mission Control to begin work to get me an extension of the filing date for his income taxes. 
• • Since he had been a last-minute substitution things had moved so fast he simply forgot about it. 
• The IRS didn't have to make a special ruling to grant Swigert a two-month extension because of his I'm-on-my-way-to-the-moon excuse. 
• • There was already a regulation that provided an automatic extension for anyone out of the country.

We all use them; we have one for every occasion; we might even have favorite ones.

• What are they…EXCUSES!
• What excuses are you using and why?

This morning we are going to briefly look at the parable found in Luke 14 and ask two questions:

(Advance Slide 2)

1. Has God ever accepted excuses?
2. Will He accept ours?

Text

(Advance Slide 3)

¹⁶ But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. ¹⁷ And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ ¹⁸ But they all alike began to make excuses…Luke 14:16-18a

The scene here is not very different from a gathering we might plan today.

(Advance Slide 4)

• Each guest has been given and knows the exact time that they are to present themselves.
• • They had agreed to this…yet THEY REFUSED!
  • • On top of that they offered weak excuses about the change of their plans.

(Advance Text on Slide 4 x3)

• I bought a field and need to go see it.
• I bought 5 yoke of oxen and need to examine them.
• I have married a wife and I cannot be there.

• • "A person good at excuses is not usually good at anything else" - unknown
• And the nerve of those guests…they actually expected another invitation!
• • The real reason for their absence was that they were not ready.

(Advance Slide 5)

But this meal was not going to be wasted.

• "Servant, Go and bring all the outcasts"…
• • "Master, we've done that and there is still room."
  • "Then go to highways and hedges."
• The original guest lost their invitation…the door was shut on them.

(Advance Slide 6)

• "none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.” vs. 24 

Lesson

(Advance Slide 8)

Has God Accepted Excuses in the Past?

(Advance Text on Slide 8)

Adam and Eve - were given a law to not eat of a certain tree, but they did

• The transgressed against God's command.
• • They tried to offer excuses, but He did not accept them.
  • They had rejected His word, and in return He rejected them.

(Advance Text on Slide 8)

The people of the Noah - the world was filled with wicked.

• Man sought to do nothing but evil…they had rejected the word of God.
• • They were destroyed, and He did not excuse them for their actions.

(Advance Text on Slide 8)

The people of Sodom - were also filled with wickedness.

• Lot and his family had not turned from God.
• Like those of the time of Noah, they were destroyed.
• • Once again, He did not excuse them for their wickedness.

(Advance Text on Slide 8)

King Saul - was commanded to destroy the Amalekites and all their stock.

• He failed to strictly obey God.
• • He tried to make excuses for himself for not obeying the word of the Lord.
  • No matter how hard he tried he was not able to form an excuse that God would accept.

(Advance Slide 9)

Will God Accept Our Excuses?

If God did accept the excuses of these, we need to ask this question, "Will He accept our excuses?"

• Given the evidence that we see in each of these how can we think that He will accept them?
• • In fact, when I search scripture I find that the only position to be in is one of earnest obedience to the Word of God.
• When we have the opportunity to know God and fail to do so there IS NO EXCUSE.

(Advance Slide 10)

• ¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20

Conclusion

I found this list on-line, it is called the top 10 list of excuses:

     1. I forgot.

     2. No one told me to go ahead.      

     3. I didn't think it was that important.

     4. Wait until the boss comes back and ask him. 

     5. I didn't know you were in a hurry for it. 

     6. That's the way we've always done it. 

     7. That's not in my department. 

     8. How was I to know this was different? 

     9. I'm waiting for an O.K. 

     10. That's his job--not mine.

(Advance Slide 11)

God has provided a way for everyone to be saved.

• Jesus is that way…He died for us.
• God requires that all men be taught about this Way
• It also requires all men to obey this gospel message!

(Advance Slide 12)

God has provided a way for us to live…a standard above any other.

• God requires that all men live according to His Way.
• It also requires that all men obey His commands.

God will not accept excuses of those intelligent enough to obey but do not!

• In the parable they first guests were not given another chance.

(Advance Slide 13)