“No Excuse”

Luke 14:15-24

·         Excuses are lies we tell ourselves to avoid dealing with unpleasant truths. 

·         I read that a person who really wants to do something finds a way; the other person will find an excuse.

A lady was swerving all over the road and driving very badly, so she got pulled over by a cop.

The cop walked up to her window and asked, "Miss, why are you driving so recklessly?"

The lady said, "I'm sorry sir, but wherever I go, there's always a tree in front of me and I can't seem to get away from it!" The cop looked at her and said, "Lady, that's your air freshener!"

·         Benjamin Franklin said, He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else. 

Excuses are usually made because we don't feel like doing something — we're accentuating the negative

Excuses are made for every and any reason… even spiritually reaping dire consequences throughout eternity

Parable – an earthly story with a heavenly meaning… portraying “A compelling invitation to come to Christ”

·         A little background to this parable… Jesus was at the feast of the chief Pharisee… very powerful

·         He was being watched carefully by all the guest v1… Jesus heals a man of dropsy (swelling/water)

·         “They had nothing to say”… dumbfounded… then Jesus noted how proud the guest were vs 7-14

·         Suddenly one of the Pharisees broke forth in joyful praise… a picture of the great Messianic Feast!

·         This Feast was to be given by God for His people when He sets up His kingdom on earth.

I.  The Preparation

Luke 14:15-16a ¹⁵ When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God." ¹⁶ Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet…”

·         Blessed, happy… the Pharisee saw himself & only the Jewish people invited to the great feast

·         Jesus begins to tell a story they can relate to with a deeper heavenly meaning…

·         The Lord IS preparing a tremendous homecoming for His children… great banquet… Jesus spoke in

·          

John 14:2 "In My Father's house are (know, certainty) many (lots) mansions (abiding places for living); if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Nkjv

·         This “place” is being prepared as we speak… an absolutely awesome dwelling place in heaven

·         Jesus is preparing a place for you… those who place their faith in Him…

Revelation 21:2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

·         The New Jerusalem, eternal city of God is where your mansion will be descends down /new earth

·         Capital city of the universe with an awesome banquet that God’s preparing

·         We cannot even imagine what eternity with our Lord will be like… spectacular in every way!

II. The Invitation

Luke 14:16b-17 ¹⁶ “…and invited many guests. ¹⁷ At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

·         We see the invitation of “many guests”…  The Lord invites many… inform about upcoming feast

·         Also notice the time arrived… “come, for everything is now ready”… Rev 4:1 “come up here”…

·         But note the many guest… even today, God calls all men to be saved… yet many reject His invitatin

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

·         God’s invitation is to all people everywhere… to the whole world… almost 7Billion people today

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

·         Another passage from Peter tells us God wants everyone (all, whole world) to repent & get saved

·         God’s invitation is broad & sweeping to every person ever born into this world… invited manyguest

III. The Excuses

Luke 14:18-20 ¹⁸ "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.' ¹⁹ "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.' ²⁰ "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'

·         They all began to make excuse… who are “they”?  The religious Pharisees, those who professed…

·         They are the many “professors” but in reality not “possessor”… they were the lost, the rejectors…

Excuses Given…

	To see a recently purchased field… too involved in business, activities, other things more important
	To try out recently purchased oxen… wrapped up in possessions, the many world material things
	To be with my recently married bride… too wrapped up with his family… God NOT 1st place

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

·         Man has the “witness” of creation/Word/Jesus/Holy Spirit/God consciousness… still reject

·         There is NO excuse that will stand on judgment day… men are without excuse

John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin.

·         Jesus spoke truth… the world/lost rejected God/truth… they have no excuse for their sin

·         If a cop arrests you for speeding… will he let you go if you didn’t know the speed limit? Ignorance?

·         The parable has a strong personal message to all men everywhere: men are saved by responding to God's invitation, and they are lost by making excuses.

·         They showed contempt for the great price paid for their salvation… “everything is now ready”…

·         Jesus paid the penalty for sin at Calvary with His own blood being shed… preparing a place…

·         God is planning a Great Supper where all who accept His invitation will be gathered together. Once the guest list is filled, time will be no more; all things will end.

·         The doors to His banquet hall will be closed forever… Many will be left behind to face judgment

IV. The Urgency

Luke 14:21-23 ²¹ "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.' ²² "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.' ²³ "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.

·         Now notice the urgency… “go out quickly”, “make/compel them to come in”… God’s will, full house

·         The religious Pharisee’s has rejected me… go out from the “acceptable” pious religious people… go to the sinners & tax collectors, the prostitutes, the drug users… turn to the poor, crippled, blind, lame in the city… “But there’s still more room”… go quickly outside the city into the country (gentiles)… roads/country lanes & compel them to come in… NOT by force BUT by the Gospel, persuasion and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 9:36-37 ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.

·         Harvest fields are huge yet where are all the workers?   People needing Christ… few making disciples

John 4:35 Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

·         NO EXCUSE… “Four months more, then the harvest”… people needs to be saved NOW…

·         Compel them to come in… faithful pray for them, invite them, and pursue them in a good way…

·         BUT, go out quickly… the banquet feast could begin anytime… time is running out…

·         People’s hearts are hungry, prepared, the lost/white fields ready to be harvested… go get-em!

·         Bring them in, compel them so my house will be full… reach as many people as you can for eternity

·         Come out to our fall festival & then to Friend Day… we’re going to hear about “Who is God?”

·         They might like Cross Creek… come back again… again… then say yes to Christ’s invitation…

V.  The Consequence

Luke 14:24 ²⁴ I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"

·         Look at the devastating consequence… Those invited (whole world) & rejected me… turned away

·         Notice the rejecters are excluded, what a tragic pronouncement… “Not one” will taste…

·         There is NO SECOND CHANCE after we pass from this life or after the Lord returns… contemplate…

Matthew 7:21-23 ²¹ "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

·         Jesus said at Judgment day there will be MANY who will say Lord, Lord… they have correct terminology… they were religious by preaching in the name of Jesus… casting demons out in the name of Jesus and also performing many miraculous miracles in the name of Jesus…

·         Jesus flat out tells these religious people – I NEVER KNEW YOU – they were never saved

·         Notice carefully they did not lose their salvation… and became lost.  BUT NEVER knew you…

Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

·         God sees every heart of every man… each of us here this morning… uncovered & laid bare

·         We stand naked before our maker to whom we must give account… NO EXCUSE will suffice

·         How are you spending your time?  NO EXCUSE!  What are you doing for Christ?  NO EXCUSE!

·         Am I making Disciples?  NO EXCUSE!  Am I living daily for Jesus?  NO EXCUSE!

Am I ready for the great banquet?  Do I know people who aren’t?

Make this your PRAYER… God, use me!  (To make a Difference in someone’s life)