DOUSE THE FLAME OF EXCUSES!
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
TEXT:
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Luke 14:18 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.
19. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I GO TO PROVE them,
I pray thee have me excused.
20. And another said, I have married a wife, and THEREFORE I CANNOT COME.
24. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of MY SUPPER!
THE POWER OF WORDS? CAN GOD? OR GOD CAN?
REAL VS IMAGINARY EXCUSES
Proverbs 22:13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Some excuses are not real nor are they valid. In Proverbs this young man lived in the middle of Jerusalem,
and could not go to work because a wild, roaring lion might tear him up and kill him. There were no lions
roaming around the city. There were people all around.
But this excuse was valid to the young man that offered it!
GOD CAN USE WHO HE CHOOSES, WHEN HE CHOOSES!
WHAT GOD DOES NOT KEEP YOU FROM, HE WILL KEEP YOU THROUGH!
The next time you feel like GOD can’t use you, just remember...
Adam said to God: THAT WOMAN THAT YOU GAVE ME ... Gen. 3:12
Cain kills his brother and asks God --- AM I MY BROTHER’S KEEPER?
Noah means REST. He worked hard many years and had a successful journey and when every thing settled down
he got drunk.
Abraham was an expert at telling half truths and not trusting God, besides that as God delayed the promise
Abraham got old.
Sarah laughed in her tent, she was way past the age of child birth. Sarah took things in her own hands and
gave a willing Abraham Hagar to be his wife. Sarah despised Hagar and her son.
Hagar was an Egyptian and would not submit. Abraham was 86 when Ishmael was born.
Ishmael was a WILD MAN, and had trouble getting along with others.
Isaac’s Dad Abe was 100 years old when Isaac was born. Isaac had trouble with his 1/2 brother Ishmael.
Isaac followed his Dad and told some 1/2 lies about his wife, because Isaac did not trust God’s Promises.
Isaac would imitate his Father’s weaknesses.
Jacob was known as the SUBPLANTER, he cheated and lied to his own Father.
Leah had weak eyes in a day before contacts and glasses, besides that she was homely to say the least.
Her husband did not want her.
Joseph had a large and very dysfunctional family. Joseph was a braggart and was not very humble.
You talk about sibling rivalry the family could not speak peaceably to each other. This was family was abuse.
MOSES EXPERIENCED THE BURNING BUSH, BUT THEN SELF DOUBT GROWS.
Exodus 4:10 And Moses said unto God, WHO AM I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring
forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?
Moses had a speech impediment of some type. Miriam and Aaron had a problem with
Zipporah, Moses’ wife. Moses in anger hit the rock when he should have just spoken to it.
Aaron made a golden calf and denied it by saying they put the gold in the fire and a calf walked out.
GIDEON IS VISITED BY AN ANGEL.
Judges 6: 12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto Gideon, and said unto him,
THE LORD IS WITH THEE, THOU MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR.
Judges 6:15 And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, where with shall I save Israel?
Behold MY FAMILY IS POOR IN MANASSEH, AND I AM THE LEAST IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE.
Gideon felt like he was a little nobody from a little worthless family. Gideon offers the only fleece in the Bible and
he does not believe his answered fleece and asks God to reverse the fleece and prove Himself again.
Then after all that, Gideon is still afraid and God has to reassure him the night before the battle.
Gideon heard the enemy’s dream then finally realizes God is with him.
Samson had a call of God on his family and his life. But he kept looking at the women...
JUST ONE MORE TIME GOD... Judges 16:28
Rahab’s middle name was THE, her last name was Harlot. She was a prostitute
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
Hannah had a very dysfunctional family, and her husband’s other wife and children made fun of her.
When Hannah was praying Eli the preacher thought she was drunk.
David did not go to battle, had a sexual affair and ordered one of his best soldiers to battle to die.
Elijah’s whole ministry had seasons of depression and there was a lady named Jezebel that did not understand Elijah’s
ministry and vowed to have Elijah killed!
Jonah took a boat ride the wrong direction, yet God still used him for revival. He ran from God
Naomi was a widow with no visible means of support. Yet, God would turn things around for her.
John the Baptist had little tact and diplomacy. John knew he had to decrease that Jesus might increase.
John was not the answer. John was politically incorrect, he stood loud and clear against the King’s sexual sin.
Peter was a big mouth. Peter had the nerve to rebuke Jesus. Peter grabbed a sword and cut a man’s ear off.
Peter cursed and then denied Christ.
Three Disciples fell asleep three times in one prayer meeting.
Martha is known as the worried housekeeper and she was a tattletale on Mary her sister.
The woman at the well was divorced four times, and she was just living with a man when she met Jesus.
Zaccheus was a tax collector and had cheated people. He was a short man and could not see above the crowd.
Paul had carried papers to have Christians killed and he held the coat of Stephen as they stoned him to death.
Paul was rejected and feared by many of the Christians of his days.
Acts 9:16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my names sake.
Timothy was a young kid preacher...
Now all these men and women had some kind of an excuse, but God still loved them and used them
to advance the Kingdom. God is looking for a few good men and a few good women to submit and
not offer any excuses but step up and ARISE TO THE DUTY THEY HAVE BEEN CALLED.
No more excuses now!
God can use you to your full potential.
WHEN YOU ARE DOWN TO NOTHING, GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING!
GREAT MESSES, MAKE GREAT MESSAGES! GREAT TEST MAKE GREAT TESTIMONIES!
WE ARE NOT THE MESSAGE, WE ARE CALLED OF GOD TO CARRY HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE TO
A LOST AND DYING GENERATION. YOU ARE A MISSIONARY --- YOU HAVE A MISSION IMPOSSIBLE ---
BUT GOD CAN THROUGH YOU.
God loves less than perfect people. God used them, God can use us. Quit offering excuses and come before
God and seek His face.
THERE ARE SEVERAL QUESTIONS OF CREDIBILITY ---
1. CAN GOD DO THIS?
2. WILL GOD DO THIS FOR ME?
3. WHEN WILL GOD DO THIS FOR ME?
IF NOT YOU --- THEN WHO?
IF NOT HERE --- THEN WHERE?
IF NOT NOW --- THEN WHEN?
Do what you can, where you can, when you can?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Can you help this preacher and pass this on to others?
