This morning I’m going to give yall an opportunity to exercise. Yeah, I’ll let yall change seats. This will be your only chance though. I just want to make sure that you are comfortable where you are.
Now for the reason why. I was led to pray over certain chairs here this morning before you came in. I feel God is really going to be working on some of you sitting in those seats this morning. I don’t even remember which seats they are, but He does.
So lets talk this morning about "Buts". We all have them, they are usually pretty big, though some may be bigger than most, but we all have them. Some are so big that others try to hide behind them. Some of us use them more than others, however they always end up getting in the way.
Are any of these buts familiar? But I can’t! But I’m too old! But I’m too young! But I don’t have an education! But I don’t have any money! But I’m in the wrong job! But I’m in bad health! But I’ve been through so much! But I don’t have anything to offer the church! But, but, But…My what big buts we have. Notice how they all start….But I!
God had a big but too, you know. His all started with But, God! This little phrase shows up sixty-six times in the Bible. Where as our buts are excuses, Gods buts are his response to Satan’s challenge. The world says no – “but God” says yes.
The world says can’t – “but God” says can. The world says won’t -- :but God” says will. The world says stop – “but God” says go. The world says don’t – “but God” says do. The world says defeat – “but God” says victory!
See the difference here. Our but is an excuse. An excuse not to do something. There’s a quote that puts it into a little perspective: the origin of every excuse is the failure to do something!
Deion "Prime Time" Sanders, former outfielder for the Atlanta Braves and cornerback for the Atlanta Falcons, is the only athlete to have hit a Major League home run and scored an NFL touchdown in the same week. Sanders grew up on the mean streets of Fort Myers, Fla., where exposure to some would-be athletes spurred him to make a success of himself. He explains: "I call them Idas. ’If I’da done this, I’d be making three million today...If I’da practiced a little harder, I’d be a superstar.’ They were as fast as me when they were kids, but instead of working for their dreams they chose drugs and a life of street corners. When I was young, I had practice; my friends who didn’t went straight to the streets and never left. That moment after school is the moment we need to grab. We don’t need any more Idas!
You need to realize that Ida is who you’ll become if you don’t get rid of your buts! But comes from the Old English word butan which means without. Its so funny that the people who are self-proclaimed holy, saved, and sanctified; The ones who can stand up in Bible study and tell you how strong in the Lord they are! Then when you ask them to do something: lets go feet on the street and evangelize! I need you to emcee this program for me. Their response is “I would but!” If you so holy, saved, and sanctified, you’d know Psalm 23:1 that says “the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want!” I shall not want means I shall not be without! I shall not be without means I ain’t got no business with a but! What could you possibly be without if you got God?
In our text, a certain man made a great supper and invited many guests. I need to explain to you that back then it was customary to send out two invitations. The first one announced the event and the second one told the invited guests that it was ready. When the certain man sent his servant around to remind the guests that the supper was ready, the Bible says they consented and began to make excuses. They all found out some pretence or other to shift off their attendance.
Two were purchasers. One had bought a piece of ground, which was presented to him to be a good bargain, and he had to go and see whether it was good or not. He had a business but. You can become too involved with business operations. I understand you have to make a living. I do too! But when your job takes away from Jesus you’ve got problems! When you can’t make it to church because you have to work on Sunday, even though God said remember the Sabbath to keep it holy, you’ve got problems! A person’s business or profession must not be allowed to consume one’s life. God is to be the center of your life!
The second purchaser said he bought some oxen and needed to see them for himself. He had a material possessions but. I want to caution you about being so concerned with your material purchases that you can’t praise God. Whatever you just bought is gon be there for you to play with or put on when you get home! This is an awful excuse! I wish somebody would defer going to work one day and call in and tell your boss “I had to make sure my car was good!” “I needed to make sure my clothes were still looking nice!” But what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his own soul? All your bling bling don’t mean a thing when you’re dead! But if you take the time to get connected with Jesus while you’re alive when you die, you’ll get a great inheritance! A joint heir to the throne of God who owns the earth and the fullness thereof!
Finally, the third invitee was recently married. His was the my family but, perhaps the most trifelin but of them all. The host will not invite him to a men’s only party. He would be delighted to see the blushing bride also. He knew there would be a celebration after the wedding. After the celebration, there would be a honeymoon. But no, he sent a rude return. He wasn’t about to miss his pleasure. This man reminds us of those who are so immersed in domestic affairs controlling so much of their lives. I caution those of you who can’t praise God because of your loved ones! Whenever somebody gets in the way of you praising God its time for them to go! For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!
Its going to click here in a minute that all these excuses had to do with needing to go check on something. I have to check on my business, my purchases, my family. If you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, you won’t need to check on nothin! God will keep watch over it and it won’t be harmed! Don’t you know a watched pot never boils? If you constantly have to watch your stuff, it can’t grow! You can’t make any gains that way! But when I turn it all over to Jesus, he can work it out! Little becomes much when you place it in this man’s hands!
You can’t grown nothin when you walk around all paranoid! Always afraid of whats happening and not happening to your stuff! If you’d just lay aside every weight! That’s anything that takes your eye of God! Lay it all aside, let him handle it! And then you can run with patience! Not anxiety but patience! Ease of mind!
We use too many excuses! I can’t go to church because I’m too tired. I partied too hard last night. The service is too long. The preacher is too longwinded. The choir sings off key. Ain’t nothin but fake people in the church. Any old excuse will do!
What is your excuse for not accepting and or not doing the will of God? Why do you neglect your duty? What if God used excuses, where would we be? I can’t heal you right now I have to go check on the stars I put in the sky. I can’t bless you indeed and enlarge your territory, I have to make sure the birds can still stand on powerlines without electrocuting themselves! I hear you calling my name but the angels are singing my song right now, you gon have to wait! Don’t you know I rest on Sunday? I can’t do nothing about your overdue rent! You keep casting all your cares up on me; don’t you know I have a world in my hands? It gets heavy you know? I would bless you more but you don’t praise me enough! You tell me you can’t lift up your hands but I seem to recall giving you activity of your limbs! I asked you for the tithe and all you give me is one wrinkled dollar! You tell me that’s all you got but you forget I see all and know all! I saw you go buy that Jaguar last week! I saw you go into Kenneth Cole the other day! I saw you put your diamonds on this morning! Need I remind you where your blessings come from? Give me any old excuse! Any old excuse will do!
When we think of God’s love in terms of the many blessings we take for granted, why do we neglect our duty to fulfill the mission of the church? In Acts 2:43-47, we find seven marks of the early church: First, the members devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching of the doctrine of the church. Through the hearing and the studying of God’s Word, they were able to learn of Jesus and be more effective witnesses. We know there’s illiteracy in the world today. Yes, its true that little Bobby and little Suzy can’t read, but its also true that little Bobby and little Suzy can’t find certain books of the Bible. Don’t let this be or make this your excuse! Get involved in Sunday school and Bible study! Learn your Bible!
Second, they continued in fellowship by staying together as much as possible. They liked each others’ company and found strength, encouragement, joy and inspiration from each other. Too many of us only come to church on Sunday morning when our own auxiliary is on the program! I don’t have to go cause my choir ain’t singin today! I’m ghost if my usher board ain’t ushering! Any old excuse will do!
Third, whenever they met for study, fellowship, and prayer, they could always eat together. Some of us have every little excuse for not staying after morning service to eat and fellowship! My greens are better! They don’t put enough sugar in the lemonade! She didn’t compliment my hat today! Any old excuse will do!
Fourth, they believed in group, as well as private prayer. They knew there was unity in prayer, and they would be connected to the source of strength they needed to met the everyday problems of life. We want our students to act right but we make excuses about why we can’t go up to the school and pray with them and for them! I just dare somebody that before you write up your referral, you quote some scriptures and lay hands!
Fifth, they had a fear of god. The reverence they had prevented them from making excuses. They had respect for God, love for God, and recognized that God was present in this world and everywhere they went for that matter. We take advantage of God’s blessings and don’t praise him enough! What’s your excuse for not praising God in the little things? Your late for your appointment and that light stays yellow just a second longer than usual so you go through! You oughta bust out in a praise! You’re in the express line with 10 items, and only a twenty dollar bill and the total plus tax comes to $19.99 that’s time to shout! You go to the bank or the credit union expecting a negative balance and its positive-that’s a reason to shout! Right then and there! I don’t care who sees me! But some of yall any old excuse will do!
Sixth, they shared. They did not keep anything good, material, or spiritual to themselves. They shared the proceeds with their brothers and sisters, according to their needs. Oh I know you didn’t just walk into a high-falutin store like Marshall Fields and pass that man ringing that bell holding that bucket! Any old excuse will do!
Finally, they worshipped God in spirit and in truth. They made everything they possessed give the glory to God. They were consistent, happy, united, courageous, and dynamic in their worship. Their lives were a living testimony to what they worshipped!
One gets out of something what one puts into it. Garbage in equals garbage out! Heat in equals heat out! My soul in to my worship equals my soul saved out of my worship! God commands us to go into the vineyard and work, not warm a pew while we wait for others to do our jobs for us. He’s so much better than I am at singing, let him lead devotion. Didn’t nobody ask you for a Grammy worthy rendition! Just sing the song in the spirit! God would rather someone not perform anyway but instead that they demonstrate their faith in him by giving him complete control of their body! Save your excuses! Let go and let God!
Sometimes we doubt our abilities, and make excuses. The Lord will make away somehow! When God told Moses to go to Egypt, Moses made an excuse. “I’m not a spokesman.” Let me tell you that if God asks you where you’re goin, don’t tell him where you’ve been! He will prepare you for whatever he wants you to do! He’ll help you reach your destination! He’ll help you complete the task! He’ll give you whatever is needed to do his will!
Please understand that buts and excuses don’t get the job done! The Hebrew boys could have bowed before the golden image with the excuse “we’re friends of the king.” Daniel could have excuse himself from kneeling in prayer with the excuse “I’m a dream interpreter and a great man in the kingdom.” David could have stayed out of grown folk business and left the Giant alone! Job could have used all his afflictions as an excuse to stop serving God! Hosea could have stood firm on his morals and treated Gomer like the trash she was! Annanias could have used fear to keep him from helping Saul the persecutor!
I’m glad my Savior didn’t have any buts!
I’m glad that when God said leave the luxuries of Heaven and go into a sinsick world, he didn’t say but Jesus could have used the excuse of not having a medicine kit instead of healing the sick!
He could have used an excuse on the cross!
