Praise and Gratitude
All praise, honor, and glory given to God.Acknowledging dependence on God for everything.Example: “Without God, I couldn’t do nothing.”Dealing with Worldly Cares
Not worrying about the cares of the world.Example: “I ain’t worried about the cares of this world… I ain’t going to take it with me and you ain’t going to take it with you.”Message Focus: Commitment to God
The message focuses on committing to God without excuses.The devil tries to create excuses to avoid church and reading the Bible.Story of Mike: A Committed Church Member
Mike, a church member, passed away last Wednesday.He suffered from chronic pain in his feet, legs, and back.Initially came to church hunched over.Played the guitar and loved talking about the Lord.His condition worsened, making it impossible to stand.Needed help with cleaning and bathing.Despite the pain, Mike never complained.He would say, “Oh, God,” but never complained.Even in severe pain, he talked about the Lord and praised God.His complexion changed, and he would say, “Praise God.”He expressed a desire to attend church despite his condition.Asked for prayers to get well enough to go to church.Visited him the day before he died; he was unresponsive.Showed a slight flinch when prayed for, indicating awareness.Mike’s commitment was inspiring.He would come to church in a wheelchair, praising God.Personal Reflection on Commitment
Tired of making excuses.Acknowledges working long hours and feeling tired.Preachers need to stay up, study, visit, and preach.Doing it out of love and without begrudging it.Value of Faith
Faith is the most valuable thing, besides family.Wife, grandkids, and sons.The world means nothing compared to God.Not caring about worldly threats.Example: “I don’t care if they send a bomb over here tonight. I know where I’m going.”Personal Improvement
Acknowledges having room for personal improvement.The message hit hard and prompted self-reflection.Luke 14:16-24: The Parable of the Great Supper
A man gave a great supper and invited many.Those invited made excuses for not coming.Bought a piece of ground and needed to see it.Bought five yoke of oxen and needed to prove them.Married a wife and therefore could not come.The master, angry, instructed his servant to bring in the poor, maimed, halt, and blind.These were the outcasts.There was still room, so the servant was told to compel others to come in.Those who were initially invited will not taste the supper.The scripture is interpreted as an offer of salvation being rejected due to excuses.Excuses and Neglecting Salvation
People make excuses for not coming to church.Example: “Good weather sets the lines in your face and they’ll come up with every excuse in the world.”Need to quit making excuses and just do.Falling asleep while reading the Bible is an excuse.The devil stirs up excuses.Telling you, “it’s alright,” but it is not.Wanting to be committed to God, not the world.Trusting in God’s Provision
Not worrying about losing a job.God will provide.God will supply needs.Worrying about tomorrow is pointless.Tomorrow may not come.Examples of Excuses in the Bible
Moses made excuses, saying he couldn’t talk plainly.God provided Aaron to help him.People worry about worldly things instead of Jesus’ return.Personal Salvation Experience
Knowing what happened the night of salvation.Conviction by the Holy Spirit.Had excuses for four years before going to church.Didn’t understand the preaching initially because the heart wasn’t convicted.When convicted, got scared, and it became real.Excuses stopped.Believes that neglecting the final chance would have been a mistake.People neglect salvation by pushing it aside.Attitude of Christians
Some Christians look miserable and sad.They have the greatest thing, salvation, but are unhappy.Need to be committed to God.Stop foolishness and separate from the world.God doesn’t care about worldly possessions.He cares if the blood has been applied and if one has a contrite spirit.God is ready to save those with a contrite spirit.Personal Transformation
Transformed from disliking people and self to loving God.Raised by a hard mother, but she got it right before she died.Committed to getting right with God.Took 38 years to commit to God due to liking worldly things.These men in the scripture came up with excuses for not getting salvation.God was offering a spiritual meal to save their souls.Jesus died for the soul, which will live in heaven or hell.Sharing Faith
A man at work asked about coming to church.The man was a “ghostbuster” and didn’t believe in a God who allows children to get hurt.Explained the curse on the world and free will.Evil targets the vulnerable, like baby animals.Some sick children will be healed, and those who aren’t will be in glory.All could be in glory if they opened their hearts.People don’t want to commit because they think they have to quit certain things.Didn’t quit anything, just changed the way of doing things.Gained a new church family.Family and Commitment
Always longed for a family.Son got saved and committed to God in November.Granddaughter committed to God two weeks before him.Another granddaughter wants to get baptized but isn’t ready yet.She is afraid of dying and going to hell.God knows her heart and will call her when it’s time.Grown people are not committed to God.If not committed, one will die and go to hell.Personal Struggles and Commitment
Tired of the devil coming at me.Struggles with road rage.Sees people distracted while driving and worries.Acknowledges having issues.The devil never bothered me until I got saved.The calling to preach made it worse.Need to get more committed and remove excuses.Ask God what to do instead of telling Him what He has done.God is looking for good men and women to harvest the fields.When committed, God will put you where He wants you.Ask the Lord how to start and He will show you.Made the decision to get committed to God when saved.Failed, come short, slacked, and slung.Overcoming Weakness
Tiredness prevents reading the Bible.Keeps scripture in mind all day.Ponders on it and gets back into the Word.Excuses of being tired and weak.This is going to stop.Made up mind to live for the Lord and improve commitment.Pointing at self, not others.Everyone can do a little better.Not worried about the world or its pain.When told to go home from work, doesn’t argue.Has something else to do.Agrees with Valerie about the chaos in the world.Praying for the “ghostbuster” at work to open his heart to God.Was stubborn for four years, turning God away.Convicted one last time and believes turning away then would have been final.Told God she wouldn’t turn away again if allowed to come back.Tired of excuses and the devil’s interference.These men neglected salvation due to excuses.This is serious; there is healing and evil.Until committed, one will be miserable.Those who were bidden but didn’t come will not taste the supper.They neglected salvation.People neglect salvation every day in church.God knows when one does wrong.Repents when failing and coming short of God’s glory.If hard-hearted, one would forget about it due to lack of commitment.Wrongdoing bothers until repentance.Not trying to get others to come, but doing what God says.Going to get on the altar and make sure things are right with God.Room for improvement and wants to improve for God, not for show.Willing to stand for God, even if the world is burning down.Needs God’s help and will ask for it.
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