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April 30, 2015 7:36 pm
Good morning hello well just went on good morning everybody. Let's pray together. Father, we have just prayed we lift the cross live to the high lifted high. We raise our white flag. We surrender Lord, we mean that because we have come to know that your plan will it's better than ours and you love us, and you're always looking out for the long term transformation in our life you want to make us more like Jesus. You want to get us ready for heaven. So Lord, we pray that will happen today as we open your word. Give us an eternal perspective on all things, we would ask in Jesus name, amen. You can be seated all right were back in our God came near series which is a chronological look at the life and ministry and teachings of Christ from all four Gospels and today were in two passages I like you to turn to first of all, Matthew chapter 22 and Luke chapter 14 turn on the boat will be primarily anchored in Matthew 22 and will also refer to Luke 14. The title of my message is what's your excuse subtitle cat did it. I'll explain that in a moment heard a story about a minister that was walking on the street and he saw about 12 boys together, ages 10 to 12 and they were standing around a dog so the minister thought they might be thinking about hurting the dog in your approach. Limited boys what you doing to that dog. One of the boys and will not stir. We will love this dog and we all wanted to come home but only one of us can do it, so we figured whoever here told the biggest lie gets to take the dog home while the minister was outraged by such a thing. How dare you, that so wrong. Don't you know the Bible says line is it said, and he went on to give them a little sermon and then he said when I was a boy I never told a lie little boys look at each other for a moment says okay he gets a dog, guess what everybody has lie. Everybody lies more than they think they do quick Paul, how many of you have told a lie razor again while you are deceptive group of people know seriously. We all have maybe more often than we think we do this we learn how to deceive very early in life we learn how to deceive before we can even talk like the little baby discovers if I scream really loud right now. My parents will rush into the room. Even if there's nothing wrong and then it's all downhill from there.
As we get older we learn the fine art of excuse making and what is the difference between a lie and an excuse not much excuses been defined as the skin of a reason stuffed with the law or another definition of excuse. I really like an excuse is a lie dressed up for dinner at Sullivan excuses it's just a fancy lie and upgraded lie if you will, and it's what we offer what we don't want to do something in excuses what we say what we don't want to participate or we didn't get the job done. It's not a reason it's an excuse that we've use them throughout our lives and we've heard them throughout our lives. You know, in the homework not done, the kid says the dog ate my homework.
You didn't dog ever eat. Homework ever is there anyone here that actually got there homework ever eaten by a dog and I just I just like to know more about it, but maybe that happened maybe it didn't but that then there's the other one when you're late.
I'm sorry my alarm didn't go off.
Or how about this one.
It was just so much traffic. That's why I'm like yeah but you left late. You just leave that detail out the other was traffic but you left late effective line deception giving excuses have become far too common in our culture. Imagine how different our country would be if everybody suddenly started telling the truth about everything men it would be shocking for sure. Studies show that people lie along on their resumes. A study revealed that 71% will increase their tenure of previous jobs on their resume 64% will exaggerate their accomplishments. 60% will overstate the size of the department. They manage 53%. Site parcel degrees is full and 48% inflate salary history. A study done by USA Today revealed that one 12:45 third of all workers told lies about tardiness and absence. In an article revealed in each of his fibs about 50 times a day. Then there are those lies we just heard forever. They should be on the line haul of thing about this one. I'll be ready in a minute.
Let me ask who you think says that more men or women.
No, not man. Some it's a girl said in maybe your math and I've heard this so many times in our four granddaughters okay so this starts very young, tall about the outfit and everything working. It's about the assessor reason my wife is a copy ready in a minute. I know that is not literal, then shall sometimes take a little cold and I need to get a sweater off he let me go get the sweater.
Where is it because if she goes and gets a sweater were talking five minutes a whole new outfit's gonna come out again. Okay I'll be ready in a minute.
Just so you grow something I picking on you. There's another one. I'll do it in a minute� More guys or girls all you got take out the trash, clean out the garage while the dog out to in the minutes know you won't.
That's an excuse you're just putting it off.
Here's another one. Of course I'm listening really warrants you are texting or doing something else. There's another one say all the time.
Nothing's wrong is something wrong, nothing's wrong notes and the know nothings wrong yet something drunk.
Here's another lie.
That's a lot yes dear Duchess, Esther.
I'm not sure what part of that is a lie. Yes or deer or both. Here's otherwise that we may tell her we don't even realize it. You look great.
You know they don't look great. Don't be lying to them or you break up will still be good friends.
Probably not, or to your wife. You might say she means nothing to me about this lie hello I'm from your government and I'm here to help.
Then there are excuses.
We've all heard them at one time or another. George Washington said it's better to offer no excuse than a bad one. In most excuses are pretty bad. The first excuse I can think of probably uttered in human history was from our first parents in the garden called Eden adamantly placed there by God and was first eat him a little bit later and they ate of the forbidden fruit which Eve offered Adam and the Lord comes, it demands an explanation why they disobeyed them why they ate the fruit off the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And Adam offers the first recorded excuse in human history was not a reason there was an excuse. He said it's the woman you gave me.this is not my fault God take a nap. I wake up and she's here.
I miss in a rib mixing that I got forbidden fruit of my faith, I was the first here's the second excuse offered there was Eve. She said the serpent beguiled me updated translation. The devil made me do it right.
So we've done those, but I think one of my favorite excuses found in the Bible really a lie was actually told by Aaron in the book of Exodus.
You remember that Moses led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt and they were making their truck through the wilderness to the promised land, the Lord instructed Moses to go up to Mount Sinai to receive the commandments and so Moses left Aaron in charge.
Moses had been the spiritual leader aware and take care of things until I get back what some time elapses, and the people grow impatient is a where is this Moses that let us out of the land of Egypt and kind of a loose paraphrase.
We want to God. That's tangible that we can touch and see and hear just live an idea will get all your rings and your and your watches and your grills live in of girls back then we are. Bring me all your bling and affect, and I went to Milton any mills. All this gold and forms into the shape of a calf at the Golden calf and he elevates it were everyone can see these as worship that not doing a great job watching the kids. Meanwhile, open Mount Sinai. Here's Moses receiving the commandment written by the very finger of God not be dictated by a strange little boy. As depicted in the movie that came out I forgot the name of it. Weird movie about Moses I think was a title God's and something doesn't the exhibition. Scott got consent and I don't really care but anyway it was about depiction is in the movie is strange little boy representing God is giving direction to Moses what to write know that's not the way it happened.
God himself wrote with his own finger on those tablets and one of those commandments said you shall have no other gods before me. So as Moses is making his way down from Sinai commandments and hand he hears no lights judgments is minute think is a war going on down there as I get closer Moses is that that's not a war that's a party. Meanwhile back at the gym the Israelites have stripped off their clothes and their dancing naked in front of a golden calf, probably singing pretty good time, doing any name date and Josh is on the target mainly Moses walks down the demands an examination and there's Aaron. I know I know this looks bad, looks like were were subpoena falls garden having an orgy. Let me explain. We through the gold and the fire in this job just came out.
He actually said that. So what else could we do with strip over close and workable. I'm ridiculous but that's what and excuses.
It's really a lie. You know people aren't the only ones and offer excuses animals due to read an article in the paper about a really and assume this is true story named Coco and this is amazing this gorilla communicates through sign language, they can actually sign up with this gorilla, and that so they bought the gorilla a little pet companion little cat and one day the gorilla Coco got angry about something and rip the sink off the wall.
That's why you never want to get a gorilla matter. Okay, rip the sink off the wall so they came and they signed it. Coco why did you do that and Coco sign this fact.
This is absolutely true Coco signs back. Cat did it. 11 for the sum total of messages.
Cat did it in our little grandson Christopher is two years old and is a little Wonders run in her neighborhood pretty fat cat, fat cat, and the probably chowing down the mice in such an and is pretty friendly will come up to you when you call it, so we keep him a little bowl of milk to take to the He set it down and the cats lapping up the milk and oh Christopher so excited petting the cat when he drinks the milk and and and Christopher tried to sort of pick the cat up which is a great idea and the cat knocked the milk over so off the Went so a day later.
We said Christopher part of the milk get spilled and Christopher said cat did it. So it's the same thing as Coco. The gorilla, by the way, you can cry over spilled milk so just nevermind. Okay, so here's our story now in Matthew 22 what I talk about excuses because room read three big excuses that people offer.
They were invited to all Royal wedding feast. A party among party's a great honor to be invited to such a thing, but they would not attend and they offered the lamest excuses ever, but the big picture of this story is the kingdom of God the ultimate party if you will, the ultimate feast is offered to all of humanity and people hide behind the same three excuses that these people offered 2000 years ago so we can look first at Matthew 22 verse one. The kingdom of heaven. This is Jesus speaking as I get certain King who will arrange the marriage for a son, its servants to call those who are invited to the wedding and they were not willing to come. This is the key. They were not willing to come again, he sent out other servant same. Tell those who are invited to. I prepared my dinner. My oxidant fatted cattle are killed. All things are ready come to the wedding, but they made light of it and went their way.
One went to his own farm, another to his business and the rest seized his servants and treated them spitefully and chill them when the king heard about it. He was furious and he sent out his armies and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city, and then he said to his servants, the wedding is ready, but those were invited. They're not worthy.
So going to the highways, and as many as you find, invite them to the wedding so the servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all whom they found, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. There servers foretells as the king sent out his servants.
This was an epic event to be invited to this well wedding was the ultimate opportunity see this was a great honor. This was a celebration that would go on for weeks and you would be fed the finest food in the land made by the greatest chefs you would be entertained by amazing musicians and you would even calve close provided for you to attend the wedding so you would be dressed appropriately. I mean everything was there. All you had to do was say yes so was an honor to be invited back. In this culture, they would extend to invitations. The initial invitation and the follow-up invitation. These people could have cared less about this, but here's what makes it that initially they said yes and later they said no. In other words, they RSVP as we would say today Jan, but then when the date was announced as I can come and they offered up lame excuses. Now the problem is great expense was involved in this and so be invited to an event of this kind, and then not attend was really an insult but it was a joke to these people. Verse five says they made light of it and went their way of the Greek word for made light of means to be careless to neglect to not even chair and here's what their excuses were flip over to Luke 14 and will find them. Verse 18 to 20 years or excuses. One guy said he bought a field and want to do it's inspected so he wanted to be excused. Another said he bought five pair of oxen wanted to try them out.
Another said he had just been married so we couldn't come. These aren't even good lies what you talking about saving. Here's the bottom line. These men were thinking only of themselves.
Verse five Dr. Matthew says they like me light of it and went there way the first two excuses that are offered have to do with material possessions and the third with affections possessions and affections cover virtually every reason by which people say no to God. There's nothing wrong with having a career. There's nothing wrong with having a home is nothing wrong with having a family event.
Those are things that God can bless, but they should never become more important than God himself.
It's been said, quote the good is often the enemy of the best" in the same way. There are those that will not come to Christ, the lover up a plethora of excuses. Let's go back to these guys and what they said category number one verse 18 of Luke 14. He said I bonnet field and I want to inspected. Excuse me for this man possessions were more important than God possessions were more important than God. I want to feel no money go look at what are you an idiot you bought something without looking out of verse. Have you ever done that I have because I've ordered online. Interviewer ordered something online that you thought would be one thing and it was another altogether. I didn't order this would know you did order it but you were mistaken you see and I remember one of the little kid I used to read comic books and there was this one ad that was on a lot of comic books on the back cover it.
It was a ad for these World War II soldiers that you could order the offer was 200 World War II soldiers for a dollar 98 I save my money up. I want to hundred World War II soldiers. I envision these large figures and tanks.
I got them they were like the signs of ants. They were the smallest soldiers I'd ever seen. But there was another red that you probably seen. It was about see monkey ever see the sea monkeys and then a little drawing of a daddy and a mommy monkey and little baby monkeys and they had all these promises of what would happen if you just add water and its instant life. They said this little see monkey family will entertain you endlessly and you can even get the micro view oceans to and you could watch them and they had see monkey racetracks and they would compete that I met Kim, this is awesome. So I order them. You know they were the brine shrimp. It would brine shrimp are what you buy in the pet store to feed your fish are tiny little shrimp. I was not endlessly entertained. There were no see, monkey race is none of the things they promised happen. By the way, the micro ocean zoo just a plastic jar so was a ripoff look stupid yet to see something before you buy. I love the amazing descriptions that realtors come up with to describe homes ever had, that sounds one way negative and are you kidding you read the words retirement haven love. That's a 30-year-old sunbeam trailer retirement haven ocean view ocean view.
At this price you get there.
You're standing on the roof with a high-powered telescope.
There's an ocean view, this one steps to the beach. Steps from the beach. They just don't tell you it's 250,000 steps from the beach, you could drive there faster.
Here's another cute fixer-upper that's Apollo lumber with some plans may be thrown in. So this guy, I go look at the Pisa letter already, but that can't be true.
By the way, he was polite about it. Verse 18. He says excuse me and it's implied in the original language. Please excuse me.
You know there are people you will approach with the message of the gospel and the bully hostile so be angry though be argumentative and the being just a real pain to talk to and then you talk to other people and they are just so nice about it so we will conclude all man that person who yelled at me, who argued with me there so far from ever coming to Christ with his nice person there so pleasant about it. You think would you like to hear about Jesus Christ and they say yes, please don't easily share the gospel and then you say you not love you to come to church with me sometime. Would you overcome left really yeah so I picked you up.
You come to church with me absolutely, they give you her address below.
The next Sunday you knock on the door.
They haven't done anything near ready. Oh I forgot it's this in the am so sorry could we do it next Sunday okay you go back the next Sunday.
Hey ready.
I'm sorry I just want a piece of lemon to go look at it you start getting the idea their never coming.
Here's a little insight sometimes the people that are nice about it are further from the kingdom of God, and those that are hostile about see sometimes the people that are nice about it that they don't want to say no but they really are saying no, but the person who's hostile might be under the conviction of the Holy Spirit.
And that's why hostile you know there's an old saying, if you throw a rock into a pack of dogs. The one the parts allowed us is the one that got shipped and sometimes a person that's barking the loudest, if you will. That's arguing the most is the one that's closer to the kingdom of God than the person who is sweet and nice about it but never comes. But this first guy. He's being held back by possession and in his case it was real estate. A man's love for real estate is often an indication of his real estate before God over somebody else to be something else. The real estate it could be a car for another person. It could be a toy for another person to give the computer stuff for another person. It could be fill in blank here, it's just stuff. It's things there more important to you than God himself. And when they would if you get all that stuff.
Is it really bring happiness years ago I went to visit a home or a suicide. It taken place and is one of the most tragic scenes that ever witnessed it happen in a luxury home that this family really did have an ocean view and and as I was called to the home. The woman had a perfectly ordered home. I just notice how everything was in its place.
It was decorated perfectly. Everything was just right and tragically before she took her life see him Road suicide notes to every member of her family and then she died in her car, her luxury car in her garage, turning the engine on. She was asphyxiated and she died in the seed of this luxury car in this beautiful home overlooking the ocean. So I come to this family and I asked where the husband is or he's out ceiling on his yacht and the kids have all kinds of problems that some of you guys ever go to church yet we go on Christmas and Easter was so sad, but here are people that had put so many dream of. And yet there was this emptiness and this woman so miserable she wants to check out of life. Jesus says what is it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul. It's not wrong to have stuff but it is wrong when stuff has you and here's the thing will look at someone was a lot of things. A mosaic of that person. They are materialistic yet. Maybe they are.
But then you look at somebody else. He does know that much insight will they would never have a problem. No, it's not what you have it. It's what has you see the Bible says the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil which while some have coveted after, they have erred from the faith and they've pierced themselves through with many sorrows. That verse does not say is that the often quoted money is the root of all evil. What is it the love of money is the root of all evil, which while some of coveted after, they have erred from the faith.
They may not even have it yet, but all they think about is stuff that can keep a person from God that kept the first person from God, perfect illustration, the rich young ruler guy comes up to Jesus now to be a rule he had to be at least 30 but that he's young so is in his early 30s. He's very successful cruises up in this customized chariot was lowered custom wheels exhaust all deal dressed head to toe in designer clothing and all kinds of bling on them probably hold the latte. You know, cruises of hay Lord good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life. Jesus looks at this kid says all you need to keep the commandments and then he gives some of the commandments of young men to keep and and this young guy shoots back all these commandments I kept from my youth and then I love it because one gospel says Jesus looked at him and loved him.
That's interesting to me, it would've made more sense if we read Jesus looked at him and smacked him you liar you broke and am already talking about.
He loved him he's all right through the Skype hotel tell you what body take all your stuff solid give the money to port to the port and follow me know treasure in heaven called his bluff is this man was a loveless stuff and he went away sorrowful excuse number two career is more important than God back to Luke 1419 guy says I bought five pair of oxen I wanted to try them out. Who buys oxen without trying them out.
Would've one was laying what if they weren't healthy and be like buying a car without driving it first.
Would you be suspicious. I like this car ready to buy this card can I take it for a test drive. No, you cannot while you just just can't just buy the car give me the money sign on the dotted line overweight. I be suspicious. Test drive the car this guy. This obviously was not a reason. This too was an excuse look. People have to work back. The Bible says of him and doesn't work he should meet not only do people need to work but people need to work hard and you know what I think Christian should be the harder hardest workers of all the hardest workers because the Bible says whatever you do, you do it for the glory of God and as you work hard in your productivity. God is blessing you, that's a good thing. And then you can take those resources he's blessed you with and be faithful in your typing in your giving and you can use what God has blessed you with to impact lives around the world. It's a win-win situation but sometimes people become so obsessed with success. They forget about God and pretty soon they don't have time anymore for anything spiritual in this go to church go to work Sunday was going to maybe city go to work, then let's get up in the morning read the Bible go to work then wait your USENET is an excuse and now that thing that is a good thing is become a bad thing because it taken the place of the best thing in the most important thing finally excuse number three. Relationships are more important than God back to Luke 1420.
Another said he had just been married and he couldn't come like the sky now like I have a field have to go look at the I married my life is over. I can marry.
I'm dead to the world all if I went home and said to my wife. We just invited to dinner at the finest restaurant in California all-expenses-paid you ready to go a my wife would be happy she would be would say just a minute we got the meatloaf can weights right that's a good thing. So there's guys why pay just what Derek we been invited to a royal feast and will even give us a close to where let's go. No, I can't come. I have a wife that was a lie. But you know here's the truth is, sometimes people will let relationships get in their way with the relationship with God. Listen, if you're in a relationship right now with any person that would be jeopardized if you follow Jesus you need to rethink that relationship.
This is why a Christian should never marry a non-Christian because the Bible says what fellowship does light have with darkness or righteousness with unrighteousness so the Bible says don't be unequally yoked together with nonbelievers is they will know I'm in a bring them to the Lord. Maybe that does happen, but the more cases I've seen believers drug it down in relationships with nonbelievers, listen girls appear single.
Don't even think about a guy who's not a follower of Jesus Christ. I don't mean a token Christian look for a man of God.
That's what you want guys don't even consider a girl that doesn't love the Lord. Look for a virtuous woman because as time passes and yes, beauty fades shall be more precious to you and more beautiful to you and his qualities will become more impressive to you. That's what you need to look for.
My wife says I said this to her once and I don't remember it, go with her version. It's not very romantic but we were just going out together and Kathy says I said to her. Kathy wanted tell you something if you ever get in the mind in the way of my relationship with God you're here.
I said I said that she says yes you did. She said you know what I loved it said you loved it.
Oh yeah, she said I was always able to kind of manipulate guys credit control guys getting to do what I wanted to do and I thought, here's a guy that knows what he believes in God's more important to him than me. That's the kind of guy I want to marry okay and when I said it. Then my wife tells me I never officially proposed to her.
I remember this either. But instead of getting down on one knee, like a proper man proposing to a woman pulling out the little ring box and flipping it open and saying would you marry me. She says are having dinner and I said well I guess were going to get married right is that I really do that. She said yeah that's what you said that was the first time I realized Kathy speaking that you wanted to marry me well we been married 41 years and worked out. Don't try this at home. I am a professional Indians, professional idiot so relationships. This man back the let that happen to you. Let me say something to you girls who may be in a relationship with the nonbelieving man you married him. Now what will now hoarding to Scripture, you should try to win him to Christ. You should not leave the marriage as you try to win them over.
What about a man that says to you, you can no longer go to church and I don't want you to read the Bible and I don't want you to talk to our kids about Christ, you have to obey that answer no you don't, because the apostles and told him one occasion to no longer preach and they said we must obey God and not man God's established a structure in the marriage relationship and the man should be the spiritual leader of the home, but having said that the man would try to keep you away from your relationship with God.
You don't want to submit to that you want to keep yourself strong spiritually and you want to keep your kids strong spiritually to this is why I want to go to church on Sunday K Donnie by CMO we get back I made a little meal for you. Don't do it in a mean way you're going to church your taken the kids to church. You're not gonna let that drag you down spiritually. Some guys watching the webcast, Doug would curse you, Greg Laurie is drinking his beer Google Google don't let those things hold you back.
There's one final movement and were done in the story. Back in the Matthew version now. So now the wedding is starting the big feast is beginning and the king came to see the guests this is a big deal.
The king himself, he sees a man there who does not have on a wedding garment. This would imply that there was a similarity in the garments that were distributed to all of the people.
So here's one guy standing out like a sore thumb. He says one friend. Why did you come in here without a wedding garment. The guy was speechless.
Again, let me emphasize the garment was provided.
It's only getting one buying it, or even rent it to get it talk shop know it was given to you here you go just for you. Where this garment. The sky refused garment let everybody else grovel before the king called dress the way the address know what's right and so the king season. He stands out and there's a friendliness on the part of the king friend why didn't you take the garment that was provided for you. Really, it was an insult friend, why would you insult me. I'm the king. Why would you do the shooting. Have to come because allowing all the free stuff that so I can there. People like this with God.
Yeah I want forgiveness I want Kevin I want peace in my heart I will live the way that I will. I want to go to heaven but I want to live like hell that is in the work is gone is offered you a wedding garment. If you will, and what that means is he's offered you away and they haven't and there's only one way and a heaven and that is the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and if you'll turn from your sin and asked Jesus to be your Savior and Lord. You are welcome in to the greatest celebration of all time. What you say.
Well, I don't need Jesus Christ and I don't need this forgiveness.
I'll get into my own good works or whatever, you'll never make it in all, there was an offer and the offer was rejected. Do you think that God in heaven would've allowed to suffer his son to suffer and die on a cross. If all roads lead to heaven using God the father would send Jesus to atone for our sins to be murdered in cold blood after he had been flogged.
If I could get in the government through good works. The only reason Jesus had to go through all of that for me was because it was no other way to satisfy the righteous demands of God for me to reject this offer of forgiveness is an insult to God. Listen to this verse in the Bible.
Hebrews 1029. Think how much more terrible. The punishment will be for those who have trampled on the sun of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common, and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit. You may be nice about it. I'm a nice person and I try to do nice things and you I don't care about the death of Jesus his blood whenever I get through my own.
That's an insult to God. Let me take it a step further. You are in reaching the Holy Spirit like a slap in the face of God for you to think you can get there without the help of forgiveness of Jesus Christ.
So dispensing why did you reject this garment. Now I must reject you any turns the man away and the man is speechless. No smoke remarks no clever comebacks people offer their reasons why they don't come to Christ. But they're not reasons friend their lien excuses their lines dressed up for dinner. That's all they are is no good reason.
You know, when, where young or preoccupied were having fun with say well I'm too young to think about that. I'll think about what I'm really old like 30 and you hit your 30s and having well I'm really busy man. You know, my career is getting off the ground and got a mortgage now, and I married a kitten so I jump too busy.
I'll get to it later.
Then you get a little bit older like 50 and using well you and I don't know retirement states within striking distance, and you know what I'm really really old. Maybe I'll believe in Jesus and then you get 70 or maybe 80 or maybe even 85. Now you just think too old to change set my way. See, there's always an excuse home when I'm older voice to it now. This is the time to come to Jesus or might be some of you that have been allowing other things to keep you away from him and I'm saying nothing is more important than your relationship with God is utterly what if you going to call Gordon Klapper that go at you got a call from your doctor Monday morning God for bid and he said we run those tests. I need you to come in immediately and it will just sit you down and say a really bad news. You have one month to live all your priorities will change your career to nonissue your stuff. Nice to worry about who's going to get it when you're gone all those relationships also going to be over with.
Soon enough, that would be sort of an opportunity to get an eternal perspective, the big picture, here's my point. You baby. You'll never get that call. Maybe you will like you just send like that and if you keep putting this off. You will miss the greatest offer, it's better than a wedding feast, it's better than a party. It's an invitation to spend all eternity with God in heaven, and perfection, but you must come and accept his offer. Have you asked him to forgive you of your sin is your listening to me right now most of you are semester. Jeff was asleep in the front row just woke up.
Welcome back.
It's because you were snoring and furniture for the last five minutes that mother was very offensive.
I made all that up. I been preaching online. I just like for 12 second sister, but it was a joke. So it's okay.
That's another one. I was just kidding. Now I forgot what I was saying if you're listening to this right now and you're not sure that your life is right with God. If you're not certain that you go to heaven when you die if you don't know with complete confidence that your sin is forgiven respond of this opportunity as we close in prayer atop our heads. Father, thank you for loving us so much. You sent Jesus the Lord Jesus, thank you for coming and laying your life down for us on the cross you suffered you time for us and now you offer us your forgiveness. All we have to do is take it and receive the gift of God, which is eternal life through Jesus Christ help those who have never received it. Never taken it to do so now we ask what has about riser closing were praying. How many of you would say today I'm ready to accept God's forgiveness. I'm tired of hiding behind lame excuses I'm ready to say yes to Jesus Christ. I want my sin forgiven.
I want to know that when I die I'll go to heaven. I want my guild to get away. I'm ready to accept his offer. Pray for me.
I went Jesus Christ in my life affect your desire.
Wherever your city.
Would you raise your hand up and let me pray for you.
You want Jesus Christ to come in your life and forgive you raise your hand up appropriate God bless you. Anybody else raise your hand up Iraq and see it. God bless you. God bless you have it up on the balcony.
God bless you guys up there.
Bless all of you that are watching and the satellite site you raise your hand up. I don't see you but it doesn't matter. God sees you take your little step of faith. Raise your hand if you wanted forgiveness. Anybody else bless each one of you now what were still praying him and asked everyone of you that is, raise your hand if you would please I want you to stand your feet, lead you in a prayer of commitment or crutches. Stand up you razor can with me during that moment. Stand your feet stand up wherever you are. Stand up working to settle this right now were not put it off till tomorrow were doing it now you want to get right with God. You want your sin forgiven.
You want Christ to come of your life. Stand your feet wherever you are, stand up quickly number lead you in a prayer. God bless you, that are standing by the way, you won't be the only one standing. If you do because others are outside their in the amphitheater.
Stand your feet right now, lead you in this prayer on final moment stand now will pray together the bless all of you standing now as I pray I want you to pray this prayer out loud after me. This is where you are asking Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord, in your choosing to follow him again as I pray pray this out loud after me, you stand. You guys pray this now, Lord Jesus, I know I'm a sinner but I know that you're a Savior who died on the cross and shed his blood for my sin. I turn from my sin. Now I choose to follow you, Jesus. From this moment forward be my Savior be my Lord be my God, be my friend.
Thank you for loving me and accepting me in Jesus name I pray, amen. God bless you guys a pray that prayer