Alright, well, it's great to be back here. First of all, thank you. Pastor Shelley's always for sending me down here
I had a lot of fun last week shooting machine guns eating red steak
I mean what is better and more Baptist than that? That was awesome. So great to be back here again
We're here in Romans chapter 1 and it's not for the reason you think you go to Romans chapter 1 everyone's like, oh, here we go
It's not a my sermon not what you think go to verse number 20
verse number 20 the Bible reads
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen being understood by the things that are made
Even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without
Excuse and the title my sermon is God does not accept excuses
We see a group of people in Romans chapter 1 that God says they are without excuse
Any excuse that they would bring to him is not going to be accepted by God and go to Romans chapter 3
I'll read for you Proverbs 21 verse 2 the Bible says every way of a man is right in his own eyes
But the Lord pondereth the hearts everything that mankind does we all think what we do is right naturally
Everyone thinks that the way that they're living is right
Everyone thinks that the way that they believe is right, especially here in Texas
You knock on the door and they all know that they're going to heaven
But is that really the case when you start asking what they believe?
No, a lot of times they believe the wrong things, but every way of man is right in his own eyes
But the Lord ponder at the hearts, you know, the Bible does tell us what the heart of man is like
I'll read for you Jeremiah 17 9 the Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked
Who can know it the Bible tells us that man's heart is wicked yet everything that man does he thinks that he's right
He thinks that his ways are right
You're there in Romans chapter 3 and the Bible tells us what the world in general is like is
Every way of man actually right look at verse number 10
As it is written there's none righteous. No, not one. There is none that understand it
There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way. They are together become unprofitable
There is none that doeth good. No, not one their throat is an open sepulcher with their tongues
They have used deceit the poison of asps is under their lips whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness
Their feet are swift to shed blood
Destruction and misery are in their ways and the way of peace. Have they not known there is no fear of God before their eyes
Does that sound like a very godly group of people?
No, but that is how the Bible describes the world at large
Wicked feet, you know swift to shed blood just mouthful of cursing and bitterness, you know mankind is wicked
Mankind is sinners and even though the way of our own eyes is right in our own mind
That's not actually the case
The fact is that we're without excuse today go back to Romans chapter 1 and number 1
I want to lay down this foundation that God does not accept the excuses of the unsaved
Number 1 God does not accept the excuses of the unsaved. Let's look at verse 18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold the truth and unrighteousness
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them for God hath showed it unto them
So we see here in Romans 1 18 that we have a group of people that God is very angry with in fact
The Bible uses the word wrath
That reminds me of John 336 where the Bible says he that believeth on the Sun hath everlasting life
And he that believeth not the Sun shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him
God is angry today at the fact that people are unsaved. He's angry at them
Why is God angry at them? Look at verse 19 because that which may be known of God is
Manifest in them for God hath showed it unto them
He's angry because God has revealed himself to all of his creation
Why don't you believe in him that which may be known of God is manifest in us?
Why because God hath showed it unto us?
So God has every right to be angry at people that would deny him at people that would not believe in him because he's like
Hey, I made it manifest to you guys. I've put it in you to you guys who I am
Look at verse 20 for because the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen
Being understood by the things that are made even his eternal power and Godhead so that they are without
Excuse he's saying hey, you're without excuse for not believing in me because that which may be known of God is manifest in you
I showed it to you and the invisible things of the creation of the world
Should be able to clearly show you that there's a God and the Bible says there's two things that we could understand by creation
Itself it says his eternal power and Godhead
Anyone could look at creation and realize wow someone really powerful made this and it's God
Every single person in the universe can get that just by looking outside
So it's it's absolutely unexcusable. You have no excuse not to believe in God. He says they are without excuse
It doesn't matter what kind of excuse they want to bring to God of why they don't believe in him
That excuse is not going to be accepted by God. I'll read for you Psalms 19 1
The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork
When you look outside at the heaven it declares God's glory
You can tell that there is a creator just by looking outside at the creation and you know creation is not enough to get someone
Saved but creation is enough to show someone that there is a God and the thing is the Bible says that this has been revealed
to every single person
every single person has known this everybody has the five senses and can observe this world in this universe and tell that it was
Created go to Matthew chapter 7
Matthew chapter 7
Matthew chapter number 7
And let's start reading in verse number 7
The Bible says ask and it shall be given you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened
unto you for everyone that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh findeth into him that knocketh it
Shall be open, you know
I believe that every single person in this world that is seeking truth and that asks God for truth is going to find it
Jesus said you will find it and notice he says if you knock it'll be opened unto you
Well, I want to read for you John
10 verse 9
Jesus said I am the door
For by me if any man enter in he shall be saved and shall go in and go out and find
Pastor hey, if you knock on that door of salvation, you're gonna be saved every single person
Hey, no one's without excuse if you are seeking the truth. God makes a promise that you will find it
I believe that no matter where you are in this world if you're in the most remote place, I believe that if you genuinely
Sincerely want to seek the truth of God that he'll make sure to send a soul winner in your path
He'll make sure that you find out the truth if you are genuinely a person that seeks truth
I believe that with all my heart. Let's keep reading verse number 9 or
What man is there of you whom if his son asked bread?
Will he give him a stone or if he asked a fish?
Will he give him a serpent if ye then being evil know how to give good gifts unto your children?
How much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him
You know it I as a sinful person if my little daughter Bethany asked me for an M&M
I'm gonna give her an M&M and I'm just I'm just a sinful person
I could just give her that good gift how much more God in heaven if he hears if you hear someone praying the prayer of
God, I want to know who you are. God, please reveal yourself to me. God. I just want to know the truth
I don't care what it is. Just please show me the truth. Is he not gonna answer that prayer?
He absolutely will answer that prayer if anybody is seeking for truth, they're going to find it
Matthew let's uh, let's go to
Let's go back to Romans and I'll read for you
Psalm 14 1 the Bible says the fool hath said in his heart. There is no God. They are corrupt
They have done abominable works
There is none that doeth good
The Bible doesn't say that the sincere person has said in his heart there is no God
That the the person who's looking for truth has said that there is no God
The Bible says that the fool has said in this heart that there is no God, you know
That's why I'm against ministries like Christian apologetics and Christian apologetics is basically just trying to get people to believe the Bible
Using logic and reason and hey, I'm not against you know preaching creation. We should preach everything in the Bible
I'm not against showing how the Bible clearly matches up with science and clearly matches up with the reality of our world
But what I am against is a ministry that's completely dedicated to atheists
That's completely dedicated to people that are not seeking the truth
That's completely dedicated to a people where God says that he's manifested him in all of us
He showed it all to all of us that which can be seen
You know the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen
Being understood by the things that are made even as eternal power and Godhead God's revealed himself to the world
I'm not gonna spend my whole time
Banging my head against the wall trying to use logic and reason against atheists people who have no logic and no reason
Hey, God has already revealed that to them. They rejected it. That's why they're fools. That's why they're without excuse
And you know, I believe that there's atheists every once in a while they get saved and like I said
I'm not against preaching those things but I am against an entire ministry dedicated to that why because it's a fruitless ministry
Because it's a waste of time and some people may not like that but I've always believed that I've always believed that Christian apologetics
Debating atheists doing like that. It's things like that is stupid and it's a waste of time
Romans chapter 1 already told us that God's revealed it unto them
It's their choice that they have rejected the fact that there's a God
I mean everybody believes that there's a God even if they're unsaved you have to be a fool not to believe
There's a God and that's what these people are and you know
What the atheists of this world they give excuses today of why they don't believe in God
They give an excuse and they say well, I don't want to believe in that old fogey religion because science
Science is their excuse that they use to reject the Bible
But you know what God's not accepting their excuse because guess what God created science you idiot
Science is biblical and I'll show you that go to Colossians chapter 1 Colossians chapter 1
1
Science in the first law of thermodynamics the law of conservation of energy
States that energy is always conserved
It cannot be created or destroyed in essence energy can be converted from one form into another so science would tell you
That energy can't just come out of nowhere
Energy can't just be created by itself
It has to have a source it has to transfer that energy from one thing to another
Okay, but then they also tell you they believe the Big Bang Theory that everything was created from nothing that all the energy in the entire
Universe breaks this first law and came from nothing sounds like an excuse sounds like you don't actually believe in science
We'll go to Colossians chapter 1
and in verse 16
We know the source of where it all came from verse 16
The Bible says for by him were all things created talking about Jesus Christ that are in heaven
And that are an earth visible and invisible whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers all things were created
By him and for him and he is before all things and by him all things consist
Hey energy cannot be created or destroyed. It must be transferred
You know who the person you know who the source of all energy is the Lord Jesus Christ. He's the creator
You say oh, that's so unscientific
You believe in a God that created everything really because my my belief actually matches the first law of thermodynamics
Apius it doesn't match science
Sounds like you're using an excuse to reject God, but guess what God's not going to accept your excuse
another law of science is
Biogenesis that says life cannot come from non life. That's pretty simple, right?
I mean have you ever seen something come to life by itself?
Never in the history of the world has something ever been observed coming to life
By itself ever it's never been witnessed. Well, let's see what the Bible says in Genesis 124
I'll just read for you. Well, you turn to Leviticus 15
Genesis 124 says then God said let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind
Cattle and creeping thing and beasts of the earth each according to its kind and it was so
So we don't see life coming from non life. Hey, we see cows coming from cows
We see human beings coming from human beings we see trees coming from trees
Guess what? The Bible matches science sounds like these people are using an excuse
You know what else science says wash your hands
Wash your hands. Let's see what the Bible says Leviticus 15 13
And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue
Then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing and wash his clothes and bathe his flesh in running water and shall be
Clean notice there how it said running water
Did you know that in the 1860s in the Civil War when doctors were cutting off limbs from from victims in the Civil War?
Do you know that they would take their instruments their saws after chopping off someone's leg and they would just dip it in a basin of
Water a stagnant basin of water and then they'd go to the next person dip
Next person dip that's disgusting. You know how many how easy it is to spread disease like that
No wonder they all died pretty much right, but hey that was in the
1860s that was not that long ago. I mean that was America was born before that
Yet people weren't even washing their hands with running water until pretty recently
The Bible says wash your hands with running water
Sounds like the Bible matches science sounds like science
You know isn't all cracked up to be what these god-hating atheists say it is it's an excuse you want to know the truth
They hate God just like Romans chapter 1 tells us
Here's a famous atheist Richard Dawkins. He says the god of the Old Testament is
Arguably the most unpleasant character in all fiction jealous and proud of it a petty
unjust unforgiving
Control freak a vindictive bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser a misogynistic
homophobic racist infanticidal
Genocidal filicidal
pestilential megalomaniacal
sadomasochistic capriciously malignant molybdenum
malevolent bully
Sounds like a person who just doesn't believe in God right? No, he believes in him. He just hates him
He uses all this fake, you know talk about science and that oh, you know, I can't I can't believe the Bible because science
No, he revealed his heart. The thing is he hates God and you know, that's most atheists
Most atheists hate God
So why would I take all of my time when I could be going and preaching the gospel to the unsaved?
Catholic that wants to know the truth, you know to the unsaved
Baptist that wants to know the truth to the unsaved whatever religion. Hey, at least the people that are not reality deniers
Atheists are reality deniers. They see creation. They deny it
They deny the Creator they deny reality why because they hate God not because of any legitimate excuse
And you know what? God is not going to accept their excuses go back to Romans chapter 1. Well, let's see what he thinks
Verse 21 because that when they knew God
They glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened
Professing themselves to be wise they became fools and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man
And to birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves
So, you know, they knew the truth of God. They changed it into a lie
They worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator
They rejected the truth of God and still what God did he gave them up to uncleanness through lusts of their own hearts
He gave them up to all this sick filth later on in the chapter
It talks about people who go so far down this road that God gives them up even to the most sick things
Imaginable like homosexuality something that only an animal could do something that you could only do if you've been given over to a reprobate mind
It's the punishment of God for denying reality for rejecting him. He's not giving these people. He's not accepting any of their excuses
He's giving them over to reprobate mind as a punishment. He does not accept their excuses go to Romans chapter 2
You know, not only
Does God not accept the excuses of the atheists of the unbelievers?
You know, he doesn't accept the excuses of the unsaved religious people of this world, too
You know if you're unsaved and you're religious, you're really no different than the atheist that's unsaved to you're both going to hell
When you die, you know God's not gonna give you that excuse either look at Romans chapter 2 and look at verse 17
I want you to pay attention to the fact that Romans chapter 2 is written primarily to the Jews now are the Jews unsaved or saved?
Unsaved absolutely unsaved look at verse 17. I want to prove that this is written to the Jews behold
Thou art called a Jew
Sounds like it's written to the Jews and rest us in the law and make us thy boast of God who who rests in the law
And makes their boast of God Jews
Verse 18 and knowest his will and approve is the things that are more excellent being instructed out of the law
Thou that makest thy boasts of the law
Through breaking the law dishonors thou God for the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles
Through you see how he's separating these these two people
So it's obviously pretty clear that Romans chapter 2 the emphasis is talking to the Jews now
Let's go back to Romans 2 verse 1 and let's see how this chapter starts out. It starts out by saying therefore
Thou art inexcusable. Oh man, whosoever thou art that judges for wherein thou judges another thou condemnest thyself
For thou that judges doeth the same things, you know
The Jews thought that they were special just because they had God's law
The Jews probably were judging the atheists and the reprobates for doing all these sick things
You know that they're just as unsaved as the sodomites. They're just as unsaved as the atheists
Hey, you know you're judging them. You're doing even some of the same things that they're doing
Do you not realize that you are without excuse as well Jews?
Unbelieving Jews that also reject the truth look at verse 2
but we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things and
Think is thou this oh man that judges them which do such things and do is the same that thou shalt escape the judgment of
God
And you know the Jews answer to that would have been yes
They think that they're gonna escape the judgment of God just because they're Jews
They think that just because they have the law of God
Hey just because people who are religious just because they sit in a Baptist Church
Just because they wear a suit and tie just because they have a Bible at home
Hey, just cuz daddy's a pastor you think that that's gonna make you without excuse
Do you think that that's gonna make you escape the judgment of God hey if you're unsaved
It doesn't matter if you're religious or not if you're unsaved you're going to hell when you die and God's not gonna accept any
Excuses from you. You know out soul winning all the time. I hear hey. Why are you going to heaven?
It's like well my great-great-grandma was a Baptist pastor. That's not a good enough excuse. That's not a good enough excuse
You know there's people that teach that the Jews are excused
Just by having the law
I'll read for you a quote. That's right John Hagee. He said
The law of Moses is sufficient enough to bring a person into the knowledge of God
Until God gives him a greater revelation
Everyone else whether Buddhists or Baha'i needs to believe in Jesus, but not Jews
But not Jews so a pastor
Here in the New Testament in 2020 is telling a whole group of people to reject the New Testament
That the Old Testament is enough to bring them to truth and that they don't need to believe in Jesus Christ
That is wicked as hell
That is the most anti-semitic thing anyone can tell is to tell the Jews that don't believe in Jesus Christ
Hey, you'll be just fine by rejecting Jesus Christ. That's wicked
They're gonna burn in hell forever if they reject Jesus Christ. They will burn in hell forever. They are
Inexcusable they had the law
They were more inexcusable than the Gentiles. They had more given to them than anyone else. They had all the prophets
They had Jeremiah. They had Isaiah. They had Ezekiel. They had Moses. They had Abraham
They had the Word of God all of it pictured Jesus Christ the Old Testament
Every page is picturing Jesus Christ and the lame of God the Messiah came to this earth
He came unto his own and his own received him not
The Jews rejected Jesus Christ and they are without excuse
The Jews are without excuse today
But you know what every unsaved Baptist every unsaved person in this world that calls himself a religious person if they're not saved
They're just as without excuse as those people. God is not going to accept any of their excuses. Look at verse 4 of Romans chapter 2
Or despises thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance
Hey Jews
Aren't you supposed to know that the fact that God gave you all these prophets and gave you the law and gave you Lord Jesus
Christ don't you know that this is supposed to lead you to repentance
From changing your mind into trusting in the law and into trusting Jesus Christ
Shouldn't this be obvious to you? John Hagee would say no and you know what the Jews said no to
verse 5
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath
Against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God who will render to every man according to his deeds
You know every time a Jew hears a verse from the New Testament
You know every time a Jew is given the gospel every time a Jew is revealed truth about Jesus Christ
You know that they're treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath unto themselves
You know it every time that we go out soul-winning and we preach someone the gospel and they reject it
You know, they're just making hell that much hotter for themselves. It's a sad thought, you know
I just preached the gospel to a Catholic in Spanish or I'm not sure if he was a Catholic
I don't remember what church he went to but you know what the sad thing is
He wasn't saved and I showed him what the Bible says and he couldn't get it. He rejected it
Hey, you know that guy's one step closer to hell
He's the one step closer from being given over to renovate mine and he's making hell that much hotter for himself if he does not
Accept the truth. They're without excuse today the unsaved whether the atheists or the religious
They're both without excuse today. It's a sad thought
verse 24
For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you as it is written for
Circumcision verily profiteth if thou keep the law, but if thou be a breaker of the law thy circumcision is made
uncircumcision it doesn't matter if the Jews physically kept the law of
Circumcision because as soon as they break God's commandments their circumcision is made uncircumcision
James 2 10 says for whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point
He is guilty of all any person that's trusting in their ability to keep the law to get saved
Hey, you've broken the whole law your circumcisions made uncircumcision. It doesn't matter if the Jews have the law
It doesn't matter if they have the right religion
It doesn't matter if they think that they're children of Abraham if they're trusting in the law
They're gonna go to hell when they die along with every Baptist that believes repent of your sins
You know along with everyone that believes what John Getch the vice president of West Coast Baptist College teaches
Anyone thinks that you have to completely reject or turn away from your sins to be saved anyone that believes that garbage
Unsaved and you're without excuse
Verse 27 and shall not uncircumcision which is by nature if it fulfilled the law
Judge thee who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law
He's saying hey the Gentiles even though they're uncircumcised, you know, if they keep the righteousness of the law, they're gonna be saved
They're gonna be justified you say how could someone uncircumcised keep the law? I mean, they're not or yeah
They're not following circumcision. We'll go to Romans 3 Romans 3 verse 21
How are the uncircumcision keeping the law verse 21?
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested being witnessed by the law in the prophets
Even the righteousness of God which is but by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe
For there is no difference
That's how you can keep the law
while being a Gentile and while being uncircumcised is by trusting in Jesus Christ by trusting in the one who actually did keep all the
Law and actually was perfect and never sin. Hey the unsaved or the uncircumcised
Gentiles that believe in Jesus Christ, they're gonna be justified
you know who's not the people who had the law of God the people that were revealed all the truths of God and
Rejected the Messiah and rejected Jesus Christ without excuse today Matthew chapter 7 turn to Romans chapter 10
I'll read Matthew chapter 7
Verse 22 many will say to me in that day Lord Lord
Have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and in thy name have done many wonderful works
And then will I profess unto them?
I never knew you depart from me ye that work iniquity people that are trusting in their works, you know when they die
They're gonna have excuses that they're gonna bring to God about why or why is God not letting me into heaven
Why is God sending me to hell? Hey, do you not know that I did so many great works for you?
Do you not know that I cast out devils in your name?
You don't know how many great and wonderful works I did he's gonna say depart from me
I never knew you your excuse of your filthy rags is not good enough to make you saved
The only thing that's gonna make you save is trusting in what Jesus Christ did
Romans chapter 10 verse 13
You say well, maybe they just have an excuse maybe they just haven't heard the gospel verse 13
Actually, let's read uh, let's start in verse 15 and how shall they preach except they be sent as it is written
How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things
But they have not all obeyed the gospel for Isaiah saith Lord who hath believed our report
So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, but I say have they not heard
Yes, verily their sound went into all the earth and their words unto the ends of the world
Hey the Word of God has gone out to the whole world
The gospel has gone out to the whole world and we already read in Matthew chapter 7 that if someone
knocks the door is going to be opened unto them if someone asks
God's going to answer them if someone in this world wants to know the truth. God will reveal it unto them
God will make sure a soul winner gets them. God will make sure they see a Bible way to heaven video on YouTube
God will make sure that a person who genuinely wants to know the truth will be able to hear the truth
But you know what that leaves everybody
Everybody without excuse the atheist is without excuse the unsaved Baptist is without excuse
But now that I've laid down that foundation
I want the rest of the sermon to apply to us because you know what saved Christians make excuses, too
And just like God does not accept any excuses from the unsaved from the atheist for the religious unsaved
God doesn't accept our excuses either our excuses are lame as well number two
There's no excuse for our sin go to Genesis chapter 3
Genesis chapter 3
We'll start reading verse 9
right after Eve has eaten of the forbidden fruit and
The Lord called unto Adam and said unto him where art thou and he said I heard thy voice in the garden
And I was afraid because I was naked and I hid myself
And he said who told me that I was naked
Has that eaten of the tree where have I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?
And the man said the woman whom thou gave us to be to be with me
She gave me of the tree and I did eat and the Lord God said unto the woman
What is it that thou hast done and the woman said the serpent beguiled me and I did eat
Notice when Adam and Eve were both confronted with their sin both of them made an excuse for it
And you know what saved Christians do when their sin is confronted
They make excuses for it
You know when you go to correct your child and you call them out on disobeying you and you call them out on their mistake
You know what? They often do but but but but but but mom. No, it doesn't work like that
Do you accept their excuses? Absolutely not neither does God. Let's see. Does God accept their excuse look at verse 16
Unto the woman he said I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception and sorrow thou shalt bring forth children
And my desire shall be to thy husband and he shall rule over thee and unto Adam
He said because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee saying
Thou shalt not eat of it. Cursed is the ground for thy sake in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life
Did he accept their excuses? Do you say oh, don't worry about it. No, he actually cursed them both
He actually cursed man and woman and even today in 2020. We all see the repercussion of their sin their excuses didn't matter
Hey, we're all sinners because of them right and excuses do not matter with God. Let's look at another example
Let's go to first Samuel chapter 13
First Samuel chapter 13
We're gonna look at King Saul who is a saved man and he gives some excuses as well
Let's read first Samuel 13
First number 10 and it came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering
Or I'm sorry verse 5
And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and
People as the sand which is on the seashore and multitude and they came up and pitched in McMash eastward from Beth Avon
When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait for the people were distressed
Then the people did hide themselves in caves and in thickets and in rocks and in high places and in pits
And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead as for Saul
He was yet in Gilgal and all the people followed him trembling and he tarried seven days
according to the set time that Samuel had appointed but Samuel came not to Gilgal and the people were scattered from him and
Saul said bring hither a burnt offering to me and peace offerings and he offered the burnt offering. So what happened?
There's the Philistines a great host that's coming against Saul and his army and everyone's terrified. I mean put yourself in this situation
I can understand how maybe they're going through a little bit of fear
They have this huge
Army coming after them and their priest isn't even there to do sacrifices unto the Lord to try to get Lord's the Lord's favor
on their side
Well, let's look and and we saw what Saul did. He decided to make the offerings himself
Now was that right is the question absolutely not stay there and I'll read for you Hebrews 5 1
the Bible says for every high priest taken from among men is
Ordained for men in things pertaining to God that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins verse 4
And no man taketh his honor unto himself
But he that is called of God as was Aaron
so in the Old Testament the Levites were ordained to be the priests of God and they were
Ordained to do the work of God by performing the sacrifices by doing all the offerings for the Lord
No, man can just take that honor on himself
Hey, you can't just go start a church and ordain yourself Adam Fannin. God has an order for things
You don't just bring the honor on yourself
God ordains people for positions of leadership and guess what King Saul was ordained the king of Israel
But you know what? He was not he was not ordained high priest
It was not his job to make sacrifices to God
It was his job to lead the battle. That was his job and he thought that well Samuel isn't here yet
And you know all these people are scared. So I'm just gonna go ahead and do it myself. Let's see what happens verse 10
And
It came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering
behold Samuel came and Saul went out to meet him that he might salute him and
Samuel said what hast thou done and Saul said because I saw
that the people were scattered from me and that thou camest not within the days appointed and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at
Micmash therefore said I the Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal and I have not made supplication unto the Lord
I forced myself therefore and offered a burnt offering. Do you see the excuses just pouring out of his mouth?
He's like, well you weren't here yet. All the people were scared
You know, I wanted to I wanted to inquire of God. He even makes it spiritual. All right
I mean he was breaking God's law because he's so spiritual and
You know a lot of people when they break God's commandment
They try to just make it look like it's a spiritual reason, you know
Well, you know, I know I'm divorced and the Bible says not to get remarried
But Bible does say it's better to marry than to burn and you know
I just don't want to be in the state of lust and so I'm just gonna break God's commandments that way I could be more
Spiritual it's like that's not how the Bible works. That's not how Christianity works
You don't get a break God's commandments and make excuses for it so much the more giving spiritual excuses for it
It does not fly and you'll see that in this chapter. It does not fly
Look at verse 13 and Samuel said to Saul that was done foolishly
That was not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God which he commanded thee
For now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever
But now thy kingdom shall not continue the Lord of Sodom a man after his own heart and the Lord hath commanded him to be
Captain over his people because thou has not kept that which the Lord commanded thee
Did God accept his excuse absolutely not Samuel had to tell him look you would have been established as the king
But now the kingdom's got to be taken from you and it's going to be given to someone
Who is a man after God's own heart and that man ends up becoming King David, you know
It's very interesting King David later in his life
He committed a great sin, too
but when he was told when he committed adultery and when he had Uriah the Hittite murdered and he was told by the prophet thou
Art the man, you know what he said
He said I have sinned and did God take away his reign did God take away his kingdom?
No, he didn't he had mercy towards him, you know people that make excuses towards God when they sin
You're more likely to receive less mercy from God when he sees that you're just making excuses to him
He's gonna come down harder on you and when you sin, it's better just to be humble and we'll get a little more to that
later
But let's look at another example. I'm getting a little ahead of myself first Samuel 15
Let's look at another excuse Saul gives
In first Samuel 15 verse 1
Samuel also said unto Saul the Lord sent me to anoint the king to be over his people over Israel now
Therefore harken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord thus saith the Lord of hosts
I remember that which Amalek did to Israel how he laid weight for him in the way when he came up from Egypt now go
And smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not but slay both man and woman
Infant and suckling ox and sheep camel and ass
What is the instruction? Hey go to the Amalekites and completely wipe them out every living thing wipe them out
And why did God have him do such an order?
Well, the Bible talks about how these nations were doing just like the most wick wicked and sick things you can imagine
They were sacrificing children. They were just a complete
Reprobates obviously God would not just wipe out an entire nation of people that are righteous like in Sodom
Remember he was saying hey if there's ten righteous in the city
I'll spare it for the city. These were extremely wicked nations and he tells Saul go and completely wipe them out
Everything that's breathing even the animals just get them off the face of the earth
Let's see what he does verse 14
He doesn't he doesn't do it and Samuel said what meaneth then this bleeding of the sheep in mine ears
and the lowing of the ox, which I hear
I'm sorry. Let's let's go back one verse and Samuel said to Saul and
Samuel came to Saul and Saul said unto him blessed be thou of the Lord
I have performed the commandment of the Lord and Samuel said what meaneth then this bleeding of the sheep in mine ears and the lowing
Of the oxen which I hear so Samuel comes and checks on him. Hey, did you do what God told you to do?
Did you wipe out all the Amalekites? He's saying yes
I've I have followed God's commandments and Samuel saying then why is it that I'm hearing the lowing of sheep right now the lowing of
Cattle right now. Why is it that I'm hearing these things? It's like, you know, son
Did you turn off the Xbox and the mom can like you still hear you playing Xbox or something like that, right?
It's just like it's sad that he's trying to hide this when obviously he could see the cattle's right there
You know what? He gives an excuse. He gives an excuse. Let's look at verse
Verse number 22 verse 22 and Samuel said hath the Lord
I'm sorry verse 20 and Saul said unto Samuel yea
I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me and have brought a gag the king
Of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites
But the people took of the spoil sheep and oxen and chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed
To sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal
So his excuse this time was to blame other people his excuse for disobeying God's commandment this time was other people
You see Christians do this all the time, especially teenagers when they get caught in sin. Hey, it's just well peer pressure
Well, they were all doing it too. You know, it's like hey, why did you drink? Well, everyone else was drinking, too
That's not an excuse. You can't blame other people for your own sin
look at verse 22 and
Samuel said hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord
Behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to harken than the fat of rams, you know, it's all thought
Hey, I'll just take all of these animals and I'll just make a sacrifice to God for it
But I think about it
Is that really gonna please God when God wanted all of those animals dead and slain right there?
No, if anything your sacrifice is just a testament to God that you disobeyed him that you didn't think highly enough of his word to
Actually obey what he said to do and doesn't matter how spiritual you try to make your excuse if you're disobeying God's commandments
He's not pleased with that. It's like oh, you know, well, my wife is unsaved and she doesn't want to follow God
So I'm just gonna divorce her and move to Phoenix, Arizona so I could serve God. No, that's not gonna be pleasing to God
That's just gonna be a testament to God that you decided to break his commandments on divorce and remarriage
God is not pleased when we break his commandments
Especially especially when we make excuses for it and I mentioned this earlier, but go ahead and turn to 1st Peter chapter 1
1st Peter chapter 1
verse 13
Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ
obedient
Children not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conversation
Because it is written be ye holy for I am holy notice. He calls us obedient children
God's commandment to us as obedient children is hey, he's holy. We need to be holy now
That's a hard commandment obviously right because we're sinners but think about it. How much disobedience. Do you tolerate from your children?
Do you tell your children? Well, son, it's okay to disobey five percent of my commandments
No, you tell them it's unacceptable to disobey my commandments at any time
Obviously we show grace to our children when they're humble
But you know what if they're gonna make excuses for their sin, the grace is not there at that time
Is it it's the same thing with God when when Saul is making excuse after excuse for his sin
God ends up just removing him as king. He does not show grace unto him. He removes him
He comes down on him hard, you know
but there's a group of Christians today called like the hyper grace movement or the free in Christ bro type movement where they're like
This where they think that sin is just totally excusable that because Jesus died on the cross. We're just excused
We could do whatever we want
Has anyone ever heard of this man named Joseph Prince? Does anyone heard of him? Okay, you've heard of him
So he is in let's see what country he's in. He's in Singapore
megachurch
24,000 members
24,000 people this is a huge huge church and I heard about this guy way back in 2015 of
People I knew here in Texas that were listening to him
So this guy infects even the state we're living in right now with his doctrine. You know what he said
He said that the Holy Spirit never convicts you of your sins. I
Challenge you to find a scripture in the Bible that tells you that the Holy Spirit has come to convict you of your sins
You won't find any challenge accepted go to John chapter 16
John chapter 16 you won't find a scripture in the Bible that says the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin
Okay, let's see if that's true John chapter 16
Verse 7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away
For if I go not away the comforter will not come unto you, but if I depart I will send him unto you
What's the context we're talking about the Holy Spirit the comforter and when he is come
He will reprove the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment
You know what?
The Holy Spirit has come to do to convict you of your sin to tell you you're wrong about doing that
Hey, you're wrong for lusting after a woman in your heart. You're wrong for doing drugs. You're wrong for doing alcohol
That's what the Holy Spirit convicts us of doing
What a wicked thing to say the Holy Spirit never came to convict us of our sins. That's garbage
You know so many Christians today the free in Christ bro mentality will tell you oh you want to get a tattoo
Well, hey, you're excused just as long as the Holy Spirit hasn't convicted of you that of that of you yet
You have an excuse so people today are able to bring their excuses
For their sin by saying well, you know, I know I'm living in fornication
But the Holy Spirit hasn't convicted of me yet. How exactly does that work?
How exactly does the Holy Spirit convict you of something?
Do you get a burning in the bosom like the Mormons do when they read the Bible?
No, you know how the Holy Spirit has convicted us of sin by the Word of God
By showing us that we've all broken God's commandments by showing us that we do not measure up to his be holy for I am
Holy standard, but you know what just because we don't measure up to it
That doesn't give us an excuse to just go and break God's commandments. Oh
You know, we're in the New Testament. So, you know Leviticus 19 where it talks about printing marks upon your body
That's okay. Now because the Holy Spirit hasn't convicted me of that yet
What about Leviticus 20 or in Leviticus 19 where it says to not prostitute your daughter to cause her to be a whore?
Has the Holy Spirit not convicted you of that too?
Would it be acceptable for you to use that excuse to sell your daughter as a prostitute and just say well the Holy Spirit hasn't
Convicted me of that yet because that's what the type of mentality that false prophets like Joseph Prince bring in people and that's why people today
Think that we're legalists and think that churches like ours are
Crazy people think that we are crazy for believing the Word of God and for believing the law of God
Even the IFB has gotten so out of their mind that they think we're crazy crazy for believing Leviticus
2013 they think that we are crazy for believing the sodomites should be put to death
Hey, even though the Holy Spirit has convicted the sodomites of that in the Bible
Let's go to Leviticus chapter 2013. What does it say?
What is the Holy Spirit revealed
What is the Holy Spirit convicted about sodomites verse 13 if a man also lie with mankind as he lies with a woman
Both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon him
Hey, you know what? The Holy Spirit says should happen to sodomites is that they should be stoned to death
That's what the Holy Spirit has to say about that subject and you know the ruckmanites they think we're so crazy
For believing that the Word of God should be applied today because they believe that only the Old Testament
It applies to the Jews and that Leviticus chapter 20 was given to the physical nation of Israel
Therefore you can't apply it in the New Testament. That's that's garbage. That's garbage
That's the type of mentality that comes from an unsaved mind. There's no excuse for sodomy
Sodomites don't get to just pull out the card and say well the Holy Spirit hasn't convicted me of that yet
Yes, he has but you know what the Holy Spirit has also convicted all of us of all of our sin, too
And you know what? You better not go around making excuses for your sin
You know you kids when your parents confront you with your problems when they tell you you've done wrong you say yes, sir
Yes, ma'am. I've sinned that's the attitude you should have now come at them with this garbage mentality of bringing excuses
You know what? God doesn't accept it and neither will your parents. It's a stupid mentality to have giving excuses
God does not accept the atheist excuses today. God does not accept the unsaved religious people's excuses
You know what? He doesn't accept our excuses either when we sin
go to
Go to Matthew 25
Why you're turning there I'll read for you James 4 6 the Bible says but he giveth more grace
Wherefore he sayeth God resisteth the proud but giveth grace unto the humble
You know the best attitude you could have when you sin is to come before God humbly
Confessing your sin asking him for forgiveness. That's when grace is gonna abound towards you these people like Joseph Prince this hyper grace mentality
They don't know what grace is
They've turned the grace of God into lasciviousness is what they've done
No
Grace is when you acknowledge that the Holy Spirit has convicted you of something and you acknowledge that you also messed up and did that
Sin, but you come to God humbly asking him for forgiveness
Hey, that's that's grace right there because he said be holy for I am holy
I'm not holy but God's gracious to me and to you and we humbly ask him for forgiveness
But not only does God not accept our excuses when we sin number three tonight is that God does not accept our
Excuses to not serve him. God does not accept our excuses to not serve him Matthew 25
Let's read this parable in verse
14 the Bible says for the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country
Who called his own servants and delivered unto them his goods, you know, Jesus Christ came to this earth
and he left us with the ministry of
Reconciliation second Corinthians 4 1 I believe it is says therefore seeing we have received this ministry
We have faint we faint not so we've received the ministry. We've received the Great Commission
Which is I'll read for you the Great Commission
Matthew 28 verse 19 the Bible says go ye therefore and teach all nations
Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I've commanded you and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world
Amen, so, you know what God has came and you know, Jesus Christ is in a far country now
He's in heaven right now, but he's left his servants with his goods. He's left us with his church
He's left us with his gospel. He's left us with the Great Commission with work to be done for him
Let's look at verse 15 of Matthew 25
And unto the one he gave five talents
And to the other two and to another one to every man according to his several ability and straightway took his journey
then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents and likewise he that had
Received two he also gained two. So notice these people that have received the talents from their Lord
What are what are they doing with it? They're profiting. They're making their master profit
They're multiplying their master's goods
Making profit a picture of us going out and multiplying ourselves by getting people saved by bringing forth fruit by bringing profit to God
Stay there and I'll read for you 1st Corinthians 12 7 the Bible says but the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man
to profit with all
For to one is given by the Spirit the Word of Wisdom
to another the Word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit to another of the gifts of healing and he
Goes on giving a list of all these spiritual gifts that God has given us
You know one talent that God has given every single person in this room is the gospel of Jesus Christ
You know as some people have more some people have these spiritual gifts and you know
You may be the five talent guy. You may be the ten gout talent guy
There's people in this world that are like 20 or 30 talent guys in my opinion
But you know what every single person is that one talent guy for sure
Everyone has been committed the gospel
Look at verse 18, so we just saw the first two they were pleasing to their Lord
They brought him profit verse 18, but he that had received one
Went and digged in the earth and hid his Lord's money
After a long time the Lord of those servants cometh and reckoneth with them
And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents saying Lord
Thou deliverest unto me five talents behold I have gained beside them five talents more his Lord said unto him
Well done thou good and faithful servant thou has been faithful over a few things
I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord
He also that had received two talents came and said Lord thou deliverest unto me two talents behold
I have gained other two talents beside them his Lord said unto them well done good and faithful servant thou has been faithful over a few
Things I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy Lord
so notice it wasn't necessarily the
Quantity of profit that these people brought forth that determined whether or not they were going to be pleasing in the Lord's sight
What determined it was whether or not they brought profit at all because hey the one guy who only brought forth two more talents
Had the same answer given to him as the guy that brought five more talents
Hey, if we go out and preach the gospel if you only get 30 people saved a year
You know God is gonna be pleased with you
Just as much as he would for the person that goes and gets a hundred person people a year saved
He's gonna be pleased with us if we're profiting if we're doing what he's told us to do
And you know not everybody is the five talent guy not everybody is the ten talent guy
Not everybody has the circumstances in life to where they can go so many as much as other people
You know women that are raising young children are probably not going to be able to go out and preach the gospel as often as
The young single guy can right that's why the Apostle Paul was single
He even said it's because I could do more work for God right, but hey no matter what when you're bringing profit forth for God
He's gonna be pleased with you, but let's see you this other person in
verse 24
Then he which had received the one talent came and said Lord I
Knew thee that thou art a hard man reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strode
You know what he just did he gave an excuse
He gave an excuse for why he was not profitable to his master. Let's see if his master
Accepts that excuse and I was afraid and went and hid that talent in the earth low there
How there thou hast that is thine and his Lord answered and said unto him thou wicked and slothful servant
Thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not and gather where I've not strode
Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers and then am I coming I should have received mine own
With usury take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which hath ten talents
For unto everyone that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance
But from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath
Notice he was given the one talent and when he did not bring profit to his master
You know what his master thought of him that he was a wicked and slothful
Servant you know what sadly today. There's very few Christians
Although we've all been given the one talent of the gospel although Jesus Christ gave the Great Commission to every single saved
person on this planet
Sadly the majority of Christians today are the one talent guy that have buried their town in the earth and know what Jesus thinks of them
wicked and
Slothful you know in Revelation he talks about the churches that have left their first love
That they need to repent and do the work first works
He says hey you better repent quickly or I'm gonna come and take that candlestick from you
Notice how it says that it's gonna be taken from him and given to him that has lots of talents already
And you know what churches today that do not preach the gospel are going to die
Churches today that do not go out and and be profitable for the Lord and hey even if all you have is that one talent
Even if the only ministry a church has is going out and preaching the gospel
Jesus is gonna be pleased with that church
Hey
It doesn't matter if you have the the day where you go and shoot the machine guns
It doesn't matter if you have the day where you go out to a nice steakhouse. Hey, what matters is preaching the gospel
That's what God cares about he doesn't care about anything else. That's what pleases him
You know what sadly today Baptist churches have forsaken preaching the gospel
There's very few people is very few churches in this world that go out and and preach people the gospel
You know what they do they leave door hangers on people's doors
They do bus routes and take them into some Sunday school where the kids dance around and eat ice cream and cake for all the whole
time
They're they're burying their talent in the earth. God's given all of us that talent to profit
He's given us gifts
You know Ephesians talks about he's given gifts of pastors and teachers and evangelists for the edification of the Saints. What are we doing?
Why are we in this building right now?
What are we doing coming together in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Hey
We're building an army of people to go out into the community and to preach them the gospel
To get them here to baptize them and to teach them all things whatsoever Christ has commanded. That's what we're doing
You know today a lot of Christians make excuses for why they can't preach the gospel
I've heard so many excuses. Oh, you know my leg hurts. You know, I'm just not called to that ministry
I don't have enough time. You know, I have too big of a family. I have too small family
You know what?
You can make any excuse you want to make but at the end of the day
Jesus Christ is gonna say to you that wicked and slothful
Servant if you don't go preach the gospel, is that what you want Jesus Christ to think of you?
Your excuses don't work with God. It doesn't work with anyone this person
He gave that lame excuse to his master God didn't accept it
You know, what's sad when I was preaching one time at Sir Foundation Baptist Church in Spokane, Washington
I was driving back that night from Spokane to Vancouver and I made this wrong turn
I ended up going just like way out in the middle of the country
Way off the beaten path from where I was I was meaning to go and we were just in this tiny itty bitty town
I'm talking there was maybe like
75 people that lived there if that and you know what I saw when I was in that town
Mormons on their bicycles
Preaching the gospel, you know
The Mormons go to every nook and cranny of this earth to make people twofold more the children of hell than themselves
You know how many Baptists have that kind of dedication not very many sadly
You know how many of us have the talent though all of us?
Any single person can go and become a missionary can go and do great things for God, you know
Or you can get tons and tons and tons and tons of people saved just right here in Houston guys have eight
Million people in this city that is insane. That is a huge huge city
Do you know how long it would take to knock every door in this city with this group of people?
We probably couldn't do it in our lifetime
You know what though, you know why we can't because of wicked and slothful Christians
That's why because if everybody who had that talent was in this room right now and was out with us preaching the gospel
We would not have that problem in this country. We would not have that problem. It's a disgusting thing to see
The excuses that people give when it's eternity on the line. Our life is a vapor
Are you gonna let a bum leg cause you to not preach the gospel?
Are you gonna let your back pain cause you to not preach the gospel?
Hey
I'll push you in a wheelchair if I have to you need to get out soul-winning and you know what this excuse of oh
You know, well, I'm a lady so I'm not I'm not called to go soul-winning. That's a garbage excuse to
Ladies sometimes think that they're just excused from going soul-winning. You know what? That's your ministry, too
You know what if you're a lady and you never preach the gospel
You're wicked and slothful and if you're a man and you never preach the gospel you're wicked and slothful
And you know what children you need to learn how to preach the gospel because you're called to work, too
This is a this is a job for man woman boy and girl and you know what?
It doesn't matter how much work you do if you're going out and you're profiting for God
He's gonna be pleased with you
Well done now good and faithful servant the the problem is not that we have a lack of 10 talent people in America
The problem is not that we lack all these apostle Paul's in America
The problem is that we have all these one talent people that bury their talent in the earth. That's the problem
We'd get a lot more done for God if the one talent people would stop making excuses for not serving God and would get to work
Don't be a wicked and slothful church. Let's make sure that this church always always preaches the gospel
God's not accepting
Excuses today from the atheists. God is not accepting excuses today from the unsaved religious people
He's not accepting excuses today for our sin and he's not accepting our excuses for not serving him today
There's no good reason not to do it if anyone had an excuse
Hey, maybe it would have been the Apostle Paul who was stoned
Shipwrecked beat. I mean he went through so much. You know what?
He said none of these things moved me neither count on my life dear unto myself
He didn't count his dear little life, you know, so precious to himself. He just kept preaching gospel
Anyways, and that's why he was qualified to write one of the most powerful verses in the Bible
I'll read for you first Corinthians 15 verse 58. Therefore my beloved brethren be steadfast
Unmovable always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord
You know, that's a really challenging verse when you sit down and think about what that's saying
Hey, you always have to be steadfast. You always have to be unmovable
You always have to be abounding in the in the work of the Lord. Well, what about all my excuses? Nope
It doesn't work. There's not a place in this verse that has room for an excuse. Is there?
Hey and anyone if anyone could have had it would have been the Apostle Paul
But he didn't make excuses and that's why God was able to use him so greatly
You know what?
Even if all you are is that one talent person you need to stop making excuses too
Because your labor is not in vain in the Lord either
No matter how few in number of people you get saved compared to someone like the Apostle Paul. That's not in vain
Those are souls that have an eternity ahead of them as well. We need to be a church that does not make excuse
Let's have a word of prayer Lord. Thank you so much for this day. Thank you for all that you do for us
I just pray that you'd help us to all build a strong foundation
That when trials and tribulations come in our lives
we wouldn't make excuses to want to quit serving you or excuses for our sin, but that we would just be steadfast and
Unmovable pray that you'd help this church to always be a soul winning church and in Jesus name we pray. Amen