What's Your Excuse?

Notes: "What's Your Excuse?"

Matthew 22 / Luke 14

SPEAKER:

Greg Laurie

SERIES:

God Came Near

This webcast is also available in spanish.

Sunday, April 26, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Lying, deception and excuses are the subjects of today.

An excuse is a dressed up lie.

He, who excuses himself, accuses himself.

Lying and exception and giving excuses grow and grow.

People exaggerate constantly. "I will be ready in a minute!" "Of course I'm listening" "yes dear" "we can still be good friends" "I'm from the government here to help you"

The Garden of Eden is the first lie and one of the most famous. Adam blamed God and Eve in the Garden.

Aaron claimed that the golden calf just came out of the fire when they threw their gold into it.

Matthew 22:2-10 NKJV

[2] "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, [3] and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. [4] Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' [5] But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. [6] And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. [7] But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. [8] Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. [9] Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' [10] So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Matthew 22:4 NKJV

[4] Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."'

This is a royal wedding; they provide everything, the food, the accommodations and even the clothes.

Once you say yes to this type of wedding if you don't show up is the worst kind of insult.

Luke 14:18-20 NKJV

[18] But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' [19] And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' [20] Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

These aren't even good excuses.

Things and relationships are keeping people away.

Excuse1: Possessions are more important than God.

First excuse is saying he bought something without seeing it first. That happens to all of us when we shop online...not a real good excuse.

The first one was polite about it. Like inviting someone to hear the Gospel.

The love of things kept the first guy away.

Matthew 16:26 NKJV

[26] For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

Matthew 19:16-22 NKJV

[16] Now behold, one came and said to Him, "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" [17] So He said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." [18] He said to Him, "Which ones?" Jesus said, "'You shall not murder,' 'You shall not commit adultery,' 'You shall not steal,' 'You shall not bear false witness,' [19] 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' " [20] The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" [21] Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." [22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Excuse 2: Career is more important than God.

Luke 14:19 NKJV

[19] And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.'

Career has been put ahead of so many things in people's lives.

Excuse 3: Relationships are more important than God.

Luke 14:20 NKJV

[20] Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

This was not about a reason it was about an excuse.

If you are single do not get linked with a nonbeliever, you won't lift them up, they will pull you down...usually.

Once you are married to a nonbeliever you are commanded to win them over.

Don't put your spiritual life on hold for anyone, even your nonbeliever spouse.

You can't help someone else spiritually if you are falling apart.

Luke 14:25-27 NKJV

[25] Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, [26] "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. [27] And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.

If you want to be a follower of Jesus you must put Him above everyone else.

If you put God first, everything else can fall into place.

Matthew 22:11-12 NKJV

[11] "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. [12] So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.

This was an insult to the king that invited him. This man didn't belong there if he wasn't going to dress as the king wished.

This is mocking God, to say that what Jesus did not do enough.

Hebrews 10:29-30 NKJV

[29] Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? [30] For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people."

Matthew 22:13-14 NKJV

[13] Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' [14] "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Many are like this, shocked when God does not answer them when they aren't respecting Him.

Isaiah 55:6 NKJV

[6] Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.

Many are held back from knowing God because they are holding on to the thing that is keeping them away from Him.

Let go of those things and cling to God!

It doesn't matter how you say yes to Jesus, just say yes!

Let Jesus Be With You

Notes: Let Jesus Be With You

Valor

Acts 23

Pastor Adam Eaton

April 21, 2015

Harvest OC

Acts 22:30 NKJV

[30] The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before them.

Acts 23:1-5 NKJV

[1] Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, "Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day." [2] And the high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth. [3] Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?" [4] And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?" [5] Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

Paul made a mistake here. He recognized that. Even though he was being punished outside of the rules of the law.

Paul went there knowing exactly what he was doing before Christ.

He then called the high priest a "white washed wall", a fake.

How didn't Paul recognize the high priest? Some theories are, it was either, confusion, the priest not being dressed accordingly or most likely Paul was getting bad eye sight.

Acts 23:5 NKJV

[5] Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

We can all learn from this, recognize your error and apologize!

We will be confronted with our own failures.

We can't dismiss it, we have to realize our sin, confess it and repent.

The Bible tells us to respect the office.

Hebrews 13:17 NKJV

[17] Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Acts 23:6-9 NKJV

[6] But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, "Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!" [7] And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided. [8] For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection-and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both. [9] Then there arose a loud outcry. And the scribes of the Pharisees' party arose and protested, saying, "We find no evil in this man; but if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God."

When we stand up and do what is right instead of us fighting for our own name and let the Lord fight for us today, we will see the Lord protect us.

We are to be obedient to the Lord and let Him fight for us.

Confess and repent for the sake of Jesus Christ because we bare His name as followers.

Acts 23:10-11 NKJV

[10] Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks. [11] But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."

We may never see Jesus on this earth, but He has told us that He will be with us.

Matthew 28:20 NKJV

[20] teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

We may have a long trial to get through, but Jesus will be with us through it all.

Matthew 10:22 NKJV

[22] And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

John 15:18-19 NKJV

[18] "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. [19] If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

If there is sin in your life, confess it and let Jesus be with you.

How to (and Not to) Pray

Notes: How to (and Not to) Pray

Matthew 20

Pastor Greg Laurie

SERIES: God Came Near

Sunday, April 19, 2015 — 10:00 a.m.

Prayer is extremely important because it keeps us in touch with God.

Pastor Greg speaks on how we can pray prayers that are healthy and effective. He also warns against things that can hinder our prayers.

It's stupid to say that we should stay out of politics. Greg prayed at an event Marco Rubio was at.

Prayer...what a privilege it is.

You can pray anywhere and anytime.

The main thing with prayer is that we are right with God.

Why should I pray? The value of prayer is that it keeps me in touch with God. God gives us what we need when we need it.

Prayer is getting your will in alignment with God's.

How not to pray:

Matthew 20:17-23 NKJV

[17] Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, [18] "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, [19] and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again." [20] Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. [21] And He said to her, "What do you wish?" She said to Him, "Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom." [22] But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able." [23] So He said to them, "You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father."

Why is this a bad prayer? It is utterly senseless and selfish prayer.

They immediately say that they are able, with no clarification of what Jesus is describing.

Matthew 20:22 NKJV

[22] But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" They said to Him, "We are able."

Why does God not always answer our prayers the way we ask Him too...

All prayers are answered, either. No, Go or Slow.

There is nothing wrong in bringing our request to God.

Prayer is not a sign of weakness; it is an acknowledgement that we are weak.

Jesus prayed, and if Jesus prayed then we need to pray.

We should always ask that the Lord's will would be done.

Matthew 20:29-34 NKJV

[29] Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him. [30] And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" [31] Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, "Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!" [32] So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" [33] They said to Him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." [34] So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

How to pray:

1. In a time of crisis, they prayed and so should we.

Psalm 50:15 NKJV

[15] Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

James 4:2 NKJV

[2] You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

Pride can stop us from calling out.

Ephesians 6:18 NKJV

[18] praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints-

When should we pray? All the time!

James 4:3 NKJV

[3] You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

2. They prayed with passion and persistence.

We need to pray with passion.

Acts 12:5 NKJV

[5] Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Pray for things and for people by name, be specific.

3. Their prayer is heard by Jesus.

Matthew 20:32 NKJV

[32] So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

[13] And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

4. Their prayer is answered in the affirmative by Jesus.

Unconfessed sin can hinder our prayers:

Psalm 66:18 NKJV

[18] If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear.

We sin more than we think we do.

1. Hanging onto sin will keep your prayers from being answered.

1 John 3:22 NKJV

[22] And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

Obedience is a choice and disobedience is a choice.

Reap the consequences of your sins.

Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV

[23] Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; [24] And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

2. Idols in our heart can keep us from Jesus.

Statues, people, and things can all be idols. Anything that takes the place of God is an idol.

3. Unforgiveness in your heart can hinder your prayers.

Forgiven people should be forgiving people.

Forgiveness does more good for you then for the people you are not forgiving.

Bitterness destroys you and others.

4. Unbelief can hinder our prayers.

When you pray, pray believing.

It is impossible to please God without faith.

Faith sees invisible things.

God loves to bless you.

Not Again!

Notes: Not Again!
Pastor Steve Wilburn
Romans 8
April 12, 2015

Have you ever done something that you said that you would never do again, yet you do it again?

We have all had our share of missed steps.

It happens to all of us. It’s like a self inflicted curse that has happened to all of us.

Like going to the DMV without an appointment. We like to be our own worse enemies. That seems to lead to condemnation.

At times we cause ourselves multitudes of misery. We cause ourselves misery in the little things. We fail and we fall. These things can lead us to feel shame.

For the Christian there is hope! It’s found in the pages of God’s word.

In the midst of failures in life there is hope we can grasp.

Ps 103:13-Ps 103:14 NKJV As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

For those who fear the Lord he has compassion on them.

"If you fear God you can fear nothing else. If you don’t fear God then you fear everything else."

Psalm 27:1 NKJV The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?

Heb 4:14-Heb 4:16 NKJV Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

God says to come boldly into His presence when we have failed. Oops is not in Gods vocabulary.

God requires us to have victory in our lives. We can find true peace and a place of quietness and true rest through the victory we celebrate in Jesus Christ.

Today we will consider where we can find victory over sorrow, fear, depression, hopelessness, despair.

Romans 8 is like a cure all for all of us.

1. Victory from our past
Rom 8:1 KJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.

2. Victory from our present
Rom 8:28 NKJV And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

3. Victory for our future
Rom 8:39 NKJV nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8 starts with no condemnation, ends with no separation and in the middle with no defeat.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NKJV Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

No one can say they don't sin.

Ecclesiastes 7:20 NKJV For there is not a just man on earth who does good And does not sin.

Victory from our past:
Rom 8:1-5 NKJV There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

Titus 3:3-Titus 3:6 NKJV For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

Jesus paid the full penalty of our sins on the cross. No one can reverse that fact on a Christian.

Jesus Christ's righteousness has been imputed for us who believe.r

When we sin before God we sin against God, and we should feel guilty. But when we return to God then we are free from it.

God convicts us of sin but the devil condemns us for our sin.

We have three voices in our head. Our voice, the devils voice and the Lords voice. 

The devil tells us to run from God, but the Holy Spirit will ask us to return. The devil will call us hypocrites and that we need to stay away, but God will accept us and have us return.

99% of the time when you feel guilty it is because you are guilty. So return to God.

1 John 1:9 NKJV
[9] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The apostle Paul had to forget his horrible past of killing Christians and look forward to what God says he was to do.

Colossians 2:14 NKJV having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

God has erased the sins that you have committed.

Luke 12:3 NKJV Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

There are 613 laws in the first 5 books of Bible. Those laws are not friendly toward us, they work against us. Those laws are like a finger of guilt pointed right at our face. God nailed those laws to the cross!

Are you in Christ Jesus?

Victory in our present:
Rom 8:7-Rom 8:8 NKJV Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

In our own strength we are utterly destitute. God doesn’t leave us to our own.

Rom 8:11 NKJV But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The very same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, is living inside of you.

1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV - [16] Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

That was reserved for only a few in the Old Testament, but in the new covenant the Spirit is in all of us that our followers of Jesus. 

We have all struggled with the flesh and our faith. At what point will we come to the end of ourselves?

Rom 8:13 NKJV For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

He is not talking about dying physically but spiritually.

We can die to our own sinful passions, by allowing the Spirit of God to fill us.

John 12:24 NKJV Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.

Every seed in an orange has the ability to grow an orange tree.

Die to yourself, live unto Christ!

Have you truly died to yourself?

At what point will we throw up the white flag of surrender, trading our will for God's will?

Rom 8:14-Rom 8:16 NKJV For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Jesus Christ called the Spirit of God a comforter.

God doesn’t put us in a choke hold, we don’t have to be scared or afraid of Him.

God has made us His sons and daughters. He has allowed us to call him Papa! 

The Old Testament mind couldn't even comprehend this thought. But now in the New Covenant the Spirit of God lives in us.

Romans 8:17 NKJV
[17] and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

We learn lessons in the valleys of life.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV
[4] Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

John 14:1-3 NKJV
[1] "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

We need a tough hide and a tender heart to follow Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:28 NKJV
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

How can He work all things for the good when there is so much bad in the world? It is a promise of God.

God works through the hardships of our lives to make us who we never could of made ourselves.

Victory for our future.

Romans 8:31-34 NKJV
[31] What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [32] He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? [33] Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. [34] Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Revelation 12:10 NKJV
[10] Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
[25] Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Romans 8:35-37 NKJV
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter." [37] Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:38-39 NKJV
[38] For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, [39] nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Have you made Christ Jesus Your Lord?

Acts 3:19 NKJV
[19] Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,

You need to come home in order to have refreshing from the Lord.