Red Letters: No Excuses - Pastor Josiah Elias

“Oh Elohim, You’re the God who goes before me 

And Prince of Peace,  and my heart has found a home.”

“Elohim” by Noah Paul Harrison

We sang the song “Elohim,” and these words rang true because my heart has found a home in Him. Thank you, Abba Father.

Seventeen people will be going to Africa tomorrow. Twelve from our church gathered on stage. George Elias is leading the group, which will be helping with crusades and pastor training sessions in Kenya and Uganda. Elder Ed Jarrell read Scripture and led off praying for them.

Elders Rose Necoechea, Richard Dinnen, and Bill Lorenz interceded for individuals as well as prayed aloud for the group’s protection and impact. May God be glorified as they lift Him up!

FC’s mission is to culture like Christ, and FC's vision is Jesus. Last week we learned about adapting, “Making the Shift,” metaphorically from the kitchen to the dining room. Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s home, and the people were closely watching Him to see when Jesus would make a mistake so that they could use it to condemn Him. He was watching them to point out where they were frozen/stuck and to tell them how they could be unstuck and grow in their faith and relationship with the Lord.

This week in Luke 14 we see Jesus noticing that all “who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table…..” Luke 14:7 They were vying for the best seats, however, Jesus warned them to not push for the honored seats but to find the lowest place and sit there. “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 14:11 (NLT)  The heart of the message is humility because the Lord’s kingdom is upside down to the world’s. For example, the first shall be last. The critical blow to death was when Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Lower is the way higher. 

Other examples of the Lord’s kingdom’s way are evident in other verses.

“Don’t demand an audience with the king or push for a place

among the great. It’s better to wait for an invitation to the head 

of the table than to be sent away in public disgrace.” 

Proverbs 25:6-7 (NLT)

“…And all of you, serve each other in humility, for ‘God opposes

the proud but favors the humble.’ So humble yourselves under

the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will life you

up in honor.” 1 Peter 5:5-6 (NLT)

The world glamorizes pride, but pride leads to destruction. The Lord encourages us to be humble, and Jesus modeled humility for us. He took a servant’s role and washed the disciples’ feet. He embodied servant-leadership and wore humility well.

Continuing in Luke 14, Pastor Josiah read verses 12-14 which encouraged the people  including the Pharisees to instead “invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind.

Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” Luke 14:13-14 (NLT) If they just invited their friends, family members, and rich neighbors, those people would invite them back, but the crippled and lame may not be able to reciprocate. Jesus is speaking from an eternal perspective not an earthly one. The eternal perspective is not about personal gain or focus on “What is in it for me?” The posture of the heart matters. Motive matters.

A man at the table where Jesus was exclaimed,”What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!”  Luke 14:15b Was this man talking about what would benefit others or himself? Jesus replied to the man from a different perspective as He told the parable of a man who sent out invitations for a banquet. “When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests,’Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses.”  Luke 14:17-18 (NLT)

The people had accepted the invitations, but when the banquet was ready their excuses began. The first excuse was about surveying their (our) own interests instead of His.  in verse eighteen “One said, ’I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.” Luke 14:18 (NLT) You lose out when you keep counting your own stuff or when you are so absorbed with your stuff. For instance, David was so happy he had such incredible warriors, and he decided he wanted a census taken of his army. The Lord had not asked him to take a count, but he got caught up in the trap of success. God’s presence, will, and direction mean more than David’s army’s numbers. It’s one thing to appreciate blessing. It’s quite another for gratitude to mutate into pride.  Loving things more than the Lord has disastrous results. Demas was a prime example. He deserted Paul because he loved “things of this life…” 

2 Timothy 4:10 (NLT)

The second excuse was business is booming. “Another said,’ I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’”  Luke 14:19 (NLT)  This guest was looking at what was on hand, and he wanted to keep on prospering. However, in the eternal perspective, “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.” Luke 12:21 (NLT)   We know that the enemy  prowls around to see how he can attack you or get you off track. If the enemy can’t get in front of you to stop you,  he’ll try to get behind you and push you.  In other words if one tactic doesn’t work, the deceiver will try another method. We need to be aware of the deceiver’s practices and stay in tune with the Lord Jesus Christ. We must make sure that success looks like what Jesus calls success, not what man labels success. 

The final excuse was relationships with people are more important to me than a relationship with God. “Another said, ’I have a wife, so I can’t come.” Luke 14:20 (NLT) When we make a spouse, child, or friend more important than Jesus, we have made that person an idol. We need to keep people in the proper priority. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33 Pastor Josiah added that he thinks of the upside down funnel. The Lord is Pastor Josiah’s source, and when the funnel tip is plugged into the Lord, then he can direct his love to others appropriately. Putting God first enlarges your capacity to love.

Back to the parable, 

“The servant returned and told his master what they said. His master

was furious and said, ’Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the

town and invite the poor the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’”

Luke 14:21 (NLT)

When there was still room the master instructed the servant to search in the country lanes and beyond to invite more people. “For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.”  Luke 14:24 (NLT) The invited ones who made excuses when the banquet was ready did not make the shift. “Don’t let excuses rob you,” implored Pastor Josiah.

The Paramount Point is You’ll either find a way to feast with the King or an excuse not to.

Let us stay consumed with the things of God so that we can be light and salt in this troubled world.

Calendar:

9/26-Men of Movement at 6:00pm

10/12-Harvest Fest right after the 10:00 service

Pastor Appreciation Day

10/17-LB potluck, worship, and speaker

10/24-Jesus Rally and Midnight Hour

Blessings,

Larry and Annette