---God doesn’t want excuses, he wants obedience (Matthew 7:21) ---Many have offered excuses…….
A. BLAMING SOMEONE ELSE (Genesis 3:12) “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.”
1. Adam blamed Eve
B. DENYING RESPONSIBILITY (Genesis 4:9) “And the Lord said unto Cain, ‘Where is Abel thy brother?’ And he said, ‘I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper?’ “ (Exodus 32:22) “And Aaron said, ‘let now the anger of the Lord wax hot: thou knowest the people, that they are set on mischief.”
1. Cain denied his responsibility
2. Aaron denied the Israelites’ responsibility
C. FEAR OF OTHERS (Genesis 20:10-11) “And Abimelech said unto Abraham, ‘What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing?’ And Abraham said, ‘Because I thought, surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake.”
A. LACK OF ABILITY (Exodus 3:11) “And Moses said unto God, ‘Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?’ “ (Exodus 4:10) “And Moses said unto the Lord, ‘Oh my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto they servant; but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.’ “
B. LACK OF FAITH (Exodus 4:1) “And Moses answered and said, ‘But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee:’ “
C. PUTTING OTHERS BEFORE GOD (Luke 9:59, 61) “And he said unto another ‘follow me,’ But he said, ‘Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.’ And another also said, ‘Lord, I will follow thee: but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.’ “ (Luke 14:20) “And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ “
D. PUTTING ANYTHING BEFORE GOD (Luke 14:16-24)
E. FEAR OF TRYING (ONE TALENT MAN) (Matthew 25:24-30)
A. GOD DOESN’T WANT EXCUSES, HE WANTS OUR OBEDEINCE (Romans 6:17-18) ---(1 Samuel 15:22) “…to obey is better than sacrifice.”
B. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOUR IF WE OBEY (Hebrews 5:9)
C. BY OBEYING, WE SHOW OUR LOVE FOR CHRIST (John 14:15)