Excuses Instead of Service
April 26, 2009 Evening Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We must be willing to obey and then actually obey.
Focus Passage: Exodus 3:10-15, 4:1-17
Supplemental Passage: Psalm 81:15 "Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him”
Introduction: “The commanding officer was furious when nine GIs who had been out on passes failed to show up for morning roll call. Not until 7 p.m. did the first man straggle in. "I’m sorry, sir," the soldier explained, "but I had a date and lost track of time, and I missed the bus back. Being determined to get in on time, I hired a cab. Halfway here, the cab broke down. I went to a farmhouse and persuaded the farmer to sell me a horse. I was riding to camp when the animal fell over dead. I walked the last ten miles, and just got here." Though skeptical, the Colonel let the young man off with a reprimand. However, after him, seven other stragglers in a row came in with the same story-had a date, missed the bus, hired a cab, bought a horse, etc. By the time the ninth man reported in, the colonel had grown weary of it. "Okay," he growled, "now what happened to you?" "Sir, I had this date and missed the bus back, so I hired a cab." "Wait!" the colonel screeched at him. "don’t tell me the cab broke down." "No, sir," replied the soldier. "The cab didn’t break down. It was just that there were so many dead horses in the road, we had trouble getting through."
“Every time I went they asked for money.
The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly.
The seats were too hard and uncomfortable.
The coach never came to see me.
The referee made a decision with which I could not agree.
I was sitting with some hypocrites – they only came to see what others were wearing.
Some games went into overtime, and I was late getting home.
The band played numbers that I had never heard before.
The games were scheduled when I want to do other things.
My parents took me to too many games when I was growing up. Since I read a book on sports, I feel that I know more than the coaches anyhow.
I don’t want to take my children, because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.”
I. Who me? (vs 3:11-12)
a. The first is a pitiful excuse, based in past failures and present doubt.
II. Who are you? (vs 3:13-15) authority
a. God says, “I AM who I AM.” God told Moses it doesn’t have to do with who you are but with who I am.
b. The reason why so many people are not committed to God, quite frankly, they do not know God.
III. What if….? (vs 4:1-9) unknown
a. What ifs are victory killers, zeal quenchers. Excuses will relegate us to second best. Moses was so concerned about what might happen, he didn’t hear what God said would happen.
IV. But I don’t talk so good… (vs 4:10-12) inadequacy
a. Our inadequacies are not problem for God, he made us the way we are. But if we no not make ourselves available then God’s plan for our lives cannot go forward.
V. Pick someone else… (vs 4:13-17) (Moses said “no” to God)
a. God becomes angry at our excuses. His blessings are withdrawn from those who whine.
b. God accommodates Moses’ lack of faith, but Aaron was the one who made the idol during the 10 commandments.
c. God’s perfect will is always better than His permissive will!
Invitation:
