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[ Silence ] [ Noise ] >> The Lord is righteousness in all his ways and holy in all his works.

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[ Inaudible ] Let us pray. This morning, our Heavenly Father, we come thanking Thee for our yet-spared lives. We're so thankful, Lord Jesus, for Your unseen finger of love touching us this morning. Lord Jesus, we just pray that Thou would just be with us, manifest Thy Spirit here this morning,

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that we may know that Thou do endorse our activity here. Lord, we're prayerful and thankful for your many blessings. And we pray, dear God, that in some small way, we may do those things which are holy

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and pleasing in thy sight. Lord, we pray for the pastor of this church who is away today. We pray, dear God, that thou would watch over him

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and bring him back safely to his fold. Lord Jesus, we pray for those who don't know you in the pardon of their sins. And we pray for the sick everywhere.

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And we pray for all the saints of God who are assembling themselves together today in your house of worship. Lord, receive us unto thyself when you call us,

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that everything will be all right. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior, amen. - Amen. - Amen. (gentle piano music)

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[ Music ] [MUSIC] ♪ Think in all his cost ♪ ♪ Count your many blessings ♪

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♪ Lay throughout the rost ♪ ♪ And it will surprise you ♪ ♪ What the Lord has done ♪ ♪ How your blessings ♪

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♪ Make you one with the Lord ♪ ♪ How your blessings ♪ ♪ Seem as old as time ♪ ♪ God have blessings ♪

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♪ Risen from the dead ♪ ♪ God your many blessings ♪ ♪ In the farthest place ♪ ♪ God you have heard ♪

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♪ And with the love of care ♪ ♪ God's your God ♪ ♪ Sweetly be in the world today ♪ ♪ God your many blessings ♪

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♪ Every rock will bow ♪ ♪ And you will be singing as the waves roll on ♪ ♪ I have listened, sing once more, and I'm gone ♪ ♪ I have listened, sing once more, and I'm gone ♪

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♪ I have listened, sing once more, and I'm gone ♪ ♪ God, your meaning, blessings, see from the God above ♪ ♪ God, your blessings, bring them home, from the God above ♪ ♪ God, your blessings, see from the God above ♪

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♪ God, your blessings, bring them home, from the God above ♪ ♪ God, your meaningless things ♪ ♪ Deep on your breast ♪ - Reading from our scripture lesson this morning,

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the gospel according to Saint John, chapter 21, verses one through 14. After these things, Jesus showed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias.

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And on this wise, shewed himself. There together, Simon Peter and Thomas called Didymus and Nathaniel of Cana and in Galilee and the sons of Zebethee and two other of his disciples.

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And Simon Peter said unto them, I go a fishing. And they say unto him, we also go with thee. And they went forth and entered into a ship. Immediately that night they caught nothing.

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And when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore. But the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said unto them, Children, have ye any meat?

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And they answered him, No. And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.

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And they cast their four. now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Therefore the disciple whom Jesus loves saith unto Peter it is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord he girthed his fishers coat unto him for he

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was naked and did cast himself into the sea and the other disciples came in a little ship for they were not far from land but as it were 200 cubits dragged the net with fishes. As soon then as they were come to land they saw a fire of coals there and fish laid thereon and bread. Jesus said unto them bring of the

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fish which ye have now caught. Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of great fishes and hundred and fifty and three and for all there were so many yet not net the net was broken and Jesus said unto them come and dine and none of the disciples just asked him who art thou knowing that it was the

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Lord Jesus then cometh and taketh bread and giveth them and fish likewise and this is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples after that he was risen from the dead may God add a blessing to the reading and and hearers of his holy word.

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It's now prayer time at Ebenezer Church. Those who would like to come down to the altar, we afford you this opportunity at this time. I'm a firm believer that prayer changes things.

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And I also believe that God does forgive. It's very difficult to live a Christian life in times like these. It seems like every time you make one step forward you're forced to make two steps

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backwards. So it's good to be able to come to the throne of grace and petition God for his mercy and his blessings. For all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But I do know that God will hear and answer prayer. Our Father God, it's once more and again that we assemble ourselves around thy

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throne of mercy. Realizing Lord Jesus that we haven't been all that you would have us to be. Realizing, Heavenly Father, that in our meager efforts to please Thee, we have somehow erred along the way. Lord, we just stand here this morning as we've been taught to come to ask Thee to forgive us of our many sins and transgressions against Thee. Heavenly

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And Father, we're just thankful that we're able to come. For Father, we realize that there is nothing in ourselves that would permit us to come if it wasn't for Jesus. And Lord, as we stand here just as we are,

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we pray, dear God, that thou wouldst look down upon us. Look down on us with a vision of mercy. For Father, we all have sinned and come short of thy glory. And Lord, we stand before your judgment seat,

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knowing that judgment cries out for our very blood. But we're so thankful this morning that Jesus Christ took on the sins of us and bore them all the way to Calvary.

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And out there on Calvary, he hung, bled, and died. And he went into the grave for three days. And right this Sunday morning, he got up. Lord, have mercy on us.

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Have mercy, Jesus, for only mercy can be found. Lord, bless those who would have desired to be here this morning but could not. And bless those, Lord, who were just unconcerned.

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Help us this morning, Jesus. Help us, Lord, in such a way that we will go from this place into a world that claims that they do not know you.

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And that we may be effectual change agents, so much so that men will want to come to know you, that they will come crying, "What must I do to be saved?" And that we will have the courage

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and the determination, Jesus, to say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved." Have mercy, Jesus. Have mercy, Father.

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Lord, we need you down here. It gets hard every now and then, Jesus. It seems like we can't even hold up our heads at times. But Lord, just help us to lean and depend on you.

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For Lord, we realize that all strength comes from thee and from thee alone. Whatever the reason that your children come around the altar, Jesus, we pray that you would just address yourself

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to those needs. Not all of us feel well today. Some of us may be suffering from a little bit of illness. Some of us may be grieved in our hearts

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because of some unkind word that was spoken to us. Our children may be running all over the place, but whatever it is, Jesus, have mercy. Please, dear God, have mercy.

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And Lord, when praying days are over, And we as others who have gone before us must quit the walks of this life. We pray dear Jesus that when you call that we will answer. And that you will receive us unto thyself.

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Is in the name and power of Jesus Christ we pray and give thanks. Amen. Thank God. [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[MUSIC PLAYING] [MUSIC PLAYING] (eerie music) [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[MUSIC PLAYING] (sad music) (sniffling) That's good.

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[MUSIC PLAYING] (gentle music) (gentle music) (gentle music)

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(dramatic music) (gentle music) (gentle music) [Music]

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[Music] [Music] ♪ Precious Lord ♪ ♪ Take my hand ♪

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♪ Lead me on ♪ ♪ Let me stand ♪ ♪ I am tired ♪ ♪ I am weak ♪

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♪ I am poor ♪ [Music] ♪ Through the night ♪ ♪ Lead me on ♪

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♪ To the light ♪ ♪ Lend my hand ♪ ♪ Precious mother ♪ ♪ Lead me on ♪

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(sneezes) [Music] [Music] ♪ And I'm here ♪

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♪ There's no more ♪ ♪ Me and you ♪ ♪ In my heart ♪ ♪ In the house ♪

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♪ In the house ♪ ♪ Hold my hand ♪ ♪ Let's not fall ♪ ♪ Wave my hand ♪

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♪ When she's gone ♪ ♪ Leave me there ♪ [MUSIC] ♪ Don't give in ♪

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♪ Don't give in ♪ ♪ In the day ♪ ♪ In the past ♪ ♪ And all the rest ♪

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♪ And the river I say ♪ ♪ I am a king ♪ ♪ Oh, my head ♪ ♪ In the river ♪

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♪ When she's gone ♪ ♪ Leave me alone ♪ [ Music ] ♪ Wish us far ♪

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♪ Take my hand ♪ ♪ Lead me on ♪ ♪ Let me stand ♪ ♪ I am time ♪

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♪ I am free ♪ ♪ I am whole ♪ ♪ Through the storm, through the night ♪ ♪ Lead me on to the light ♪

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♪ Take my hand, precious Lord ♪ ♪ Lead me home ♪ [Music] Let us all say amen.

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[All] Amen. At this hour, it is time for our dedication of our tithes and offers. Will the ushers please come forward. [The sound of the organ being played.]

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[The man reads the words on the screen.] [The organ music continues.] ♪ And love in a chair from the yellow ♪ We sow sparingly, we kill also we spare.

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[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]

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[Music] [Music] [Music] ♪

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♪ Be not deceived, God is not martyred ♪ ♪ What so ever man soweth, that shall he also reap ♪ [Music] Thank you.

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Good morning. We do not have additional announcements, but we do have a visitor's card. As I call your name, will you please stand and remain standing until words of welcome have been extended? Margaret Lane, 1212 West Hemer, Austin, Texas, former member of Ebenezer. If we have other visitors in the audience, will you please stand and give us your name and church home?

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We are so happy to have you visit with us this morning and we do want you to come again. If you are interested in a church home, think about us. Thank you. [music]

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[Music] May we all stand and join in the congregation hymn. [Music] [Music]

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God keep thee open as we speak, Thy Word our heaven and earth, Our God and King forevermore, Thy Word thy people love and love.

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♪ My mother, Lord, gives her to slay ♪ ♪ And out of night, her ears will slay ♪ ♪ But some may dwell where ease abound ♪ ♪ But where my name is hounded and drowned ♪

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♪ On this meadow ♪ ♪ And on this plain ♪ ♪ I'd rather live ♪ ♪ In this able land ♪

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♪ Far away ♪ ♪ Than anywhere ♪ ♪ Oh, where I'd be far away ♪ ♪ I'd want to live ♪

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♪ The noble light of Satan's eyes ♪ ♪ That he had held for faithless love ♪ ♪ The joyful sound, the song of saints and pioneers ♪ ♪ God with thee all, heaven's peace give ♪

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I pray one day this I will learn, for who's to say that I am wrong, or that I need one more year to grow? I want to stay on the open sea And where the sea are going dry But still I pray, still I pray

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Lord lead me on to higher ground ♪ For to be old and to be sad ♪ ♪ I may not be any swifter than ♪ ♪ The higher plane that I have flown ♪

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♪ What worth might be a higher crown ♪ Let us bow for just a moment, please. Our Father God, we come again asking that thou wouldst anoint us with thy power. Open up our understanding, open up our mouths, give us the physical strength in which we

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need to preach thy gospel. We pray dear God that someone will be strengthened and that someone will be saved. We realize this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Giving thanks to God for our being here to Pastor Griffin in his absence, to officers of this church, official staff, Christians and friends.

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I guess the first thing most people would say about me is that, "That boy sure prays a lot." Well, I've come to realize that prayer is a very integral part of Christian life and that every child of God should season his life with prayer.

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Now, I'm just a firm believer in prayer. I guess I've been praying for as long as I could speak practically. And that's something that my parents, my grandparents,

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drilled into me. And I thank God for that. This will probably be one of the shortest sermons y'all have ever heard.

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Y'all probably be able to get home in time catch Oral Roberts or somebody else on TV but I don't I don't believe that it takes a long time to get God's job done so we're just going to let let go and let God before I get started I'd just like to thank pastor Griffin for

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inviting me this morning. I was on my way to New York on company business and I had the pleasure of flying with your pastor to Atlanta. That was his final destination and we had quite a conversation. When he came to realize that I was a preacher he was very, very, very impressed and thankful for it wasn't

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many years ago when I was president of the Austin Citywide Youth that I sat where y'all sitting and sung Zion songs and shouted all over the place and just let God have his way. I had a reason for shouting because I didn't want to do what God told me to do and that was some time ago but nonetheless we are here. Now let us for those of us who

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have our Bibles turn to the 14th chapter of the gospel according to st. Luke and we shan't be long that's the gospel according to st. Luke I see some of my former teachers here mr. Owens my shop teacher god bless his soul he's still looking good help me Lord Jesus and young lady that stood there mrs. hammer

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She and I had some run-ins when I was in elementary school. Help me, Holy Ghost. And she sure could fan that breeze. I thought I was gonna see the last of her in the fourth grade and I looked up and when I was promoted to the fifth grade I looked up and there she was again. I said, "Oh Lord." But she's a fine soul. In the

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fourteenth chapter of the gospel according to st. Luke beginning at verse 16 you will find recorded these words then said he unto them a certain man made a great supper and bade many and sent his servant at supper time to say them that were bidden come for all things are now ready and they all with

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one consent began to make excuse the first said unto him I have bought a piece of ground and I must needs go and see it I pray thee have me excused and another I have bought five yoke of oak oxen and I go to prove them I pray thee me have me excused and another said I have married a wife and therefore I

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cannot come so the servant came and showed his Lord these things then the master of the house being angry said to his servant go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in hither the poor and the lame and the haute and the blind and the servant said Lord it is done as thou hast commanded

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and yet there is room and the Lord said unto the servant go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled. What's your excuse? What's your excuse? I was sitting this past week in a revival being conducted at the Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church.

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And those of you who have had the opportunity to sit in on those meetings, you have come away with pretty much the same feeling as I, in that they have been powerful meetings.

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The Reverend Dr. CBT Smith of the Golden Gate Church has let God use him to the utmost. And I was sitting there as he read this passage of scripture, and he drew as a subject, "Supper is ready."

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And as I listened to him, a thought-- and I attribute this to God's Spirit-- moved within my being. And I had to once again turn to that passage of scripture.

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And the Spirit began to speak to me in light of the excuses that these individuals made, in so much that they were invited to a grand feast, and that they chose to do other things.

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When Jesus wanted to get a spiritual truth across to ordinary men and women, he used the vehicle of the parable. So it logically follows that in order to fully grasp the truth, one must first grasp the meaning of the parable. Now any

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Bible student of today can greatly clarify his or her understanding of Jesus's teachings by first examining the nature and language of the parable. Am I right? Now as the original Greek word says a parable is simply a comparison. It is something that is drawn alongside something else. Huh? Or more specifically

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soul. It's a homely and familiar situation drawn alongside a truth of profound importance. Have I got a witness? Another simple but very sound definition of the parable is simply the one that we've been taught from childhood. A A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. A story true to this

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house of earth but with a window open to the sky. A parable is not an allegory in which words are used figuratively. Neither is it a proverb which is a statement of fact or a tale or a fable a fantasy in which fairies flutter about and animals talk. No that's not what a parable is. A parable is a work of great

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artistry and Jesus surpassed all others in the usage of parables. Am I right? Now Jesus told these parables in terms of things that never changed. Jesus spoke in the barest of fundamentals of human living. So why did Jesus use parables? Well, he must have perceived their intrinsic quality of simplicity. How else

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could he speak in terms that would cause men to search themselves? No doubt Jesus was the greatest parable teller that ever lived. Now it appears that Jesus when he spoke through the vehicle of parables was in essence trying to project and to protect his word. For you see there were a lot of wise men back in

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those days and Jesus chose to reveal himself those things which God would have man to know to the simple of people. Why else do we profit from the use of these parables. Now the parables that Jesus used not only not only did Jesus use them because men remembered stories more easily than bare facts and not only

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to protect his message from overexposure, disinterest, ridicule, and misinterpretation and there was a lot of that but because they reached men as their conscious. When Jesus spoke men were changed. When Jesus spoke people were made different. Jesus when he spoke either did one of two things he either

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drew or he pushed away. It was all in the person's own consciousness. So with all that we are looking at a parable that Jesus told. A certain man made a great supper and he bade many to come and God sent being the certain man his servant at suppertime to say to those persons that were invited come for everything

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is now ready. Are you gonna pray with me? And all of these people that the certain man invited began to make excuses. One had just bought some ground and needed to go check it out so he sent word back to the man that please excuse me for I have some work to do and another having

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bought a team of oxen wanted to check them out so he too sent word by the servant and said inform the man that I have work to do and then there was this young man that had just got married so he didn't even bother to answer his invitation he just he just didn't show up. So when the servant came back and

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told his Lord of these things the master of the house got very upset and being upset he told his servant to go out quickly in the streets and lanes of the city and bring in hither the poor and the maimed and the haught and the blind the people that would never have received an invitation. Now as I look at

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this I see a parallel here I see a parallel in the way that God dealt with the children of Israel in that God time and time again tried to reach out out to the children of Israel and that he called them as his own children yet what did the children of Israel do? They grew disobedient, they worshiped idols,

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they turned their backs on the God that loved them so much. But are we any better? Huh? Amen lights I know it's right in here. Are we any better than the children of Israel? Are we any better than these three individuals here that we're talking about who made excuses? Oh some of the excuses we make are so so so

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important. I think I'm gonna live a while young people. I'm gonna get out there and have all my fun, help me Lord Jesus, and then after I have all my fun, then I'll make a decision to come to the supper. Brother preacher, I'm holding three jobs. I would go to church, but

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have to keep my lights on in my house I have to keep my furniture I have to keep my cars I have to keep food on my table. Excuses what's your excuse? What is it? Lord there are too many hypocrites in the church and they are but that's the best place for them to be in the church for

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you see if you let hypocrites keep you out of God's house then you're just gonna go right where they're gonna go see church I'm talking about making a decision and also making excuses. Well I would go but sister so-and-so is there and she and I don't get along too well.

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What's your excuse? Well brother preacher and I wish I had somebody to pray with me this morning I don't want to be here alone but brother preacher it seems like brother so-and-so just got himself a Cadillac kind of got his nose up in there I just can't seem to come to grips with him. What's your

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excuse? Well I'm living a good life. I do I'm living a good life. Reminds me that a certain young man came to Jesus and told Jesus that he had been abiding by the the law since he was a young man and Jesus told him you're not far, you're not far from the kingdom, you're not there yet but you're not far. What's your

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excuse? What is your excuse that will keep you from making a decision to accept Christ? I live good enough, I live good enough, I live a good moral life, I've never been in trouble with the law. I Love my wife I

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Love my kids. I pay my taxes. I work a good steady job. I Have a nice home in a respectable neighborhood But I stopped by to tell you children that living good ain't enough Huh?

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There gonna be a lot of good people in here oh I know it's right amen benches They're gonna be a lot of good people down yonder Why

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Because even in our goodness We're still nothing I'll come on here y'all hear me. We're still nothing So we make all these excuses

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I'm not a big sinner. So why talk to me about this business of church? Well, I'll start by to tell you that even though your sins may not be like murder

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and adultery, fornication, there's still sins. And God punishes sin. God will not look upon sin. But what's your excuse? Why is it so hard for people to accept Jesus Christ? Is it because of what they have to give up? Count up the

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cost. Jesus said, "Now if any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up the cross and follow me daily. Christianity isn't a Sunday only religion. Whereas I'm pious and what have you on Sunday but I live like hell Monday through Saturday. It's not like that. Oh I know it's not good I'm not gonna get many amens out of

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that but it's right anyhow I don't believe in sugar-coating nothing. Why is it so hard that we can't accept Jesus? What's your excuse? Just what is your excuse? Young people what is your excuse? Young adults, what is your excuse? Middle-aged people, what is your excuse?

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Are you waiting till you get good enough? Is that what it is? Well I'm afraid you're for a big letdown, for you cannot get good enough to reach up and grab God. Christianity is not a religion where as we do to please God in terms of our meager efforts. That's not what Christianity is all about. Christianity is what God did through Jesus on Calvary in

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our behalf. You see Jesus had every right to make an excuse if he wanted to. There he was sitting up in heaven with his father. Huh? Are you gonna pray with us this morning? And he had every reason not to come down here but he loved us so.

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He loved us so. He could have easily said, "No, we can just let man just go on and do as he pleases, and that'd be the end of it. Help me, Lord Jesus." But no! While we were yet sinners, in that due time, in that appointed time, Jesus took on the form of earthly man and came down here to walk among us. Help me Lord Jesus. And as he walked among us for these 33 years,

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he showed us just what heaven was going to be like. For in Jesus, heaven was all wrapped up. Are you going to pray with us this morning? Help me Lord Jesus. Help me Lord Jesus. You see Jesus had every reason not to come

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But because he came and showed me the way and I have to make it personal I Have life And I have that life Eternal

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Do you have it? Or are you sure Do you have eternal life smile or something?

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Be happy in it praise God for it give thanks always But we got an excuse We always have excuses, huh? I don't feel too good Well if you wait on feelings you're gonna miss out on something

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It's not in how you feel. It's in simply trusting. Trusting that Jesus Christ will save you from your sins. That's the biggest excuse that any person can make. Well I don't feel

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anything. It's not in feelings. Sugars, my dears, children, it's not in feelings. For you're not going to feel that you're saved every day. Huh?

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Some mornings you're going to wake up and you may even look over there at your husband or your wife or walk in there and look on your children or just look at yourself and say "mm, mm, mm." Huh?

00:50:26.380 - 00:50:52.280

Because I know I don't feel it all the time, but I know that Jesus saved my soul. And I'm glad about it. When I was out there in the world, not knowing, not caring about myself or anybody else out there, Jesus died for me.

00:50:52.280 - 00:51:19.400

And I'm glad about it. I was sinking deep in sin, far from a peaceful shore, very deeply staying within, sinking to rise no more. But the master of the sea heard my despairing cry and he threw out a life raft at me. He threw out a line to me and from them waters lifted me

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And sleep in my now somebody said it was love That lifted me what lifted you? Was it your money in your pocket? Was it the job that you have was the clothes that you wear?

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The car that you drive the schools that you go to the food that you eat. No, it was love that lifted [Chatter] All children I wish you could just...

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[Chatter] Help me Lord Jesus. [Chatter] What's your excuse? Huh? What's your excuse?

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Why deny Jesus an opportunity to save your soul? [Chatter] Why? You want to party?

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You want to fool around and mess around you want to be with the in crowd? Huh, you want to be able to go to these different different organizations and functions? Christianity won't let you do that, huh? No, that's not so

00:52:37.300 - 00:52:59.580

That's not so if you read your Bible you'll come to realize that some of those things are right Help me Lord Jesus. Oh, I wish I had some praying people here But that's all right Lord I got a witness up yonder I'm an accomplished about help me Lord Jesus. I

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Thank God For Jesus Do you see I made those excuses? But see I made excuses twice first of all to become a Christian. I made excuses

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See I was popular person now. You know I could I could go here and go there people say hi Larry How you doing? What's happening brother? You know I could you know I could do those things I Was this I was that and I was the other you know I had I was You know

00:53:37.100 - 00:54:02.940

Yeah Lord Jesus. I was well known among my peers. That was my first excuse for not wanting to become a Christian because I was having fun out there. Huh? Some of y'all were having fun out there too. Help me Lord Jesus. But then after I became a Christian I knew there

00:54:02.940 - 00:54:31.360

was something else to do because the Spirit of God moved upon me and I began to make more excuses then I found myself trying to get back where I came from going back to that popular you know all that hoorah and then well you know what young people do I try to get back there but something just kept pulling me.

00:54:31.360 - 00:55:04.800

At 14 years of age we were in a meeting citywide youth over at St. James Church and the Lord told me to preach my word and the first thing I said to myself is who me? Me? Man I don't know the first thing about preaching but it seemed like all everybody else knew it but me I didn't want to accept that and I began to make

00:55:04.800 - 00:55:32.520

excuses I love singing too much I love partying too much I love getting high too much oh yeah I did it help me Lord Jesus I don't think there was anybody could beat me doing it and I did it good and I don't mind telling them because see I see where I've been. Huh? Every now and then it's good to look back and reflect.

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And some of y'all have some of the best testimonies. Huh? I got a witness up in the choir. They I can tell you. But I made excuses. And God saved my physical life a total of three times.

00:56:02.320 - 00:56:21.920

Three separate car wrecks where the cars were totaled. And I didn't have a scratch on me. Not a scratch. And if you could see pictures of that car, of those cars,

00:56:21.920 - 00:56:45.040

you would shake your head and say, good God almighty. So you see, church, don't get wrapped up in making excuses for your walk with Christ. For greater is he that is in you.

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Huh? Won't y'all see that? Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

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Huh? And if you would simply commit all that you have unto him, he will keep it until that day. Huh?

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I believe that. I believe that with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength. As we extend the invitation to Christian discipleship, don't make an excuse because the devil's good at putting them in your mind. You know that. Y'all know that devil. He's a mean little bug ain't he?

00:57:32.760 - 00:57:58.760

And every time the door opens, he comes in. And if you give him a crack in your life, you sure will. Give him a little bitty crack, he'll off with it. People look for a change on the outside. Religion, quote unquote, is that life that is exhibited on the outside.

00:57:58.760 - 00:58:18.760

Christianity is that little wheel that turns on the inside. And then it just kind of, you know like cancer, it just spreads all over you. That's what Christianity is. make an excuse and I wouldn't let the devil cheat me out of an opportunity to know the

00:58:18.760 - 00:58:37.880

Lord. Too many people try to live for tomorrow. God isn't the God of tomorrow, even though he holds tomorrow in his hands. But God is the God of the right now.

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like the old folks used to say, "at the ret'n'n'a." Huh? You're not promised that you're going to see tomorrow. You're not promised that you're going to walk out of the sanctuary at the close of service. But one thing you are promised, the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Old man Paul sure knew how to write that stuff didn't he?

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I'm glad that when he said for the wages of sin, you know, if he had put a period there for the wages of sin is death. Think about it. But notice, he had to put a comma there, put the word "but" which is a word of condition. But the gift of God is eternal life. God is a giving God. Not only is he a giving God, but God is a forgiving God. Think about it.

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I'm very interested in salvation because I don't want anyone, whether friend or foe, to go to hell. Little babies, it's for you too. God has to go with respect first, all right? - All right.

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- No matter how young you are, no matter how old you are, no matter how learned you are, or what happens, God wants to save your soul, Jesus Christ. And it's so simple.

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If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, he shall be saved. [BLANK_AUDIO]