Beg Off

How many of you uh this is a poll. We'll we'll call this uh Barnum pole. How's that? I I don't Have anybody ever had a pollster call your house and ask you? I don't I don't know that I have. I'm sure some most of you have. I'm not. But how many of us in this room How many of us like it when our family and friends get together for a party? And that's how you show it, too, huh? I mean really, you enjoy the fact that you get to get together. You get to get together. Is that even English proper? With your family and friends and have a party. Somebody say, "I like a party." Come on. We are now entering into what we would call most of us a season of getto togethers. a season of coming together, of parties, of holidays, and and laughter and and things that we spend time with one another and and we we we enjoy talking about memories. How about How about this? How many enjoy just a good old birthday party? Come on, just a good old birthday party. I I the more I the more I get, Brother Jeff, the more I like my birthdays, you know? They're they're they're so wonderful to me right now. I I do remember that uh I I want to share this with you and I probably have before but it's worth repeating in this case. Friends and family come together celebrate a birthday for I remember when my mother turned 70 years old. We had a surprise birthday party for her. You know that's a milestone. How many would like to see 70? Yeah, I know I would. And that's a milestone for my mom. And so my brothers and my sister and we we got together and planned the event was going to be at a certain location at a certain time. Uh you know that a that a good birthday party doesn't just happen, brother. You got to work for it, brother. You know what I'm talking about? You got you got to make sure that you do all the preparations. And so so we made this party for my mother when she turned 70. All of us had a party in it. Man, there were brothers and sisters and there were family and friends and love. There was 75, 100 folks showed up for her 70th birthday party. And when she walked into that room, she thought she was coming to a Sunday school teacher training session. That was what was told her. And so she comes to church fellowship hall knowing that her having 30 plus years of teacher experience, she was going to be able to say something, Chesn, she was going to be able to get in there. I'm going this party. And she walks in or or into this meeting, I should say. She walks into the room and it's the Come on, y'all ready? Y'all help me. Let's Let's reenact it for a minute. She comes through the door and everybody yells, "SURPRISE!" THERE YOU GO. BOY, she was She about fell down, stepped backwards. My brother was there from Florida. My other brother, I mean, man, every we was all there celebrating. Can I share this with you? Don't be mad at my mom. She was a She was a fan of the king. And we had even a standup of the king of rock and roll standing there. She walked around, turned the corner, and there was Elvis. True story. True story. We sent that cutout home with her. And time and again, she would get out of bed early morning, go get a drink of water, and Elvis would scare the beookies out of her. And it was great just knowing that. No, I'm joking. I'm joking. A lot of fun, a lot of great memories. We also did that for her when she turned 80, but Elvis didn't make it to the building anyway. I I think that having a celebration is a great time for memories. It's a great time to enjoy each other. It doesn't mean that everybody's got their act together. It really doesn't mean that perfect group of people have gathered together. It simply means that the challenges and the tasks of life diminish for the moment as you gather together with family and friends and you enjoy each other's company. Again, we we are at a place in in our yearly calendar where these things will begin to transpire more than more.

I am thoroughly looking forward to Thanksgiving. Come on, peacon pie lovers. warmed up just 15 seconds in a microwave with a big old scoop of vanilla bean ice. Come on, Seth. Don't let me down. Come on. Watch this. Pumpkin pies. Anybody a taker of pumpkin pie? Yeah. Yeah. Watch the hands go down. Mince meat pie. Thank you, brother Jeff. We're all over that one, aren't we? The only reason I mention those things is when we start talking about food and fellowship, we realize that the older we get, the more established we are, the more we're lazy. Call it what you want. We understand that there's something about a good party, but everybody's GOT TO BE INVOLVED. MAN, there's nothing worse than a terrible party. We were all afraid mom would walk in at 70 and go, "Yeah, I'll do it. Come on. That that that face, you know. You remember that face? Well, he said make fun. You know, that's what he's afraid of. But she didn't. Now, she had to get over near heart attack. But anyway, I I want you to understand something today. That many times there's a lot of work that has to go into a time of fellowship and fun. people people show up, but they've got to somehow feel the connection to the event, right? They got to somehow recognize that working and playing is okay. But then when you're going to take time to celebrate someone, and in this particular case, a party, then there's a lot of work that has to go into it. It simply is not going to simply fall into place. But it makes us who we are. Listen to me carefully. I I recall through my life being at these festivities and thinking, "Man, this is really neat to watch my grandparents or my uncles or aunts talk together and and and reminisce about their old days." And and hey, I don't y'all kids might want to listen up every once in a while. I found out things about my parents I didn't know about, but I didn't hear them around the dinner table. I heard them at a celebration. That remind me of time your daddy was out there in that car got to run down the street 109 mph. I'm like what? And you yelled at me. Come on somebody help me now. Childhood friends they gathered together. Family they laugh. They they enjoy each other's company. And what's happening here listen carefully is there is a reason that they have come together in agreement. They are celebrating a certain thing. I I I don't want to make this a solemn moment right now, but I I think it merits mentioning that too many times we find ourselves too busy to enjoy the agreement with others at a celebration. Is that okay? We we think to ourselves, you know what? I'll catch the next party we throw for them or I'll go to the next reunion and that that'll just have to do. All of us are guilty of that. And and and the fact is is so many times we we reach a point in our lives and and then it's too late. That person doesn't make it to the next year's event. We didn't wish that. We didn't hope that. IT'S JUST THE way life happens. I I'm just here today to remind you of the facts of life that WHEN IT COMES TO CELEBRATING with others and rejoicing with others and going over memories with others that you better take advantage of it. Ah, how many of you young parents in here have heard pastor say, "You better not blink. Your children are going to grow up and here they go and next thing you know they're on their own and they don't want you to help them. I do it myself." And then they're going to be in high school. And then they're going to be in heaven knows where. And then you're going to wonder, "Wait a minute. Hold on a second. How come I no longer have influence?" And I'm just giving you some facts of life. And all the parents in here that know what I'm talking about, would you at least give me a big nod? Time moves quickly. I'm I'm standing here simply today talking about some of the joys of life, the joys of the days ahead ahead. I I I would say that many are thinking about a previous time that you spent with family and friends. The fact that you were invited into that atmosphere of agreement makes you feel like that you were somebody, but all too quickly it passes and and you no longer in have the opportunity to enjoy that time.

Let let me bring a a scriptural reference to this today, if you will. Luke, one of the gospels in chapter 14. Let me read to you one of one of these stories. Verse number 15. When one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, "Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God." Verse 16. Then said he unto him, "A certain man made a great supper." Everybody say, "A great supper." Some translations that great supper would be mega supper. Big, large. Everybody say big. Large. And he bade many. Verse 17. Sent his servant at supper time to say unto them that were bidden, come for all things are now ready. They all with 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. Pray ye pray thee have me excused. Another said, "I I bought five yolk of oxen, and I now have to go prove them, and I pray thee, have me excused." Another said, I've married a wife, therefore I cannot come. It's wonder funny how they weren't excused. Anyway, so that servant came, shued his lord these things. Then the master of the house being everybody say angry said to his servant, "Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in hither the poor, the maimed, the halt, the blind." The servant said, "Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room." The Lord said unto the servant, "Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Mega supper. Mega event. That's how the translation would have referred to it. There were so many that were invited to this particular event. It was it was the talk OF THE TOWN, IF YOU WILL. This particular person is having a party, having a get together. Many were invited. Those who were of stature, those who were of place in the community, those who maybe were not as well but were attached to the family, they were invited to come, neighbors and co-workers and friends and family. And they were to come together. It doesn't say why. Doesn't say the party was going to happen for this reason or that reason. It simply says, I need my servants to put together an event. Let there be plenty of food. Let there be games. Let there be play settings. and decorations. In fact, bring in extra tables and extra seating. Let's deck all those tables out. Let's make this an opportunity where those can people can come in that we invite and they can enjoy themselves at this mega supper. Everybody say a big event. Amen. And lo and behold, the Bible says that when they had prepared and done all the work for that, that the multitude, the whole group of them in one consent begin to say, "I don't think I'm going to make it to your event. I'm not sure that this is what I need to do. I don't think it's important enough for me to change my schedule to fit your schedule." Mind you, I'm using some phrases that you and I might would hear today in in our culture. But something happened when all of the preparations were made and everything came together the way that the master of the house wanted it to be. The group of the inviters, the servants, they went out and they let everybody know, hey, it is time FOR THE CELEBRATION. WOULD YOU COME? Would you come? The food is prepared. The tables are set. Everything's in place. The music has started. the Photoshop or the photo images are on the wall. All the stuff's come together. And yet the Bible says one after another begin to make excuse. When I looked at this, I I wonder how is it that the Lord of the house can put all of this effort and energy into this particular event, all of the expense, all of the planning, all of the committees put together. AND FOR HIM TO STAND THERE and hear from SOMEONE WHO SHOULD RESPECT the fact that he invited them, for them to simply say to him, I do not want to be at your celebration. I am not coming to your festivities. I'm not going to be able to make it. IN FACT, THE BIBLE SPECIFICALLY says in this particular writing and the letters are read in your Bible, the way Jesus is telling it is they began to give excuse.

I've come to declare to somebody that word excuse is very specific in its meaning and basically it comes from a translation of to beg off. Follow me for a moment. IN OTHER WORDS, I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SET and prepared all these THINGS FOR ME, BUT I'M GOING TO LOOK at the one that you sent to make sure I know what's going on. I'm going to beg FROM THEM. PLEASE, I I'm not going to be able to make it. PLEASE UNDERSTAND, MY INTEREST IS NOT IN THIS. UH UM IN FACT, THEY EVEN DECLARED IT so much as to say, "Look, I I've GOT TO GO TRY OUT THESE OXS that I bought OR I I GOT TO GO MAKE SURE THE land is what I've bought and paid for." And the festivities that you've invited me to, THEY DON'T NEARLY TAKE the level of importance as your owner or your master said. I RISE TO THIS SACRED desk today to simply tell you this that WHEN YOU BEG OFF SOMEONE in the old SCHOOL VERNACULAR, WHAT YOU ARE demonstrating to them is a lack of desire to want to be with them. IT IS SUCH a great insult in that particular culture for somebody to put together an event with all of THE DETAILS AND ALL the level that they would put it and for you to simply say, "I'm not coming. I'm not interested. It is not my cup of tea. YOU SEE, IN 2026, I'VE COME AS A pastor today to help somebody. Open up your ears and listen to what I'm saying. I don't have an axe to grind. I don't have a gun to shoot. I have no reason to be angry or mad. But what WE HAVE IDENTIFIED IN THAT particular story IS WHAT YOU AND I FIGURE in our culture IS TO SAY, I DON'T HAVE TO SHOW UP ANYHOW. THEY DON'T COME ON. THEY THEY THEY'RE good over it. THEY WERE INVITING ME JUST BECAUSE I WAS IN THE CHURCH FAMILY. I don't know them. I don't owe them. I don't have anything invested in them. Therefore, if they invite me and I say no or I simply don't SHOW UP, IT OUGHT NOT mean anything to them. But the fact remains, friend, listen to pastor, is we can come into the house of THE LORD GOD AND WHEN THE MASTER HIMSELF HAS ESTABLISHED I HAVE PREPARED A table before YOU UH THAT IS ALL YOU'LL need for the week in FRONT OF YOU. SOME OF US ARE TERRIBLE AT MAKING EXCUSES, AT BEGGING OFF, SAYING, "GOD, UH, YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M going through. UH, YOU REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND where I am right now. UH, YOU KNOW, FRIEND, THERE'S NO HARM IN BUYING LAND." THAT'S TRUE. THERE'S NO HARM IN BUYING OXEN. THAT'S TRUE. UH BUT SOMETHING HAPPENS UH WHEN OUR ATTITUDE CHANGES UH AND we begin to LOOK FOR EXCUSES UH ON NOT SPENDING TIME WITH THE MASTER BUT RATHER WE ARE LOOKING FOR WHAT we want and what WE DESIRE. I'VE COME TO TELL SOMEBODY TODAY WITH ALL THE LOVE IN MY HEART AND ALL THE PASSION AND COMPASSION THAT I CAN HAVE. YOU CAN SIT ON A CHURCH PEW, YOU CAN PUT ON THE RIGHT SUIT, YOU CAN WEAR THE RIGHT DRESS AND YOU CAN DECORATE YOURSELF THE WAY YOU WANT TO. UH, AND YOU CAN ACT LIKE YOU KNOW JESUS AND EVEN CALL YOURSELF CHRISTLIKE. BUT UNTIL YOU RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE MASTER AND YOU RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF BEING WITH JESUS MORE THAN THOSE AUCTION YOU JUST BOUGHT OR THAT LAND YOU JUST BOUGHT, BUT INSTEAD YOU SAY, "LORD, IF YOU'VE INVITED ME INTO YOUR PRESENCE, I'M GOING TO DO AWAY WITH MY AGENDA AND I'M GOING TO GET UP CLOSE TO YOU." WHY? BECAUSE YOU SPREAD A TABLE THAT THE ENEMY CAN ONLY WISH FOR. YOU DO IN MY LIFE IN A MOMENT THAT THIS WORLD CANNOT DO IN A LIFETIME. I THINK SOMETIMES AS APOSTOLIC WE CONFUSE THE FACT THAT BECAUSE WE PULLED IN THE PARKING LOT, WE OUGHT TO BE ABLE TO CLOCK IN AND CLOCK OUT. AND ALL THE WHILE THE MASTER SAYING, "UH, I WISH YOU WOULD REMEMBER THE TIME I PICKED YOU UP OUT OF A DIRTY SPOT IN THE ROAD." UH, AND NOBODY COULD RECOGNIZE YOU. I WISH SOMEHOW YOU WOULD REMINISCE ABOUT THE TIME IN AN ALTAR WHEN YOU POURED YOUR GUTS OUT BEFORE GOD AND HE CAME IN AND TOUCHED YOUR LIFE. I WISH UH FOR A MOMENT THAT YOU WOULD REMEMBER YOU OUGHT TO BE DEAD, BUT I BROUGHT YOU LIFE, my master, my savior, my counselor, my creator. When I consider the things that he has done and the places that he has brought me through. When I stand here today and I say, "Lord, I am so sorry for my excuses. I'm sorry, Lord, that I begged you off. Lord, I I'm not going to be able to love you today. I'm not going to be able to demonstrate to you my love and appreciation for you. See, we live in a world, and please follow my heart for a moment. I'm reaching for somebody. We live in a world that thinks that Christianity is a cross around the neck and a Sunday bulletin. We live in a world that says as long as you've believed, peace loved, everybody's going to go to heaven anyhow. If that were the case, follow it closely. There would have been no need for the cross of Calvary, the blood of Jesus, and the words of Jesus. Father, forgive them. There would be no need for that because then you could fabricate your own way to heaven. And therefore, you could decide on how you wanted to celebrate him. But I've come to tell somebody, eye has not seen and ear has not heard what he's prepared for those who are going into that place. Listen carefully, please. I've come today to help somebody recognize the fact we are living in a day that laziness and complacency is going to drive you into a grave that you'll not be able to get out of. I am reaching for you today to let you know I'm not asking for you to jump up and down 30 times, run a lap around this church to demonstrate how much you love the Lord. But I will tell you this. There's going to come a time in your life that you're going to recognize, I have lost the moment. I let it pass me by. I didn't think it important enough. In fact, I begged it off. I asked for an excuse instead of plugging into what God was doing. I negated the things of God. And therefore, I suffer for them. Now,

some of you parents, listen to your pastor, please. I'm going to speak into your life for a minute. Some of your teenagers are going to lose their soul to hell right now if you don't get in their life and help them to recognize the fact that Jesus Christ died for them. And they better remember the only reason they were born into this world was to glorify and honor God. And you're going to let them do what they're doing on their phones and on their devices. And they're going to die and go to a devil's hell. And you're going to come to me after the fact and say, "Pastor, I don't know why I lie. I don't know what happened. They just went on their own merry way. I don't care. Listen, if mom and dad, if you got to go in their bedroom in the midnight hour, lay over them as they try to sleep and scream the name Jesus, you better do that. You better shake them out of their slumber and help the Lord God to know you mean business as a parent. Why? Because you got no excuse. There is something about committing your ways to the Lord, committing your children to the Lord. SOME OF YOU RIGHT NOW, PARENTS, I'm loving you right now. Help me. I'm loving you right now. You've got all of this regret about your children that are not living for God. and you wonder what in the world happened. I declare the whole council of God said, "IT AIN'T OVER until it's over." And you can lay all upon them. YOU CAN CRY OUT TO THE LORD GOD ON THEIR BEHALF. AND YOU CAN DECIDE, I'M COMING TO THE HOUSE OF GOD. WHY? BECAUSE MY CHILDREN MADE SOME mistakes and I'M GOING TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR THEM. I WONDER TODAY UH IS THERE A MOM OR A DAD THAT WOULD SAY, "I'M NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY EXCUSE ANYMORE, BUT I'M GOING TO PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS OVER MY CHILDREN, OVER MY GRANDBABIES. I'M GOING TO SCREAM JESUS. I'M GOING TO REACH TO HEAVEN FOR THEM. UH I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP. UH I'M GOING TO KEEP PRAYING. I'M GOING TO KEEP WORSHIPING. I'M GOING TO KEEP LOVING JESUS. IS THERE A MOM OR A DAD THAT WOULD SAY, "CHILD, YOU ARE STILL UNDER MY INFLUENCE. UH, AND YOU MIGHT NOT LIVE UNDER THIS ROOF. UH, BUT I'LL MAKE YOUR HOUSE A LIVE IN HELL." AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD STOMPS INTO YOUR HOUSEH. I WONDER, IS THERE A MOM OR A DAD THAT WOULD SAY, "UH, DEVIL, NOT TODAY. NOT TODAY. I'M NOT MAKING EXCUSES. I'M SIMPLY GOING TO REMEMBER THE GOOD THINGS OF GOD AND CELEBRATE THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IN MY LIFE.

Sat in my office this morning saying, "Lord, help me to understand what this means." And very simply, the master says to the servant who came to him, "We told everybody it was time and they begged off." Oh, so that's how it is. Okay. You know what? Are the tables set? Yes, sir. Is the food prepared? It is. So, guess what we're going to do? We're still going to have a celebration. But who are we going to invite? Huh? I want you to go and I want you to find those that are sick. Those that have no reason to come into my house, those who have made bad choices and decisions or gotten into a mess on their own, those that are lame, those that don't. I want you to go and invite them and tell them to come to my house. Hey, can I tell you where we live in 2026? That's what you and I are trying to do. We're trying to reach into those that are broken, those that are hurting. Anybody understand what I'm talking about? We're trying to make a way to where those who don't want to come in the house of the Lord do not affect those who really need to be in the house of the Lord. Come on. I'd rather have 15 people in here that say, "I love the Lord and I don't look good." than to have one holier than thou stand there and say, "Look at me. my piety. So here here is what it is. I WANT YOU TO GO and I want you to take the word, the invitation to the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. Huh? Imagine the maimed out in the street being told, "Hey, if you want, there's a party right up here in this house." the blind. Where is the house? Get a hold of a main guy and he could I don't I don't know. Y'all help each other. Listen. Listen, y'all. Y'all think that's THAT'S WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, BROTHER SAID. THAT'S WHERE WE ARE. WE'RE TRYING TO HELP FOLK THAT ARE BUSTED AND BROKEN COME INTO THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

But I don't bring THIS HOME TO US TODAY. 2026 SERVANTS SAID, "LORD, WE'VE DONE THAT WHAT YOU'VE COMMANDED, BUT SOMETHING IS STILL HAPPENING." WHAT'S THAT? THERE IS STILL ROOM in your house. There are still tables set out. There are still DECORATIONS SET OUT. THERE ARE STILL CHAIRS SITTING THERE. THERE'S ENOUGH FOOD TO CHOKE AN ARMY. THERE'S ALL THE STUFF THAT COULD EVER BE WANTED. AND THEREFORE, THE GUY STOOD AT THEM SERVANTS AND SAID, "HEY, YOU NEED TO KNOW SOMETHING THEN. I WANT YOU TO GO TO THE HIGHWAYS, THE HEDGES. GO TO THE PLACE THAT YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHO THEY ARE. GO TO THE DEEP SPOTS THAT THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW THEY GOT THERE. GO TO THE PLACE WHERE THEY STINK AND THEY SMELL AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING UP OR DOWN. I WANT YOU TO GO IN THE UGLIEST, MOST GROSSEST PERSON YOU CAN FIND. YOU TELL THEM THE MASTER IS HAVING A PARTY AND YOU ARE INVITED. I WANT YOU TO KNOW, FRIEND, THERE WAS A REASON THAT THIS MASTER WAS DOING WHAT HE COULD DO. AND THE ONLY WORD I WANT TO GIVE YOU TODAY, THAT MY HOUSE MAY BE FILLED. Sit your chest and stop clapping. There ain't nothing about what you're doing that's pretty, upright, or outstanding, right? And you don't have enough holy garments to give any one of them. But when YOU UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF THE CELEBRATION, I am not begging this off Lord. They don't look good. Fact is, Lord, or ain't their color. And the fact remains, Lord, they are so broken and bruised and beat up. They're all tattooed up. They're all pierced up. They got all this stuff in them. They got all this mentality, all this mindset. They've come some of from some of the worst situations that you could ever imagine. But Lord, one thing I know is this. You want your house full. Therefore, I'm going to invite those that are maimed and weak. Yes. But I'm also going to talk about those that are in the highways and hedges that nobody will go get. Why? Because he wants his house full. I've come today on this Sunday afternoon, CAC, to let you know. Do not beg off any longer what the Lord is trying to get you to do. UH THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE LAMB OF GOD THAT IS WORTH TALKING ABOUT. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB THAT'S WORTH SHARING WITH SOMEBODY. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GIVE THEM ANYTHING EXCEPT JESUS AND AN INVITATION TO KNOW HIM. STOP MAKING EXCUSES. IF I HAD MY ACT TOGETHER, I'D DO MORE. IF I HAD THAT COLOR SUIT, I'D LOOK BETTER. IF I HAD THAT KIND OF TIE, I'D BE OKAY. IF I COULD GET MY HAIR TO LOOK THAT WAY, IT'D BE RIGHT. I'VE COME TO TELL YOU, IF YOU'LL GET THEM IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, HE CAN CHANGE THEM, REARRANGE THEM, AND MAKE THEM NEW. HERE'S THE PROBLEM. WHEN THEY COME INTO THE MASTER'S HOUSE, BROTHER JEFF, and they're UGLY AND THEY'RE GROSS AND THEY'RE IN THE HEDGES AND THEY'RE IN THE HIGHWAYS AND THEY'RE IN THE DITCH AND NOBODY WANTS THEM. It is still the servants's job to wash their feet and therein is our problem. Lord, forgive us for the mentality of hand sanitizer. Co did us no favors. There's a world out there that doesn't look like you, smell like you, work like you, have anything to do with what your life is. But the master still says to the servant, "Go get them." Oh, that's that's a high that's a place I don't even want to go. Go. There's there's hedges. They're high. They're sleeping up under bushes and all. Yeah. Yeah. Go, go. I want to have some explaining to do. Y'all still with me? But master, what if they steal the silverware? What if they break a plate? What if they drop crystal glass? What if they try to walk out with a roll of toilet paper from our bathroom? Y'all laugh if you want to. I know that happens. I tell you what, this house has got to be filled.

Can anybody here help me today know how many mansions are in heaven? How many places are there for people? Come on, you give a number. 144,000. Okay, you justify that by the word. I can tell you how big it is. It's as big as the master makes it. But it's this size. Yeah, it's this square. Yes, it is. And how many rooms are inside of it? Are they this wide or that wide? I don't know. See, all of us live in 2026. If it ain't 3,000 square feet with seven bathrooms and six bedroom, we ain't going to do it. And the Lord is saying, you get to heaven, you don't need that. You know why? Cuz you ain't going to be in that house you think you need. Where am I going to be? Well, according to the word of God, I'm going to be screaming, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts." I'm going to be out on the street saying, "Oh, look at here. Look at here. What a wonderful day it could be." Yeah. I'm not in there nailing up stuff in the living room that look good. I'm not in there arranging the couch, vacuuming the floor. It don't matter. Why? Because there'll be one thing that I'm interested in. What's that? That I may see Jesus. That I may see him. I stand here today to help us to understand the story that Jesus gave was not simply about a party. It wasn't about the celebration. The fact remains is that it's about those who were invited to come were of every level, every position in every place.

John 14 verse 5 says this. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whether thou goest, and how can we know the way? Jesus says to him, you ready for it? I am the way. Who? What? Me? But you're not a direction. Oh, you better believe I'm a direction. Yes, sir. You better know I'm a direction. Not only am I the way, but if you think it's not right or whatever, then you need to know the truth because I am also that truth. Well, now hang on a minute. If that's the case, then what is truth? Yeah, that's the question of our 2026 culture. What is truth? I I watched a little diddy the other day about AI and it was all I didn't know that AI could generate people. Am I right? Is that right, Sarah? Is that right? I need to use the AI. Make me look this way. Enter. Come on. Some of y'all know what I'm talking about. It's amazing to me. In fact, these young folk are showing me stuff. Somebody can take a picture. It's like, but make this look right. I'm like, wait a minute. How is that even possible? I saw somebody the other day look 40 years younger. I I know that ain't true. No, it's a lie right there. And I know they they don't weigh that much. Why? How am I going to know where to tell them to come? Jesus, you tell them I'm the way. How are they going to get there? Because I'm the way. How are they going to know it's the right way? Because I'm the truth. And how are they going to know? How are they going? Because I'm the life also that comes with that way and that truth.

Stand with me, would you please? I still believe that Jesus is all in all. I am still convinced that you and I have a purpose and a job to do. We don't come every Sunday and Wednesday and any time in between because we're trying to be a busy church that fills up everybody's calendar. We don't come just for that. What we do say is, "Lord, how can we please you and help me, Lord, not to be lazy and beg you off?" No, I don't care about that. I I I'm convinced that the Lord Jesus loves You ready for it? Everybody. Now, what we have to settle is, well, what about a Sodom Hussein? Or what about a Hitler? I've heard that so many times, especially when I taught in Bible school. Yeah. Now, would Jesus save Hitler? He saved you. Oh, but hair lo right is terrible at shaving. Oh, some of y'all missed that so bad. You know what I do know is this. I've had people say to me, "You're a preacher, right? Is that person saved?" I don't know, but I know the judge and his name is Jesus. Aren't we all going to heaven? I don't know, but I know who the one who's created heaven and his name is Jesus. Or aren't we all God's children? I'm not sure. You better ask him. And that's Jesus. It doesn't matter what you believe, right? I don't know. Ask him. Apparently, he did said something that you better follow. On and on and on, we begin to look at man's created purposes and presentations. And all the while the master saying, "Didn't I invite you to come and you made an excuse and didn't?" I tell you what, the Bible even says he was mad. Boy, I hate to have to end with this, but I'm going to. This is what he said. He said, "Those that I invited, for I say unto you that none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper." That's strong. That's way strong, pastor. What are you saying? I'm telling you this. The Lord has done more for you in one second than I could ever do that this church could ever do. And for you to think for one moment that you deserve to be silent and quiet and allow the enemy to have joy over you, that is so wrong. Pastor, I want my children to know you. Then you better explain Jesus to them. Lord, pastor, I want my grandchildren to love you and have a relationship with you. Then you better explain Jesus to them. I just this a this afternoon,

I just leaned over to Brother George standing there next to me at the altar and I said, "Brother George, look across this altar. This is called culture." And when I saw old and young alike up on this carpet with their hands lifted up, this is a culture that says,"Lord, I am finding my way to you." And when I see these little babies looking around and they're wondering who our musicians here, they quit. They're looking around saying, "What? What's going and you got your hands up, Mom and Dad?" What you're saying to them is, "Look at me. Look, look, look. This is how you do it. This is how you do it. This is how you do it." gives me no greater joy than to know my three-year-old grandbaby saying, "You're invited, Jesus. You're invited." No greater joy for my one 20-month-old to say, "Here, AG, the Lord our God is one Lord, and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all your heart, mind, and stren." He don't say it like Poppy does. He don't say it like his mommy and daddy do. But you know what he doing? He's saying, "There's an important word here that mommy and daddy are trying to teach me." Just this morning, I heard him say, his mommy said, "Tell Poppy what you learn. Repent. You're baptized. You're Christ sins. Go to ghosts." That's cute, ain't it? There's going to come a day when he's standing there in his right mind saying, "I'm not sure what to do, where to go, how to do it." But Lord Jesus, where it is, the Lord's saying, "Get that word. Get that word. Go to that word. Go to that word. Go to that word. Go to that word. What do I do?" I tell you this, that the name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous can run into him. They're saying, he's not going to learn that in a school. He's going to learn that from you, Mom and Dad. He's going to learn that how you taught him, how you taught her, how you gave to them hope in Jesus Christ. I I I submit this and I'm going to be quiet if you'll let me. I submit to this. What better thing can you teach your child than how to worship and love the Lord? No excuse, mom and dad. No excuse. No excuse. But I'm busy. That's not in my character. That's just not who I am. I'm more the silent type and quiet. No, you're not. No, you're not. No, you're not. I guarantee if your team lost by three points because of a field goal, you'd be screaming. I just helped somebody over your woes today, didn't I? Cuz some of y'all about lost your religion. Listen to what I'm telling you. I got nothing to do. NOTHING TO DO. I PRAY TO GOD THERE'S NO FOOTBALL field in heaven for all that distraction. I PRAY INSTEAD THAT ALL OF GOD'S CHILDREN ARE CHEERLEADERS. OH JESUS, LOOK HOW GOOD YOU ARE. LOOK HOW WONDERFUL YOU ARE. LOOK HOW MARVELOUS YOU ARE. HOW EXCELLENT IS YOUR NAME IN ALL. OH, YOU ARE GREAT GOD AND GREATLY TO be praised. I'll love you. I'LL LIFT YOU UP. I'LL MAGNIFY YOUR NAME. LET YOUR CHILD GET THAT. WHY? BECAUSE AT THE NEXT FAMILY REUNION, AT THE NEXT BIRTHDAY PARTY, YOU CAN SIT THERE AND SAY, "COME ON, I Y'ALL GOT TO SING THIS SONG. LISTEN TO MY BABY SING." OH, to trust Jesus. Oh, to serve Jesus. THAT WAS HOW I WAS RAISED HIM ON THOSE SONGS. MY GRANDPA WITH HIS LITTLE GUITAR AND HIS old stiff fingers. I'm using my Bible as a road mapap that when my musicians die, I need y'all to pray right now for musicians. Jesus, help these musicians. Listen carefully, please. When we understand the value of what the Lord God is doing, and there will be a marriage supper of the lamb, and he is going to bid those who are ready to come. What are you going to say the day when the trumpet sounds? Hold on, God. I I bought five yolk of ox and I got to go try them. Hold hold hold on Jesus. Can you save my place on in the mansion and let me let me go and figure this out with my land that I bought. Heaven forbid one of you men would stand there one day at that day and say, "Hold on. I'm married. Let me go ask her. I'm not I didn't translate it that way. I'm just wondering if that's Listen carefully.

This altar is open right now because I think some of you are out of excuses. In fact, I think many of you have used them time and again and they no longer have value. Listen care. Not even the devil believes your excuse anymore. I wonder today, would you be willing to revisit the fact that Lord, your house needs to be full and that's your desire. So, I'm going to do my part, Lord. This altar is open for those who would come. Those who would come and say, "Lord, I'm sorry if I've got all these excuses and you're no longer buying them. Lord, I'm I'm not begging you off anymore. I'm not I'm not making excuse no more, Lord. But I'm going to find a way to please you. I'm going to find a way to connect with you. Come on, mom and dad. The only way your kids are going to know how to pray is if you teach them. Come on, department leader. The only way they're going to believe your vision if you'll show them. Come on, grandma and grandpa. Love the Lord. Spend time with him. Come on. You got to be an example to them. Yeah. How much do you love loving Jesus? How much do you enjoy the fact that he's been good to you? Oh, come on, somebody. Spend time with Lord, I've come to love you. I've come to love you. I've come to love you. Sorry, Lord, if I make up all these lame excuses. They're You're not taking them anymore, God. Come on. Some of you are heartbroken because of loved ones that don't serve the Lord. Go get them. Go get them in Jesus. Go find them in Jesus. Lord, you know where they are right now. But I'm going to believe you, Lord, that you can shake them, wake them, change their lives, God. You can bring them to an altar. It don't have to be here, Lord. Anywhere they go, God, you can speak to them. Come on, somebody. In the name of Jesus, it's prayer time in the house of the Lord. It's prayer time in the house of the Lord. Pray. Call on him. Lord, I love you. Jesus, I praise your name. THAT'S RIGHT. COME ON. FIGHT FOR IT. FIGHT FOR IT. Fight for it. Jesus, you're right. You saved me. You washed me. That's right. Come on. That's right. Jesus, you know where they are right now, God. And I pray that you would dispatch an angel to go to them right now. Speak a word into their life. Disturb their sleep, Lord. Make them miserable if you have to, God, UNTIL THEY FIND A WAY TO fall in love with you. Oh, come on. That's right. Call on the name of the Lord. Heaven is worth it. Heaven is worth it. Jesus. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Yes, Lord. Jesus. I love you, Lord. I love you, Lord. I love you, Lord. I trust you, Lord. That's right. Come on, reach over. Pray with somebody by you. Lord God, I can't make excuses for them. Oh God, I can't make an excuse anymore. I'M NOT PUSHING YOU OFF. I'M NOT NEGATING the invitation. The one who? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. That's right. That's right. No more excuse. Oh God, it ends here. I embrace the fact that you've invited me in the name of the Lord. I'm ready, Lord, to be in your presence. I speak in the name of the Lord. And I'm taking back what? Come on, pray with somebody else. Lord, honor them today. Speak into their life, Lord. every speak into their life, Jesus. Help them, God. Give them strength, Lord. Courage to fight the battle, God. THAT'S RIGHT. COME ON, FIND somebody else. Jesus, you can do it, Lord. You can do it, Lord. It's only in you, Jesus. In the name of Jesus, I love you, Lord. Lord, I trust you, Lord. I believe in you. The name of Jesus. The name of Jesus. Yes. Holy one. Holy one. Holy God. To push back the enemy. All right. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I trust you, Lord. I trust you, Jesus. I believe in you, Lord. I believe in you, Lord. I believe in you, Lord. And it's about time I use it. Giving me authority, Jesus, to push back the enemy, Jesus. Jesus, for the victory. Holy, holy, holy, holy God. It's about time I use it. Giving me authority. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah.

Mom and dad, you have every right to influence your children to be a positive influence in their lives. Make mistakes, yes, you will, but they will too, but you can love them through it. The CAC church family, we are a body of people that have come together. We get we get in this house every week, man. We bring all of the junk and all the stuff and we come with joy loving Jesus. It's because you know that without him you would be nothing. So I'm going to ask you again today. When would you get tired of all your excuses? Excuse yourself out of it. You know what? I realize that this is heaven, but I'd prefer hell. What if that isn't even an option? What if you would simply say, "Lord, everything I have, I will serve you and love you. I will trust you and believe you. And Lord, how it comes together, I'm going to believe, God, that you are the way, the truth, and the life, and everything comes by you." I wish you'd go right now, get up close to somebody.

We're going to pray one for another before we leave this room. We're going to pray one for another. Jesus, I thank you, Lord, for the church. Come on. I thank you for the family of God. I thank you for the blood of the lamb that you shed for us. I speak against any pride or arrogance, Lord, in Jesus name. kingdoms, Lord, that are built outside of yours. I rebuke it in Jesus' name. I pray, Lord, you would help us to work and labor together in harmony, Lord, for the things of God in our lives in this era, in this time. Lord, I pray for it. I believe you, Jesus. You are the answer for all questions in life. Help us today, Lord. Bless my brother and my sister today, God. Bless their example, Lord, their witness, Lord. Help them, Jesus, to trust you in all things and to prepare themselves and those around them, Lord, for the kingdom. The name of Jesus.