The Flesh Excuses Itself Where God Doesn't

When confronted with truth, the flesh makes excuses for why it can't change. Your flesh can accept something is true and then excuse itself:

Luke 14:16-24 Then He said to him, "A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, (17) and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, 'Come, for all things are now ready.' (18) But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.' (19) And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.' (20) Still another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' (21) So that servant came and reported these things to his master. 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 here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.' (22) And the servant said, 'Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.' (23) Then the master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. (24) For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.' "

Jesus used this as an ANALOGY for wrong assumption about who God would reward.

Right now, the Holy Spirit is inviting the whole church... all 7 end time expressions.... to change. The flesh makes excuses like:

1. I don't have enough time
2. I am not smart enough to understand
3. I am too old and stuck in my ways
4. I don't have enough money
5. My health won't allow it
6. My relationships need me right now more than I need God

The list goes on and on. None of these ^ will excuse you from being held accountable to become the pure spotless bride.

Prophecying in meetings won't make up for not humbling ourselves and responding to God's invitation to change. Praying publicly, giving away money, healing the sick, teaching, posting, spreading the "gospel" (which is only a message about witnesses changing and reflecting the humility of Jesus to the world).... none of these will make up for rejecting the invitation to step out of who you are and into who you must be to be ready to meet Jesus.

You can only step out in repentant prayer and a faithful "putting on" of Christ. Asking and receiving is the only method of sanctification offered in the Bible. But you can't truly ask for what you have already excused yourself from needing. God won't believe it.

James 1:2-10 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (5) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (7) For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (8 ) he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (9) Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, (10) but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away.

We mostly negate our prayers with our reasons and excuses for why God is ok with us just as we are. He loves us too much to want us to stay in the prisons He found us in.

Nicodemas thought he was too old to change:

John 3:3-5 Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (4) Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

There is no excuse. Right now, its easy to comfort your soul with reasons. When you see Him face to face He will not arbitrate.

Come clean today. If you see something true a person should be, give yourself to asking God to change you to be that thing. If you sow the seeds, He will make it grow, but you must release the seeds into the ground, not just believe they could become something alive "someday."

Many people will highlight to you what needs to change in sinful, fallen ways, out of frustration or selfishness. Sometimes the messenger of God presents things accidentally, impatiently, angrily, sarcastically, jokingly... don't miss the message due to the vessel God used to bring it. My kids have called me to change more than any other group of people I can think of. Me being willing to hear it has strengthed their respect for me, not lessened it.

If you learned something true that you need but don't yet have, ask for it like your future life depends on it, because it does.