Most of us eat every day, some of us too much, because yesterday's
food is not enough to supply energy for today's needs. Why then, do
some of us expect yesterday's portion of heavenly manna, the word of God to
keep us through today's challenges. On this program, we are going to change
all of that. Let's experience God's words today and receive the power we need
to live healthy, vibrant lives. Welcome to your Daily Portion with your host,
author speaker, Elle David Harris. Good morning, good morning, good
morning. It is Friday, November three, twenty twenty three. Hello,
my name is El David Harris. I am your host, and this is
your Daily Portion where we give you God's word every single day, and today
is no exception. We are continuing in our Lesson study series. God's Mission,
My mission under the caption no more excuses. Let me say it again,
no more excuses. Brothers insists we have no more excuses for turning away
from God's work in our lives. We'll get into that in just a moment,
but let me just say welcome to everyone joining us this preparation day,
especially those joining for the very first time. Please please please go over to
your Daily Portion dot Com. Click that join button to join our online community,
and also please pick up your Daily Portion book and let us know where
you are in the world. And we continue to build faith and fellowship at
your Daily Portion dot Com. Let's go ahead and pray, and then we
will get underway. Father in Heaven, thank you for giving us this new
day and for the privilege that you have entrusted to us to do your will.
Thank you, Father for giving us your holy spirit. And I pray
that we will no longer excuse ourselves from your work. In Jesus' name,
I pray, Amen and Amen again more excuses. Let me begin by reading
from the Advent Review and Sabbath Herald from get this date August thirty, eighteen
ninety two. And I want you to determine that if this is still relevant
today, and of course I am saying that it is, That's why I'm
going to read it to us, Okay, And it begins the excuses of
those who fail to do God's work or this work do not relieve them of
the responsibility. So even if I do give myself some kind of excuse,
it doesn't resolve. It does not absolve me of my responsibility, and if
they choose not to do His work, they neglect the souls of whom for
whom Christ died. Can I just say right here as I pause that,
Yeah, if God is sending you to be of service, to be someone,
to warn someone, to uplift someone, to help in some way to
a person who needs God, and we neglect to do that, we are
imperiling those individuals. If someone is drowning and God says, go save them,
and we refuse to go save them, they drown. Whose responsibility is
that? There are people drowning in sin right now. There are people who
are drowning in financial and relationship woes right now, people who are drowning in
a spiritual dissonance problem. They are in conflict with God, and they need
you, brother, They need you, sister to assist. And when God
sends you, if you go anywhere other than where He sends you, then
you are putting those individuals at risk. And so God says, you cannot
absolve yourself of responsibility just by making an excuse. That just does not work.
Okay, They neglect their God given responsibility and are registered, Oh God
have mercy, are registered in the books of heaven as unfaithful servants. What
if I decided, as we pause again, not to read this part of
the quote because it makes me uncomfortable. It does make me uncomfortable. It
makes me uncomfortable to say that people who neglect their God given responsibility are registered
in the books of Heaven as unfaithful servants. I don't like how that sounds.
I don't like how it feels. I don't like how I think it
may make some of you feel. But that is irrelevant. It is an
excuse because God's word is straight. His word is sharper than any two edged
sword. It searches out our guts. It searches out our guts. The
intents of our heart are revealed to God. And so I read it because
inspiration has been given to us for our learning and that we would be doing
God's will. Let me continue the quote. Does the minister work as did
the Master, to be a strength and a blessing to others when he shuts
or she shuts herself away from those who need their help. Those who neglect
personal intercourse with the people. Hmmm, personal, not just behind some camera
like I'm doing here microphone. You're hearing me on the radio, you're watching
on TV, or the internet, you're hearing on a podcast. Not just
this. We have to be one away personal with people, hands on,
like Jesus was. Those who neglect personal intercourse with the people become self centered
and need this very experience of placing themselves in communication with their brethren that they
may understand their spiritual condition and know how to feed the flock of God,
giving to each his portion of meat in due season. So if I am
a loof as a minister, if you are a loof and disconnected as a
minister, God is saying that you won't know how to give the people what
they need when they need it. You won't know what the needs are.
First of all, you will be so disconnected in the loof that you won't
be sensitive and know that there is an urgency in certain matters. And so
God is saying, come close to the people who are in need, and
then God will show you what they need and then use you in some way
to give them that need. Continuing the quote, those who neglect this work
make it manifest that they need moral Here is a big word, renovation.
Can I say that again, those who neglect this work make it manifest that
they need moral renovation. But God, I'm shy, but God, I'm
busy. But God, these people won't accept me because I don't fit into
their whatever. These are excuses. And again, if we find comfort in
these excuses, then we are demonstrating that we need moral renovation. And then
they will see that they have not carried the burden of their work. That
is the end of the quote. So much more I could say, but
suffice it to say, no more excuses. Go ahead and type it in
the chat. If you are on YouTube or on Facebook, go ahead and
type it in the chat. No more excuses. So we want to do
a few things. We want to embrace willing obedience. We want to foster
genuine love for souls. We want to engage in personal interactions, and then
also depend upon God for his sustenance and grace. Let me read a passage
of scripture. Read a passage of scripture in James, chapter one and verse
twenty two. The Bible reads that we must not be doers of the word
and not hearers. No pause, Let me say it again. It says
that we must be doers of the word and not hearers, only deceiving ourselves
Also, the Bible says here that we, in verse sixteen of Matthew chapter
five, should let our lights so shine before people, that they may see
our good works and give glory to our Father, which is in heaven.
Also in Two Corinthians, chapter twelve and verse nine, when Paul needed assistance,
he wanted to be delivered from a certain trial, he called a thorn
in his flesh. It could have been blindness. Could have been blindness,
But the Bible says, when God said, no, this is not going
to go the way that you want it to go, and he said,
this is what he said. But he said, unto me, My grace
is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore
I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, says, so that
in Christ's power may rest upon me. When I am weak, then I
am strong. Just like Jonah, we may find it easier to make excuses
for not participating in mission. Our motivation for these excuses could be one of
many. However, our call to mission is no less specific than was Jonah's
call. The question is how will you choose to answer? Will you give
an excuse or will you say here, am i Lord, Thank you for
delivering me, Send me a wonderful rest of your day. Peace. Thanks
for joining us listening to friends. Always remember we cannot live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. This has
been your daily portion with El David Harris. Make it a great day. Yeah,