SUNDAY A.M. FULL TEXT SERMON - THE AUDIENCE
Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
JOHN 5:44 etc.
THE AUDIENCE, A.M., 4/28/02Pastor Jack Peters, Mt. Union Bible Church, West Valley, PA.
When I was a senior at Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, I did my student teaching in a sixth grade classroom in Camden, New Jersey. One of the fun things I did was car pool to Camden with 3 other people.
One morning Bob Holt was driving his Mustang and I was sitting on the passenger's side in the back seat. Bob stopped to mail a letter at a post office. At the suggestion of someone else in the car, I climbed across the seat and got in the driver's seat, and as Bob was returning I started to pull away, as a joke. What did Bob do? He jumped on the hood of car as a passenger. Well, I stopped, got back to my regular seat, and the game was over. Except for one problem, we discovered that one of our professor supervisors for student teaching was in the car behind us. We had an audience and didn't realize it.
When Dottie and I were missionaries with Child Evangelism Fellowship we lived near her parents. Her Dad was a retired groundskeeper for my alma-mater, Glassboro State. He had worked on the football field and was given passes for all the home games. One Saturday we went to a game. During the course of the game, I made a good natured but unkind comment about the other team. This little boy (whom I didn't know) in front of me looked at me with big eyes in disbelief. I said something to him like, "It's okay son, I'm just kidding." And his father said something like "We know who you are. You're Jack Peters from Child Evangelism Fellowship!" Talk about embarrassed! I had another audience that knew who I was and what I was standing for.
I'm sure that all of us have been in situations when we didn't know we had an audience and said or did things we were sorry for later. We've also probably have been in situations when we didn't understand who our audience really was. In those situations, it's very easy to put our foots in our mouths.
At the Victory 5 Concert last Sunday night Doug Fink introduced a new song that he had actually written several years before. That song is the one that was just sung a few minutes ago. The name of the song is God Is Our Audience. It reminds us that whatever we say or do, God is there to see and hear.
Some of you are in your 80's and God has missed anything you've said or done in all those years. And young people, if you live to be 80 or longer, God will not miss any thing that you will say or do throughout your lifetime.
While the Victory Five sung, I became aware that this song tied in with this week's verse for memorization and meditation.
John 5:44 - How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
I felt led to speak on the thought of God being our audience.
We will consider how John 5:44 ties in with God being our audience later. But before we get to that verse, I want us to consider other verses that teach us various things about God being our audience. Let's consider:
THE PRESENCE OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PERCEPTION OF THE AUDIENCE
THE POWER OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PARTICIPATION OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PLEASING OF THE RIGHT AUDIENCE
THE PRESENCE OF THE AUDIENCE
Psalm 139:7-10
- Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? [8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. [9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; [10] Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.There have been many times when you've probably looked around before you spoke to make sure nobody heard the words you've said, other than the intended audience.
It might have been a joke that you would not have wanted everyone to hear.
It might have been gossip that you only intended to tell to one person.
It might have been something derogatory, that you intended only for the ears of certain people.
It might have been intimate words intended only for the person you loved.
It might have been an insight into a problem that you only wanted a close friend or a loved one, like your wife or husband, to hear.
We realize that not all words that we say are suitable for all audiences, so we are often careful to say them to the "right" people.
If I want to say something to just one person I can usually get that person aside and say it just to him or her. There is one person, however who is never out of earshot no matter how hard we might try in order to escape his seeing eye and his hearing ear.
In Psalm 139:7-10 David asks God, "Where can I go from your spirit, and where can I flee from your presence?"
Can I go high?
Can I go low?
Can I travel far away?
And the answer is no,
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.This can be an encouraging thought, as it was for David. God will be with to help us wherever we are.
But this is also a sobering thought.
There is no where in Heaven, earth, or hell that I can possibly go to escape the presence of God.
He is always present in the audience even if I say or do something in private.
Well you might say, "What if I just think thoughts and not say them? I have no audience if I just think things, do I?
Psalm 139:1-2 -
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. [2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.I think that we need to realize that God is always in the audience. That is a comfort when we are mistreated, and a warning when we do the mistreating. That is a comfort when we are spoken ill of and a warning when we speaking in ill will about or to someone else.
Perhaps we need to ask God every day to remind us that He is in the audience.
THE PRESENCE OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PERCEPTION OF THE AUDIENCE
We often want our audiences to understand or perceive things a certain way.
Sometimes I want you to perceive something as funny, and you don't always do.
Other times I don't think something I say is humorous, but you will perceive it as very funny.
Many times we don't understand or perceive things the way they are intended. It is easy to have misunderstandings.
A traveler, between flights at an airport, went to a lounge and bought a small package of cookies. Then she sat down and began reading a newspaper. Gradually, she became aware of a rustling noise. From behind her paper she was flabbergasted to see a neatly dressed man helping himself to her cookies. Not wanting to make a scene, she leaned over and took a cookie herself.
A minute or two passed, and then came more rustling. He was helping himself to another cookie! By this time, they had come to the end of the package. She didn't dare allow herself to say anything. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the man broke the remaining cookie in two, pushed half across to her, and ate the other half and left.
Still fuming some time later when her flight was announced, the woman opened her handbag to get her ticket. To her shock and embarrassment, there she found her pack of unopened cookies.
Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching from Leadership Journal, Craig Brian Larson, editor, © 1993 by Leadership Today, co-published with Barker Book House Company, Grand Rapids, page 9I have good news and I have bad news. Good News! There are no misunderstandings or wrong perceptions on God's part!
Bad News! There are no misunderstandings or wrong perceptions on God's part!
Proverbs 5:21
- For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.Whatever we say and whatever we do God is there to see it and to examine it. God never misunderstands or has the wrong perception of what we do or what we say.
Proverbs 15:3
- The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.God has a perfect understanding of what you do.
When you do right, even if nobody else sees it, God knows that you've done right. And He keeps a record.
When you're right, but you've done for the wrong reasons, perhaps to look good in front of others, God knows you've done right, but He also knows that your motives are wrong. And He keeps a record.
When you do wrong, even if nobody else sees it, God knows that you've done wrong. And He keeps a record.
When you meant to do right, but it turned out wrong, God knows your good motives. And He keeps a record.
Galatians 6:7-8
- Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. [8] For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.God is our audience and He perceives or understands everything that's going on. And He always gets it right!
THE PRESENCE OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PERCEPTION OF THE AUDIENCE
THE POWER OF THE AUDIENCE
You have probably been in an audience and heard people say some pretty nasty things, but had no power to correct or punish them.
You have probably been in an audience and saw people do some pretty nasty things, but had no power to correct or punish them.
Probably, on more than one occasion you saw a child or teenager misbehave and you've said, "If that were my kid…".
But it wasn't your kid, and you had no power to correct him or her.
God, however is one person in every audience who has power to reward and to punish both good and bad behavior.
Luke 12:1-5
- In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. [3] Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. [4] And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. [5] But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.Jesus warned of the hypocritical teachings of false teachers called the Pharisees. The Pharisees would say one thing and practice another.
When nobody was looking they were not the same righteous people they appeared to be when people were looking.
Jesus warned that there would be a day when the truth will come out. This day is the Day of Judgment.
That which was covered up will be revealed.
That which was hid will be made public.
That which was spoken privately will be revealed publicly.
So Jesus gives a word of advice.
He tells us not to be afraid of those people who's worst act would be to kill us. We are not to fear the actions or opinions of others. They have no power over us after we are dead.
We are to fear the one who is ultimately responsible for our deaths, and who has the power to cast us into hell because of our misbehavior.
As you probably know, I have performed a good number of funerals. What disturbs me sometimes is when people say, "He or she is no longer suffering." The times it disturbs me is when the person is not a Christian. He or she is answering for his or her sins to the God who is able to cast into hell.
Now is the time to fear God!
THE PRESENCE OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PERCEPTION OF THE AUDIENCE
THE POWER OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PARTICIPATION OF THE AUDIENCE
You have heard of situations when crimes have been committed, and witnesses stood by and did nothing to help. They were an audience, but they did nothing to help. They did not participate.
Several years ago Dottie and I went on a cruise that I had won. One night we sat at the captain's table along with one of the ship's captains, another Christian couple, and several other people. I ended up in a witnessing situation with a Jewish couple, and was busy defending and explaining my faith. I was hoping that the other Christian man, Ron, would help me out. He didn't participate, even though he was in the audience. Later he told me that he didn't think that he should into the conversation I wished that he had chosen audience participation.
God is our audience. He sees our sins. He sees our failures.
Because He is a just God, He knew that we would be punished.
He knew that we would be headed for the punishment of hell, unless He chose audience participation. God, in His love, chose to get involved in our sin problem.
2 Corinthians 5:21
- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.God chose to send his sinless Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to the cross to die for our sins. He who knew no sin went to the cross and became sin for us, so that God could forgive us and declare us righteous. God the Son, took your punishment for sin on the cross of Calvary.
John 3:16
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.God gave His Son as the ultimate gift. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again for you and me.
God says, "I have chosen audience participation. As your audience I have seen you sin and chosen to provide a payment for your sin. All you have to do is accept this provision as payment for you sin."
Have you accepted God's gift of salvation by trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior?
John 14:16-17
- And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.God does not stop in His audience participation when you trust Christ as Savior. In fact, He's only just begun. We do not have enough time to enumerate all the things that God does when He saves us. But besides making us His children, He also provides His Holy Spirit in our lives. The moment we are saved The Holy Spirit regenerates us, indwells us, baptizes and seals us.
It is the Holy Spirit who gives us power to live the Christian life.
It is the Holy Spirit who instructs us.
It is the Holy Spirit who guides us into all truth.
Matthew 7:7-8
- Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.God expects those who trust Christ as Savior to live Godly lives, so He also provides prayer as we of involving God, our audience in our lives. God promises to answer prayer as we ask. That's certainly audience participation.
THE PARTICIPATION OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PLEASING OF THE RIGHT AUDIENCE
There are often many people in an audience. I have found that I can't please everybody all the time in any audience, including you nice folks. I must decide who needs to be pleased.
John 5:44 - How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
This verse gives us an interesting challenge.
Hebrews 11:6 says that we can't please God without faith.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
John 5:44
tells me that I can't have faith when I am seeking the approval or honor of people other than God. If I seek man's approval I will not believe. If I seek God's approval only, I will have faith.
So often we Christians wonder why we have so little faith.
Very often it can be boiled down to this simple principle - I don't have faith because I am trying to please someone other than God. When you lack faith, the first thing to ask yourself is "Which audience am I trying to please, God or myself, or some other person?"
John 3:36 - He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
If I don't have faith in Christ for salvation, I do not have eternal life, but I do have eternal punishment. I have pleased the wrong audience.
Proverbs 3:5-6
- Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. [6] In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.When I please God as my audience, I will trust Him explicitly.
Colossians 3:17
- And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.When I please God as my audience, I will try to glorify Him in whatever I do. I will be able to do everything in His name.
God is your audience:
THE PRESENCE OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PERCEPTION OF THE AUDIENCE
THE POWER OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PARTICIPATION OF THE AUDIENCE
THE PLEASING OF THE RIGHT AUDIENCE
Ezra 7:10
AOL INSTANT MESSENGING SCREEN NAME - JackPeters47
MSN MESSENGER SCREEN NAME - johnwpeters@hotmail.com
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