People are Watching, So is God

  Act as if they are not

They really are. Sometimes, we see it. Sometimes we feel it. Sometimes, we have no clue. However, people are always watching you. Sometimes, they like what they see. Sometimes, they are simply curious. Sometimes, they are looking to find fault. Whatever the reason, make no mistake about it, people ARE watching.

Last time we talked about how God wants us to be the spotlight. To be the light of the world. To shine brightly. What He does NOT want us to do, is to dance in the spotlight for all to see. Wait. What does that mean? How can we be the spotlight, and not be seen in the spotlight?

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:1-4

This is why I never fill out that tax form at the end of the year. I do not really want a man-made record of my giving. I give what I can, sometimes more than I can if I feel lead to do so. Let's be honest, sometimes I fall short on this as well. However, I do not want mankind saying how great a person I am because I gave out of my abundance to someone who has nothing. I want to be blessed by God because I was obedient to Him. "so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Who would you rather be rewarded by? Mankind, or God?

Jesus goes on to tell us this.

"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Matthew 6:5-6

Why do this? Why should we actually keep our prayers secret? "And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." This is right before He gave us the "Our Father Prayer." Which of course we messed up too. Jesus tells us.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." Matthew6:7-8

The KJ version says it this way.

"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

Vain repetitions, empty phrases. I have been in churches that you go in, sit, stand, sit, stand, sit, and repeat the same old "prayer" as everyone else does. 

"Welcome today, come in. Good to see ya."
Congregation arrives.
"Please stand"
Congregation stands.
"Goodwill to you, goodwill to me, goodwill to all, peace on earth. Amen." "God be with you."
Congregation "Also with you."
"Please be seated."
"Today I want to talk about the Church's teachings on Women wearing Pants. In 1860, our great leader, Father Notta Real Person, said Women need to honor their Husbands and God. They shall wear dresses and cover their heads. Men should wear trousers, and honor their Wives. So saith the Lord."

"Please Stand"
Congregation Stands.
"Goodwill to you, goodwill to me, goodwill to all, peace on earth. Amen." "God be with you."
Congregation "Also with you."
Congregation sits.
"I understand that we have gotten away from these traditional teachings of Father Person, and society may see things differently. But we know that God doesn't care about society. If you follow what the Church says on this manor, you will be just fine. You are all absolved of your Sins. May you have a great week."
Congregation stands.
"Goodwill to you, goodwill to me, goodwill to all, peace on earth. Amen." "God be with you."
Congregation "Also with you."
Congregation leaves, shaking hands on the way out.

Back to Football, BBQs, Shopping, life in general...Until next week. Is this really Church? Are you really praying for anything? Did you learn God's purpose and plan for your local church and or your own life? Was the hungry fed? The lost found? What fruit did that produce? What did you actually do?

Some people do this and they feel good. "I said my prayers. I went to church. I checked my boxes. I'm good till next week." Monday comes around and they are back to cussing out their coworkers, gossiping, backstabbing, cussing out those other drivers in traffic. Drinking, smoking, and watching things that may not be, uh, beneficial to their spiritual growth.

Gotta work. Yeah, I understand that. That is not what I am saying. Although, there is far more to life than working 8 to 10 hours a day, to make other people money and pay bills. Jesus tells us this.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21

If you are blessed enough to have a job, what are you doing with the money you are being blessed with? Are you just struggling to pay bills or are you blessing others? Are you tithing? Where is your treasure? Where is your heart? That really is a good measuring stick for you. What are you spending most of your money on?

God has one desire as to how we look to others. He wants us to be the light. Oh, you may look great to others. "Look at this guy. He goes to church every time the door is open. He gives hundreds of dollars to the poor. Look at this guy."

"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

You cannot fool God. You cannot play a role forever. People may like what they see. They may even cheer you on as you dance in the spotlight for all to see. But in reality, are you actually BEING the spotlight? Are you BEING a child of God? Are you just dancing? Take some time and really think about it. Examine yourself. What fruit are you producing? How are you doing in sharing the Gospel? What have you done for God lately? If you think perhaps, you have been liking the spotlight more so than being that very light? May I suggest it is time to refocus. People ARE watching. So is God.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord! 

People are Watching, The Spotlight

 Do not dance in the spotlight

My old boss and good friend, Chief George A. Rowley, would always tell us this nugget of wisdom.

"Always act as if you are in the spotlight. Always act as if someone is watching you. They most likely are watching you. If you do this, you will always do the right thing."

There is a lot of wisdom in this. He told us this in the early nineties before there were cameras in everyone's hand and on every corner and store. He is correct. When you know someone is watching, you act the way you believe you should.

Jesus tells us this.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16

Paul gives us this advice in his letter to the Church in Rome.

"Besides this, you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." Romans 13:11-14

We ARE children of God. We should be different than those who are not. We should be living our lives as living examples of God's love, mercy, and grace. We should always stand out a bit. People should see a difference. When they look at your life, do they?

What does it mean to live as the light of the world? What does it mean to live as if you are in the spotlight? Why did I say "Do not dance in the spotlight"? If we are supposed to be the light of the world, then what is wrong with dancing in the spotlight? This is what we are going to talk about today.

First, let's discuss what God actually means when he tells us to be the light of the World. The Word declares this.

"Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”" Ephesians 5:7-14

Have you ever thought of it this way? Until you do, you may actually have a hard time truly understanding your own Salvation. The word tells says this.

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," Philippians 2:12

Work out, or figure out, fully understand what it actually means to be saved. Read that last passage again. "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

Look at Romans 8:9-11

"You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact, the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

You were DEAD! As surely as if you were in the ground. You were on your way to hell. You had no hope whatsoever. Now? YOU are ALIVE! You are on your way to heaven. We marvel at the fact Jesus Himself was dead for three days and yet He rose from the grave. We marvel at the fact that Jesus raised a little girl, and Lazarus from the dead. Why do we fail to marvel at the fact Jesus raised you, us, from the dead? We were as dead as that little girl. Without Jesus, we are no more than the "walking dead."

Remember what Jesus said to the new believer that wanted to go and bury his father who just passed on.

"And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." Luke 9:60

YOU were dead. DEAD! Jesus came to the grave in which you laid, He said to you, "Come out." He saved you.

"Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator." Colossians 3:9-10

Now that you are a new creature, what has changed? Oh, your eternal destination of course. But I mean, what has changed here on earth. You say you are a "Christian." You say you are a child of God. You say you are saved. So when people watch you, and they do, what do they see? Do they see a difference in you and in anyone else? Are you feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, setting captives free? Are you sharing the gospel? Are you LIVING the Gospel? Are you producing fruit? Jesus told us this.

"A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits." Matthew 7:18-19

Are you bearing good fruit? I know some of this may be offensive to some people. But you have to be honest with yourself. Basically, what have YOU done for God lately? Oftentimes people ask "What has the church or God did for me lately?" The question you should ask yourself, and God gives to the answer or at least a way to measure the answer is, "What kind of fruit are you producing?"

God does not tell us that we are in the spotlight. He tells us, we are the spotlight. Do not dance in the spotlight for others to see. BE the spotlight so others may be able to see. See the difference? More on dancing in the spotlight next time. People are watching. So is God.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!