The Blessings of a Quiet Life
🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Scott Anderson
This message is instruction from Pastor Scott on living a quiet life and focusing on what God has called us to do. He referenced 1 Thessalonians 4, where Paul encourages believers to love more and to focus on living quietly, minding their own affairs, and working diligently. Pastor Scott emphasized the importance of authentic faith over seeking personal fame and recognition, highlighting that our works should prioritize glorifying God rather than ourselves. He reminded us that it's about Jesus and not about making a name for ourselves. Ultimately, the takeaway is that a truly fulfilling life comes from honoring God quietly in our actions and letting Him lead the way.
Additional Info
The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.
Introduction
In today’s fast-paced world, many individuals yearn for significance and recognition. However, the teachings from 1 Thessalonians 4 highlight a profound truth: the blessing found in leading a quiet life. This mindset challenges the modern culture's obsession with fame and success, encouraging believers to focus on their relationship with God and their purpose in serving others.
The Biblical Foundation
1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 emphasizes brotherly love and offers a directive for believers to aspire to lead a quiet life. The apostle Paul points out that the Thessalonians have done well in loving one another but encourages them to continue and excel in this endeavor. Moreover, Paul brings attention to three key practices: living quietly, minding one’s own affairs, and working diligently. This guidance is crucial for maintaining healthy relationships, both within the church and in the broader community.
The Weight of Preaching Truth
Preaching the truth of God’s word is a significant responsibility. It requires courage to deliver messages that may not be popular, especially in a culture that often favors a watered-down version of the gospel. True leaders in faith recognize the need to prioritize God’s truth over personal approval, being mindful that the focus should always remain on God's glory, not personal notoriety.
Living a Quiet Life
In a world where being busy is often equated with success, the idea of leading a quiet life can seem counterintuitive. However, this concept aligns with Christ’s example. Jesus focused on individuals rather than crowds, demonstrating that true significance lies in the depth of relationships and acts of service rather than in public acclaim.
Working with Our Hands
The call to work with one’s hands carries weight in ensuring personal responsibility and a positive witness to unbelievers. Paul’s admonition serves as a reminder that idleness can breed gossip, discontent, and negativity. Engaging actively in work allows believers to represent Christ well, creating opportunities for sharing the gospel.
Significance of Humility
There’s a prevalent misconception that one’s worth is equated to fame or public recognition. However, becoming notable shouldn’t be the goal. Instead, followers of Christ should strive to glorify His name above their own. As stated in Philippians 2:9, the name of Jesus is above all names, offering the assurance that our identity is found in Him rather than in public perception or applause.
Genuine Relationships over Social Media
In the age of social media, where sharing highlights has become commonplace, believers are reminded to do good works without seeking validation through likes or shares. Authentic faith is not about public appearance but about genuine relationships and acts of service, often carried out in quiet humility.
The Dangers of Seeking Approval
Pursuing approval from others can distract from the mission of the church. Believers are called to be transparent about their struggles. By sharing their weaknesses and victories equally, they can offer hope and encouragement to those around them. The focus must remain on pointing others to Christ, rather than on building one’s own platform.
Conclusion: A Heart of Service
In the end, the motivation behind our actions matters greatly to God. The aim should not be to gain fame or recognition, but to honor Him through faithful service. Miracles and notable accomplishments can come when one’s heart is genuinely focused on God, seeking to bring glory to Him instead of seeking the spotlight for oneself. In the pursuit of a quiet life focused on serving God and loving others, believers encounter richness in faith that transcends worldly measures of success.
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Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.
Reflect on 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12. How does Paul’s advice to ‘aspire to live quietly’ resonate with you in today’s fast-paced world?
Pastor Scott talked about the importance of focusing on our calling rather than making a name for ourselves. Share a time when you felt the temptation to seek recognition. How did you handle it?
Think about Jesus’ ministry. Why do you think He often retreated from the crowds? How can we incorporate similar practices of solitude and focus in our lives?
Discuss the idea of ‘minding our own affairs.’ How can this help improve our relationships both within the church and with the outside world?
Prayer and Reflection: Consider what God might be calling you to do quietly in this season of your life. Share with the group and pray together for wisdom and clarity.
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Historical Context of 1 Thessalonians 4
The Book of 1 Thessalonians is one of the apostle Paul’s epistles, written around AD 50-51 to the church in Thessalonica. Thessalonica was a major city in Macedonia (modern-day Greece), a bustling trade center with a cosmopolitan population.
Paul addressed this letter to encourage the Thessalonian Christians who were undergoing persecution for their faith. In this particular chapter, he emphasizes brotherly love and living a life that reflects Christian values in front of non-believers.
During this time, many in Thessalonica were preoccupied with eschatological concerns—questions about Jesus' second coming—leading some to abandon their personal and social responsibilities. Paul’s encouragement for them to love each other increasingly, live quietly, and work with their hands reflects a counter-cultural mindset wherein Christian faith intersects with everyday living.
The exhortation to work with one’s hands comes against the backdrop of laborers stopped working, awaiting Christ's return, which was a norm-breaking action in a society that valued productivity and contribution to the community.
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A Quiet Adventure with Jesus
Once upon a time, there was a kind man named Jesus. Now, He wasn’t a sky-high prince or a superstar telling everyone on a megaphone about what He was doing. Jesus, rather, loved playing with just one or two friends or helping them when they were sad and needed a buddy.
One day, Jesus woke up super early. Before the sun even blinked, he went off alone to have a chat with God. It was so peaceful there, the kind where you can hear the birds tweet-tweet, and feel the wind whoosh-whoosh through the trees. Jesus loved those quiet moments!
Meanwhile, His friends were searching for Him high and low. “Where's Jesus?” they asked one another. But Jesus was simply taking time to talk to God in his heart. Jesus loved to help everyone, but He also knew it was important to have quiet time just to listen to God's whispers.
Here's what Jesus wants us to learn: It’s not about being the loudest or the most seen, but about being loving and kind, even when nobody is watching. Maybe you can try to be quiet for a little bit today, and talk to God too – just like Jesus did!
Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are – sweet, small, and oh-so-special.
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Well, good morning everyone. I'm excited to preach the word. Pastor Strickland has already been said, he is on vacation, a well deserved vacation this week. So if you haven't met me before, my name is Pastor Scott.
I'm the executive pastor here and I'm so grateful and thankful for you joining us today. And I pray that you've already been blessed. But I pray as we continue in the service, you'll be even more blessed. There's something very important. I just want to take a pause here and get off the script.
There's something very important taking place on Tuesday church. I want to admonish you, please go out and vote. If you have not already voted, please vote.
This is critical and I just ask for you to pray as Pastor has already admonished you last week. If you don't know how to pray, if you don't know how to vote, it's pretty obvious to me. But if you don't, all I ask you to do is just pray and I believe the Holy Spirit will point you in the right direction. That's all I'm gonna say. If you have your Bibles, I'd like for you to open it to 1 Thessalonians 4, 9, 1st Thessalonians chapter 4.
We're gonna begin reading at verse 9. And if you don't have your Bibles or you don't have your phone with you, it will be on the screen for you. I'm gonna be reading from the esv. All the passages that I read today will be from the esv. Now, concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you.
For you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another. For that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more and to aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs and to work with your hands as we instructed you so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. This morning I want to preach on the blessing of a quiet life.
There's already some laughter standing on this stage and standing behind this pulpit is such a very dangerous Place to be. If you've ever preached God's word before a group of people, you know exactly what I'm talking about. This is a very weighty assignment to preach the holy, anointed living word of God. I'm not preaching man's opinion. I'm not paraphrasing from a book written by man.
I'm not quoting a passage from a book. I am preaching and reciting the words inspired by the Holy Spirit from, from my creator. Francis Chan once described preaching like this. Every time I step up on a stage, it's like drinking a little bit of poison to really be thinking about God right now. His glory, his holiness, and how everything needs to be given to him while fighting the flesh that desires the approval of people.
Asking this pointless question of what will people think of this message today? Will they praise or will they criticize? It can really mess up your walk with the Lord if you're not careful. And all of this comes together in this space and in this moment today. You see, if you don't think this is a difficult place to be, let me just encourage you to look out over the pulpits scattered around America and see how many preachers start out preaching the true unaltered word.
And then over time, they get caught up in the longing to be liked by the masses. They refrain from rocking the boat because after all, if they're not preaching a message that people want to hear, then their popularity and celebrity status will likely take a dip. But can I tell you something? I can't speak for others, but for this preacher standing here today, there is nothing more important to me than preaching the entire unaltered word of God.
And I'm telling you, as much as society is clamoring for a watered down gospel that meets their desires, I want to preach a message that meets our needs. America needs a dose of truth today. And I don't care what your feelings are telling you here is the truth. One of my greatest fears is people looking to me instead of looking up to God. Most pastors can testify to that.
I'm the one standing behind this pulpit this morning. But when you look at me, you're looking at a man that is no different than you. I am just a man saved by grace and the blood of Jesus, but the one whose blood runs through my veins, church. He is the one worthy of following and looking up to. In this passage of 1st Thessalonians 4, the apostle Paul is writing to a group of people that clearly had no issues loving one another of like faith.
In fact, Paul says, in regards to loving each other, you have no need for anyone to write to you. In other words, it seems like they have mastered this area. But Paul says something interesting. He says, but we urge you brothers, to do this more and more. I've got good news and bad news for you today.
Just when you think you have mastered an area of your life, you are really just scratching the surface. Because God isn't a God of extravagancy. Because God expects you to do it more and more. Even when it comes to the areas of your walk with God that you feel I am strong in, I have no issues in this area. God is saying, that is great.
I am proud of you. But there is still yet more for you to do, there's more for you to learn, and there's more for you to grow in. In verses 9 through 10a, Paul is telling those living in Thessalonica, which is modern day Greece today, how they are to conduct themselves around other believers. And it is clear again that Paul is of the belief that all they need to do is continue doing what they have been doing, which is loving one another. But then in verses 10b through 12, we see a shift in our subject.
Paul shifts his attention from how they conduct themselves around believers to those that are on the outside, or as we would call them, unbelievers. And in these verses, Paul spurs the Thessalonians to do three things. Number one, Aspire to live quietly. Two, Mind your own affairs.
Let that sink in.
You know it's coming, don't you?
Number three, work with your hands. All of this is so that believers will walk properly or be respected before the unbeliever, so that they will become a good witness for Christ. Now I want to give you some context so that we'll understand why Paul mentions specifically the need to work with your own hands. During this time period, many new believers were so caught up in the second coming of Christ that many of them quit their jobs and started to mooch off of their unbelieving neighbors. Can I tell you, we have a few people that are like that in our society today.
Some seem to be of the mindset that since they are saved, all they need to do is sit around the feeding trough, mooch off the government and taxpayers, and watch YouTube videos and play video games all day long. But I'm here to tell you, that's not what Jesus told us we're supposed to be doing. And in this passage, Paul is reminding his readers, church, it's time to get busy doing the work of the kingdom. Now, something happens when you get a bunch of people, not us, not assembly of God folks, but normal people, sitting around doing nothing. And Paul addresses this issue by telling all of them to aspire to live quietly and mind your own affairs.
Can I tell you what he's saying in good old Oxford English or in redneck language? I believe you've heard this probably from your mama a time or two. Here's what Paul said. Mind your own stinking business.
You see, when you get a bunch of people sitting around doing nothing, that's when gossip starts to grow. I've got news for you, church. A lot of the problems we have in our very own lives would be solved in an instant if we would stay out of other people's business and work with our own hands. Why does it matter to you? What so and so did you worry about yourself?
Well, do you know what Sister McGillicuddy said to her husband? I heard them fighting the other day. I bet they're having marital issues. Well, bless your pea picking heart. Why don't you keep that to yourself and pray for their marriage instead of spreading gossip?
I'm here to tell you that mind your own business is a biblical idea. Your mama might have said it, but I'm telling you, God said it long before Paul said, aspire to live quietly and to mind your own affairs. So can I ask a serious question for us today. How many of you woke up this morning and you said, you know, my ambition today is to live a quiet life?
Many young people seem to be drawn to be somebody one day. They want to be on a stage so people will listen to them. They want to be famous, they want to be popular. They want to move up the corporate ladder. They feel like they have a voice.
And I'm telling you, the whole world needs to hear what I have to think. Yet Scripture tells us, make it your ambition to live a quiet life. You see, we are living in a day and age where it seems like the virtuous thing to do is to get a bigger and bigger crowd. The bigger the crowd, the more successful that you must be. You're a successful Christian, you're a successful believer.
Because look at all the people that are that you are leading. Look at how many are listening to your voice. Now, I want to make something crystal clear for us today. I am not saying that we shouldn't preach and proclaim the gospel. And in fact, if you look three chapters before chapter four, 1 Thessalonians, chapter one, Paul talks about how their faith is being proclaimed all over the world to the point that he doesn't even have to say anything about it because everyone has already heard about it.
But then I find it interesting that in chapter four, he says to the very same group of people, I want you to make it your ambition to live a quiet life. I'm going to tell you something. Paul was treading on some very dangerous territory back then. And can I tell you, the idea of living a quiet life is even more controversial for our culture today. You see, a quiet life friends contradicts the attraction to entertainment, excitement.
In fact, we might even go as far as to say that excitement and entertainment are almost like a religion for people today. What am I talking about? Well, entertainment and excitement have a God, the self. They have priests, celebrities. They have a prophet, perpetual entertainment.
They have scriptures, tabloids, news and informational programs. They have places of worship, amusement parks, theaters, concert halls, sports arenas, and every TV is like a little chapel. Can I tell you what I notice in scripture when I look at the life of Jesus? And this leads us into our first point this morning? Jesus didn't pursue the crowds.
He pursued the individual. Can you show me a time in scripture where Jesus pursued a crowd? Can you show me a time in scripture where Jesus said, you know what we really need right now? We need a larger crowd. So go ahead and go get some more people and gather them here together?
Do you see that in Scripture? Because I'm telling you, I see the opposite. It seems to me that Jesus was always running away from crowds. And yet here, many of us are chasing the crowds. And it seems.
It seems like we think that's the best thing for us to do. Let me ask you something else. What did Jesus do when he was 24?
I mean, the only thing scripture tells us is he was a carpenter. What about 25?
Well, I mean, we know he was a carpenter. What about 26? I would assume probably a better carpenter. Does this seem odd to anyone? I mean, we're talking about the savior of the world church, the Son of God, the Messiah, the one that the world has been waiting to come.
And yet we don't have any record of what he was doing when he was 24. You know, it almost seems like he made it his ambition to live a quiet Life. In Matthew 8:1:4, we're told that Jesus healed a man with leprosy. Here's what it says. When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.
And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, lord, if you will, you can make me Clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus said to him, see that you say nothing to anyone. I want you to notice something. This passage tells us that great crowds followed Jesus, but it doesn't say that Jesus pursued the crowd.
In other words, Jesus did what God called him to do. Spread the good news, heal the sick, bring deliverance to the bound. And he focused solely on those things. He was not trying to make a name for himself. But while Jesus was simply doing what he was called to do, staying in his own lane, guess what?
Crowds started to form. People started to talk about the miracles that God was doing through him. And more and more people started coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. I'm telling you, if you'll just stop chasing the crowd and start doing what God has called you and I to do, we will not have to chase the crowd, because I'm telling you, the crowd will chase us. The crowd will want to see.
See that God has done something in your life. There is something different about you. And I know I need it, and I want it. Our second point this morning. God doesn't need help proclaiming your name.
He wants us to proclaim His.
Many people believe that attention equals significance. Many people seem to be striving to make a name for themselves, all the while forgetting about the only name that can save. Here's what we need to understand. We don't have to make a name for ourselves because we serve the One Whose name is above all names. What am I talking about?
Philippians 2. 9 tells me this. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. So allow me to say it one more time for those that are hard of hearing in the back.
We don't have to make a name for ourselves because we serve the One Whose name is above all names. That truth means that the pressure is off of our shoulders. You don't need to impress anyone. You don't need to be the biggest or the best. The only thing that we need to do is be faithful to what God has called us to do, to make his name known.
The amazing thing is, though, that this one, whose name is above all names, has also named us and has called us. And here's what he says about us. You are chosen, you are loved, you are accepted. You are wonderfully made. And you are more than a conqueror.
Everything that we do that we do should be from a place that reflects all the glory back to the father. Francis Chan once shared a story about one of his mentors in India. His mentor told Francis, one day, you know, everyone is chasing a bigger and bigger platform. And he said, but if God wants to give it to you, he'll give it to you. He went on to say, I remember my friend Teresa.
I would visit her all the time. We would go and serve the poor and do our own thing. And then one day, God decides, I want the whole world to know about you. And so everyone knows about Mother Teresa. He went on and said, you know, never in her wildest dreams would she think to promote herself.
She just quietly did her own thing. And then God decided to make her a household name. Friends, I'm telling you that if your ambition is to do good works in order to make a name for yourself so that others know about you, you better be very careful with that. Because I'm telling you, God has a way of humbling you so that you will be reminded that you are nothing without his blood. In Mark 1:35, we read of a time when the disciples could not find Jesus.
They looked all over for him. Scripture tells us that Jesus rose very early that morning while it was still dark. He departed from everyone else and went out to a desolate place. And he started to pray. Friends, let me tell you something.
God doesn't need you to be around a bunch of people to hear you pray. He can hear you pray just fine in the secret place where it's just you and him. And I feel like preaching for just a second. There are some of you that are like my grandmother Margaret. You are praying in secret for people and issues that no one else knows about.
And I want you to know something. You might be watching as others around you who are more flashy with their prayers and their works seem to be gaining rewards and recognition from others. And it seems like you are getting passed by. But I want to encourage you. They have already received their reward from man.
But I want to tell you something. Don't get distracted. You keep going into your prayer closet and continue touching heaven and get ready. Because not only are your prayers going to be answered, there is a reward for you. Not from man, but from the God who you are praying to.
And the reward he has for you is much greater than anything that man has to offer. I'm telling you, there is a blessing waiting for you and me if we are willing to stop being flashy and start living quietly before the Lord. Everyone wants to show off what they are doing for the Lord and compare their works to their brothers and sisters Works. Friends, you go right on ahead and you do that all you want to. Because I recall a scripture that says something to this effect.
Isaiah 64. 6. All our righteous acts are like filthy rags. So guess what? While you think you're proclaiming good works, all you're doing is waving around a filthy rag and you look ridiculous while you're doing it.
Our good works are not as good as we think they are. But you go right on ahead and you wave that filthy rag all you want to in front of the crowd. Because I'm here to tell you you're not fooling anybody. I am tired. I am sick and tired.
I'm not just tired. I am sick and tired. I need some coffee and an antibiotic. Come on, somebody. I am sick and tired of seeing Christians that seem to be more interested in making a name for themselves than they are for God.
What happened to Christians that were willing to pray and knock on the doors of heaven for an unsaved loved one? Instead, we have people today that want to get on Facebook and boast about their good works and cast judgment on the lost Francis Chan. Put it this way. We need fewer voices and more examples. I'm telling you, we need people that are like Jesus.
We need people that are more interested in hearing from God than they are making a name for themselves. I get frustrated when I see people making church all about themselves. Listen, I love all of you. I am grateful for all of you. But I did not come here for you, and I hope you did not come here for me.
I hope you came here to praise God, to grow in your knowledge of him, so that you can be sent back into your harvest field, wherever that may be. That's why we're here today. And here is a news flash. It's not about you, and it's also not about me. We don't need to make a name for ourselves.
We need to start lifting up the name of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. And we need to be faithful to work in the field that God has given us and allow him to draw the crowds if he wants to. You may be great, but I have news for you. Your name cannot save anyone. The demons don't tremble when they hear your name.
But when you start proclaiming the name of Jesus, let me tell you something. Stuff begins to happen because he has to flee at the name. He has to flee at the sight of the blood. And he has to flee when the word is proclaimed. So let me remind you, God doesn't need help proclaiming your name.
He wants us to proclaim his. Why? So that the captives can be set free. Our third point, unbelievers need a Christ follower, not a Facebook follower.
Have you noticed how people post all the good stuff on Facebook, but they tend to leave out the bad. I'm about to step on some toes. Praise the Lord. All right, hear me. I want you.
I know you're sitting back and you're real comfortable right now. I want you to lean forward because I'm about to tell you a secret. And I promise I did not tell this in the 8:00 service. This is just for the 10:00.
I don't want anyone else to hear this, okay? So I think it's great when people do good things, things for other people. Honestly, I do. I think we need to do more good works. I'm all for that.
But just so you know, it's okay to do something good and not post about it on Facebook.
My earthly father is one that is an epitome of this. I can't tell you how many times I have heard someone tell me or seen him do something when no one else saw it for someone else. And never say a word about it to anyone. Friends, that's what our good works are supposed to look like. We don't need to call the paparazzi to come and photograph that what we're doing for God.
Because God knows all about it. And that's all that matters. Because you're doing it for God. God's the only one that needs to know. No one else needs to know about it.
Keep that between yourself in God, because I'm telling you, if you want a reward from man, they have very little to offer you. But if you'll just keep quiet, there's a reward coming for you in heaven for that good work if you'll just keep your mouth shut. And it's much better than anything that man can offer you here on this earth. Several months ago, a pastor's wife was reading in Matthew, chapter six. And this is what it says.
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. This is literally what they would do, by the way, in the synagogues, they would literally sound trumpets. When someone would give in the plate, they would sound trumpets. This is biblical.
They literally did this 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. 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, shut the door, and pray to your Father, who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret will reward you. His wife was reading this, and here's what she said. And this struck me.
Does anyone do anything in secret anymore? We're so into posting things that even our quiet time with the Lord. Look, I'm not making this up. You have to have a picture of your Bible, a coffee and a muffin.
Time with Jesus.
Does anyone do anything in secret anymore? Here's what her husband said. Yeah, sinful stuff.
Please hear me. And I don't ever want anyone to think I'm being judgmental. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. We were all sinners before Christ came into our lives. But all I'm saying is I find it ironic that we hide our sin and post our good works when the Bible tells us to confess our sins to one another and hide our good works.
Can we have a generation rise up that is willing to put it all on the line and say we have nothing to hide? Let me tell you what God has done in my life. This is who I am. This is the junk that I brought to the altar. Here's what God did with it.
Here's how he transformed it. Look at what I am today, all for God's glory.
And in fact, the only thing that I am going to hide is my good works. What if you started to post your sins?
Maybe something like a synstagram.
I'm just asking.
Here's what God saved me from. Here's what he's doing in my life. I need you all to pray for me because I'm struggling in this area right now. And meanwhile we're just quietly doing good works behind the scenes. Can I offer you something to chew on for a little bit?
Maybe, just maybe, God isn't doing many miracles in your life because he knows your motive is just to post about it. Friends, I'M telling you, those around you that are not saved need a true Christ follower to show them the way. They do not need a Facebook follower. Here we are doing the exact opposite of what God tells us to do and then we're wondering, why are things so messed up? We need to be able to confess our sins so that others can pray for us, so others can see that we are not perfect, so others can come alongside and support us as we walk away from the sin that we are trapped in and so that others can see what God can do with a heart surrendered to him that is willing to say, God, here is my drunk, drunk.
I bring it to your altar. Help me make something out of this mess that I have created and it will all be for your glory. Let me tell you, if the church would get back to being that transparent about our struggles, I believe personally we would see people being saved by the Mass. But can I tell you why we don't see this happening today? The reason is we have too many people in the global church, not here, not Oxford assembly and the global church that would rather find it entertaining and amusing to pray on the things that God is delivering someone from gossip about them, spread rumors about their dirty laundry instead of doing what God has called us to do, which is help them take out their trash and celebrate with them that God is doing a work in their life.
When I hear someone spreading gossip, I often think to myself, you know, if you were busy doing what God has called you to do, you would not have time to gossip. I'm telling you it is time to get busy about the Father's business and leave others alone. Let the Holy Spirit do the convicting, you do the encouraging. I'm telling you it is time to start working with our hands. Wouldn't it be something to go to someone's funeral and instead of secret sin being uncovered, all that was uncovered was righteous works for God that no one knew about.
That is good works uncovered so that the outsiders could look upon it and have nothing bad to say about it. That's what Paul was talking about in First Thessalonians 4. Friends, I'm telling you we are doing it all backwards. We need to confess our sins and quietly do our good works. I'm going to be honest with you, there are a few scriptures that have puzzled me over the years.
Many pastors can probably relate to this. We read one earlier when Jesus healed the man with leprosy and you would think that Jesus would want everyone to know about it. You would think Jesus would want to Tell that guy testify. Tell all your friends about what God has done. But here's what Jesus told him right after he was healed.
Matthew, chapter 8, verse 4. And Jesus said to him, see that you say nothing to anyone. There's another one in Luke where Jesus raises someone from the dead. And then Jesus has the audacity to look at everyone there in that crowd and say, don't tell anyone about this. Imagine how frustrating that would be.
Ms. Jeannie back there, you're heading up a small group for prayer, and someone gets raised from the dead, and God tells you, don't tell a single soul about this. This happens over and over In Scripture. We read of Jesus healing someone, and then he follows that up with don't tell anyone. Now, I want to be very clear on this.
I understand that many scholars believe that Jesus was trying to keep things under wraps because his time had not yet come to be crucified. But can I give you my personal opinion? I believe Jesus would have still told them that even if that were not true. What about Revelation 10? In Revelation 10, verse 4, John is in the middle of receiving this great and powerful revelation from God.
And then the seven thunders spoke. And so here's John. He's writing down what the seven thunders just said. And then God stopped him and said, no, John, seal that up. Imagine John standing there.
He was probably thinking to himself, But I was just getting ready to post it. God said, no, that's just for you. Can you wrap your mind around this? The only person in the entire world who knows what the seven thunder spoke was John. For the past 2,000 years, no one knows what was said.
And this leads us into our final point today. If your motive is to honor God, then the reward shouldn't matter. I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this point, but I want to use it to close out.
I'm going to say something that the world would think is very radical and ridiculous. But, friends, Jesus should be enough all on his own for us. The blessings are nice, the gifts are nice, but our motive shouldn't be to do good works so that we can receive. Because I have news for you. We have already received.
What am I talking about? Well, for those of you that have been saved, you know exactly what I'm talking about, because I recall a very true story that goes like this. There once was a son named Jesus, the spotless lamb of the living God, who came down to live among us, to suffer in every way that we suffer, die a criminal's death on A cross for a crime that he did not commit, shed his blood to remove our sins. And yet we had the audience audacity to expect more. You're not going to get any greater than that, friends.
Nothing else should matter to you. I don't care about the recognition from man. I don't care about the rewards. I don't care about the accolades. I just care about having.
I don't care about having followers on Facebook because all I want to do is sit at his feet. I just want to serve him. I just want to love him. I just want to worship him. I just want to spend time in his presence.
If the praise and worship team could come back, I want everyone to bow your head and close your eyes today.
I want to close with a series of questions today. And no one can answer this for you. This is just about your personal relationship with God.
Thank you, Holy Spirit.
When did Jesus become less valuable than fame?
When did Jesus get lowered in stature and standing in your mind that he's no longer enough for you on his own? When did Jesus become less valuable than recognition from man? When did the pleasures of this world overpower the blood of Jesus?
And second, if God were to say to you, I want to do miracles through you, but you can't tell a single person about them, or if he said, I want to tell you something that I've never told anyone before, like he did with John, would that be enough for you? Or would you feel the need to share it with everyone so that you got some of the recognition?
What if by you living a quiet life, it meant that God would show you miracles more than you've ever seen before, but they were just for you? Would that be enough for you? Or would you like to have the approval and applause from man along with it? I believe wholeheartedly, and this is just my personal opinion. I'm not saying this is scriptural.
I'm just telling you what I think. Could it be that we're not seeing as many miracles as we want to see? Because God knows that all you want to do is make a name for yourself through the miracle.
You're saying, come on, God, do a miracle through me so that I can post it all over Facebook and make myself famous? And God, I promise that if you'll do this for me, I'll tag you in it so that you get some of the credit, too. I'm going to tell you, friends, that sounds ridiculous, but I want us to search our hearts because I really do believe that some of us may have that attitude in our hearts.
Pastor Jeff is going to lead us in worship and the team and I want you to respond however the Holy Spirit is leading you to do. Some of you may want to come to the altar and pray. Some of you may feel led to stay in your seats and quietly pray. But I'm going to tell you I believe there are some of us here today that need to repent for making it all about ourselves instead of pointing every single person to Jesus Christ.
