His Eye Is On The Sparrow

HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW Matthew 10:27-31

"Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. 28 "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 "Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows."

Vs27 - Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light, and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

1. Don’t we do our best listening in the dark? Somebody said, it’s better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. But there is some darkness that cannot be dispelled with a candle and . . . darkness is beneficial.

A. God does not speak any more or any louder in the dark - God is speaking all the time - daylight or dark night - but we are more prone to listen in the dark.

1. When day is done and the lights are out and we crawl into bed for the night - and pull the cover up - and snuggle into the darkness - ready to spend sleepy hours in the pleasant darkness - it’s a good time to listen - God speaks in the dark.

a. There are not so many diversions in the dark.

(1) The daylight has distractions that keep us from listening.

(a) We have to earn a living - we have to "make it" in the daylight.

(b) There is work to do in the day. Jesus said to "work while it is yet day for the night comes when no man can work."

(c) The day was made for whatever distractions there are. And the dark was made for rest and relaxation and listening for that still small voice of God - IF IT WASN’T FOR THE DARKNESS - WE MIGHT NOT HEAR HIM AT ALL!

2. And - There are other kinds of darkness than just the physical absence of light.

a. There is the darkness of despair and heartbreak and who has not been there? James Stewart - a Scottish preacher who influenced my early ministry and preaching more than anybody else called this "The dark night of the soul." Things are so dark - platitudes and cliches like, "Well, just remember, it’s darkest just before dawn." Somehow, just don’t seem to be much help.

1. Maybe a friend, someone you loved and trusted and respected, disappointed you . . . badly . . . and it’s dark.

2. Maybe you’re sick . . . really sick . . . and can’t seem to get well - and it’s dark.

3. Maybe you’re old - and tired - and you’re not going to be younger here in this world. Stairs are steeper - people don’t talk loud enough or plain enough - sons and daughters are living their own lives and don’t seem to have time for you anymore and it’s dark.

4. Maybe you’re young - and trying to cope with school - and parents - and growing up - and peer pressure - You are being told that everybody’s doing it - you might as well. It’s the devil’s lie - but you hear it all the time. You want to hold out but it’s hard to do and - it’s dark.

5. Maybe you let yourself down - your church down - your God down - and you’re sorry you did that but you don’t know what to do and it’s dark?

(1) A heart that has never despaired will not have much to preach about from the housetops.

(2) A heart that has never broken - will never adequately sympathize with someone elses who has.

(3) A heart that has not walked in the valley of the shadow of death - cannot really appreciate the joy of living.

(4) A heart that has never suffered the awfulness of depression - cannot possibly appreciate the joy of freedom from it.

(5) Anyway, the point is - in the darkness - whatever kind is it - whether it’s physical - emotional - whether it’s depression - despair - lonliness - IT’S NOT ALL BAD - because in every kind of darkness - God speaks.

(6) The voice of God is heard in the inner ear - the spiritual ear - it isn’t loud - it does not overwhelm other voices - IF WE ARE NOT LISTENING, WE WON’T HEAR IT - and we do our best listening in the dark.