Looking For A Sign Or A Guide

Looking For A Sign Or A Guide

Text: Matt. 16:1-4

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.”

“He answered and said unto them, When it is eneving, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.”

“And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?”

“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall be no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.”

Intro.

It is said of Miss Reside, the first woman missionary to Kiowa Indians of Oklahoma, that after she had been with the Indians long enough for them to know what it meant to be a Christian they gave her a new name. They called her “Aim-day-co.” Chief Bigtree, in explaining this name, said, “When we Kiowas see anyone on the wrong road we call out, ‘Aim-day-co’ (“turn this way”). Our sister came to us from a far land, and found us all on the wrong road and in great danger. She stood in a new road and called to us and said, ‘Turn this way,’ and showed us the Jesus road. God bless Aim-day-co.”

- Unknown

I. Our world is looking for a sign or a guide.

 We are surrounded by confusing signs.

 People ask, “What does this sign mean?”

 What does the Bible say about that?

 Isn’t that in the Bible?

 People want to know what is going on.

 Religious curiousity has peaked in the last ten years.

 They’re looking for the signs.

II. The Pharisees and the Sadducees were looking for a sign.

 They came to Jesus seeking a sign.

 Jesus said no sign will be given save for the sign of Jonas.

 What was Jonas sign?

 Forty days and Ninevah will be overthrown.

 He procaimed their wickedness and the coming destruction.

 He preached repentance or damnation.

 He didn’t preach a feel good gospel.

 He didn’t preach get rich religion.

 He preached truth.

III. What the world needs to look for - The Truth.

 “The truth, you can’t handle the truth!”

 Truth hurts, but truth saves.

 The world is tired of empty religion.

 The world is tired of false doctrine.

 The world is tired of wishy-washy worship.

 The world wants and needs the truth!!!!!!

IV. We need to be the truth!

 “The Blind Guide”

 We are to be blind guides.

 We have the responsibility to guide them out of darkness.

 A match shining in total darkness cam be seen 30 miles away.

 We need to be the flame!!

CONCLUSION:

A ship sailing in dark waters received a radio message to change their direction 30 degrees. The ships captain responded, “I will not, you change your direction 30 degrees!” The response came back, “Be advised, change course bearings 30 degrees!” The captain angerly responded, “I am the captain of a US Naval vessel and am staying my course. I am ordering you to alter your course 30 degrees!” The reply, “Sir, I am the lighthouse, change your course 30 degrees!!!!”

- Unknown