Walking Billboard Luke 8:26-39
Scripture
Read Luke 8:26-39
Introduction
My wife Christina and I came here to visit First Congregational Church in December of 2006 to candidate and interview for the position of Pastor. Some of you may recall what the church sign on the grass in front of the building had displayed on it that December…
It said “What is missing in this church?” only it was missing the “u” in church. This was a play on spelling, the “u” that was missing in the word church was supposed to tell a person reading the sign that they should come inside and be a part of the church.
When Christina and I read it though, we looked at each other and wondered who had done the sign and why they couldn’t spell church! It was a few days later that we were showing the pictures of our trip to Cheboygan to a family member and they explained to us what the sign actually meant! As it turns out the sign made perfect sense… we had just misunderstood its meaning.
Transition
Psalms 51:15 says, “O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” (ESV) This morning I want to share with you some principals about the message that we have been called to share. God has called upon us to declare His praise to a world desperately in need of the message of His love.
In Luke chapter eight, the story is told of Jesus casting demons out of a man. Jesus then tells the man to go home and announce that he had been set free from the internal bondage which had held him captive for so long.
This passage teaches us two primary principals. First, Jesus sets us free from the things inside of us which sometimes hold us captive. Jesus sets us free from the hurts, pains, and fears which live inside of each on of us. In Christ we are set free.
The second principal, and the one we will focus on this morning, is that, like the man in the story, Jesus has instructed us to go back to our homes and proclaim what he has done for us. Jesus has instructed us to be walking billboards. We are to be the evidence of God’s goodness and mercy as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Scripture
Read 1 Samuel 18:5-8
We Need a Story to Tell!
King David had a story to tell. At this time in his life he was utterly faithful to God and he was blessed in all that he did. He had a story to tell of God’s faithfulness and goodness. So much so, that the people of Israel sang his praises.
Saul, who was the King of Israel at the time, was jealous of David. He would eventually make David a hunted man – sending soldiers out to find and kill David. David had a story to tell of God’s faithfulness while Saul was only envious of what David’s favor with God.
John Wesley was walking one day with a troubled man who expressed his doubt of God’s goodness. “I don’t know what I shall do with all this worry and trouble,” he said. At that moment Wesley noticed a cow looking over a stone wall.
“Do you know,” asked Wesley, “why that cow is looking over that wall?” “No,” replied his troubled companion. “I will tell you,” said Wesley—“because she cannot see through it. That is what you must do with your wall of trouble—look over it and above it.”
Faith enabled David to look over and above every trouble, to God, who was the source of his help. David was certainly not a man who never knew fear. He was a person who overcame fear by placing his trust in God.
The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear. David was so full of faith in God that he knew he could face every battle in his life with confidence that God would see him through it.
That is how we get a story to tell. If you are going through a struggle today, don’t try to look through it, look over it by placing your faith in God to bring you through to tomorrow. Dorothy Bernard once said, “Courage is fear that has said its prayers.”
It has been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Take the first step today by choosing to trust God more today than you did yesterday and more tomorrow than today until finally, like David, you will overcome the power of fear with the power of faith.
Scripture
Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (ESV)
What Message Are You Sending?
We are walking billboards whether we like it or not. I remember once hearing a professional basketball player say to an interviewer that he chose not to be a role model. But the truth is that we are all role models. We are all telling a story with our lives. We are all doing the things that we do in this life, whatever they may be, in the open. But what is the message are we sending to the world around us?
Are we constantly grumpy? Are we short tempered or easily irritated? If so, what are we telling others about the God whom we come here every Sunday to worship? What are we saying about the supposed love of God in our lives? What message are we sending to the world around us?
Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (ESV) We should be a little different.
John Stott in an article entitled, “Christians: Salt and Light,” writes, “I’ve recently come back from India where I heard of a little Hindu girl brought up in a strict Hindu family, who had come across Christians. Somebody asked her one day what she thought a Christian was. She thought for a few moments and replied, “Well as far as I can see, a Christian is somebody who is different from everybody else.” (Preaching Today, Tape No. 109.)
Is that true of us? Are we somehow different from everybody else? Do we more love than others? Are we more forgiving, compassionate, and kind? Are our homes filled with more laughter and joy than the homes of non-Christians? It’s sad to say that many times we are not all that different.
Far too often we are so busy standing in the shallow waters of complacent mediocrity that we fail to recognize that our daddy owns the lake! God has given us access to abundant joy! In Christ we have received a great treasure to enjoy… not a burden to bear.
Let us embrace the gift of mercy. God does not want us sending a sad lonely message to the world.
He wants to fill our hearts with His love so that we can be walking billboards, proclaiming His goodness and forgiveness to a world filled with hurting people.
Church that is how we are to build the Kingdom of God… by loving people unconditionally and by loving God passionately. Matthew 5:16 says, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (ESV)
Conclusion
I was eating lunch one day at a restaurant near my house in Florida. My wife and I frequented this little sea food place on the sponge docs in Tarpon Springs. On this particular occasion the strangest thing happened…
I looked out of the window and saw the manager eating lunch at a fast food restaurant across the street. What did the manager’s choice say about his own restaurant? I said to me, “Don’t eat here … the food across the street is better!”
People are watching you. They see how you live. They hear you talk. They see your priorities in the things you buy and the way you dress. They observe the places you go. And they know the company you keep. You are a “walking billboard.” Does your advertisement say “follow me to Christ,” or does it lead people across the street?
Earlier I told you about how Christina and I had misunderstood the sign in front of the church when we came to visit last December. In this case, the sign was pretty obvious and we were just overlooking its meaning. And that is going to happen some times, regardless of our good intentions or intelligent presentations, people are going to misunderstand the message we send about our faith.
But let us be a people who are intentional about sending the clear message that above all else, we serve a God who is full of mercy and compassion. We serve a God who brings healing for past hurts, strength and encouragement for the struggles of today and hope for all that will come tomorrow. What message are you sending today on the billboard of your life? Let it be a message of hope and of encouragement!
Let us pray. Thank you, God, for your mercy and goodness. Help us to let our light shine before men so that in us they might see you glory and mercy. Fill us with more and more of your love so that as they look at us, they will see you. Amen.
