Appearances Can Be Deceiving
May 22, 2011 Evening Service
Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK
Rick Boyne
Message Point: We can’t judge men by looking at their outsides.
Focus Passage: I Samuel 16:1-13
Supplemental Passage: My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? (James 2:1-4 NASB)
Introduction: Relate the story of my grandfather who worked as a mechanic at a Ford dealership back in the 1920-30’s. A poor old farmer walks in carrying a five gallon bucket and the salesmen won’t even get up to talk to him. My grandfather mentions that the man is looking and the salesmen ignore my grandfather. My grandfather gets up, welcomes the man and asks if he can help him. The old farmer asks two or three questions about a car in the showroom with my grandfather giving satisfactory answers. He sets the bucket down, takes off the lid, and pulls out the cash to buy the car on the spot. The two salesmen are upset because they lost a commission. My grandfather tells them that they should treat every customer as if they are going to buy a car.
I. Man’s Vision
a. Sizes stature,
i. He had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and handsome man, and there was not a more handsome person than he among the sons of Israel; from his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people. (1 Samuel 9:2 NASB)
b. Judges beauty
i. And Leah’s eyes were weak, but Rachel was beautiful of form and face.
(Genesis 29:17 NASB)
c. Looks at clothes
i. James 2:1-4
II. God’s Vision
a. Looks at heart (vs 7)
i. "For the eyes of the LORD move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His..." (2 Chronicles 16:9 NASB)
ii. And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4 NASB)
b. Judges intentions
i. Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. (Genesis 6:5 NASB)
c. Sees potential
i. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, (Ephesians 3:20 NASB)
III. Our Application
a. Don’t be obsessed with self-image
i. "And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. (Matthew 6:28-29 NASB)
b. Ask God for a pure heart and clean hands
i. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. (Psalms 24:3-4 NASB)
c. Guard our own hearts
i. Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12 NASB)
Invitation:
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 NASB)
