Illus: Abraham Lincoln in a hot political debate was accused by his opponent of being two faced.
He countered the remark by saying, “My opponent accuses me of being two faced, but anyone can take a look at this face I am wearing and know if I had another one I would not be wearing this one.”
The fact is we all have not two faces that we wear, but at least five different faces people know us by.
For example, you might see someone coming and when you see their face you might say…
(1) That woman is a good cook.
Illus: That reminds me two little boys were eating away when his friend, who was visiting with him said don’t eat yet we have not prayed.
The other little boy said we do not pray at my house before we eat because my mom is a good cook.
You might see someone coming and when you see their face you might say…
(2) That man has a large ego.
Illus: Reminds me of the young boy that came home with his report card and he had all A’s on his report card.
The father saw the report card and he said to his wife, do you think our son get all his brains from me?
She said, probably so, I still have all of mine.
Let me point our briefly five faces we are known by.
(1)THERE IS A "FACE" THE WORLD KNOWS US
(2) THERE IS A FACE THAT OUR FRIENDS KNOWS US BY.
(3) There is a face that our family knows us by.
(4) There is a face that our church family knows us by.
But most of all…
(5) There is a face that God knows us by.
God know more about us than anyone.
In fact, there is not anything that God does not know about us. NOT ANYTHING!!!
Illus: Did you know that the Bible tells us God knows about the number of hairs on our head.
There’s absolutely no use pretending before God or trying to hide who we are from Him –God knows us through and through.
God knew us even before we were formed in our mother’s wombs!
Let’s talk about what God knows us about…
I. God knows our every thought.
Psalms 139:1-6 O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
Thoughts are the most private parts of our human body.
No one else can know our thoughts unless we communicate them, so we tend to imagine that anything we think is safe, as long as it stays in our minds.
Aren’t you glad no one can know our thoughts?
If our thoughts were broadcast for the world to hear, we would be embarrassed?
But there is SOMEONE who knows what we are thinking; God knows everything about us, and He also knows our thoughts.
It can be intimidating to realize that God knows our thoughts.
He knows…
• The angry thoughts,
• The lustful thoughts,
• The vengeful thoughts,
• The secret greed thoughts,
• And He knows hidden coveting thoughts.
Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
In other words “Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.”
Illus: Did you know…
• Behind every bank robbery is a thought.
• Behind every adulterous affair is a thought.
• Behind every Murder is a thought.
• Behind every lustful deed is a thought.
• Behind every act of greed is a thought
Bible says in Proverbs 23:7 "As he thinks in his heart, so is he."
• If you want to wear the face of HATE, think on hateful things. (When people see you coming they will say that is one HATEFUL PERSON.)
• If you want to wear the face of GREED, think on thoughts of greed. (When people see you coming they will say that is one person that is filled with greed)
• If you want to wear the face of KINDNESS, think of thoughts of kindness. (When people see you coming they will say that is one KIND PERSON.)
• If you want to wear the face of FRIENDLINESS, think on thoughts of friendliness. (When people see you coming they will say that is one FRIENDLY PERSON)
The Bible tells us AS A MAN THINKETH SO IS HE!!!
You might say, “Preacher, I would like to wear The FACE OF KINDNESS AND FRIENDLINESS and I am waiting for God to help me.”
You do not need to wait on God…you need to get your thoughts under control!!!
God’s Word tells us again, as a man thinketh so is he!!!
Can we control our thought life? Yes, we can!!!
If we could not God would not tell us to THINK ON THESE THINGS.
Look at Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
This verse of Scripture makes it clear we have control of our thought life. If we did not God would not be telling us to THINK ON THESE THINGS.
God knows everything about us and God knows our EVERY THOUGHT!!!
God knows our thoughts, but also…
II. GOD KNOWS OUR ABILITIES
God would never ask us to do something that He has given us the ability to do.
Mankind might ask you to do something that you do not have the ability to do because mankind does not know what ability that you might have or do not have.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger asked a man to do something and this good Christian fellow said, “Preacher, I would like to do that for the Lord but I do not have the ability."
All of us have been given different types of gifts by the Holy Spirit to be used to glorify God and to edify the body of Christ.
Look at Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
• Just because I want to do something does not mean I can do it.
• Just because someone else wants me to do something does not mean I can do it.
• But if God has gifted you to do something you can do it.
• God who created us with certain gifts know what we can do and cannot do.
And if He has gifted us to do something we should be doing it for the glory of God.
Illus: For example, some of the men in this church have the gift to sing solos but this is not one gift God has given me and I am not worried in the slightest of standing before God giving account for not singing solos.
But had God given me that gift SHAME ON ME IF IAM NOT WILLING TO USE THE GIFT HE HAS GIVEN ME.
But one thing God is going to hold all us responsible for is WITNESSING TO THE LOST.
We all have different personalities in how we are to witness to the Lost.
The Bible tells us he that winneth souls is wise.
Illus: We do not need to be like the barber who was fixing to shave a fellow and when he had the razor at his throat said, “ARE YOU READY TO DIE?”
We all have different personalities and God use us with these personalities God has given us.
Illus: For example, Dr. Belger was waiting in line for his turn to be checked out at Lowe’s. As he was waiting he was praying for the cashier and wanted to witness to her when it was his turn to be checked out. He knew it would have to be a short witness because she was busy working. So when she was checking him out she had not even looked up to make eye contact with him.
So he said to her, “I bet I know something you don’t know?”
This got her attention and she looked at him and said, “What do you know that I don’t know.”
He said, I bet you don’t know the Lord Jesus died for your sins and he loves you very much!
She smiled and said, I know that!
And he said, Have you asked him into your heart and forgive you of your sins?
She said, “Yes, I have!
We all have different personalities and God want all of us to wear the face that we CARE ABOUT THE LOST!
God know:
I. Our Thoughts
Il. Our Abilities
But also…
Ill. GOD KNOWS YOUR SUFFERING
Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
God knows your suffering and He invites everyone to bring all their suffering to Him.
There are some folks you do not need to ask them if they are suffering, they are going to tell you about all their sufferings whether you want to hear it or not.
But there are some folks you will not know they are suffering because they never talk about it.
But every day we come into contact with people who have some suffering.
• Some time it is financial.
• Some time it is domestic.
• Some time it is physical.
• Some time it is relationships.
Illus: A preacher was eating at a Grecian restaurant. All of the waitresses were busy waiting on their customers. But he happened to notice the face of the waitress waiting on them she seemed to be sad.
So when she brought their food he asked her if she was alright. She shared with him about some surgery she was fixing to have and she was scared.
He said to her, while we are asking the blessing on the food can we also have prayer for your situation.
She said I would appreciate that very much.
She bowed her head and the preacher had prayer for her and she was so thankful.
Everywhere we go people are hurting.
Many of them cover their hurting with smiles most of the time so we do not know it, but God knows their suffering.
We wear all these faces to cover up our sufferings but I am so glad that GOD KNOWS OUR HURTINGS!
Conclusion:
I want to say God again…
I. God knows our thoughts
II. God knows our abilities
III. God knows our sufferings
God knows all these things about us and much more.
But did you know there are somethings that we know about God.
I. Did you know that God wants to have an INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU!!!
II. Did you know God is willing to forgive you for all your sins!!!
III. Did you know God wants to spend eternity with you in His beautiful heaven?
All you have to do is COME to Him and ask Him to save you!!!
