When People See Me – What Do They See?
Scripture: Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43; John 13:34-35
Good morning Strangers Rest. The title of my message today is, “When People See Me – What Do They See?” Now of course the obvious answer is they see us right? But is that true? Do they see “us,” or do they see the image that we want them to see? I have recently learned that when I first arrived here people saw me differently than how I truly am – and that is normal when you meet someone you do not know for the first time. We naturally make assessments about a person based on how they present themselves. But this is what I want you all to consider. In my mind, I was presenting a conservative, positive view of who I am, but some of that was lost and never truly came across. The way I phrased some things and some questions that I asked raised some alarm bells. And because of that, it took some time for some of you to reexamine your initial impressions of me so that you could get to where you are in your relationship with me. I own how I initially came across and I do wonder if it would have made things easier in some ways if maybe I had said less and let you figure me out over time. Like many of you, this has been a learning and growing experience for me.
Now, let me tell you why I am sharing this with you today. Last week, we hosted our Church on the Block, and it was an enormous success. I want to wholeheartedly thank the 99th Church anniversary committee who unselfishly worked many hours to pull it off. You planned, donated money and your time and then came out on Saturday evening to prepare for the day. If that was not enough, many of you showed up again at six o’clock on Sunday morning to get everything set up and ready. Some of you even talked your friends into getting up early and helping, which was needed. And if that was not enough, once everything was done, you stayed to break everything down and clean up the area. You did all of this to make the event a success proving that a few motivated people who love Jesus can indeed do remarkable things! I want to personally thank each one of you who gave of yourself to make last week a success!!!
And I want to say one more thing, and it is the most important thing. All of heaven saw you shine a light on Jesus for everyone to see. You really blessed your Heavenly Father on Sunday because you wanted people who did not know Jesus to know Him! To God be the glory! There was a total of 232 participants, members included, who came out for the event. The live stream service was viewed almost six hundred times on our Face Book page. There were people who used to attend this Church who are now thinking about returning after what they witnessed last Sunday. There were people in the neighborhood who had never visited Strangers Rest who are thinking about checking us out because of the open arms we extended to them that made them feel welcomed and valued. That was the purpose of the event, and you all pulled it off.
I know that God was pleased with our Church on the Block event! I hope this will be an annual event for Strangers Rest moving forward. For those of you who interacted with someone you did not know, they now have a positive impression of this Church because of you. For those of you who remained on the sidelines for whatever reason, you missed an opportunity to touch a person for Jesus, but you will get another chance. My point with all of this is simple: we had an opportunity to make a positive first impression and we accomplished that goal. People felt the love of God! You showed up and showed out – from the food to the music! So where do we go from here? How do we continue what we started last Sunday? This will be the focus of my message this morning.
When I enlisted into the military my first assignment was basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (LAFB) in San Antonio, TX. When I and the other new recruits arrived at LAFB, everyone knew we were the new recruits because of how we were dressed. Because we were new and had not been issued our uniforms for the first couple of days, wherever we marched in formation on the base, the recruits who were wearing their green fatigues or dress blues called us “rainbows.” When they marched by us they would sing in cadence “Rainbows, rainbows, don’t be blue, we were once rainbows too, sound off……” This went on for several days until we were issued our green fatigues. At that point we were promoted from rainbows to pickles. So those who were wearing their dress blues would sing “Pickles, pickles don’t be blue….” you get the picture. This was consistent across the base. We were recognized by what we wore. But what was funny was that once we were pickles, we got to call the other new recruits rainbows.
Rainbows were recruits who wore their “street” clothes. Since the clothes were assorted colors and types, all the colors of the rainbow were represented. Also, another quick give-away was the fact that we still had our hair. These two facts told everyone else that we were new recruits. Once we got our haircuts and were issued our first uniforms (green fatigues) we were called pickles because our fatigues were green. Finally, we got to wear our dress blues. Only those within two weeks of graduating were allowed to wear their dress blues. If you were seen wearing them, everyone knew you were close to graduating. My point to this story is this: I was easily recognized through all the stages of basic training because of what I was wearing. It did not matter what I knew or what was on the inside of me, it was my clothes that identified what stage I was in at that moment in training. Unless you were one of the drill instructors or other airmen stationed at the base, you were a rainbow, a pickle or someone close to graduating.
I tell you this because this morning, I want us to consider what others see when they see us. We are entering into a new phase of this ministry and if we honestly believe that the best is yet to come, that best can only come when we change otherwise you get what you have always had. And not just any change. I am talking about the change that comes when we give our best for Jesus. This Church has been a fixture in this community for ninety-nine years. So where do we go from here? To answer this question, we must first look at ourselves. We must look at ourselves as individuals and then as a corporate body to determine the image we are portraying because our image will either draw people to this Church or repel them from it. So, I will ask two questions this morning. First, when people see us, do they see Jesus? Secondly, when people come to Strangers rest, do they see and/or feel Jesus’ presence and love? If the answer to either of these questions is “no,” we must correct this to make this place a welcoming place for all to attend.
Being able to be recognized “as something” is important. I have often asked people would their co-workers and friends be surprised if they walked in a Church and saw them worshipping God. Every one of us is known for something. Initially it is the way we dress, where we live, our jobs, our family name, and/or the vehicle we drive. All of these are superficial when compared to what is important. I received an email a few years ago titled “Ten Things God Won’t Ask on That Day.” You may have seen it. But I want to highlight a few of them:
• God will not ask about the clothes you had in your closet. He will ask how many you helped to cloth.
• God will not ask what kind of car you drove. He will ask how many people you drove who did not have transportation.
• God will not ask the square footage of your house. He will ask how many people you welcomed into your home.
• God will not ask what your job title was. He will ask if you performed your job to the best of your ability.
• God will not ask how many people loved you. He will ask how many people you loved who did not love you back.
We do not know what God will say to us on that day, but we can rest assured that, oftentimes, He does not place the same value on things as we do. The question before us today is whether we are known as children of God. When people find out we are a Christian they will begin to look for Jesus in us and they should easily see Him. Since people are not able to look on the inside of us, they only see what we show them through our actions. If our actions do not show off Jesus, then we are in trouble. If people can see Jesus in me, and in you, then our actions are the evidence of our faith in Him. This is what is important and what we must personally evaluate as individuals and corporately as a Church as we build on what we started last week – we cannot let that die. Turn with me to Matthew 13:24-30. I want you to see something Jesus had to say about how we show up.
In Matthew 13:24-30 from the Amplified Bible, the following is recorded, “(24) Jesus gave them another parable [to consider], saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. (25) But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds [resembling wheat] among the wheat, and went away. (26) So when the plants sprouted and formed grain, the weeds appeared also. (27) The servants of the owner came to him and said, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? Then how does it have weeds in it?’ (28) He replied to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them out?’ (29) But he said, ‘No; because as you pull out the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. (30) Let them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘First gather the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”
When Jesus told this parable, He explained what it meant later in the chapter. Let us read verses 36-43, again I will be reading from the Amplified Bible. It says, “(36) Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him saying, ‘Explain [clearly] to us the parable of the weeds in the field.’ (37) He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, (38) and the field is the world; and [as for] the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; (39) and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels. (40) So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. (41) The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend [those things by which people are led into sin], and all who practice evil [leading others into sin], (42) and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping [over sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [over distress and anger]. (43) Then THE RIGHTEOUS [those who seek the will of God] WILL SHINE FORTH [radiating the new life] LIKE THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears [to hear], let him hear and heed My words.” (Matthew 13:36-43) (AMP)
Jesus explains that He was the Sower, and the field was the world. The good seeds are the sons (and daughters) of the Kingdom while the tares are the sons (and daughters) of the evil one. The harvest is the end of the world. Jesus was saying that when He returns He will have His angels separate His children (the wheat) from those who will be eternally lost (the tares). Those who are lost will be cast into the fire. That is the message that Jesus was delivering when He told this parable. We, as children of God, must exist side by side on this earth with the children of the devil. However, when Christ returns He will know His own and will separate everyone accordingly.
Now I want us to take another look at this parable for something that I believe is applicable to this message today. Notice in the parable that the landowner sowed wheat, and his enemy came along and sowed tares among the wheat. This was done to get the landowner to focus on getting rid of the tares immediately. The landowner decided instead to let them both grow together, and he would have the reapers separate them at the harvest. The point I want you to understand is why the enemy chose to sow tares among the wheat. Why tares instead of some other weed? The reason is that the blades of tares and the blades of wheat look the same and cannot be distinguished until they are grown and ready for harvest. If the landowner had allowed his servants to go through and try to remove the tares before they were grown, he would have lost part of his wheat because it would be too hard, at that point, to distinguish between the two. However, by letting them grow together until the harvest, the blades would change and become easily distinguishable. This is like our relationship with the world. Sometimes it is hard to tell a Christian from a non-believer. This is especially true with baby Christians. Sometimes the transitions from the world can take some adjustments and tough decisions. But like the wheat, as they grow in God’s Word, the difference will come out. When we start bringing in people who have never attended Church, we must be patient as they learn and grow. We cannot be critical and have unrealistic expectations of who they are and how they will act. We must show them the love of God and prove that we need them as much as they need us. The need goes both ways!
Jesus said, “(34) I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. (35) By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another.” (John 13:34-35) Strangers Rest, this is what many of you demonstrated last week to those who came to the Church on the Block. This is the reason some people who had left this Church are thinking about returning. This is the reason some of the visitors stated that they might visit. It was not because we fed them or allowed their kids to play games. It was because of the love that was shown to them during the one-on-one interactions. For example, when one child asked if she could bring a friend you said yes, and she quickly got her friend to join her. When one child wanted to get into the bounce house, but her mother was not present to sign the release, one of you went with the child to her home to get permission from the mother to allow her child to play. When people needed prayer, some of you were staffing the prayer booth praying for those in need. All of this was going on while people fellowshipped, played games, and ate good food. Last Sunday, you took the love of Jesus into the neighborhood, and it cannot be a one and done. When people see me I want them to see Jesus. I want them to feel Jesus. I want them to feel love. What about you?
Strangers Rest, we have work to do – we know that. We got off to a good start last Sunday, but that was just the beginning. We have a lot of outreach to do, but to do it, we must make outreach a priority. We must move it up in importance. I want you to consider something when you look at our annual calendar. We have several “annual” days. We have Men’s Day, Women’s Day, Gideon’s banquet, Youth Day, Mother’s & Father’s Day breakfasts, Revival, Vacation Bible School, Laymen Early morning service, Ushers’ Annual day, Missions’ Day, Church Anniversary. All these days, to my knowledge, happen annually. Now I am not complaining about any of them. My only question is this: are these programs internally focused or externally focused? If they are internally focused, then we are celebrating ourselves and we are inviting other Christians to join our internal celebrations. But, if they are externally focused, then that is outreach. When you look at our calendar, is it more in-reach focused or outreach?
What do you think would happen if we shifted or amended our annual days to have an outreach component to them? I was surprised to learn that it was the 99th Church anniversary team who sponsored our outreach day last Sunday. What would be the response if for Mission’s Day there was an outreach component that the mission team sponsored and then we celebrated that accomplishment? What about for Mother’s Day the men cooking breakfast not only for the mothers of the Church, but also for all the single mothers in the apartment buildings within one block of the Church. We know that there are single mothers living around us because we met some of them last week. The same can be done for the Father’s Day breakfast. We can invite fathers who may not have a Church home to join us and see and hear examples of what it means to be a good father. This would require a plan and a focus and willing bodies to make it happen – but if we make outreach a focus it can be done.
We do a particularly good job of celebrating and recognizing some of the workers of the Church with annual days – and saying thank you is always good. But if we are going to grow this Church, we need to shift some of our focus from internal to external. I pastored my Church for twenty-one years and never celebrated a Pastor’s anniversary. That was very personal to me. You see, for me, I did not believe that I should be celebrated annually for doing what God had told me to do. I reached this decision many years ago when I read where Jesus said, “(1) Be [very] careful not to do your good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven. (2) So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:1-2, Amp) Some might say I am taking this Scripture out of context as it relates to celebrating anniversaries and they might be right – for them. However, when I stand before God, I will stand before him by myself and I will not be able to justify doing something that violated my personal conscience. My personal belief is that if I am celebrated here on earth then I have my reward here and I would rather receive it later from my heavenly Father.
Again, this is my personal conviction, and I am not condemning any pastor or Church who chooses to have a pastor’s anniversary to show their appreciation for their pastor. I would just rather celebrate what we do for Christ that has heaven rejoicing and scripturally that is winning soul for Christ. Jesus said in Luke 15:7, “I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.” Wouldn’t you like to be a part of something that made heaven rejoice? Imagine how it would feel when you get to heaven and Jesus tells you the names of the people that you led to Him. You might have only led one person to Christ, but then that one person might have led one hundred others. That is the beauty of winning souls for Christ. It does not stop with the one. If you have been in Church forever and never led someone to Christ who was not a family member, it is not too late.
If we are to build on what we started last week, we must shift to an outreach mindset. We must begin to focus on what we can do to introduce Jesus to the people outside of these four walls. Not just to add to the membership, but to add to Christ’s kingdom. If we are going to do outreach, can we make it a priority? Can we put a stake in the ground and ask the hard question: if some of our programs do not support outreach should we stop doing them to free up time and energy for outreach? Introducing people to Jesus is the reason we are here right? So I am asking you to please begin to pray about it. This Church will look different in five years. It can look different because we have been externally focused and have brought new members into this Church as older members went home to meet the Lord. Or, it will look different because some of us will no longer be here and there was no one to replace us. Right now how this Church will look in five years rest on us. As you consider this, think about how this Church has changed since September 2019 – 5 years ago. If you oversee one of the annual days, can your day be modified to be outreached focused? If it cannot, are you willing to walk away from your annual day to substitute an outreach program? These are the questions that we must begin to ask and answer. Again, I thank the 99th Church anniversary committee for the splendid work you started last Sunday. Now it is up to us to finish it. God bless!
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
