Practicing the presence of God, life in a fishbowl, Philippians 4:4-7
Eric A. Snyder, Minister, Farwell Church of Christ
November 10, 2002
A man was trying to pull out of a parking place but bashed the bumper of the parked car in front of him. Witnessed by a handful of pedestrians waiting for a bus, the driver got out, inspected the damage, and proceeded to write a note to leave on the windshield of the car he had hit.
The note read:
"Hello. I have just hit your car, and there are some people here watching me who think that I am writing this note to leave you my name, phone number, and driver’s license number, but I am not."
How aware are you that people watch your every move?
People are watching you, waiting to see if you will live a life of integrity and honesty, true to the commitment you have made to Jesus Christ.
The reality is If you are a Christ Follower you are probably watched by others more than you would like to be. Those around you who know what you proclaim to be keep a watchful eye on how you are living your life. They want to see if what you preach is what you live
Edgar Guest wrote a very popular poem about the effect we have on others. It’s called “I’d rather see a sermon”
"I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye is a better pupil, more willing than the ear;
Fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear,
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I can soon learn how to do it if you will let me see it done;
I can watch your hand in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lectures you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do
For I may misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
What I see a deed of kindness, I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles, and a strong man stands behind
Just to see if he can help him, then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tell them, but the one who show the way.
One good man teaches many; men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noted is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language which to everyone is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me with his eloquence,
I say, I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day."
A golfer stood over his tee shot for what seemed an eternity. Looking up, looking down, measuring the distance, figuring the wind direction and speed. Driving his partner nuts. Finally his exasperated partner says, "What’s taking so long? Hit the ball!"
The guy answers, "My wife is up there watching me from the clubhouse. I want to make this a perfect shot."
"Forget it, man, you’ll never hit her from here!"
We all need to strive to make the perfect shot every moment of our lives. The reality is that we are being watched. People watch to see if you are honest, they may even test you to see if your character matches your words. Someone has said that “we leave traces of ourselves wherever we go on whatever we touch”
The impact that you leave with an observer could mean the difference between someone desiring to know God more or walking away from a prospective faith.
I don’t know about you but I think that’s a lot of pressure. It’s a lot like living in a fishbowl. Sometimes I feel like somebody’s watching me. Listen to what David wrote in Psalms. 42:10 My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?" In another place David says My enemies are waiting for me to fail.
But that are not just waiting to see if we are true to our moral stance they are also waiting to see if we will stand up for our faith and if we do chose to stand up for Jesus how do we handle that.
Do we use the Gospel to berate the world about morals and virtue or do we use a gentle loving spirit to bring people along with us as we continue to serve Jesus. People are watching every aspect of our lives.
The thing about Christianity is this: We all have to continue to grow. If we have been following Christ for 1 day or 60 years. We all have room to grow in out faith. We are literally practicing in front of the world.
My advisor in college went to Cincinnati Bible College when He was in college. He told me one time that because the college is pretty much on a huge hill that they used to be able to look down and see into the Bengals practice field. I said “that’s pretty neat did you watch a lot of practices” and he said no because there just wasn’t a whole lot happening in practice. That’s how a lot of people view practice. There are no points on the board so it’s not worth watching.
I would suggest toy you that every day of your life people are watching you practice your faith and they are keeping track of the points.
I like the Miami dolphins. I don’t know why but I started liking the team when Dan Marino was playing. Well the Dolphins were playing amazing at the start of the season. By week they went 4 and one in the beginning of this season and in a really tough game against Denver the quarterback broke his thumb in the game winning drive. The next week they started their backup quarterback. Who played the worst game of his life. He threw 4 interceptions and fumbled the ball away twice.
Like usual the media wanted to see if they could create a quarterback controversy so they asked the coach if Ray Lucas would start the following week and Dave Wanstedt said this “we know what our players are capable of because we see them practice everyday, a lot of times the fans want a certain guy in but they only see him for 15 minutes a week but we see these players all the time” Players that practice well are eventually going to play well.
Practicing God’s presence helps us become the people God wants us to be. It helps us to deepen our walk of faith” How are you practicing God’s presence in your life? This morning as we get into our text I want you to consider this question: How does my life reflect God’s presence in it?
Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This verse really gives a picture about what Faith in God should be about. First it says Celebrate your faith. Rejoice in the Lord always.
How are you doing with that?
Listen to what C.S. Lewis, in Mere Christianity says “The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.
This text says “Rejoice in the Lord always” Celebrate your faith. When was the last time you celebrated because of God. I love our times of worship on Sunday but we have to celebrate God’s presence in our lives while we are outside these walls.
From the moment we wake up in the morning we should live a celebration of our faith. When other people see you practicing your faith what do they see? Do they see someone who has not smiled in 6 years. Or do they see someone who is known for enjoying life? Do others see someone who is tied down to a church because of an obligation or do they see someone who loves people, loves God and is excited about serving.
This text is the marriage vow of your Christian faith. Are you willing to rejoice in the Lord, and celebrate your faith?
That means even if you don’t agree with a leadership decision that you still choose to rejoice in the Lord. That means that even if your parents or children or friends are choosing to live a corrupt Godless lifestyle that you choose to showcase your faith in a positive way be being joyful in the Lord.
That means that even if you are becoming sick or infirmed that you choose to Find Joy in the Lord. True Joy does not mean rolling over and not grieving through pain but it does mean trusting God with your future. The Joy in hard circumstances comes from Knowing that God can be trusted.
The Bible is full of people with hardships, listen to what Paul writes in 2 Corinthians vs. 23 I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Paul says that all these things have strengthened his faith in Jesus Christ as his personal savior. He knows what life is like when everyone is watching.
Now if that were me, I would have a hard time finding Joy in those circumstances and Paul apparently had some issues also because in the next chapter he says 12:8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
That’s where our Joy comes from, it’s from knowing that God’s grace is sufficient for our lives. People need to see us be realistic about what’s happening in our lives but when the going gets tough the Joy of God can either be turned into a personal aching grief or it can be turned into a prevailing spirit of patience and peace. The question is have we kept ourselves open to celebrate our faith in all circumstances.
The next thing this text says is Share your faith. It says “let you gentleness be evident to all. And to live like the lord is near.
We live in a violent world. Gentleness is something that is many times seen as out of place. I don’t want you to misunderstand me I maintain a positive spirit but I firmly believe that the only thing that holds civility together at times is the faith of those who follow Jesus.
We are angrier as a nation and although the issue of tolerance is being taught it’ is not being taught like it ought to be. Parents breaking into fistfights during their kids ball games, retaliation and road rage we are a very angry and brutal nation.
We love movies that contain action and violence. I am not much for that “little house” stuff. What do we like in movies. I like the die hard, air force 1, and Independence Day kind of films. And when this society feeds on that stuff mentally we start thinking along those lines.
Even our political views turn violent. Last week they caught the sniper suspects. If you have turned on the news you will hear that we want to try these guys immediately and the second thing you hear is some violent punishment. Like they ought to sew these guys into flag outfits and send them to Iran.
That’s why this verse is contrary to human nature. Let your gentleness be evident to all. I know people who are very feverous when it comes to their faith. And when family or friends come to them after getting in trouble, they use it as a time to preach to the sinner.
It’s the old “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar”. You will never get your family and friends to accept Jesus if your life is not full of Joy and if you preach fire and brimstone every chance you get. Let your gentleness be evident to all. If you follow Jesus you do live in a fishbowl. Those around you want to see if you will graciously lead others or if you will use your faith as a club.
But also this text says the Lord is near. We need to live like God is coming soon. We should have a sense of urgency. With our life because we do not know when He will return but know this. One day Jesus is coming back.
That’s actually another reason for us to be filled with Joy. I heard about a farmer that had a grandfather clock that went haywire and chimed fourteen times one midnight. He jumped up and said, “Wake up, it’s later than it’s ever been before.” I want to tell you folks, it’s later than it’s ever been before.
Let your gentleness be evident to all the Lord is near.
The final way that I want to share about tapping into God’s presence is to Pray continually.
This text is clear that Prayer is very important when Practicing your faith. Specifically pray with thankfulness and pray for Godly things.
An atheist was walking through the woods looking at the beautiful trees and flower that had just bloomed. Because he was an atheist he couldn’t thank anyone for the beautiful landscape that he was witnessing. As he was gazing at the sky he saw a bear running toward him, he jumped up and began to run up the hill. Not knowing any better he continued to run up the hill, a bear runs best up a hill because of his strong hind legs, it is better to run down a hill, but any way… The atheist fell to the ground and thought a second and said well I don’t believe there is a God but maybe this one time I will call upon His name. The atheist said “God, I need help!” Since I don’t believe you exist, I have a request. Will you make this bear a Christian? Just then the wind stopped howling, the creek stopped running and the bear stopped - knelt to the ground and said “Dear Lord, Please bless this food that I am about to eat!”
In that story we have both thankfulness and someone seeking to get to know God. Our prayers need to contain life issues that bring us closer to God. Now we have talked today about how we are watched and prayer is very personal and private but I can say this with confidence.
If you don’t pray in private, it will be hard to recognize Jesus in you publicly.
Perhaps you have never confessed Christ publicly. If you want to make him your savior today we invite you to come today as we stand together and sing.
