Stop Look And Listen

STOP LOOK AND LISTEN

INTRODUCTIONS

1. Stop Look and Listen. Does this sound familiar?

2. Describe the weekend rat race: Dad works over, gets up Saturday washes the car, cuts the grass leaves with the camper (constantly yelling at Junior) runs to the campground etc.

3. Wait. Stop!.........

4. Early in the 20th century, with the advent of the automobile, the country's largest railroad became concerned about the many collisions at crossings. The company offered $2,500 for the three best words to use on a warning sign. The top prize winner was paid $833 for “STOP LOOK and LISTEN.”

5. Although the, now famous, signs saved many lives, many still died because they refused to stop, look, and listen.

6. The need to stop, look, and listen is also true in our everyday life, both secular and spiritual.

7. Several years ago, some fugitives stole a tank truck and tried to escape through the desert. They finally died from drinking the radiator coolant, not realizing they were hauling several thousand gallons of water. They should have stopped, looked, and listened.

8. This principle is also true in the spiritual realm we can also endanger our souls by failing to STOP, LOOK AND LISTEN.

DISCUSSION:

I. We must STOP 1Thess. 4:11.

A. Stop the rat race of laying up treasures (Luke 12:15-21).

B. The rich fool Built barns, planted, harvested, planted, harvested built more barns, worked all day, and made partied all night.

C. We must STOP the mad dash for sensual pleasure (Isa. 5:11-14).

D. The people of Isaiah’s time were too busy to stop and:

1. Regard the Lord (12).

2. Consider the operation of his hands (13; 2 Thess. 1:7-8).

3. Consider their destiny (14).

E. We must STOP before we come to the point we are living on the husks of life (Luke 15:11-19).

1. The Prodigal Stopped and considered his situation (Lk. 15:17).

F. There is hope if you will STOP (Luke 15:10, 20ff. ).

II. LOOK

A. LOOK at the futility of trusting earthly things for happiness (Eccl. 1:16-2:11, 25-26).

1. When John Paul Getty was the richest man in the world, he was asked by an interviewer how much money it took to make a man happy. He replied, "Just a little more."

2. Looke at the futility of building a bigger home and doing more, more, more, at cost of our souls.

B. LOOK at the world around you. It is filled with proof of the existence of God.

1. "The heavens show the glory of God and the firmament show-eth his handy work. Psa. 19:1.

2. "The fool hath said in his heart there is no God. " Psa. 14:1.

3. Heb. 3:4 "abiogenesis" Rom. 1:20.

III. LISTEN to God's word Rom. 10:17.

A. Listen to what he says about the home.

1. It is the best way (Matt. 19:3 ff.; Eph. 6:1-4; 5:21-25;Titus 2:5).

B. LISTEN about our daily living, attitudes etc.

C. LISTEN to his plan of salvation.

D. We can run faster and faster from church to church trying to learn what to do to be saved.

E. Ill. # 584 of 1, 000 Evang. Ill. "No sir, But I was afraid he might ask me if the light was on.

F. God's plan of Salvation.