The Eyes of the Lord - God is watching us 24 X 7

[0:00] We'll go to verse 9, 2 Chronicles 16 verse 9. I need to tell you, you are under surveillance.! You are under surveillance.

[0:12] ! Someone is watching you. In fact, right now. And 24 by 7 by 365. Like the lyrics of a song, and I know this is dear to Dennis here, his eye is on the sparrow.

[0:30] And I know he watches me. Amen. It says here in 2 Chronicles 16 verse 9, For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.

[0:51] Notice, not talking about the eye of God, the eye of God. Do you see somewhere? You've got the Illuminati, the eye of God, sort of this sign of the symbol of the pyramid, top of the pyramid, which is the devil's counterfeit, the eye of God.

[1:07] You see that in some Catholic churches and such, where it's in the statues and decorations. And the masons have such a thing, the eye of God.

[1:19] And you see it on the dollar bill and such. We're not talking about the eye of God, the so-called eye of God, the all-seeing eye. But the eyes of the Lord. That's scriptural.

[1:30] The eyes of the Lord. And the fact is that God is watching us. It can be both comforting and convicting. Both of those, isn't it?

[1:41] To think that God is watching us. In that, that he is watching out for us. He is watching over us. He's watching out for us. We can know his cover, his protection over our lives.

[1:54] That's a comfort. Amen. Believer, it's a comfort that he's watching you. It's also, however, convicting. Convicting in that we cannot hide anything from God.

[2:08] We can't hide from him and we cannot hide anything from God. So it's both comforting and convicting depending on our heart state. We are all under his eyes, under his watch, under his gaze.

[2:22] So are we doing right or wrong in the eyes of the Lord? That's the question here today. Now, of course, we go back to the Garden of Eden and Adam and Eve tried to hide themselves from the eyes of God.

[2:36] What a vain exercise. Of course, they could not. Sin destroyed their relationship with God. As they disobeyed, they fell into sin. And the Lord cried out, Adam, where are you?

[2:48] Adam, where are you? It's a bit like when I would play hide and seek with my children. I knew where they were. But I would say, you know, three, two, one, coming, ready or not.

[3:02] And they would be like this picture here, a little boy hiding behind a pole, thinking they were hiding. You know, you might find them hiding in some place. And you knew where they were.

[3:12] You could see their feet. And you could find them out. And some people are like that with God, aren't they? They play hide and seek with God. You cannot escape God's eyes.

[3:25] It's a recurring theme through Scripture. Jonah, the prophet, he went to run and hide. God called him to go to Nineveh. He went the opposite direction.

[3:36] But there is no escaping God. You cannot escape him. You cannot outrun God. The Lord tracked down Jonah and brought him right back to where he should have been, where God wanted him to be.

[3:50] You can't hide from God. His eyes are watching. And David, likewise, cried out the same truth. There's no escaping God. He said, where shall I go from thy spirit?

[4:02] Where shall I flee from thy presence? There's no getting away from him. You cannot flee from his presence. You cannot go from his spirit. It's just like the lyrics of another song that goes, God is watching us from a distance.

[4:16] I'm not commending that song necessarily. But there's truth to that, those words, isn't there? God is watching us. Some people will try and pretend that there is no God.

[4:26] They will tell themselves that there is no God watching over them. They are, the Bible says and defines them, fools. When they say there is no God.

[4:37] And they think to themselves that they are the master of their own destiny. That they have no ultimate king they have to answer to. They act like there is no God.

[4:49] But their delusion doesn't change reality. We all will face him and have to answer for our lives lived.

[5:00] People can hate the truth. They hate the Bible. It's a hated book. It's a despised book. It's a book that's illegal in some places. People can hate the truth, the Bible.

[5:12] They can deny the truth as much as they like. It does not change the fact that it is the truth. The fact that they use it in courts these days. The whole truth.

[5:22] Nothing but the truth. That is the truth. It's clear. It's plain. They cannot deny it. Well, they can deny it, but it doesn't change what it is. It's the truth. And the idea of no higher authority over them.

[5:35] No king to answer to. They did what was right in their own eyes. We'll come to see that here in this verse here. A time when Israel, they had no king in Israel.

[5:45] Every man did what was right in their own eyes. It's like the idea of humanism. No one to answer to. No accountability. It's the way people act these days, isn't it?

[5:58] Sounds just like today, doesn't it? When the people have no regard for a higher authority. No regard that they're under an authority. They just do their own thing.

[6:09] If it feels good, do it. That's their mantra. They feel what is right. They think what is right. They do what is right. Notice, in their own eyes. In their own eyes.

[6:20] All this is nothing new. It's always been this way. And they still do. Here's an article of recent times. It's saying, American children immersed in a culture of disrespect.

[6:32] They just do what is right in their own eyes. No one to answer to. No parent to submit to their direction. Just do your own thing. That's what the Bible says has happened from day dot.

[6:45] People choose their own way without thought for God. We have a rebellious nation. A rebellious generation. That has got a problem with authority. They will not be governed by the law of the land.

[6:58] Let alone the law of the Lord. God's word. They prefer to go their own way, even if it be, all the way to hell. As the saying goes, when the cat's away, the mice will play.

[7:11] Who said that one? You know, it's a... In other words, when the boss isn't around, you can just act up and slack off and, you know, bludge. It's the idea when there's no king, we just do what's right in our own eyes.

[7:27] We just do what we want to do. We may act like there is no king, that there is no consequence, but there is a king. Amen? There is a king with a capital K, the king of kings and the Lord of lords.

[7:43] And one day we will all bow unto him. We are all accountable to the king. And he is always present. Everywhere present.

[7:56] Ever present. And his eyes are watching us, you and me, all the time. It says, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. As if we define what's right or wrong, or truth or error, or...

[8:13] Good or bad. But it's God who defines that. God defines what's right. He is the definition of right, of truth. Not us.

[8:25] And like there's a saying that goes, wrong is wrong, even if everyone is doing it. Right is right, even if no one is doing it. One preacher of old times said, do right, though the stars fall, do right.

[8:39] And we need this message today. We need to do right. Right. Degeneration and wickedness abounds, prevails. And we have choices to make in life. And those choices are pretty clear.

[8:50] Wrong or right. Wrong or right. Which will it be? Wrong or right. Life's a series of decisions. We can define of ourselves in our own eyes what we sense or feel is right.

[9:04] But what we declare to be right may in fact be wrong. Wrong. Some sing along to the song that says, how can it be wrong when it feels so right? Now these love songs that justify sin.

[9:19] How can it be wrong? It just feels good. It feels right. But if God defines it as sin, that's what it is. A spirit can deceive us and fool us.

[9:31] And we can even fool ourselves. We can do what's right in our own eyes. It feels good to me. Seems all right to me. In my eyes, it seems right. And it says, the way of a fool is right in his own eyes.

[9:43] Proverbs 12, 15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes. But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. If we listen to God's counsel, God's true.

[9:54] If we listen to what's wise and wisdom, which is God's word ultimately, then that's the right thing. Right is right and wrong is wrong. It doesn't matter what we say or feel.

[10:05] And, you know, it's easy to overlook our own faults and think, well, that's how I look at it. But it's not how we look at things in our own eyes.

[10:16] It's how God looks at it. That's what matters. That's what counts. What does God think? He's watching. God is watching. And Psalm 34, verse 15, it says, The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

[10:33] It's a recurring theme. The fact that God's eyes are watching. The fact that we should do what's right in his eyes. What a blessing. People of God this morning, it's a blessing for us that God is watching us.

[10:45] It's a blessing for you that God cares enough to watch over you. What a blessing to know God is watching you and God is hearing your prayers. That's a blessing.

[10:57] Some make a profession of faith, but it's false, and they're conning themselves. They've not been made righteous. It's important, and I want to try to make this clear, this point clear.

[11:10] It's not the doing of right things that makes us righteous. It's what God has done that makes us righteous. Amen. It's what Jesus has done. That's what makes us righteous. It's what we place our faith in, what Jesus has done, our Lord and Saviour, our Lord and God, that Christ died for sinners, and we put our trust in his saving.

[11:29] I want to make that clear today. Because we can do lots of right things, but it doesn't make us righteous. But for we that have been made righteous, there's a blessing for you that the eyes of the Lord are over you.

[11:42] They're watching you, and his ears are open unto your cry. That's a great blessing. It's essentially made right with God, reborn, remade, born again. So you're either on the right side or the wrong side.

[11:55] I'll just that on there. You're either on the right side or the wrong side. And I know I've said this before. I saw an old-fashioned church that had a text, a slogan at the front on the altar of this church in this old wooden church up in Munta, and it says, Get right with God.

[12:13] I think you know the one. An old Salvation Army church in Munta, and it says, Get right with God. Four words in block letters in gold embossed print on this wooden altar, and it says, Get right with God.

[12:27] We must do that. Amen. You must get right with God. Are you real for God? Are you right with God? Do you take a stand for Christ? Do right. Do right. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous.

[12:39] So do right. Do right in your marriage. Husbands, do right by your wife. Wives, by your husbands. Do right in your workplace.

[12:51] Be the model employee. I know I was hearing someone testify Thursday night that they will go to the ends of the earth for their employer because they serve their employer as they would serve Christ.

[13:02] That's the right thing to do. Do the right thing in your workplace. Do right in your relationships with other people. With God's help, we can get right and do right.

[13:13] Now, it says of Noah, another Bible example, and there's many. Noah was a just man. He was perfect in his generations. It says of Noah, he found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

[13:24] God was watching Noah, and God found grace to extend unto Noah. Well, aren't you glad that God is watching? Aren't you glad he's watching? He's watching you.

[13:35] He's watching you as our loving father would watch over his children. He is watching. God is watching. And we each of us have a solemn duty to carry out his will, his divine program, to be conscious of it and to make it and act it on earth.

[13:52] As the earlier prayer was that we see God's kingdom, we see God's will done on earth. How? By us. In effect, we help transact, we help conduct the will of God by our activities.

[14:09] We are part of that, of his will, of his will being enacted. So I urge you today to carry out God's instructions, to be an active witnessing Christian.

[14:25] That's the right thing to do. When we do right, the master sees. He's watching over the righteous. And we can sometimes maybe think, well, no one saw that, that good work that I did.

[14:37] But actually God did. Amen. And that's a comfort for us. When we do right. Why? Because he sees you. Now, we might think those times that we spend in private prayer, well, I didn't really get any acknowledgement for that.

[14:54] And our Lord talks of such. In Matthew 6, verse 6, he says, Wow. Those private prayers, those secret prayers.

[15:20] God says, know this, brother, sister, God is watching. He's watching. And in the same chapter, Matthew 6, it talks about your giving. Not to be showing and showing off, but those secret gifts, those secret ways you give.

[15:37] God sees what you do in secret. And likewise about your fasting, it says. Not that you brag about that you're fasting, but because God sees that you're fasting.

[15:48] That's what counts. That's what matters. He sees when we do right. That's the point. He sees how you treat people. The words that you say. He sees how you act. No one else may even know the good works that you do.

[16:01] No one else may notice. They don't know what goes on behind closed doors, but God does. So it's a good thing God is watching. He's watching you.

[16:12] Husbands, how you treat your wives. Do you love them as Christ loved the church? Wives, as you submit to your husband's gracious direction under God.

[16:26] God sees that and it's right. Parents, as you lead and guide your children, that's right. Children, as you submit and honour your parents, that's the right thing.

[16:38] And when no one's watching, when we can get away with something we know is wrong, God is watching then still too. Okay? And the good news is like Joseph. God was watching Joseph and Joseph did the right thing.

[16:53] Joseph did the right thing. When he was tempted, Potiphar's wife tempted him to evil and he did right. He got out of there. Quick smart. Only thing is it can work the other way, can't it?

[17:04] God is watching us when we do wrong. And we see, for example, the story of Achan. Achan was a man who took of the wealth of Jericho as they stormed and took Jericho.

[17:16] He took some of the plunder when he should not have and he hid it. He hid it in his tent. This is Joshua 7. And the context tells of Joshua confronting Achan and says, Tell me what you've done.

[17:30] Hide it not from me. And it says, Joshua 7 verse 20, Achan answered Joshua and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel. And thus and thus have I done. He goes on to say how he took the garment, how he took the shekels of silver, the gold, and he coveted them and he hid them in the earth in the midst of his tent.

[17:51] Achan was ashamed. He got found out. God is watching. God is watching. His sin found him out. And for you, for me, believers, let's get on the right side.

[18:02] Do the right thing. Do what's right in the sight of the Lord because God is watching. You know, we might think we can get away with something that's a bit dodgy, a bit wrong. No one saw it.

[18:14] Tax return time. Classic, isn't it? Oh, what can I fudge to get away with? It's easy to do. But we know that God is watching. We want to be people of integrity.

[18:25] We want to do what's right. Do we have a heart like our Lord? Do we do what's right in the eyes of the Lord? He says, I must be about my father's business. Do we have the heart of Christ, the mind of Christ?

[18:35] I must do it. I must do what's right. I must do what God wants for me. God is watching what we do or don't do. Do we care for the business of God, as it were?

[18:46] Do we do business with God? Do we spend our lives wisely? I urge you to stay close to him. Stay close to him. Know that he is near like a sheep with his shepherd.

[18:57] That should be the relationship. As we are a people, the sheep of God, the flock of his pasture, we should be like sheep with their shepherd.

[19:09] As he is watching over us, he is feeding us. Do we hear the voice of the shepherd? This is the voice of the shepherd. This is his voice. And he says, my sheep, hear my voice.

[19:21] Do we stay close to him, close enough to hear his voice? Do we stay close enough to the word such we will hear what he's telling us? Stay close to the shepherd, people of God.

[19:31] When we feel brokenhearted, he is the comforter and he watches over you. Do right. Prayer is the right thing to do.

[19:42] Sometimes we just resort to other things and prayer is the last resort. But prayer is the right thing. And important to consider this important truth, who decides what is right?

[19:53] In a world where it's all murky and confused, as the Bible says, they're going to call evil good, good evil. It's all a bit crazy, topsy-turvy, upside down.

[20:04] But the Bible actually says that, Proverbs 21, 2, every way of a man is right in his own eyes. We can all justify. Oh, you know, we can all think, even the wrong things that we do, we try to justify them, don't we?

[20:18] It's easy to be like that. Oh, well, I was just having a bad day, that's why I said this or that. Or, oh, you know, cut me some slack, I made a mistake. Or kind of excuse the sin.

[20:31] It's right in our own eyes, but God ponders the hearts, it says. We can all feel we can justify our actions in our own mind, but God sees our motives. He sees our innermost hearts, our innermost desires and reasonings.

[20:45] As it says in Revelation 2, verse 23, our Lord says, I am here which searcheth the reins and hearts, and I'll give unto every one of you according to your works. It's saying here he's going to search literally the kidneys, as it were, the innermost being, like our sensitivity, the innermost part of us.

[21:06] If I could use a bit of a down-to-earth term, our guts. He knows what's right inside of us, what's making us tick, what's moving us, what's shaking us, what's pressing us, what's convicting us, what's leading us.

[21:21] Our emotions, our whole being. And he searches that. He searches the reins, the very fibres of our core and our hearts. And we know the Lord Jesus knew their thoughts when he approached the Pharisees.

[21:35] He could search. He knew what they were thinking. And he searches our innermost thoughts today. So it's important that we're sensitive to the Lord. God is watching. May we be like Samuel.

[21:47] It took Samuel a while to cotton on when the Lord was saying, Samuel, Samuel. And it took him a while to realise that was God trying to get his attention. And the Lord came and stood and called at other times, Samuel, Samuel.

[22:00] And Samuel answered, speak, for thy servant heareth. I'm listening, Lord. Yes, you've got my attention. Will we heed his voice?

[22:11] Will we be conscious of his watching, of his voice, of his word? Reading the word is the right thing to do. It's the right thing.

[22:23] Isn't it? I was blessed to see someone bringing their Bible here, a newcomer. What a blessing. Reading the Bible is the right thing to do. Nothing beats that. At Deuteronomy 13, 18, it says, When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God.

[22:47] That's how we know what's right and wrong. Is it right in the eyes of the Lord, our God? That's what matters. That's what counts. And we must do right. Now, the right thing may not be the popular thing.

[23:02] Let's face it. The popular thing is often the wrong thing. The right thing is the biblical thing. Right? What seems right in the eyes of all the people can actually be dead wrong.

[23:14] Like we've seen in recent voting in this nation. We see, for example, along Chronicles 13, the context is of people who thought, well, we're going to bring the ark of God back to where it belongs.

[23:27] You know, and so they made a new car, this new vehicle to transport the ark, which was not God's direction. It was contrary. And they kind of put it to the vote.

[23:38] They had a church. They had the church meeting. And all the members said, all in favour. And they said, yes, we're going to do this. It was right in the eyes of all the people.

[23:49] You know, democracy can be dangerous. And there's a sense of we're going to do what's right in the eyes of all the people. But it was wrong. It was the wrong thing to do. The popular thing is not always the right thing.

[24:03] And the popular thing in Noah's day, think of, for example, in Noah's day, it was popular to mock the man of God as he's building this ark in the wilderness. And it's a popular thing to oppose the plan of God, to disbelieve what's right.

[24:16] In the eyes of God. And to do what's right in the eyes of all the people. But the crowd was wrong. The crowd was wrong in Noah's day. Here's another example.

[24:27] In Nebuchadnezzar's day, we know the three Hebrew children, as they were given their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And the crowd was told, bow down and worship.

[24:40] Look at my beautiful statue, said King Nebuchadnezzar. And everybody fell down. The king struck up the band and played the tune. And everybody just went along with it.

[24:53] They worshipped his statue. The crowd was wrong. It was the right thing in the eyes of all the people. But it was the wrong thing in the eyes of God.

[25:04] And so the majority were wrong. It's not the crowd that decides what's right. It's God, isn't it? Isn't it? And do right no matter what. No matter even if you are alone.

[25:16] No matter if you're in the minority. Really, Christians are the ultimate minority group, aren't we? We really are. And do right even if it will cost you.

[25:27] Like it cost Moses, for example. Of Moses, it says in Hebrews 11, verse 24, So Moses chose God's way.

[26:01] He could have very easily just continued the pampered lifestyle of a pharaoh. And some have visited Egypt and know the glory and the treasures of Egypt.

[26:15] Everything was laid on. He could have had a very comfortable lifestyle. But no, he chose to go with God's people. He chose God's way. He chose God's will. And he chose to be, in effect, to suffer affliction with the people of God.

[26:33] He chose what was right, even though it was going to cost him. Even though it was against the grain. And people of God here this morning, do right. Do right. Even if it's uncomfortable.

[26:45] Do right. Even when everyone else is against you. Do right. Forgive. Love your enemies. Even when they are the ones in the wrong. Shouldn't we still?

[26:58] God says we should. He says, love your enemies. Wow. How do we do that? How do we do good, even to those who have done us wrong? God says, do it. It's the right thing.

[27:09] That's what counts. One day our Lord called a young man to be his disciple, but the young man chose his own way. Here's Pharaoh and Moses, as it were, in that encounter.

[27:23] Moses chose God's way, not the Pharaoh's way, not the way of Egypt. We see in Matthew 19, our Lord came to a young man and the young man, he challenged him. Let go of your love of money and make a sacrifice.

[27:36] Follow me, he says. But the man counted his disciples. What was in his bank account and it was going to cost him too much. It was going to cost him too much. He says he had many possessions and he went away sorrowful.

[27:51] Some will hear the right thing to do, even from our Lord's lips, and will still refuse it. When we face the crunch time, do right. Do right, no matter what.

[28:03] Do right. It's either right or wrong, one or the other. We've got to choose. Now, the people at Ephesus were willing to pay the price. It says in Ephesus, the numbers were saved and the people at Ephesus, they'd been inclined to idol worship and magic, kind of such.

[28:23] And there was, you know, supernatural things that they had been accustomed to, to being involved in. And people who might have been in the New Age might be able to relate to this.

[28:36] There's things you've got to get rid of because they're of the enemy. And you might have got quite attached to them. But you let it go. You get rid of it. And it says in Acts 19, verse 18, that many of them that believed, they came, they confessed, they showed their deeds.

[28:53] Verse 19, many of them also which used curious arts, so magical arts. They brought their books together and burnt them before all men. And they counted the price of them and found that it was 50,000 pieces of silver.

[29:06] 50,000 pieces of silver. It was colossal. This was a colossal waste of money. People would have seen it. It goes on, verse 20, that mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

[29:18] The church of God was purified. The church of God was sacrificial. The church of God said, we will not be contaminated. And, you know, that comes when you become a believer in Christ.

[29:29] You let go of those things of the old life. Whether you're into the new age or into some preoccupation, whatever the worldly trappings that you've garnered, you let it go.

[29:43] You burn it. You get rid, don't you? You put those things away. Those things of the old life. Even if it's costly. Such things that you might have invested your life in.

[29:54] You get rid of them. And when God convicts you of something, it might be something seemingly harmless. I know I can relate, as I've done before, in my own life, I had this love of aviation, of aircraft books, and wanting to become a pilot.

[30:10] But it was becoming an idol to me. And one day I just took it all down the op shop and left it there. All of it. Collections of all kinds as well that I used to collect. There was a preoccupation.

[30:22] It was getting in the way of God. I wanted to drop that and I wanted to be wholly and solely God helping me to be a full-on Christian. And those things were getting in the way of that.

[30:33] And this is what happened in Ephesus. They burnt these magical books that might have meant a lot to them, that they might have really loved. And they might have seen some benefit in at some time.

[30:45] But we know the new age, such things, it's of the devil. And we just burn it. We get rid of it. We renounce it. And when you become a Christian, you've got some, you know, pagan symbols like, you know, a statue of Buddha or something in your garden.

[31:01] You get rid of it. You renounce it. You burn it. You bash it. You smash it. You get rid of that which is of the devil. You burn it. You get rid of it.

[31:11] God convicts you of what's right and God convicts you of what's wrong. And they got rid of their magic books. So it cost them dearly, but it was the right thing to do. We've got to do what's right by God.

[31:25] When we honour our Lord, he will do a work as the church mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. God will bless you as you do the right. God will bless you as you do the right thing to do.

[31:35] Another thing to consider is beware of who you're following, who you're listening to, who you're tuning into. The Bible says, Be not deceived. Evil communications corrupt good manners. 1 Corinthians 15.33.

[31:47] Sometimes we've got to disassociate. Be careful about who you associate with is the right thing to do. Now give them the gospel.

[31:59] Love them. But sometimes you've got to let go of some people. If they're leading you down the world's track. We don't party with them anymore. We don't go there.

[32:09] We don't go that way anymore. That's not me anymore. Get right with God. Do right. Do what's good. It says in Psalm 37 verse 3, Trust in the Lord and do good.

[32:22] So shalt thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed. There's this sense of we trust in the Lord and there's fruit. There's actions flowing from.

[32:34] We've been created, it says, to do good works. Now this is the wonderful scripture, the word of God that talks about salvation. Again, I just want to underline this. You might say, okay, I'm going to be a good person.

[32:46] You've convinced me to do what's good and what's right. But that's not going to save you. It's not going to save you. I want to get that very clear this morning. It's not about doing good or doing right that saves you.

[32:57] None of that. How are we saved? By grace, through faith, that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

[33:08] And friends, today, as many have religious works and righteous works and goodly and commendable and works that are praiseworthy and to be applauded.

[33:20] But it doesn't make them heaven bound. It just makes them good sinners. If there is such a thing, they're still sinners. Amen. And there is none good. No, not one.

[33:31] Friends, today, our only hope is Christ. Our only hope is his saving. Our only hope is our trusting in Christ to save. Not of ourselves. It's a gift of God.

[33:41] Then, once we're saved, though, it goes on to say, for we are his workmanship. He's created you. You're a masterpiece. You're amazing. A work of his craftsmanship.

[33:54] You are an amazing God-created being. He's made you. You are his workmanship, it says. And why? You're created in Christ Jesus unto good works.

[34:06] That God has before ordained we should walk in them. So, created unto good works. That's a blessing, isn't it? That's what he's made you for.

[34:16] That's what he wants for us. To do right. And not so much doing what's right in our own eyes, but actually, no, I'm going to tune in to what's right in his eyes.

[34:27] What does he want? What does he want? That's what matters. And will we be like Asa while he acted wisely, at least in the early part, in 2 Chronicles 14, 2.

[34:37] King Asa, of course, there's various kings that did right, they did evil, they did good in the sight of the Lord, they did evil in the sight of the Lord. You'll see this kind of cyclical thing through the stories of the kings.

[34:52] And Asa is one, at least he was commended in this fact, in the early part of his life, Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He was commended for that.

[35:05] Wouldn't that be a good thing to have as your epitaph, as it were, that you did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord? Sadly, towards the end of Asa's life, he didn't finish that well.

[35:18] And this is another thing to look out for. We know some, they seem like they're going strong for God and then bang, what happened? What? Can't believe it. Towards the end of Asa's life, he didn't finish that well.

[35:33] So it's another thing to consider, to do right in the sight of the Lord and to keep on doing it. Amen? To be consistent, to aim to go the long haul, to finish well.

[35:44] Well, will we maintain our integrity like Job? Job went the distance. He had so many reasons to pack it in, to give it up, to throw in the towel, to say, oh, it's too hard.

[36:01] So many reasons to weaken, to lose heart. His whole world turned upside down, everything going wrong, it seemed. And even his wife starts picking on him.

[36:15] But he held fast his integrity. He held fast his integrity. Despite his wife urging him to give up, his wife said unto him, dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and die.

[36:27] What would you do? What about you? What would you have done if you'd been there in Job's shoes as he's covered in sores, pleading with God, scraping the sores of his arms and legs, weeping pussy sores?

[36:44] What would you do? When you wrap up your life, what will it be? What will we have to show for it? What matters the most is pleasing God.

[36:56] It's doing what's pleasing in his eyes. And the decisions we make for the meantime, of course the most absolute and essential is trust Christ for your salvation.

[37:08] Make that decision. And then maintain your integrity. Do what's pleasing in God's eyes, no matter what, no matter how hard.

[37:20] Consider God's point of view. He's watching you. Do we stop and consider, what does God want for my life? What does God think? Or do we just act like foolish Job?

[37:31] Job was there with Abraham and there was a decision to make and, you know, Abraham was saying to Lot, well, we're too many. I was here. We've got to split.

[37:42] Where do you want to go? And Lot looked out and he saw that green valley. Oh, it looks so beautiful. The well-watered valley, the plain was so green and lush and he knew he could make some money down there.

[37:56] And he pitched his tent towards Sodom. And he had a room with a view. Wow. He opened his tent and there it was, this beautiful lush green valley. And before long he was living in Sodom.

[38:07] He based his decision on what he could get out of it. Despite the loss. He saw the earthly gain but he didn't see the spiritual loss, what it would cost him and his family.

[38:20] He did what was right in his own eyes. We can make that mistake, can't we? People of God. We can be like Lot. He was called righteous, just Lot.

[38:31] But he made a bad error of judgment there, didn't he? Friends, the eyes of the Lord are in every place, it says. Proverbs 15, 3.

[38:42] Beholding the evil and the good. God is watching you. The fact that God is watching us ought to make us aim to please him. Ought in it? To do what's right in his eyes.

[38:53] It helps us to draw the line of separation where we have to. It helps us to increase our God consciousness. It helps us to do right. Because God's watching.

[39:05] David was commended for this. Despite David's sin and disaster at one time, God commended David. As we see in 1 Kings 15, verse 5.

[39:16] God is watching. And he found David was doing what was right in his sight. It says, because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord. Notice. Right in the eyes of the Lord.

[39:29] And turned not aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. You know, David took Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, and sinned.

[39:43] And then lined up Uriah to get killed. Nevertheless, God said, David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Apart from that situation.

[39:56] He had a blot on his record. I'm sure. I have many. But let's do what's right in the eyes of the Lord. Amen. That's what counts. And the first thing, get your heart right.

[40:07] Get saved. Say, I want to be saved. I don't want to put it off. Get right with God. Get right with God. Get saved. And then as we grow as a Christian, God helps our attitude such that we'll get our attitude right.

[40:21] We'll get our walk right. We'll get our will right because we'll seek after his will and we'll do it. And the result? They'll be fruit. They'll be fruit from what we do, from doing right.

[40:33] It's called fruit bearing. To be consistent, to be a consistent Christian, to keep on keeping fruitful. God will help you to do right and there'll be benefit.

[40:43] There'll be evidence. God will be glorified by your life and he'll make you fruitful. It's the fruit of, notice, his spirit. The fruit of the spirit.

[40:55] It's God's spirit that gives the fruit. He makes it happen. We've just got to be, Lord, let it happen. And it'll happen. You know, that fruit tree just can't help.

[41:06] If it's looked after, that fruit tree can't but help produce the fruit. It's got that fruit nature. And likewise, as God's people, you can't help but bear fruit.

[41:17] And our Father is glorified that you bear fruit. Much fruit. So, friends, just to draw this to a conclusion, there is joy in serving Christ.

[41:30] He's watching you and that's a good thing. Amen. Wow. I'm glad God is watching out for me. I'm glad he's given his angels to charge over me. I'm glad that God is watching over me as the good shepherd would watch over the sheep that he loves.

[41:46] And there is blessing in doing right. There's blessing in hearing his voice, in doing his will. There's joy in serving him. And there's fruit here. There's fruit. The things of God are going to be bountiful, as it were.

[41:58] There will be evidence that you're a blessed believer. There will be fruit. You'll bear your fruit. You'll be green. You'll be growing.

[42:08] You'll be fruitful. And as we continue steadfast, there'll be a fruitfulness. As we devote ourselves to the fellowship. As we make it our priority to assemble. As we do right.

[42:19] As we stretch out our arm where we can. As we reach out to others. And that can be in practical ways. As I know some have the heart to do. Because it's the right thing to do. Husbands, love your wives.

[42:31] That's the right thing to do. Wives, obey your husbands. That's the right thing to do. Children, obey your parents. That's the right thing to do. It's the right thing to do. Plain and simple. It's Bible. Do right.

[42:42] It's the right things that bring real joy. What's the right way to live? Live out what God says. Be biblical. Now this is the measure. This is the way we determine what's right and wrong.

[42:57] Does it line up with the word of God? That's how we can tell. Check every teacher. Every teaching. Every doctrine. Every church. Does it line up with the Bible?

[43:09] Is it biblical? That's what matters. Be biblical. And that means practically too. In everything give thanks. That's the right thing to do. Wow. Do I have to?

[43:20] In everything give thanks. Period. Bottom line. Do right. In everything give thanks. Keep on rejoicing. Rejoice in the Lord.

[43:31] Some of the time. Most of the time. 99% of the time. Always it says. That's the right thing to do. Wear the garments of praise. Put off the garments of heaviness.

[43:43] He changes our size into songs. There's blessing in doing right. Keep close to him and you will become like him. Now sometimes it seems unattainable.

[43:55] Pastor, you're just setting too high a bar here. I can't do that. God will make it happen. He produces his fruit. He will realise your God-given potential.

[44:07] Just let go and let God. It's like the potential of a cutting of some plant. You know, you get some, you know, gardeners might relate how you get some weedy looking piece of branch or a root and it seems like there's nothing to it.

[44:22] You plant it and nurture it and water it and tend it and feed it and that ordinary piece of just some stem that looks like just a twig, a branch, becomes a beautiful plant.

[44:34] And that's just like you and me, isn't it? That God sees our potential, what we can be. Have faith. That's the right thing to do. Believe God. Don't believe the devil's lies.

[44:46] Don't doubt the ability of God. Believe God. Trust in God. Let grace have her perfect work and do the right thing in the eyes of the Lord. Not your own. Sometimes we just got to say, Lord, not what I want, but what you want.

[45:00] Not what I can see or perceive or what I can judge, but what are you telling me? What is right in the eyes of God? Forgiveness is the right thing to do.

[45:11] You know, you might be putting off getting things right with someone. Forgiveness is the right thing to do. It doesn't matter whether they receive it or reject it. And it doesn't matter that they're the one who is in the wrong.

[45:26] Forgive them. And tell them you've forgiven them. Ring them up and say, you know, step outside of these doors and that one that God's putting on your heart right now, ring them up and just say, I just want you to know that I forgive you.

[45:38] And what a release. What a release. Forgiveness is the right thing to do. We can do right or we can do wrong. And some would allow wrong in their own lives and think and try and excuse it and just have, oh, I'll just do a little bit wrong.

[45:54] I'll just get away with this bit. I've just got this little sin, this little thing that I've not submitted. I've not surrendered. And they think they can just do that, just a little bit of sin, just a little bit of unfaithfulness, whatever it be.

[46:09] They try to excuse it, but it snowballs, doesn't it? Sin snowballs. First, as someone has said, first we overlook evil. Then we permit evil.

[46:20] Then we legalize evil. Then we promote evil. Then we celebrate evil. Then we persecute those who still call it evil. Sounds like our government, doesn't it? The Bible says overcome evil with good.

[46:33] So don't delay friends, brother, sister here this morning. God helping you, do right. And do right now. Decide to do right now and keep on doing it.

[46:45] Recognize the wrong for what it is and avoid it. It is sin. And also to neglect to do right is sin. And we can say, oh, well, I know God's wanting me to do this, but I'll get around to it.

[46:59] No, it says to know to do good and not do it, it's sin. Friends, we're getting to the close here. God is watching you. This is the bottom line.

[47:12] This is what should, we should be mindful of that, of that simple truth. And that we want to please him and to see things through his eyes, through his perspective. To be conscious, these perishing things of the earth are going to be dust compared with the everlasting things of eternity.

[47:33] And be aware that there is a better part. As Mary chose the better part, the best part. We see Abraham, he saw the better things, the better country. And there's something better than this.

[47:46] There's got to be, doesn't there? There's got to be something better. There is a better country. There is something better. You are under surveillance. Someone is watching you.

[47:58] So be conscious of God's overwhelming power. It's at work in you. Let him fulfill his God-given purpose for you, for your life. To enable you to do what is right, what is well-pleasing in his sight.

[48:12] And just to wrap up, here's a scripture just to capture. As a closing verse, Hebrews 13, it says, Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the everlasting covenant.

[48:31] Know he's the shepherd. Know he's the shepherd. And he's not just any shepherd. He's a good shepherd. He's the best shepherd. Amen. He's the chief shepherd. He's the ultimate shepherd. He's the absolute shepherd.

[48:44] And it says, make you perfect in every good work. He's going to complete what he started. He's going to finish what he started. Make you complete. He's going to make you complete.

[48:55] He's going to make you perfect in every good work to do his will. Working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight. Don't we want that?

[49:06] Don't you want that? To do what's pleasing in his sight, well-pleasing in his sight. He's going to do it. Let him do it. Through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.

[49:16] Let's pray. Lord, we thank you that you are the great, the chief shepherd. Lord, the good shepherd. Lord, we cannot reckon how that can be, that you would choose to shepherd we such as we.

[49:31] Lord, yet, and as we like sheep have gone astray, Lord, you bring us back to your fold. Lord, you help us to find the right path.

[49:44] You anoint our head with oil. Lord, you lead us by the still waters. You refresh our soul. Lord, you help us even through the valley of the shadow of death. Lord, we can fear no evil.

[49:55] Why? Because you are with us. And Lord, we thank you. Lord, help us to be conscious, to be God-conscious people. We pray if there's any here present yet to trust you personally, that they might say, Lord Jesus Christ, you died in my place.

[50:09] I trust you now. Lord, I pray each one might have that simple faith. And Lord, help us to maintain our integrity when life throws its curveballs, when we know we've got troubles on every side.

[50:24] Lord, yet, you are in the boat in that time of storm. And you've never left us nor forsaken us. And you never will. Lord, we thank you for these comforting words of words of God.

[50:37] Your words. Lord, we thank you that you're watching us. May it, Lord, be a conviction when we tend to stray. May we have a conviction by your spirit when we try to do what's good in our own eyes and it's wrong.

[50:53] And Lord, help us rather to do what's well-pleasing in your sight, that you'll be glorified in your people, Lord. Lord, we earnestly beseech you for these things.

[51:03] In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.