Seeking a Life of Being Not Known — Francis Chan

Father help me to say everything you want me to say. Guard my lips from saying anything that does not come from you. Please God. Take away my pride any anxiety. Any people-pleasing. Any fear. In the name of Jesus Holy Spirit speak.

Guide us Lord. May everything I speak be said in love God. Give me a loving heart. For every face I see in Jesus name we pray. Amen, this is such a dangerous place to be. Seriously no, I'm talking about a stage.

The Spiritual Danger of Public Ministry

It's almost like every time I step on a stage it's like almost drinking a little bit of poison where you can to really be thinking about God right now about him and his glory and his holiness and how.

Everything needs to be given to him while there's flesh going on and fighting that and going. Okay, well the people like me, how are they gonna respond to this message? You know the the praise the criticism everything it at all.

We can really mess up your walk with the Lord. It's almost like these lights are poisonous. And you just have to go God help me get through this. Help me get through this with my eyes fixed on you. I Not preaching to get the praise of people or preaching in such a way that you don't get criticized.

But just saying God I'll say whatever you want me to say and I want you lifted up at the end and have no thought of yourself. It's a very dangerous place but this this Morning, what now? What is it afternoon?

Um, I I'm very excited to share what I'm about to share. I'm very excited. I Was excited last night. Hearing breath not just because they were Chinese, but it's just it was powerful. It was awesome. Although that helped.

Now but I'm excited about. I love what Michael was just sharing and Gets me excited to teach on the same topic at some point I've never I I taught from the other side against tongues for many years and I get excited to teach.

Just a clear exposition of Scripture. And so thank you for that. But one of the reasons I'm very excited about this is it's very rare those who have heard me speak. It's very rare that I I have notes and I stick to the notes.

And and it's it's it's more common that I put notes together and then I show up and go. Yeah, I'm gonna forget the notes. God's giving me something different. But as I was praying for this specific gathering this week.

It was like boom and this doesn't happen normally just verse after verse. Statement after statement even a title. I don't think I've ever gotten a title for a sermon. Seriously in my life, but This one's called the power of a quiet life and I'm gonna stick with this.

The Biblical Call to a Quiet Life

I believe the Lord is given this to me as I was praying about this morning I just felt like complete disobedience if I do not teach this. It's out of first Thessalonians chapter 4 Verses 11 and 12. First Thessalonians 4 11 and 12.

It says aspire to live quietly. Some of your Bibles say some of your Bibles say make it your ambition to live a quiet life. And to mind your own affairs and To work with your hands as we instructed you.

So that you may walk properly Before outsiders and be dependent on no one aspire to live quietly. Make it your ambition to live a quiet life. How many of you? Came into this day or you just think about life and you go what my Ambition is to live a quiet life.

So I hear a lot of young people go. I want to speak to the crowds. I have a message to the world. I have a voice and Then scripture says make it your ambition To live a quiet life. What's he talking about here?

Because we're living in a time when when it's it's assumed that the virtuous thing to do is getting bigger and bigger crowd and So you're a successful Believer, you're you're a great Christian because look at all these people you're leading.

Look how loud your voice is and I'm not saying not to proclaim the gospel. And if you read first Thessalonians actually in chapter 1 Paul talks about how their faith is being proclaimed All around the world so that he doesn't even have to say anything about it.

But then in the same to the same group of people he goes. I want you to make it your ambition. Aspire to live a quiet life but I've been caught up in something these last few years. Maybe the last Ten years or so.

There's just this assumption of I've got to reach more people more people more people. I need more people following bigger crowds. But let me ask you did Jesus. Can you show me any verse in Scripture where Jesus pursued a crowd?

Jesus and the Rejection of Public Recognition

Where he looked at his disciples and goes this let's get let's get more of you bring a friend. Like do you see that? Because I see the opposite. I see him running from crowds. I can tell you many verses where he ran from crowds and escaped the crowds.

And so I just think it's unusual that we're all chasing crowds more and more followers and Yet we think that's the right thing the best thing to do. I mean, we're at Jesus 23. Let me ask you a question.

What did Jesus do when he was 23? Does anyone know? I mean we know he was a carpenter. What did he do at 25? I mean we know he was a carpenter 28. Probably a better carpenter. I mean we're talking about Jesus.

How is it that we don't know what he was doing when he was 23? It's almost like he made it his ambition to live a quiet life and to work hard with his hands. You see there's a principle in Scripture in Luke 16 verse 10.

It says that he who is faithful in little will be faithful and much. And I'm just I get concerned. I Love the passion that I see in young people today for Jesus that gets me so fired up and It's out of my love for you that I'm saying you gotta be faithful in the little.

Before you can be a voice to the world. We have a lot of people clamoring to be voices. We need fewer voices and more examples in 1st Timothy 3. He says in verse 4 when he's talking about Elders in the church in 1st Timothy 3 gives this principle again verse 4 He must manage his own household well with all dignity keeping his children Submissive.

For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.

Moreover he must be well thought of by outsiders so that he may not fall into disgrace into a snare of the devil. Again he's saying look if you can't manage your house. If you can't even if your own kids don't respect you.

If you don't even have a right relation with your wife, what are you doing leading the church? And Then he says be careful like you don't want to give too much to a young convert. Because it's gonna lead them into this trap the condemnation of the devil.

It's gonna lead to this pride you give a platform to a young man. You better be careful with that man, I. I became a believer when I was like 15 years old and Something in me was like man. You you like like I knew I had something in me like I'm supposed to be teaching.

And I remember my youth pastor was so wise. He never let me teach. He seriously didn't I Seriously, I would listen to him teach and in my head. I'm going. I could say that better. I Really, just sat there as a teenager thinking that and and I still believe it today.

I probably could have but in his wisdom. He says no go clean the bathrooms. Go stack the chairs. You're not preaching. Because he loved me. And he says look I don't want you falling into this. There's something about these lights That aren't good for you.

Faithfulness in Hidden Service

One of my mentors is this guy in India and I remember him telling me this story. He goes. You know everyone's chasing a bigger and bigger platform. He goes, but if God wants to give it to you. He'll give it to you.

And then he said he goes you know I remember just He goes. I remember my friend Teresa, I'd visit her all the time we would just go Serve the poor do our thing whatever and then one day God decides I Want the whole world to know about you?

So everyone knows about mother Teresa, and he goes you know. Never in her wildest dreams would she think to promote herself. Just quietly do her thing and then God decided to make her a household name.

And I just always thought that I'm like wow God you if you want to lift someone up you can do that. But my wife asked me something the other day. It was actually a couple months ago. She was reading in Matthew chapter 6 Where in verse 1 it says beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them.

For then you will have no reward from your father who is in heaven. Thus when you give to the needy Sound no trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may be praised by others.

Truly, I say to you they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you and When you pray you must not be like the hypocrites.

But they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you they have received their reward. But when you pray go into your room and shut the door and Pray to your father who's in secret and your father who sees in secret Will reward you.

Secret Prayer and Unseen Righteousness

My wife was reading that and she just asked me she goes Does anyone do anything in secret anymore? We're so into posting things. That even your quiet time is your Bible with a coffee and a little muffin.

Time with Jesus and this passage she goes does anyone do anything in secret? Sadly, I go. Yeah. Sinful stuff and I'm not judging and I understand forgiveness. I'm just saying God could we have another generation rise up that has nothing to hide?

Because we hide our sin and then we post our good works. The Bible tells us to confess our sins to one another and hide our righteous deeds. I mean, it's the exact opposite of what scripture tells us to do.

He says man, we've gotta tell each other confess your sins to one another make it known. Look, this is what's going on in my life. I need to walk away from this. And then if you're praying then just close the door lock the door pray in tongues pray in English.

I don't care just pray and. And then care for the poor do these good deeds, but you don't have to tell everyone. What if there was a generation where when you died, it's not like all this sin is uncovered.

But people go whoa, look at all the good she did that we never knew about. Look at all these things. That she did in private. And now he was working hard with his hands to give and all his money went to this.

No one ever saw his bank account and all of that until he was gone. And it was all good works uncovered. The Bible so that the outsiders would look upon it and have nothing bad to say about us. We need to confess our sins.

We're doing it all backwards. And we need to quietly do our works of righteousness. Where no one sees but the Father what have you posted your sins? We started Instagram, you know like just here it is.

Here's the horse of me. Someone go ahead and start it. And we just go look here's the truth about me here's what God's saving me of here. I need you guys prayers because here's my struggles. Here's where I'm messed up.

I mean why we just quietly do good works. We kind of think but but if I do something Good, I mean shouldn't it should I make it known because then that makes Christianity look good and and wouldn't be more effective.

I mean if there's a miracle that takes place, shouldn't I just post that? Because then more people will be impacted. Yeah, but what this passage is saying is it's saying That when we do things in secret.

There's gonna be a reward and maybe he's not doing that many miracles in your life. Because he knows your motive is just I want to post it. I Want to do it? But what if we just quietly? He says when you pray.

Go into your room shut the door and Pray to your father who is in secret and your father who sees in secret will reward you and mark one verse 35. I mean again, we're talking about Jesus. And it says in verse 35 rising very early in the morning while it was still dark.

He departed and went to a desolate place and there he prayed. And Simon and those were with him searched for him and they found him and said to him everyone is looking for you. You guys you know, it's okay to not answer texts.

I haven't looked at my phone in a few hours. I It's okay, they'll forgive me. Here you have Jesus. He's off praying and everyone is looking for him. How come you haven't answered me. Everyone's looking for him and he's just like that.

That's what I do. Go out while it's still dark. This is his example. This wasn't to be seen. He was trying to get away and just hide and pray and be with the father. You know, there's certain passages in the Bible where I just for years I'd go gosh, it doesn't that doesn't make sense like I'd look at all the passages like in in in Luke 8 when he he raises someone from the dead and then he Tells everyone that saw it.

He goes don't tell anyone about this. Imagine how frustrating that would be to you. You have a prayer meeting in your house and you know, and and you know, you raise someone from the dead. He goes don't tell anyone.

Are you kidding me? Over and over you were healed of something and God says I don't want you to tell anyone. One of the passages that always puzzled me was was Revelation 10 in Revelation 10. You know John is getting this revelation from the Lord and then in chapter 10 it says the seven thunders spoke and So John starts writing down what the seven thunders are screaming and God stops and says no.

Seal that up. And so you you just left going. What did they say? So you're telling me John was the only human being Who knew what the seven thunders said and for the last 2 ,000 years? There's one person who got to hear it just John.

I Know that doesn't make sense. John's like I'm just getting ready to post it. No, it's just for you. You guys here's why I want to share this it's real simple. I'm just about done because Michael took all my time, but um.

Eternal Rewards for a Life Known Only by God

Here's what I want to say. What if by you living a quiet life and You doing things in secret? Meant that God Would show you miracles more miracles than you've ever seen. But they were just for you. And what if I being quiet and seeking God he starts thundering messages just for you.

And he says I've never told anyone this and I'm not telling anyone this. This is just for you Francis. You can't post it. Yeah, I don't want you telling people that I told you something. Have you ever had a friend go?

Look, I've never told anyone on earth this and I'm trusting you with this. Don't you tell anyone you take this to your grave? There's just this honor where you're going. Oh my gosh Can't believe you trust me with what if God Almighty because he sees you in your prayer room.

And no one knows about it and he sees what you do with your time and your money that no one knows about and he just starts Doing miracles and say that's just for you. Here's a message I've never told anyone would that be enough for you or would it drive you nuts?

Because you go wait, I can't post that I Can't gain followers through that. Would it frustrate you or would you go? Oh my gosh, that'd be the greatest honor of my life. There's power in a quiet life. Now I'm convinced God has some people That he wants to use as a voice and that's great.

I'm just saying there needs to be a lot more of us that are ambitious about living a quiet life and Excited to live a quiet life because we actually believe in eternal rewards and then the very thought of Wow God might say something to me.

He might show me miracles he might do so much more from my prayers. Because I get it. I Remember being a young man sitting in a crowd like this and seeing a guy up front and going. I want to go up there.

Rejecting Selfish Ambition and Seeking Faithfulness

One day I'd love to say it was all godly Ambition, but the Bible tells us to beware of selfish ambition. And he says we're selfish ambition and jealousy exists so will every vile practice. There's something about desiring this.

That is a selfish ambition. That is a jealousy and it will lead to every vile practice and I believe we're seeing that in the church. And I'm just praying for a new generation that just says you know what God.

I just want to go back to doing things in private. Just want to close my door. I Just wonder God would we see more miracles and hear more from you if? We made it our ambition to live like Jesus did and Just work hard with our hands lead a quiet life.

Absolutely share the gospel with everyone we can. But we don't need to post it all. We don't need to just let everyone know. I Really believe that the the next revival if there is one here It's gonna be people like you.

That are just secretly praying and it's when we get away from posting all of our good deeds. That we may see a movement of God the power of God. So I want to pray over you right now. I I Hope to impart something to you.

Because I get excited about this. This is not like a bumming me out, or I just go wow God I want to. I want to get away from this poison God. I want to get back to where it all started. I want to see another generation.

Repentance and a Return to Hidden Faithfulness

Just really believe that much and just hunger for this just you and me. Lord you and me. Just all this stuff is between you and me because I just love being so close to you. I'm praying to impart something like that today and put to death the plan of the enemy.

Which is to have more young people Rise up to fame and fall into their sin. The same thing that happened to the enemy. Father I pray for repentance in this room right now. Repentance for those of us who can't think of one good deed.

We haven't talked about Repentance for the sins that we've kept hidden and we won't talk about the spirit. Would you just put it in our hearts this deep? Desire to be in this secret place with you. Asking you to do greater works.

Through us in secret. Just for you. Give us new ambitions in this room Lord. Help us to see the merit in working with our hands like Jesus did God raise up this generation. To not just aspire to start movements But to work jobs.

To do it faithfully. The menial the hidden may we just desire you so much Jesus. Like John did the beloved God may we not be like the world. Keep us from doing things to be seen So that we can be seen by you.

Heard by you and may that be enough for us and God for those whom you've entrusted With a larger voice God. Would you keep them humble? Faithful just close to you God. I pray for everyone who's gonna step on this stage Lord that you would protect them Protect them from the plan of the evil one, please Lord.

Please God Purify your bride so that we can see your actions here on earth in Jesus precious name we pray. Amen.