Sermons by Ken D. Trivette from the Living Word
The Book of Philippians
GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS
Philippians 4:5
1. Each year companies and businesses spend millions of dollars on advertising. Reuters News, March 25, 1997, shared a report by the Internet Advertising Bureau that revealed that revenue from the internet advertisements reached $109.5 million in the fourth quarter, bringing the annual total to $267 million. The article told of internet advertisements rose 45% in the fourth quarter from the previous quarter's $75.6 million.
2. Why is it that companies and businesses spend millions of dollars a year on advertising? Why is that a company will pay over a million dollars for a thirty second ad during the Super Bowl? Why is it that companies run ads in the newspapers, magazines, and on billboards, radio stations, and TV? The reason is public relations.
3. In I988 the Public Relations Society of America formally adopted a definition of public relations which has become most accepted and widely used. That definition is: "Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other." (PRSA Web-page)
4. To put that in plain, old, down to earth English, public relations is a company or business letting the public know what they have and presenting it in a way that the public will want what they have. A company knows that if it is going to sell its products it must make the public aware of what they are selling. They also know they must present it in such a way that public interest in their product will be created.
5. It is important to have good public relations. At the very beginning let me say that every Christian is in the P.R. (Public Relations) business. We are an advertisement for the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in 1 Peter 2:9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
6. The words "shew forth" literally describe an advertisement. We are billboards for Jesus! We are to be an advertisement for Jesus! We are commercials for Christ! As believers in the P.R. business we have something this old world stands in great need of and that is Christ. We are to present Him in a way that the world is attracted to what we have.
7. In Philippians 4:5 Paul reminds us of our public relations as Christians. He tells us that the Christian is to live a life of moderation which in a nutshell is good public relations. Let me explain by first:
1. DEFINING A LIFE OF MODERATION!
1. Notice the text. Paul says, "Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand." What did Paul mean by "moderation?" It is a word that encompasses a broad area of life. The word is often translated "forbearance." It is a word that includes such things as being considerate, being big-hearted, patient, and kind. The famed Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest defines the word as "sweet reasonableness."
2. One writer defined it as, "fair-mindedness: the attitude of a man who is charitable towards men's faults and merciful in his judgment of their failings because he takes the whole situation into his reckoning."
3. Another defined the word as, "A spirit of life and attitude to others that forbears under injuries, does not desire revenge, ready to forgive, and to possess a gentleness of temper."
4. It would seem the word speaks of the absence of certain things in the Christian life as much as it does the presence of certain things. Let me mention three things that this moderation embraces. First:
A. There Is The Absence Of Rudeness
1. A life of moderation is a life of sweet reasonableness. There is a politeness and courtesy about this moderation. It is descriptive of a well-mannered life, not one that is rude, ungracious, and offensive.
2. I remember on one occasion asking Dr. Jack Hudson what was the one thing he had seen in the lives of the great men of God he had known in his life. I expected the traditional answer such as prayer, hard work, etc. Instead, he said, "All the great men of God that I have known were gentlemen."
3. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Life is short, but there is always times for courtesy."
4. Eric Hoffer said, "Rudeness is the weak man's imitation of strength."
5. The Christian's behavior is to be without rudeness. As Christians we ought to be well-mannered and courteous when it comes to dealing with others.
6. One Californian manufacturer said, "One of the most tactful men I ever knew was the man who fired me from my first job. He called me in and said, "Son, I don't know how we're ever going to get along without you, but starting Monday we're going to try."
7. Listen to a couple of proverbs Solomon gave:
Proverbs 15:1, "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger."
Proverbs 25:11, "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."
8. Solomon is describing someone who deals with another in a kind and courteous way. We are not to treat people rudely, deal with people rudely, and act rudely toward them. Someone has said, "In point of fact, we are all born rude. No infant has ever appeared yet with the grace to understand how inconsiderate it is to disturb others in the middle of the night." We may have been born rude, but as Christians we are not to behave rudely.
9. We also see in this moderation that:
A. There Is An Absence Of Rage
1. A life of moderation is one of patience, longsuffering, and gentleness of temper. Instead of being short-fused, easily angered, and exploding with rage when things happen, there is an absence of these things.
2. Paul said in Colossians 3:8, "But now ye also put off all these; anger..." In the great love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, we read, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, [5] Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). Solomon said, "A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment" (Proverbs 19:19).
3. Moderation is the absence of anger and rage, and the presence of control and patience. The Christian is not to be a person that gets angry and explodes in rage. We say, "Well, that's just the way I am. I can't help it." The Bible says we can help it and that we must help it.
4. Will Rogers said, "People who fly into a rage always make a bad landing." Another has said, "Your temper is one of your most valuable possessions. Don't lose it."
5. Thirdly, we see in this moderation that:
C. There Is An Absence Of Revenge
1. A moderation of life is a forbearing under injuries without a desire for revenge. Instead of an embittered soul seeking revenge, the person is merciful and ready to forgive. Moderation does not keep any black books.
2. A man lay on his deathbed, harassed by fear because he had harbored hate against another. He sent for the individual with whom he had had a disagreement for years and made things right with him. The two of them shook hands in friendship. But as the visitor started to leave the room, the man said to him, "Remember, if I get over this, the old quarrel stands."
3. When Abe Lemmons was asked if he were bitter at Texas Athletic Director Deloss Dodds who fied him as the Longhorn's basketball coach, he replied, "Not at all, but I plan to buy a glass-bottomed car so I can watch the look on his face when I run over him."
4. Paul said in Ephesians 4:31-32, "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
5. The Christian is not to live with hatred burning in their heart. Revenge should never be the desire of one that knows Christ. A life of moderation is willing to forgive and forget. Moderation lets the matter go and the issue die.
6. Secondly, we see the matter of:
2. DISPLAYING A LIFE OF MODERATION!
1. Paul says, "Let your moderation be known unto all men." Paul tells us that this moderation is part of the Christian having good public relations. This moderation is to be known unto all men. It is to be seen by others.
2. Now when Paul spoke of this moderation being known, he was not meaning that it was known by what we say. He is not suggesting that we go around and tell people, "I have moderation." No, he is talking about what people see, not what they say.
3. I think of the words of George Eliot:
Oh, that my tongue might so possess
The accent of His tenderness
That every word I breathe should bless
For those who mourn, a word of cheer;
A word of hope for those who fear;
And love to all men, far and near.
Oh, that is might be said of me,
"Surely they speech betrayeth thee
As friend of Christ of Galilee!."
4. As Christians we have what this world need and that is the Lord Jesus Christ. We should live in such a way that they are drawn to Christ. May this world see in us something about our life that attracts them to what we have in the Lord Jesus.
5. Now this moderation seen in our life involves:
A. A Behavior Of Life That Is Helpful To The Cause Of Christ
1. I love Acts 4:13, "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." They saw something in Peter and John that identified them as Christians. This world is to see something in the life of Christians that identifies them with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to live a quality of life that is helpful to bringing others to Christ.
2. Thomas Acquinas put it this way: "Preach the gospel everywhere you go, and if you have to, use words."
3. A traveling man came into a hotel to secure a room for the night. Upon being informed that every room in the building had been taken, he was naturally quite perturbed, until a portly gentleman standing nearby kindly offered to share his room with him. The offer was thankfully accepted. Upon retiring, the portly man knelt and prayed, tenderly mentioning his guest for the night in his prayer. In the morning the host informed him that it was his custom to read a portion of the Word of God and pray before taking up the responsibilities of the day.
4. The effect upon the man was moving. A strange feeling came over him. Something had been working in his heart all night. When gently pressed by his host to accept the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior, his resistance went down in a heap. A soul had been won for Christ. But who was this humble ambassador of Christ? When business cards were exchanged he discovered that it was a member of President Wilson's cabinet: Williams Jennings Bryan, Secretary of State.
5. How we behave is important in winning others to Christ. The advice of Plato ought to be remembered, "When men speak ill of you, so live that nobody will believe them." Furthermore, I think of:
B. A Behavior Of Life That Is Hurtful To The Cause Of Christ
1. As someone has so aptly put it, "What we are speaks so loudly, people can't hear what we say." There are those whose talk doesn't back up their walk. Instead of a behavior of life that draws people to Christ, there is a behavior of life that turns people from Christ. Sadly, there are many people going to hell because of people going to heaven.
2. Two country fellows met on a back road one afternoon. One had a hunting dog with him and the other said, "How much will you take for that dog?" The owner quoted a price of $100.00 and declared the dog was an excellent hunter. The fellow accept the offer and wrote out a check on the spot and handed it to the owner. The owner shook his head and gave the check back. "The check's good," the buyer said. "I'm a trustee in the Methodist Church." The owner took the check and handed over the dog. A little later he met his uncle and asked, "Uncle Josh, what does it mean to be a trustee in a Methodist Church?" His uncle replied, "I'm not sure, but I think it's something like being a deacon in a Baptist Church. "Ah, shucks," said the fellow, "There goes my dog."
3. The story reminds us that, unfortunately, there are those who do not have a good testimony. Even though Christian have what this world needs, their behavior does not always create an interest in others for what they have.
4. Why did Paul press a behavior of moderation? Take the matter of rudeness. Let's say someone is at a restaurant eating. They treat the waitress or waiter like he or she was a dog. They are rude and fuss about every little thing. Yet, when they get ready to leave, they leave a gospel tract on the table. Let me ask you a question. Do you think that waitress or waiter is going to be interested in what you have?
5. Take the matter of rage. Let's say that where you work the people are always seeing you fly off the handle, blow up in their face, and come apart at the seams over things that happen. Do you think that if that person began to talk to them about being saved that they would have much of a chance of leading them to the Lord? Do you think the people they work with would say, "Oh, he's a good Christian even though he or she does get mad and cuss a little bit."
6. Take the matter of revenge. This old world is a dog eat dog world. People will step on each other to get where they are going and think nothing about it. They will get even no matter the cost. If the world sees a Christian behaving the same way, do you think it helps or hurts the cause of Christ?
7. I think we often forget that as we live in this world we are either a good advertisement for the Lord or a bad one. I say it once again, there are a lot of people going to hell because of people going to heaven. There is a behavior that is helpful to the cause of Christ and there is a behavior that hurtful to the cause of Christ.
8. A third and final thing I point out about this moderation is:
3. DESIRING A LIFE OF MODERATION!
1. In the last part of verse 5 we read, "The Lord is at hand." Paul gives us a reason why we should desire to live a life of moderation. He reminds us that the Lord is at hand. What Paul specifically had in mind is debated, but I want to suggest two things he could have meant. In either case, they both give us a reason to desire a life of moderation. First:
A. There Is The Presence Of Christ
1. When Paul spoke of the Lord being at hand he could have been referring to the nearness of Christ. He may have had in mind that the Lord is with us and that He is always present. The fact of His presence is one of the great blessings of the Christian life. What a blessing to know that we live in His presence and that He is always with us. Jesus gave us the promise, "Lo, I am with you alway" (Matthew 28:20).
2. Years ago, under Stalin, a group of thirty Russian peasants were meeting in secret for worship. Suddenly their service was interrupted by the arrival of the dreaded Stalin agents. The leader ordered one of his men to take down the name of every person that was assembled. When this was done, an older fellow spoke up and said, "There is one name you have not got." The officer snapped, "I have them all." The old fellow replied, "Believe me, there's one name you do not have." A recount was made, after which the officer said roughly, "I told you I had them all. I have thirty names!" The older fellow again insisted there was one name he didn't have on the list. Finally the officer said, "Who is it then? Speak out, who is it?" The old man, with a smile that matched his courage, said, "The Lord Jesus Christ."
3. What a blessing to know that He is with us. Yet, what an incentive to live a life of moderation. To realize that He hears everything we say and see everything we do, should motivate us to desire a life of moderation.
4. If Paul was not referring to the presence of Christ then he was referring to:
B. The Promise Of Christ
1. Paul could have had in mind the promise and nearness of the Lord's return. If so, we still have a great incentive to live a life of moderation. To realize that one day He will come and we will stand before him should greatly affect how we live.
2. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of judgment." Jesus was saying that what we say and even how we say it, will one day be judged. Can you imagine standing before Christ and Him saying to us, "Do you remember the day when you jumped all over that lady at the grocery store." Do remember the day when you got mad and cussed the employees out?"
3. Jesus is soon to come. The Lord is at hand. Is there any other reason we need to create within us a desire to live a life of moderation? Let us never forget that the Christian is to have GOOD PUBLIC RELATIONS!