Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, April 22, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 15:1-6

Text: Jeremiah 15:5

Jeremiah 15:5 For who shall have pity upon thee, O Jerusalem? or who shall bemoan thee? or who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?

Introduction: In our text, the Lord asked who would be concerned about the welfare of Jerusalem in the day of God’s judgment upon her. He said, “who shall go aside to ask how thou doest?”

One of the most common greetings among American people is that of a question, “How are you doing?” It is sometimes put a little more formally, especially when introducing two people for the first time, as, “How do you do?” This is supposed to show concern for the other person.

For a year or so, I have asked myself that question every morning. The question pops up on my computer early each morning, “How are you?” My answer to myself is, “I’m saved by the grace of God, kept by the power of God, led by the Spirit of God, sanctified by the truth of God, and soon to be caught up in the clouds by the Son of God.”

However, not every person can answer the question as I do each day. I’m going to take some of the common answers to the question, examine them in light of scripture, and ask you today, “How are YOU doing?” I won’t be able to cover every answer given, such as, “Fair to middlin'”; “I’m fine as frog’s hair”; “I’m getting better looking every day”; “If I got any better there would have to be two of me”; but most of us are pretty familiar with the ones I will mention today.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I. ARE YOU WELL?

I ask the question this way, because of the common answer given, “I’m just fine, thanks.”

Genesis 43:26-27 And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth. 27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

Many people who say, “I’m just fine,” are not really so fine. They may be sick, they may be dying, or they may just be hurting.

You are only really WELL:

A. If you have been thoroughly checked

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
A person does not get saved until he realizes he is LOST. A person is not ALMOST lost, just like a woman is not ALMOST pregnant. You either ARE or you AREN’T.
For instance, some people answer our question for today by saying, “I’m good” or “I’m doing good.” The truth is, according to God: Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

B. If you have been thoroughly cured

The only POWER that can save you is GOD’S power.
The only PERSON who can cure you is the Great Physician, the Lord Jesus Christ.
The only PRESCRIPTION that will cure you is the GOSPEL, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

II. ARE YOU WANDERING?

I ask the question this way, because of the common answer given, “I’m here.”

Where is “here”?

Genesis 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

A. Are you in Christ?

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

B. Are you in church?

Many believers are wandering around without a pastor, without a church family, and without a home base of operations.

C. Are you in the center of God’s will?

God has a plan for your life.
Are you fulfilling that plan?

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

III. ARE YOU WARM?

I ask the question this way, because of the common answer given, “I’m not so hot.”

That’s not a good answer for a Christian to give. A Christian should always be “red hot.” He should be on FIRE for the Lord.

Revelation 3:14-16 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Fire implies ENTHUSIASM!
Fire implies ENERGY!

If you’re not so hot, it may be that

A. You’re short on fuel

A fire has to have fuel to burn.
People’s homes are cold if they can’t afford to buy fuel.
The Christian’s fire is the word of God!
Jeremiah 20:9 Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.
Most Christians who “cool off” and don’t stay on fire for the Lord are Christians who don’t spend a lot of time reading the Bible and going to church to hear it taught and preached regularly.

B. You’re suffocating your fire

A fire needs air to burn.
The “air” that sets the believer on fire and makes the word of God effective in his life is the Spirit of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 Quench not the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

C. You’re situated in isolation

A coal or ember that is by itself won’t normally burn for long.
A Christian won’t keep burning for the Lord if he stays out of church.
You need to be in church every time the doors are opened — Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, if you’re going to stay red-hot for Jesus!

D. You’re seated in inactivity

The coldest people are often the most inactive people.
If you want to warm up, get moving!
Get busy! Walk! Run!

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

IV. ARE YOU WORKING?

I ask the question this way, because of the common answer given, “I’m busy as a beaver.”

Christians today are busy making money, busy building their homes and yards, busy with sports and recreation, but many of them are NOT busy in the Lord’s work!

Matthew 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Acts 15:38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

A. Are you in the right territory?

God has a nation, state, city, and church in which He wants you to serve! If you are living in the wrong place, move!
Jonah wanted to do the right thing in the wrong place. He was willing to go to Tarshish as a prophet, but not to Nineveh.

B. Are you doing the right task?

Success is finding and DOING the will of God for your life!

C. Are you on time for the job?

Today is not only the time to be saved, but it is the time to get busy for Jesus!
Don’t wait until you are so old that you don’t have any health left! Do what you can for the Lord NOW!