Sunday Sermon 4.24.21

This phrase has been playing over in my mind and heart for days now. Why? Join me with your thoughts for a moment.

We would probably simplify it to say, “Don’t you know?”, right? When do we use this phrase? Do we use it?

It seems to me its usage hinges on the context of sharing something I know with you in case you don’t already know it.

For example, you might say, “Don’t you know, the chili will be done in 15 minutes”, because I think it will take hours before it’s done. (Don’t judge, this really happened, right sister?)

Or maybe, “Don’t you know you’ll wind up paying twice as much for it if you buy it there?”

In any case, it is the focus phrase for today, don’t you know?

“Do you not know” is a phrase used 46 times in the Bible, in 22 different translations. 17 times it is used in the Old Testament and 29 times in the New Testament.

I’d like to focus on a few of those.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth…”

Isaiah 40:21

What a tremendous truth to have verified in our minds and be reminded of. God is ruler over everything! He is enthroned over it all! He is in charge! Period.

It is also very powerful that Isaiah asked 4 questions of us, the reader, before he reminded us of the fact. He is reminding everyone of what they may have been taught, or heard, or told or understood. But he is also taking the opportunity to say, hey, I know this and I wanna make sure that you know it too, just in case you don’t.

God is in control– just in case you didn’t know or forgot.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.”

Isaiah 40:28-29

Yet again, the prophet, Isaiah nails it. That same God who is ruler over all, Isaiah says, He does not ever tire out – because He understands everything. Therefore He gives strength to those who do get tired and power to those who grow weary, knowing they don’t get it and don’t understand it all.

God doesn’t get tired, understands everything and gives us strength when we are weary – Just is case you didn’t know or forgot.

” Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him? the Lord asks. “Do you not know that I am everywhere?” the Lord asks. “

Jeremiah 23:24

These questions, written by Jeremiah and his scribe, were asked by the Lord – powerful interrogatives for sure.

Just is case you didn’t already know, Jeremiah says, the Lord God is everywhere. No one can hide from Him. No matter who tries or who thinks differently, no hiding on God, cuz he found you long ago.

God is everywhere – in case you forgot.

” Test yourselves to discover whether you are true believers: put your own selves under examination. Or do you not know that Jesus Christ is within you, unless you are insincere?”

2 Corinthians 13:5

This time Paul picks up the phrase with the charge to test yourself to see if you are a true believer. Only you and Jesus can make that determination, so be sincere, he says. Examine yourself to see if Jesus Christ is in you.

In essence, he is saying look guys, you are demanding proof that Jesus is speaking through me, examine yourselves, your life, your words. Is He speaking through you?

Jesus lives in you, but examine yourself for proofs– don’t you know?

In each of these settings, the question posed is to a. verify that you know it or b. remind you of what you may have forgotten. How are you doing with your responses? Good reminders, right?

There are 2 more times worth mentioning.

In James 4:4, he says,

” Do you not know that being the world’s friend (that is loving the things of the world) is being God’s enemy?

And John, the beloved wrote –

“Because you are saying, That I am rich and have increased in riches, and have need as to nothing, and do you not know that you are miserable, and pitiful, and poor, and blind, and naked?”

Revelation 3:17

These last two passages pose strong challenges to the hearer and reader. Again, they are personal and can only be determined by you and the Lord.

The message is clear however, in case you didn’t know:

1. you cannot be a friend of the world and love God
2. some may think they are rich and need nothing but they are miserable and pitiful

May we verify all these truths mentioned here today as alive and active in our life. And if they are not, please do not hesitate to take the necessary steps to embed them in you heart and mind and allow them to flow from your words and actions.

Let faith rise up as you grab these truths and establish them in your life.

Don’t you know that life is exciting when you walk in all that you know of Him?

Go with God,

Debbie