#4doomed To Failure: Looking Out The Big Window

#4 DOOMED TO FAILURE BECAUSE SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS CAN

SEE BIG TROUBLE OUT THE WINDOW? SHALL WE SMITE THEM?

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

This can be done in one lesson if you move quickly.

If not do it in two parts.

I. SPIRITUALLY BLIND PEOPLE FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM, AND NOT THE SOLUTION.

A. Before I start this lesson let us understand, YOU ARE NOT THE PROBLEM! YOU AND GOD ARE THE SOLUTION.

Spiritually blind people often so focus on the problem that the problem becomes a problem.

1 Samuel 17:16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

B. The power of reinforced behavior can be HABITUAL.

Habitual behavior can become ADDICTIVE!

Addictive behavior can become GENERATIONAL CURSES!

C. YOU CAN NOT FEED ON THE PROBLEMS OF THIS LIFE.

For a month and 10 days, 40 days, twice a day Goliath’s testimony bred fear in the hearts of the best army of the day.

80 negative messages reinforced the power of the enemy.

D. FEAR GROWS OUT OF HEARING CONTINUED NEGATIVE MESSAGES.

1 Samuel 17:11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

E. SPIRITUALLY BLIND PEOPLE THINK THEY CAN RUN FROM THEIR PROBLEMS?

Many Pastors want a new church, then find it has the same problems.

The only differences are there are new names on the problems.

Many people move to a new town to get away from their problems.

1 Samuel 17:24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

F. I WILL JUST WITHDRAW?

I know a man that moved his son from school to school, kids made fun of him.

Finally the man just withdrew his son from public schools because school kids made fun of his son.

He said they would home school him.

Years later they have yet to order home school material.

The son stays up all night and watches TV, and sleeps all day.

The father asked me what would I have done?

I said, Kids made fun of me and my older brother when we were in school?

We went to school and were honor students, we graduated high school and college.

Of course kids made fun of us.

To know the truth, which I do not want to admit, I probably made fun of kids.

That is what kids do. Kids can be mean and cruel.

I will also tell you --- I have seen this man’s son make fun and tease other kids.

But it is different when it is your kid?

G. HOW MANY PEOPLE TODAY DON’T GO TO CHURCH BECAUSE THERE ARE HYPOCRITES AT CHURCH?

It amazes me, they go to Walmart and the gas station with hypocrites?

The church is not perfect people gathering to worship in perfection.

The church is where imperfect people come, hear the word, repent, and make corrections!

II. CAN YOU SEE WHAT IS STANDING OUTSIDE YOUR WINDOW?

SPIRITUALLY BLIND PEOPLE REACT TO TROUBLE, THEY DO NOT ACT IN FAITH!

SPIRITUALLY BLIND PEOPLE DON’T KNOW HOW TO TREAT THEIR ENEMIES?

A. WHAT DO YOU SEE OUT YOUR WINDOW?

MASTER, I HAVE REALLY BAD NEWS!

The King of Syria has found out that you hear from God, and you learn his battle plan and tell his enemy.

The King has vowed to kill you and if you WILL JUST LOOK OUT THE WINDOW, we are in big trouble.

2 Kings 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

B. Sure, Elisha could see the same thing and be spiritually blind?

Any body can see the problems?

2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

C. DON’T YOU KNOW? BY FAITH THERE ARE MORE WITH US THAN AGAINST US?

It breaks the heart of God when God’s people can only see what is before their eyes!

Closed eyes vs opened eyes.

D. By a simple little prayer God opens the servants eyes?

2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and,

behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

E. THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE IN SEEING WITH OPEN EYES AND CLOSED EYES.

F. THERE WERE ANGELS AND A SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR DELIVERANCE

ALL ABOUT ELISHA.

G. ONLY THOSE WITH OPEN EYES RECOGNIZE HOLY GROUND.

III. GOD KNOWS HOW TO OPEN SPIRITUALLY BLIND EYES, BUT DON’T STOP THERE --- GOD KNOWS HOW TO CLOSE THE EYES OF THE WORLD?