God's Eye-View

GOD’S EYE VIEW

Text: Matthew 15:12-14

INTRODUCTION

As an old farmer was driving down the freeway, his cell phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife’s voice urgently warning him,” Bill, I just heard on the news that there’s a car going the wrong way on Highway 59. Please be careful!”

“Darling” Bill replied, “It’s not just one car. It’s hundreds of them!”

Some times our perspective colors the way we see things. You can simply look at the FACTS of a situation alone, or you can see the FACTS in light of the TRUTH of God’s Word.

I want to bring a Bible message to you this morning to help when you are facing the 3 great enemies:

-Doubt: That God will truly intervene on your behalf.

-Fear: Of being alone to deal with the present situation.

-Worry: That one wrong decision will have horrible

consequences.

There is no promise anywhere in the Bible which says that while we are in these earthly bodies we will be exempt from trouble. But we do have a major promise from God, and that is the promise of peace in the midst of trouble. It’s awesome that, while the storm is at it’s height, the trusting soul may experience a deep-down calm and a quiet confidence.

Isaiah 26:3, that quiet confidence is called Perfect Peace. “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.”

Scuba divers operate in foreign environs by getting life from another source: oxygen tanks.

Have you ever seen a Football Quarterback with headphones on there at the sidelines? He’s not listening to music, he’s got a direct connection to a coach high up in the booth, giving him a different perspective of the game.

Illustration: EYES OF FAITH

Years ago I was praying for my brother, who had strayed away from God and was living an ungodly lifestyle that cost him his job and family. If found it increasingly hard to pray for him knowing the life he led. One evening during one of those times of prayer, I told God I could no longer pray for my brother. I felt the Lord respond, ”How do you see your brother?”

I replied, “I see him living a sinful life of wine & women.”

The Lord said, “You are having a problem praying for your brother because you are not praying with Eyes of Faith.”

“What are Eyes of Faith?” I asked.

The Holy Spirit responded to my honest inquiry “How do you think I desire to see your brother?”

After a moment I said “Well Lord, I believe you want to see my brother repenting in heart felt prayer. You desire to see my brother active in church. I believe you desire to see my brother living a godly life.”

Then the Lord said something that revolutionized my prayer life when He replied, “When you look at someone the way I look at them, you see them with Eyes of Faith.”

From that moment forward, I had no problem praying for my brother with a growing expectation that God would answer a prayer offered with “Eyes of Faith”. Ultimately, my brother did rededicate his life to God. He loves the Lord, has a great job, and is now one of the worship leaders in his church.”

But maybe you are one who says, “I don’t really have eyes of faith. The problem is too big, it’s too close. This “thing” is crowding my whole life, and I can’t seem to see any way out.

Let me finish this message with an interesting story about 2 horses.

Illustration: Horse Bell

There is a field out on one of the rural routes, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is remarkable.

If you’re nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. The bell lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray.

When she returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.