Power Of Perception

THE POWER OF PERCEPTION

Perception is a powerful thing. So many of our actions are determined by how we perceive things to be. How we perceive is based on what we think we hear or see. Yet, our perception of events, words, people can be entirely wrong. Why?

Let’s look at perception:

I. Perception Defined

A. To be aware of through the senses (see hear, taste smell, feel); to take in with the mind.

1. Must understand: any time the senses are involved there is potential for error.

2. Any time the mind is involved, the same is true.

a) Until our mind is completely renewed our perception has potential for distortion.

b) Rom 12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

II. Examples Of Scriptural Perception

A. Deu 29:4: "Yet the LORD has not given you a heart to perceive and eyes to see and ears to hear, to this very day.”

1. This is an account of Moses words to Israel.

a) V. 29: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

B. Is. 6:9-10: “And He said, "Go, and tell this people: ’Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’(10) "Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed."

1. Many times our heart is dull to the things of God.

2. Our hearing and seeing is distorted.

a) Mt. 13:14-15: "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.(14) "And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ’Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;(15) For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’

C. Mk. 8:17-18: But Jesus, being aware of it (disciples confusion), said to them, "Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?(18) "Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember?

D. Lk. 6:41: "And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye?

E. Jn. 4:19: The woman (at the well) said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

F. Acts 10:34-35: Then Peter opened his mouth and said: "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality."But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.

G. Mk. 4:11-12 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,(12) "so that ’Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’"

III. A Case Of Mistaken Perception

A. 1 Chr. 19

IV. People’s Perception of the Church

A. We all have some ability to perceive.

B. How we perceive determines thoughts, words, actions.

C. Behavior is often based on our perception.

D. How we respond to people, places, things is a result of how perceive things to be, not always how they really are.

E. For example different people have different opinions of what christianity is and how it is to function.

F. The same is true of the church.

G. I have had several experiences of people telling me how a Pastor is supposed to function or dress etc.

H. Some view the church as:

1. Hospital

2. Family

3. Army

I. In truth the church is all three!

V. How To Prevent “seeing and not perceiving”

A. Isa 6:9-10: And He said, "Go, and tell this people: ’Keep on hearing, but do not understand; Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.(10) "Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed."

1. Mark 4:11-12: And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,(12) "so that ’Seeing they may see and not perceive, And hearing they may hear and not understand; Lest they should turn, And their sins be forgiven them.’"