MISS THE POINT? IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE RIGHT?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THIS IS A TWO PART SERIES.
The great Bible commentator --- Matthew Henry was robbed one time.
In his Journal that day he penned the words:
Let me be thankful...
#1 Because I was never robbed before.
#2 Because they took my wallet but not my life.
#3 Because although they took my all, it was not very much.
#4 Because I was robbed and not the one who robbed.
John Hagee said:
There is nothing wrong that doesn’t start in wrong will...
I guess much of life comes from your attitude and your perspective.
I. HAVE WE EVER MISSED THE POINT?
LET US FIRST DEFINE PERSPECTIVE:
There are many dangers when we major in minors and minor in majors, don’t leave the deep things out.
A. PERSPECTIVE:
An optical glass.
To look through, to see clearly.
The interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed.
A point of view.
The capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance.
Your mental view, prospect.
The appearance to the eye of objects in respect to their distance and positions.
B. Most know I am a father of two sons.
I have studied psychology, parenting skills, family relationships, and sociology
for years. I taught school 6 years and I have worked with children much of my life.
When I was 25 and teaching school Linda and I had Wade our first son in 1976, Joshua came to live at our house in 1978.
I enjoyed being a Dad. My sons were the youngest musicians in the history of our church.
C. I STARTED PASTORING IN 1981 FULL TIME.
My oldest son was in the first grade and the Church of God pastor’s son were in the same class. These two boys made a great team. One report card Wade had all A’s but one, he had a C in CONDUCT. My 6 year old son had a C?
In conduct of all things? He is the Preacher’s kid?
D. Now you know I am a good Dad?
I didn’t blow up, I thought this out.
I took my son to Druther’s where we ate a hamburger together and we started talking about behavior problems. My son was very receptive to my thoughts.
We drove to the REGIONAL JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.
I parked in front of the structure, and we talked some more.
We talked about CHOICES AND CONSEQUENCES.
I asked my son, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS PLACE IS?
He answer, SURE, DAD IT IS A PLACE WHERE BAD BOYS AND BAD GIRLS COME AND GET LOCKED UP.
I told him no young person in there had made plans to be bad and get locked up, but the bad boys made bad choices and the choices got worse and worse
until they had to be locked up.
My son’s eyes got so big.
E. We rode out to the lake at Jenny Wiley State Park and we skipped rocks across the lake and talked about bad choices and bad behavior. He really listened.
We got home and I told Linda what a WONDERFUL DAD I WAS.
F. All evening my son was quiet, and I knew he had learned the lesson.
THE NEXT MORNING, MY SON RAN IN AND JUMPED ON OUR BED AND HUGGED ME SO TIGHT. I was so proud of my Dad skills.
He hugged me and said, THANK YOU DAD! THANK YOU!
I said for what?
He said, YESTERDAY I THOUGHT YOU WAS GOING TO HAVE ME LOCKED UP IN JUVENILE DETENTION, AND THEN AT THE LAKE I THOUGHT YOU WAS GOING TO THROW ME IN THE WATER AND LET ME DROWN! THANK YOU DAD FOR NOT DROWNING ME.
As he prepared for school I thought what I thought was being a super Dad, my son thought I was going to kill him.
G. WOW, WHAT A DIFFERENCE IN THE PERSPECTIVE?
I thought I was A SUPER DAD?
My son thought all night that I WAS GOING TO KILL HIM.
WHICH PERSPECTIVE WAS RIGHT? WHO WAS RIGHT?
Well, I would have died for my son. I would have never killed him for a C in Conduct?
I WENT DOWN STAIRS AND HUGGED MY SON, I THANKED HIM FOR BEING MY SON, AND THAT I WAS PROUD TO HAVE HIM AS A SON.
H. I am telling you sometimes what you think that is so clear to you may not be the same to the person to whom you are talking.
I. YOUR WIFE MAY HAVE ONE PERSPECTIVE AND BE VERY RIGHT IN HER EYES, AND YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS RIGHT IN YOUR EYES. WHO IS RIGHT? WHO IS WRONG?
Your way? Her way? The the right way?
My wife is 5’2" and I am 6’2"? This gives us differing views?
Linda has never seen the top of the refrigerator with out help?
J. My wife works for the state of Kentucky. For years on Wednesday night she would run home tired, and have to cook supper for us.
I would be rushing her asking her is it supper yet?
Then she had the nerve to serve us the food and it was so hot it would burn our mouths. I got angry more than once about this.
One day the Holy Spirit convicted me how wrong I was.
I did not like the solution... the solution was for me to cook on Wednesday.
For years I have cooked on Wednesday, I love watching the family eat together.
My sons, my daughter-in-laws, my three grandsons and Linda and I sit down at the table TOGETHER. I might not always love cooking, but I love our time
together and I love us getting up from the table and all going to church together for spiritual food.
II. IT IS POSSIBLE TO MISS THE POINT OF WHAT IS IMPORTANT? WHAT IS OUR PERSPECTIVE AND PRIORITY SYSTEM AND HOW DOES OUR PRIORITY SYSTEM AFFECT EVERYTHING WE DO? DOES ZION PROSPER? DO WE SEEK THE WELFARE AND PROSPERITY OF ZION?
A. Does fishing take a priority over church?
A man went fishing on Sunday?
He explained to his Pastor that he had church on the lake?
The pastor asked him if he had an altar call? No was his answer.
Then the pastor asked him if he took up an offering while he was on the lake?
The man replied I HAD TO MAKE THE BOAT PAYMENT?
B. I lived in Middlesboro, KY. I was sitting in my pastor’s office talking to him. The phone rang?
The man on the other end of the phone said:
I WAS GETTING READY FOR CHURCH WHEN MY BOSS CALLED ME TO COME IN AN UNLOAD A TRUCK AND PICK UP SOME OVER TIME.
MY CALL WAITING BEEPED IN: MY SOFTBALL TEAM HAD A MAKE-UP GAME TO PLAY TONIGHT? OR THERE IS CHURCH?
C. Would you guess which choice he made: OVERTIME? BALL? CHURCH?
I will tell you: THE TEAM NEEDED HIM --- HE CHOSE THE BALL GAME.
My pastor bowed his head and cried.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
III. WE CAN MISS THE POINT OF GOD’S SYSTEM?
IF YOU DARE ASK SOME ONE: WE ARE A TRIUNE PERSON, TELL ME THE THREE PARTS THAT MAKE US?
A. Today we have grown a love for junk food and fast food?
Junk food is not always the best thing for you? Sometimes we need vegetables?
Too much sweet sugar makes one hyper and bouncing off the wall.
B. IT HAS NEVER FAILED WHEN I ASKED THE THREE PARTS OF OUR TRIUNE PERSON --- WE ARE A TRIUNE PERSON: ASK WAHT THE PARTS ARE?
WHEN I ASK A CROWD THAT HAS NOT HEARD BEFORE THEY ALWAYS SAY:
1. BODY
2. SOUL
3. SPIRIT
Never has a believer failed to list the triune man but as body first.
C. GOD’S PLAN HAS A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE:
LET US SEE HOW GOD LISTS HIS PRIORITY ORDER?
1 Thes. 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ.
D. GOD ALWAYS LISTS:
1. SPIRIT
2. SOUL
3. BODY
E. We have the tendency to place a great value on BODY, then in descending order
the value lessens.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
F. GOD DESIRES YOUR BODY TO BE IN GOOD HEALTH, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING MUCH MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR BODY AND PLEASURE, --- HOW IS YOUR SOUL AND SPIRIT FARING?
G. Father bring peace to Jerusalem!
Father refresh our spirit and our soul with a GREAT SENSE OF PRIORITY.
IV. HOW IS YOUR VISION? CAN YOUR VISION MAKE YOU MISS THE POINT? TO SEE WITH CLEAR VISION MAY REQUIRE A SECOND TOUCH ---
A. Jesus loved blind people, and he had compassion on them. Jesus loved to TOUCH THE BLIND AND HEAL THEM.
B. Remember the day when the blind man came to Jesus and he was healed?
The healing for some reason took a strange twist, HE SAW MEN AS TREES ...
The blind man had vision but it was a distorted vision ---
C. HE CAME TO JESUS AND JESUS TOUCHED HIM THE SECOND TIME...
Mark 8:24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.
D. WHEN WE HAVE DISTORTED VISION AND PERSPECTIVES WE NEED TO COME BACK FOR MORE OF THE MASTER’S TOUCH.
What if the blind man had been satisfied with defective vision?
E. Yes, there are spiritually blind people in the church today? But there are those that are NEAR-SIGHTED? FAR-SIGHTED? TUNNEL VISION?
F. Some people have BALL BAT VISION? They will only see the problem when someone is shaking a ball bat in front of their eyes?
G. PAUL SAID MANY TIMES: I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU IGNORANT...
You can’t force people to see.
Let the ignorant ...
1 Cor. 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
V. SOMETIMES WE NEED A NEW PERSPECTIVE --- A NEW ANGLE CAN CATCH A WHOLE DIFFERENT POINT. WE NEED TO TAKE THE HIGH ROAD...
A. Once I was on a college campus, I heard two students arguing over a simple problem: is this stick crooked?
As they debated over this crooked stick, the professor simply walked up and laid a straight stick down beside the stick ... Yes, the stick was crooked.
B. In ancient times the Egyptians learned how to correct near-sighted vision.
A PERSON COULD HAVE A SEVERE CASE OF NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS, THEY WOULD MAKE A PEN HOLE IN A PIECE OF WOOD AND THE NEAR-SIGHTED PERSON HAD VERY CLEAR VISION.
C. SOMETIMES WE MUST RISE ABOVE OUR PROBLEMS TO SEE CORRECTLY.
ISAIAH 40:9 GET THEE UP INTO A HIGH MOUNTAIN...
D. GOD HAS EYE SALVE, WE CAN CORRECT OUR VISION.
Rev. 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
E. IF WE SEE MEN AS TREES WE NEED TO RETURN TO THE ALTAR!
VI. DO WE GET THE POINT OF JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD?
LET US STUDY THE PERSPECTIVE OF JESUS AS SAVIOR AND JESUS AS LORD.
IF WE ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR HE WILL BECOME THE LORD.
LORD OF ALL OR NOT LORD AT ALL?
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
A. DEFINE:
1. SAVIOR:
One that brings salvation.
To deliver from the power or effect of sin
One that saves from danger, destruction, or peril.
To be liberated from ignorance.
2. LORD:
Jesus.
To have power,authority, dominion and has the power and right to be the master.
An official title that comes from the King.
To have power and authority.
One that has achieved mastery and exercises leadership.
The Lordship of Jesus Christ declares Jesus as a part of the God head.
B. SOME ARGUE: MANY ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR AND NEVER FIND THE LORDSHIP OF JESUS THE CHRIST!
Others want to debate word based believers accept the Lordship of Jesus and refuse to see the SAVIOR.
C. My opinion is if you come to Jesus and accept Him as SAVIOR, you must know Him as Lord. The Savior and the Lord can never be separated. The office work of Jesus
can never be separated in two parts --- part #1 Savior and part #2 The Lord.
The role of Savior and Lord are so bound together that there can never be a separation between these two offices. They work in tantum or they don’t work at all.
D. The Creed of the church is that JESUS CHRIST IS SAVIOR AND JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!
In the New Testament Jesus is called Savior 16 times.
Do you realize Jesus is called Lord around 450 times.
E. We can hear people warn of the danger of accepting Jesus as their Savior, but not as their Lord. This is probably not an accurate statement.
One can never receive Jesus as Savior without accepting Him as Lord. Jesus is Lord of All, or He is not Lord at ALL.
F. By knowing Jesus as Savior and Lord we are confessing a complete trust and a willingness to be submitted and obedient to God’s Only Son.
G. ACKNOWLEDGING JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD IS MUCH MORE THAN SAYING WORDS. TO ACCEPT JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD IS MORE THAN AN OUTWARD, SURFACE RELATIONSHIP.
H. BY TRUSTING COMPLETELY IN JESUS AS SAVIOR AND LORD WE ARE COMING BOLDLY BEFORE GOD’S THRONE AS AN HEIR, A JOINT HEIR, AS A SON OF GOD.
I. Could it be possible to accept Jesus as Savior/Lord in some areas of your life and not in other areas?
Could we submit our spiritual matters to God and withhold financial areas?
J. By the power of Jesus we need to submit our: INTELLECTUAL , EDUCATIONAL, VOCATIONAL, RECREATIONAL, FINANICAL, MENTAL, AND EMOTIONAL AREAS TO TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD’S LOVE AND PLAN.
VII. MY FRIEND WE MUST KEEP THE VISION ALIVE EVEN WHEN THE MOUNTAINS BEHIND US HAVE TRIED TO DESTROY US... WE CAN MISS THE POINT THAT GOD CAN TAKE A MESS AND MAKE A MESSAGE!
A. MOSES HAD BEEN A GOOD MAN, BUT HE WAS NOT A PERFECT MAN.
B. Moses had killed an Egyptian man in anger.
Moses in anger hit the rock when God told him to SPEAK TO THE ROCK.
Moses threw down the Ten Commandments and broke them.
C. God called Moses to COME ABOVE THE GARBAGE AND LOOK INTO THE PROMISE LAND.
Deut. 34:4 And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.
Deut. 34:7 And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
D. I HAVE HEARD PEOPLE TEACH MOSES NEVER MADE IT INTO THE PROMISE LAND, THEY ARE WRONG --- MOSES STOOD WITH MIGHTY GOOD COMPANY.
Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
E. MOSES HAD THE HONOR OF MEETING WITH JESUS AND ELIJAH RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PROMISE LAND. HANG ON TO YOUR VISION!
F. The higher one climbs the better one can see the bigger picture.
VIII. NEVER MISS THE POINT THAT DIVINE VISION IS GOOD.
MANY TIMES WE NEED OUR VISION TO BE SUBMITTED TO GOD.
GOD CAN OPEN EYES, HE CAN CLOSE EYES, AND REOPEN THE EYES AT A TIME TO MINISTER --- FEED THEM. MY FRIEND WE MUST FEED THEM.
A. In great fear the man of God allows his vision to dictate to his emotions.
Settle down, your emotions accepting the visual field as the norm could become nervous break-down material.
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?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
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.
18 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
B. The higher one climbs the better one can see the bigger picture.
Can you see God in this situation?
ACCORDING TO ELISHA’S WORDS?
IX. EVER MISS THE POINT? AT TIMES IT IS SO EASY TO CLOUD THE ISSUES WITH FACTS AND MISS THE POINT.
John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
A. Poor Thomas missed prayer meeting this is true!
Thomas was not with them is EVEN SADDER.
B. Forever his last name was changed to Thomas the DOUBTER?
Wow, to be forever known as the DOUBTER is very heavy.
This is an important message.
C. BUT DON’T MISS THE REAL POINT, don’t forget the real message, sure Thomas missed it.
D. But there was a merciful Savior that said, Thomas, my friend, touch me. Jesus never forsook the doubter. Jesus came closer to the poor boy and let Thomas put
forward his hand --- the hand of dust --- MAYBE EVEN AN UNWASHED HAND.
THEN JESUS THE SON OF GOD invited Thomas to TOUCH HIM.
E. Jesus never forsakes us even in the human failure of being a human failure. I appreciate a Savior that allows the less than perfect to again approach Him.
Drowning in pain, failure, grief, disappointments in others or self?
The past must never get us to not come forward and TOUCH JESUS.
F. Thomas in my opinion never HAD MAJOR ISSUES WITH DOUBT AGAIN.
Jesus gave him a second chance.
Get your head up, if for some reason you have missed the mark, bring your hand to the merciful Son.
G. While Thomas was not WITH THEM, HE CAME BACK!
GOD WANTS YOU TO FEEL HIM, KNOW HIS HEART.
Thank God for the invitation to touch Jesus’ hands and his side.
Maybe you come dirty and contaminated, may be you come broken, but come, LET US TOUCH THE MASTER.
PRAISE GOD, DREAM AGAIN, GET UP, COME WITH ME, LET US TOUCH JESUS, HE WILL BECOME REAL TO US.
MY FRIEND, IF YOU HAVE MISSED THE POINT, GET UP AND COME AND TOUCH JESUS TODAY!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Enlarge my reach? Pass this on to another?
