Have you seen a series of books called "Where's Waldo?" This is a series of children's books created by British illustrator Martin Handford. The books consist of a series of detailed double-page spread illustrations depicting dozens or more people doing a variety of amusing things at a given location. Readers are challenged to find a character named Wally hidden in the group. Waldo (or Wally) is there but it's really hard to find. However after you find him there is no use in reading the book again it is now easy to spot.
Hebrews 11:23-27
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter,
25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.
26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Moses endured in faith as "seeing the invisible"
The English translations added the word "him". In fact the correct translation to the letter is just "seeing the invisible". I'm not trying to say that the English translators got it wrong of course that Moses did things in faith as seeing the one who is invisible.
My question to you today is "Where is God in your life?" Is He easy to spot or are you having a hard time to see the invisible?
1. God does new things and people canot see it
Isaiah 43: 18 " Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.19 Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
Look at this passage a moment. What do you suppose, from this text, we need to do in order to see and experience the new thing that God is doing? Let's stop telling tales of former glories, former wounds, former victories, and the pain of the past. Let's release our grip on whatever we think we know and open our arms, hands and hearts to what God IS doing now!
Note that it doesn't say "I WILL DO a new thing." It doesn't say "I DID a new thing." God promises that, now, "I AM DOING a new thing!"
If you are continually looking behind you cannot see where you are going. The question isn't what has God done –the question must be:
• What is God doing in your life right now?
• What is it that you want Him to do in your life right now?
2. You can see spiritual things with or without knowledge
Hebrews 13:1 Brotherly love must continue. 2 Do not neglect hospitality, because through it some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Some people have entertained angels without even knowing it. You never know if God sends you a special messenger and you are so unaware and distracted that you do not see the evidence of something supernatural.
Elisha was the prophet of the northern kingdom after Elijah ascended to Heaven.
2 Kings 6:15 The prophets attendant got up early in the morning. When he went outside there was an army surrounding the city, along with horses and chariots. He said to Elisha, "Oh no, my master! What will we do?" 16 He replied, "Dont be afraid, for our side outnumbers them." 17 Then Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he can see." The Lord opened the servants eyes and he saw that the hill was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
This young man's eyes wheren't able to see the invisible armies of the Lord but a simple prayer of Elisha opened his eyes to see the invisible.
Ask the Lord to give you sensitiveness, awarness and discernement to see the invisible.
3. Seeing by faith
Faith is nothing more than seeing the invisible.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Every child of God has two sets of ears and two sets of eyes. We have the natural set that we are born with, and we have a spiritual set that we've been given upon being born again. As we grow spiritually, we begin to see with our spiritual eyes and hear with our spiritual ears.
Natural Eyes and Ears don't Always Tell The Truth! When we learn to trust in God and to see with the eyes of faith we can have the faith that allows us to see the invisible.
Do you believe in God? Have you received spiritual sight that allows you to believe without seeing with your natural eyes?
4. Overcome your unbelief
John 20: 25 The other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!"
26 Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" 27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe." 28 Thomas replied to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed."
James was blessed because the Lord came to him and he was able to see. However the statement of Jesus is a tremendous spiritual principle, "Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed."
Are you one of the blessed that believes without seeing?
Can you trust in God like Moses and see the invisible?
Believe in God for your miracle, believe in God for your prayer requests, learn to see the invisible!
Conclusion
A television remote control
Summary: A remote control is used to demonstrate prayers made by faith.
Look at what I brought with me today. Do you know what this is? [a television remote control] I've always wondered how these things work. You just click on this button and the TV comes on, and click on this button and it changes channels. It will do a lot of things without even yelling at the TV. This remote control will do some amazing things, but there are some things it won't do. It doesn't work on people. If my girlfriend is tired of what I'm saying, she might playfully point the remote control at me and pretend she is turning me off. But that doesn't work, does it? Actually, the remote control works with the TV to accomplish the things you want it to do.
See this little window on the front? That is what you point at the TV. The TV has a little eye like it also. When you push the button, the remote control sends an invisible light, called infrared light, to the TV. This signal tells the TV what you want to do. Now look on the back of the remote control. See this little panel? Let's look inside. What's in there? [special batteries] Yes, these batteries give power to the remote control. If you take them out, it won't work.
When we pray to God we need a special power also. That power is called faith. Jesus always told his followers that when they prayed, they needed to have faith that what they were asking was going to happen. He said in Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. He was saying to act as if you had received what you asked for already. That is acting in faith.
Do you sometimes wish you were a wiser person? The Bible says that God is willing to give us wisdom if we ask for it. It won't make him angry if we ask. But we have to ask with a firm belief that God is going to answer our prayer. That is praying with faith. Just as the remote control sends the invisible light as a signal to the TV, others do not see our prayer, but when it is sent with the power of faith, it is like a special light that God sees, and He responds in love to answer our prayer.
