Sermon
Lanier Christian Church
August 28, 2016
David Simpson
Sermon Series: Signs of Life
Sign: HILL BLOCKS VIEW
2 Corinthians 4:4; Psalm 40:12; 2 KINGS 6:17
I noticed a yield sign this past week and thought of a classic hymn: “Yield Not to Temptation.” So, I decided, for the next three Sundays that I will share with you sermons that have as their topic, signs you may see as you drive down the road. And then, I want you to join me in allowing these signs to serve as reminders of spiritual principles that we need to apply in our lives.
I don’t know about you, but I consider myself to be a pretty observant driver. I notice the signs around me. I know, for instance, that the speed limit on Dawsonville Highway from the Chipotle restaurant to the bridge is 45mph. Ask anyone who thinks it’s 55 or 60 and they probably have met one of Gainesville’s finest! I also pay attention to other signs, like stop, yield, slow…school zone and so forth. So, I was stunned last week to notice a sign that I have missed every day for years. Where is this sign? Across from my driveway! (Ask family what the sign says!)
Within feet of my mailbox is a sign that says: Hill Blocks View. That’s true. As you go up the hill there is a sharp right turn and then past that is a beautiful view of the Lake, especially in the fall/winter. The hill blocks the view of the lake, but it mainly blocks the view of people backing out of their driveways. You can’t see all of the activity at the top of the hill.
Does a hill of circumstances block your view of God? Do you ever face situations where you don’t see God at work – just a big hill in front of you…a big obstacle? Do you have those days when you have prayed, you have been faithful, you have trusted, and still can’t see how God is present in your life? If so, then you are suffering from a “Hill Blocks View” situation. So what is it that hinders us from seeing God at work in our everyday lives? Let’s look at several “hills” that get in the way of any person seeing the blessing of God actively working every day.
First there is the hill of DISBELIEF that blocks many people’s view of God.
I have often wondered why others can’t see God’s blessing, through the joyful times and through the valleys. Perhaps it’s because Satan, called the god of this age by Paul, has blinded many minds, because such people refuse to belief. 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV)
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
The evil one never stops, does he? Those of us who have been Christians for many years have seen countless people blinded by the devil’s influence. He has claimed many victims.
Many cannot see the blessing of God because they have allowed themselves to be blinded by the evil one’s influence. The glory of Christ is shining, but they can’t see him, refuse to see him, or chalk it up to luck or coincidence.
C.S. Lewis, famous British author of many books, including “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” which was made into a movie, spent the first part of his life blinded by the god of this age. He could not allow himself to believe in God. But after time spent in observation and study, he came to belief and has influenced countless lives through his books, such as “Mere Christianity.” One of his great quotes is: “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen. Not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.”
The hill of disbelief indeed is like a big hill that blocks someone from seeing the light of God’s blessing.
Satan has blinded many with his evil influence, but once someone has been set free, they see God and his handiwork in everything!
And perhaps that’s what many in our world today desire. They may be very much like Bartimaeus in the Bible. When Jesus confronted blind Bartimaeus he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “….I want to see,” he replied. “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:52)
When Jesus gives you sight, the hill of disbelief no longer blocks your vision and you can finally see the handiwork of God and then, you can’t help but follow Him!
Then, there is the hill of SIN that blocks our view of God.
Sin is not just a falling short of the mark of pleasing God and doing His will. It causes damage. And one of the damaging aspects of sin is that it blocks our view of God, because God cannot look on sin.
The psalmist said in Psalm 40:12 (NIV)
For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see...
The hill of sin can block our view of what God wants us to do and who God wants us to be. We are often distracted by the temptation to do something we ought not to do because of an attraction we ought not to have followed.
And it is easy to be distracted today and be overtaken by the hill of sin so that we cannot see clearly that God is working on us and calling us to Him.
The psalmist said: “my sins have overtaken me and I cannot see.” Is there a sin in your life that has overtaken you so that you cannot see the blessing of God in your life? Is there something that is drawing you away from God…something that is preventing you from seeing the beautiful handiwork of God through eyes of faith.
It doesn’t have to be something major. It could be a spirit of negativity where you can’t seem to find any good anywhere. Or, perhaps a stubbornness brought on by pride that won’t allow you to experience blessing. Maybe it’s a selfish focus that refuses to see the needs of others. Maybe it’s feeding unresolved anger that blames others, instead of finding hope in the midst of chaos.
Is there a hill of sin that has overtaken you, so that you cannot view the blessings of God? If so, it’s time to take that sin and lay it at the foot of the cross. Allow God to open your eyes so you can see Him clearly!
Then there is the hill of DISTRACTION that causes us to miss the view of God’s blessing.
For years, talking on the land-line phone was a distraction and consumed much of our time. Many people fell into the sin of gossip because of too much time on the phone. Then it was TV that became a distraction and families could not pull away from TV shows long enough to engage in meaningful conversation with each other. Then, it was personal computers and the internet that became a sensation and a magnet to draw us away from time that could be spent growing our faith and sharing our faith and showing our faith to others. Now it’s the cell phone and the smart phone. It has consumed us.
People have their heads down everywhere and are on their phones – texting, looking at facebook, games, social media, emails, etc. Many people continue to look at their phones as they drive or while they walk. Let’s watch this video produced by National Geographic….(Youtube – Walking while texting)
Perhaps you and I are guilty of missing out on seeing the blessing of God at work throughout the day because we are too focused on this hilltop barrier called a cell phone. But, for others it might be some other distraction. Maybe it’s your hobby, maybe it’s TV, maybe it’s busyness, maybe it’s stress, maybe it’s too much sleep or lack of sleep, maybe it’s too much work or lack of work. Too much of anything, even something good…can take away from our view of God.
The well known Old Testament character, Job experienced distraction, perhaps due to his suffering, but nonetheless, he was distracted from seeing the blessing of God. He wrote in Job 9:10-11 (NIV)
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
miracles that cannot be counted.
When he passes me, I cannot see him;
when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
Even Job was distracted, not by a cell phone, but perhaps the circumstances of his suffering, that caused him to miss the wonders of God. Perhaps he needed a sign that said: “Hill blocks view.” The hill of distractions can cause us to miss the wonders of God which occur every day.
Lastly, there is the hill of DOUBT that blocks our view of God.
Do you ever feel like God has not shown up yet? Do you ever have those days where you feel like you have prayed and you’re waiting for God to arrive on the scene? Do you have those moments where the situation is urgent and you are at a point of doubt that God will intervene?
Doubting God’s presence. Doubting God’s response. Doubting that God cares is a hill that blocks our view of God’s blessing. Perhaps the greatest story in the Bible that addresses this is found in 2 Kings 6. The King of Aram sought to stop the prophet Elisha from telling the King of Israel everything about his plans. He sent out his soldiers to find him. Eventually, The King of Aram’s powerful army entrapped Elisha and his servant one day in the town of Dothan. Here is what the scripture says in 2 Kings 6:
13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.” The report came back: “He is in Dothan.” 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the Lord, “Strike this army with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked.
19 Elisha told them, “This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for.” And he led them to Samaria.
There are times when we doubt that God is near. We can’t see him. We can’t hear him. We don’t feel his presence. It may even be a threatening situation such as Elisha and his servant experienced. Maybe, the hill of your circumstances has blocked your view of God. If so, then we too should pray to have our eyes opened so we can see! God IS all around us. The hill of doubt may get in the way, but He IS there. He will carry us through. His angels surround his children and we should walk in victory, not in defeat. We should walk in faith, not in doubt. We should see with eyes of hope, not eyes of despair. So today, let’s pray that God would open our eyes so that the hills of Satan’s work do not block the view of God’s clear love for us, strength in us and grace over us. Lord, open my eyes that I might see!
Hymn: Open My Eyes that I might see
Sermon by David Simpson
