LOOKING OUT THE SAME WINDOW… A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is a two part lesson.
Text:
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
REMEMBER DON QUIXOTE?
He was a dreamer far from reality. Quixote as a mighty Spanish warrior the fought some crazy battles… Don Quixote read so many romances that they became reality to him. He loses his sanity and in his eyes he becomes a great knight. Don finds an ignorant farmer named Sancho Penza. Then they travel on foolish exploits. They attack WINDMILLS thinking they are ferocious giants. He does not have a shield so he uses pillows. Don thinks an inn is a huge castle. Don Quixote was crazy but he had was exciting times. His twisted PERSPECTIONS become very entertaining.
THE TRAP OF A NEGATIVE PERSPECTIVE?
My Grandfather Charles Tyler Hughes was born in 1878. He would be 140 in 20018. C.T. was 53 when he had twins in 1931. My Dad was the second twin born of the set. My Dad told the story how negative my Grandfather was about everything. Seems as they had their hoes chopping weeds out of the crop. My Grandfather, Burg my uncle and my Dad would work 10 hours a day for a $1.00 (for all 3, not a piece) for several of the neighbors as well as on their farm. There was an old house on the property they rented for $6.00 a year. The folks that rented the house were on the lazy side and did little. Dad told as long as he could remember the people had never paid their rent one time.
Back to working with the hoe chopping weeds. Grandfather always had his head down looking for the weeds in the tobacco and the corn. He was always expecting a snake to appear. Several times Dad said: CT would be crying and complaining that they would ALL STARVE TO DEATH THIS YEAR. CT would go on to explain, there would be no rain this year. The tobacco worms would destroy the tobacco and there would be no cash crop. The old 1933 Ford would break down and they could not get to town. Besides that the price of gas had gone sky high. THE GAS WAS 10 CENTS A GALLON. How could they afford to fill up the old Ford, Jessie James used a gun?
Grandfather Charles Tyler and two sons had worked in their field and 10 hours. CT started crying and told the sons they were all going to starve to death that year! He explained starving to death was a slow process and beside that the drought they were going to have would dry up the well and the river. Dad said he and his brother would say to their Dad we better get to the house see those dark storm clouds rolling in toward the farm? CT kept complaining how bad the drought was going to be. The winds started blowing. They could hear thunder in the distance. Grandfather kept crying how dry the farm would be. Burg and Dad would beg to quit hoeing and get to the house, THE RAIN IS ROLLING in to the farm. By the time they ran in the rain to the porch they were soaking wet. Grandmother Pearl would make them take their wet clothes off before they could go in the house.
PERSPECTIVE: The way you see or feel about something, Your attitude toward the way you regard something, your point of view, MENTAL VIEW, HOW THINGS APPEAR TO YOUR EYE, ---
While facts are facts, we all have our own personal perspective that may or may not be correct. Your perspective could be valid and true or it could be way off target and distorted.
What is fore sight? Hind sight? A bird’s eye view?
What will the farmer’s perspective be? The doctor? The funeral director? The bankers? A young person? An old person? A wise person? A fool’s?
Perspective can be positive or it can be negative? Who decides what kind of perspective you have?
DOES OUR SOCIETY OR FAMILY TEACH US TO BE OVERLY PESSIMISTIC AND NEGATIVE? OR POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC?
Are we reaching to better attitudes? What do your eyes see?
Let us go to the great expert: DR. PHIL. You are the sum total of your daily choices.
YOUR PERSPECTIVE BECOMES YOUR REALITY! We respond to what we think is real.
THE KING OF SYRIA HAS A PERSPECTIVE, SOMETHING IS ROTTEN HERE… WHAT IS GOING ON…? SO HE ACCUSES HIS GENERALS OF BEING SPIES?
ELISHA was informing the King of Israel what the SYRIANS were going to do in the battle. Elisha was like a SPY in the camp. So the King of Syria hated the Preacher.
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE KING OF SYRIA IS THERE IS A SPY TELLING MY WAR PLANS HE HAS A WINDOW IN MY BEDROOM?
2 Kings 6:12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
Somehow the Preacher Elisha knows what our battle plans are… GOD MUST BE TELLING HIM?
SO THE ENEMY SYRIANS FIND OUT PREACHER ELISHA’S HOUSE IS IN DOTHAN? LET’S SEND CNN TO DOTHAN TO REPORT? WHAT IS MY PERSPECTIVE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW? GO TO THE WINDOW? LOOK OUT THAT WINDOW? WHAT DO YOU SEE? HOW DOES WHAT YOU SEE MAKE YOU FEEL?
The King of Syria sent his best soldiers and military equipment to the battle field at Dothan. So over night the enemy gathers around the PREACHER’S HOUSE.
Something woke GEHAZI UP EARLY ONE MORNING. He got dressed and was ready to fix breakfast and Gehazi, Elisha servant, JUST HAPPENED TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW…
GEHAZI WHAT DO YOU SEE OUT YOUR WINDOW?
GEHAZI SAW THE ENEMY --- OH, NO WE ARE DOOMED, AND WE ARE GOING TO DIE! IT IS OVER!
2 Kings 6:14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 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?
AS GEHAZI STANDS AND LOOKS AGAIN, SURE ENOUGH THERE IS THE ENEMY, THE HOST OF SYRIA…
THIS IS A BAD DAY, GEHAZI KNOWS, WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE TODAY. We don’t have any weapons here. This butter knife will not cut this problem?
GEHAZI RUNS TO THE SHOWER AND SAYS PREACHER, WE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE!!! WE ARE GOING TO DIE TODAY! MASTER, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? DOOM, DESPAIR, AGONY ON END… DEEP DARK DEPRESSION, EXCESSIVE MISERY, IF IT WEREN’T FOR BAD LUCK, I WOULD HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL, GLOOM DESPAIR AND AGONY ON ME…
WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO…?
THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SERVANT IS DOOM AND GLOOM…
ELISHA LOOKS OUT THE SAME WINDOW AND SEE A GOD PERSPECTIVE… ELIISHA’S LIFE EXPERIENCES TAUGHT HIM THE FAITH PERSPECTIVE… REMEMBER ELISHA WALKED MANY DAYS WITH ELIJAH. THEY LEARNED GOD IS NOT CAUGHT BY SURPRISE BY WHAT IS OUT THE WINDOW? GOD HAS THIS COVERED…
ELISHA MAKES A FAITH DECREE… FEAR NOT … CAN’T YOU SEE THE REALITY?
2 Kings 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
ELISHA’S PERSPECTIVE SEES THE GOD OF POSSIBILITIES NOT THE ENEMY. WHY DO WE TEND TO LOOK AT THE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF THE GOD OF PROBLEMS? ELISHA KNEW ONLY GOD COULD CHANGE GEHAZI’S PERSPECTIVE… SO ELISHA PRAYS: PRAY CAN CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVES…
Gehazi has a problem with near sightless or short vision?
2 Kings 6:17 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.
WHILE GOD’S PERSPECTIVE OPENS SOME EYES, IT CAN CLOSE OTHER EYES… TOTAL BLINDNESS…
THERE IS A HIDDEN LESSON ON PERSPECTIVE FROM ELISHA…
2 Kings 6:18 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.
THE KING OF ISRAEL SAW FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE, I HAVE THE ENEMY’S ARMY HERE IN THE PALM OF MY HANDS, WE CAN TOTALLY DESTROY THEM… THE PREACHER SAID: NO! DON’T KILL THEM, FEED THEM… TALK ABOUT A GOD PERSPECTIVE… FEED YOUR ENEMIES?
God’s plan was better than defeating the enemy.
2 Kings 6:20 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.
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them? 22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master. 23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
If Israel had killed all the Syrians, they sons would have grown up in hatred and came and took revenge and slayed Israel.
Hatred feeds hatred. There was peace for many years because the Preacher’s perspective feed them.
LET US CONSIDER PERSPECTIVE? WHERE DOES CHANGE COME? FIX YOUR ATTITUDE FIRST.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
YOU EVER FLY ON AN AIRPLANE AND WATCH ABOUT THE OXYGEN FACE MASK?
You always put yours on first then you help those around you…
HOW ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE OF TODAY? OUR WE REDEEMING THE TIME? CAN YOU SEE THE CLOCK LOOKING OUT YOUR WINDOW? TIME IS A PRECIOUS GIFT.
Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
UNDERSTAND THE PERSPECTIVE WE MUST HAVE HOPE! YOUR ENEMY WANTS YOU TO LOOK OUT YOUR WINDOW WITH NO HOPE. Do you fertilize HOPE?
Hebrews 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
YOUR PERSPECTIVE: WHO MADE YOU A JUDGE? JESUS GIVES WHITE ROBES, JUDGES WEAR BLACK.
Matthew 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Who are you kidding? You are not a police man or a judge! Do you find joy in fussing, arguing and debating TRIVIAL PURSUIT?
WHAT IS YOU PERSPECTIVE ABOUT LOVING PEOPLE? Make the choice to love hard to love people.
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
DO WE REALIZE IMPORTANT OUR PERSPECTIVE ON JOY AND PRAISE CAN BE?
DOES SOMEONE ELSE CONTROL YOUR ANGER? DO YOU CONTROL YOUR ANGER?
A recent study shows 10% of happiness comes from external factors…
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.
1 John 1:4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
JOY IS A PERSPECTIVE NOT A DESTINATION…
LIFE IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU, LIFE IS WHAT HAPPENS IN YOU…
YOU ARE AS HAPPY AS YOU MAKE UP YOUR MIND TO BE! JOY AND PEACE ARE CHOICES.
Never let your joy hinge on things or people.
Happiness can be 50% how you were raises and genetics.
10—to 20% YOUR LIFE CIRCUMSTANCES, AGE, INCOME, EDUCATION, MARRIAGE.
30 TO 40% IS ABOUT YOUR CHOICES…
Is a lottery ticket happiness? New car happiness?
Do you hang out with negative people?
Do you have good habits?
HOW IS YOUR PERSPECTIVE ABOUT APPRECIATION? WE SELDOM FEEL THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL UNLESS WE MAKE THE CHOICE.
I feel SORRY for myself. I am stuck at home with the kids? I have to go to work?
Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Write down 3 good things that happened to you each day AND BE THANKFUL.?
WHAT IS YOU PERSPECTIVE ON FORGIVENSS? DO WE KNOW WE MAKE THE CHOICE TO FORGIVE?
Matthew 6:14 for if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
CAIN WAS ANGRY, and driven to kill his brother.
JOSEPH’S 10 BROTHERS? Joseph had his brother over and feed them…
CONCLUSION: THE BATTLES IN LIFE ARE ABOUT YOUR PERSPECTIVE. What do you see when you look out the window? GRIPING, FAULT FINDING, COMPLAINING will never build better people. Did you grow up in a negative home? Misery loves company. Negativity is CONTAGEOUS! Often a drowning person will pull down another person… He who angers you lives rent free in your head. Who frustrates you? Why? Take the perspective to quit mourning and crying, and CELEBRATE LIFE…
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com This is a two part lesson…
I would love to hear from you?
