Good Morning Church.
Please stand with me and hold up your Bible and repeat after me.
This is my Bible.
I am what it says I am.
I can do what it says I can do.
I am going to learn how to be what it says I can be.
Today I will learn more of the word of God.
The indestructible, never ending, living word Of God.
I will never be the same.
I will never be the same.
In Jesus Name
Amen?
Before you sit down, say good morning to your brothers and sisters.
Turn with me in your Bibles to 2 Corinthians 4:18 and say, "Amen" when you are there.
"Fixing Our Eyes on What is Unseen"
It is a blessing to gather here today and to open God’s Word together.
No matter where you find yourself today, whether in joy or in sorrow, know this: God has a word of encouragement and hope for you. Let’s start by reading our key scripture from 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV):
"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
The Apostle Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, a people who were undergoing tremendous trials, struggles, and suffering. Paul reminds them—and us—that while our struggles are real, they are also temporary, but the hope we have in Christ is eternal. The unseen is what gives us strength to endure what is seen.
Today, I want to walk with you through this passage, share encouraging stories, and invite you to respond to God’s call to fix your eyes on what truly lasts.
I. The Struggles We See
We live in a world where it’s easy to be consumed by the difficulties around us. Life has a way of confronting us with pain, heartache, and uncertainty. Maybe you are battling illness, dealing with a broken relationship, or facing financial hardship. Perhaps you are struggling with a deep sense of loneliness or confusion about your future. The reality of these troubles is undeniable.
But, Church, I want to ask you: How often do we allow the temporary to define us? How many of us feel overwhelmed by the weight of the present moment, thinking that our struggles are the end of the story? It’s in those times that we need to hear Paul’s words afresh: "What is seen is temporary."
There’s a story of a man named James, who lost everything in the wake of a financial collapse. He had built a business from the ground up, but when the market crashed, he was left with nothing. His debts piled up, and he sank into depression. For months, he couldn’t see beyond the darkness. But then, in his lowest moment, he remembered a verse his grandmother had shared with him years ago: “We walk by faith, not by sight.”
James began to rebuild his life, not from his circumstances, but from God’s promises. He chose to look beyond his financial ruin to the unshakable love of God, the peace that surpasses understanding, and the eternal hope that he had in Christ.
His journey wasn’t easy, but James found that as he fixed his eyes on what was unseen—God’s faithfulness—he could endure the temporary struggles he faced.
Like James, perhaps you find yourself at a crossroads today. The weight of your struggles might seem unbearable. But I want to encourage you—do not let your circumstances define you. Fix your eyes on God, who is eternal, unchanging, and faithful.
II. The Eternal Promise We Can’t See
In contrast to our fleeting struggles, there is something greater, more lasting: the eternal promises of God. Paul teaches us that what we see is temporary, but what we cannot see—the love of God, His peace, His grace—is forever.
Think about the unseen promises of God. These promises often don’t immediately show themselves in the form of visible solutions, but they are always present, always faithful. In fact, the very presence of God in our lives is one of the greatest gifts that we can experience.
Story of Hope:
There’s a woman named Sarah. She was a single mother with two young children, struggling to make ends meet. The bills were overdue, the car broke down, and she felt like she couldn’t catch a break. One evening, after a long day of worry, she opened her Bible and read Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
In that moment, Sarah had a choice. She could continue to focus on the mounting bills and the uncertainties of her future, or she could focus on the eternal truth that God would meet her needs. Sarah chose to trust in the unseen—God’s faithful provision. Over the following months, Sarah found unexpected blessings. A neighbor offered her help, a job opportunity opened up, and her family’s needs were provided for in ways she couldn’t have predicted.
But more than the material blessings, what Sarah experienced was the peace of knowing that God’s promises are eternal. What she could not see with her eyes—God’s provision, His love, His care—became her foundation.
Application Like Sarah, maybe you feel the weight of your circumstances. Maybe you’ve been struggling in your own journey. But I want to remind you today: God’s promises are eternal. Even when you can’t see them, they are at work. Choose today to trust in the unseen—God’s eternal love, His goodness, His faithfulness.
III. The Power of Focus
The key to enduring in this life, as Paul encourages us, is focus. Where we focus our attention has a powerful effect on the direction of our lives. If we focus solely on the struggles, we will surely be overwhelmed. But if we focus on Christ and His eternal promises, we can rise above the temporary challenges we face.
Think about Peter walking on water in Matthew 14. When Jesus called him to come to Him on the water, Peter
stepped out in faith. For a moment, he defied the laws of nature and walked on the water. But the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the raging storm, he began to sink.
Church, the key to staying afloat in the storms of life is where we fix our eyes. When we fix our eyes on Jesus and on His eternal promises, we can walk through the storm with confidence. But when we focus on the wind and the waves—the temporary—we will begin to sink.
Today, ask yourself, “Where are my eyes fixed? On the temporary or the eternal?” It’s easy to be consumed by the storm around us, but remember: Jesus is the anchor for our souls, and when we fix our eyes on Him, we find stability even in the roughest seas.
Brothers and sisters, the struggles you face today are real, but they are temporary. The hope, peace, and joy you find in Jesus are eternal. What we see with our eyes will pass away, but what we do not see—the presence of God, His love, and His promises—will remain forever.
Now is the time to shift your focus. Today, you can choose to look beyond your temporary troubles and fix your eyes on the eternal hope we have in Christ. You are not alone in your struggles. The Creator of the universe walks with you.
Altar Call:
I want to invite you today to make a powerful decision: to fix your eyes not on the temporary, but on the eternal. If you are weary, if you are struggling, or if you need to be reminded of God’s promises, I invite you to come to the altar. Lay your burdens down before God and choose today to trust in His eternal faithfulness.
Come forward, whether for prayer or simply to say, “Lord, I choose to focus on You.” Let’s respond in faith, knowing that God is faithful to meet us in our struggles and to carry us through.
Let’s pray together:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your eternal promises. We confess that at times we have been distracted by the struggles and pain of this world. Help us to fix our eyes on You, on what is unseen, on the eternal hope that we have in Christ. Strengthen us, Father, to walk by faith, trusting in Your goodness, Your love, and Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Closing:
As we leave today, remember this: The challenges of this world are temporary, but the glory of God is eternal. Keep your eyes fixed on the One who is unshakable. May His peace and joy be with you always. God bless you!
