Disclaimer:
Due to the large amount of sermons and topics that appear on this site I feel it is necessary to post this disclaimer on all sermons posted. These sermons are original to the author and the leading of the Holy Spirit. While ideas and illustrations are often gleaned from many sources including those at Sermoncentral.com, any similarities and wording, including sermon titles, that may appear to be the same as any other sermon are purely coincidental. In instances where other minister’s wording is used, due recognition will be given. These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely. May God richly bless you as you read these sermons. It is my sincere desire that all who read them may be enriched. All scriptures quoted in these sermons are copied and/or quoted from the Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible.
Pastor James May
EYES OF THE SERVANT
Psalms 123:1-4, "Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud."
On this day, September 11, 2001, one year ago, the face of America changed drastically. Some of the changes will likely be with us for a very long time, perhaps permanently. Some of the changes, and I might add, the better ones, have disappeared and life has returned to the same condition as before the attacks on the World Trade Center. I do not intend to dwell upon the terrorist attacks nor the subsequent military action against the Taliban and AlQuida except as an introduction to this message.
Our nation was stirred and shocked as multitudes turned to God to find an answer for what had happened. I was convinced then, and I am still convinced, that God had sent a wake up call to America in an effort to turn us back to Him.
For a time it seemed that God’s warning message would be heeded but it didn’t take long until time “healed” the shock and the fear began to wear off and American again began to slide back into business as usual. I don’t know what God will allow to come our way but I do know that we should prepare for more warnings. I fear that America has gone too far now, down the path of liberalism and rebellion against Almighty God, to turn around and become the great nation that God intended for us to be under His lordship.
As I think back to the time of World War II it is hard to imagine just how far we have fallen as a nation. The resolve of the American nation, especially our congress, is weak indeed. The news media does all that it can do to discredit our leaders and anyone else who will disagree with their views. It seems that the media has taken the stand that it will usurp the authority of all of our elected leaders in order to sensationalize and sell more newspapers. They grow angry at the secrecy of our military leaders. Remember, the President is still the commander in chief of all military forces and, as the commander, is compelled by duty to keep secrets that pertain to threats to our national security in order to keep our enemies guessing on what we will do next.
Even police will not reveal all their knowledge in an investigation because it may warn the criminal or jeopardize the investigation process. How much more should our President and military leaders keep silent on matters that are so important to the nations safety and the welfare of our armed forces in harm’s way? In my humble opinion, any media personnel who attempt to discredit our leaders for not openly revealing all the secrets of the military and the White House, and who force those secrets to be revealed, should be put on the front lines when we go against our enemies who have been warned by the media and have had time to prepare a defense.
I know that this would not be a popular view for the majority of our country right now. The powers of darkness have had their way with our nation and the core values of righteousness, justice, liberty and holiness under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ have been almost extinguished.
This should come as no surprise to anyone who studies the Word of God. All things are under His control and every event that transpires is all part of the plan of God for these last days. His Word is coming true before our very eyes and I am also convinced that it won’t be long until its all over and then we will begin a thousand year reign of peace on this earth at last. Until that day comes we must prepare ourselves first for the rapture of the church and secondly for the days of trouble that are ahead until we are caught away to be with the Lord. No one knows the day or hour but we can see the signs of the season and the time is so very near.
So what does all of this have to do with the “Eyes of the Servant”?
In our scripture portion for today, David penned the words that are the answer to all of our troubles when he said, “…Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.”
That is where our biggest problem begins, not only as a nation but also as individuals. We have a problem with our “eyesight” because we “seeing” the wrong things and looking in the wrong direction for answers.
Man has no answers – He only adds more questions. Every solution that man offers always carries with it the opportunity for more questions to arise. Man’s wisdom is earthly and limited by his knowledge of earthly matters but most of the questions in life can only be answered from a spiritual perspective.
If you look at the question of providing security for our citizens for instance, we cannot provide enough people, enough technology, enough surveillance or anything else to absolutely be secure in our own homes. If a criminal, or a terrorist, is determined to do harm, there is nothing that you can do to stop him that is fail proof. If man creates something, it is not eternal, nor perfect. If a man creates it, another man can overcome it.
That’s why our “eyes” must look up to our God that dwells in the heavens. God creates perfection that no man can overcome or destroy. God brings absolute security for His word can never fail, neither can His protection be by-passed or defeated.
Isaiah 55:8-9, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."
As a nation, we must turn our “eyes” toward God if we are to survive. We cannot place our trust in our economy, our government, the stock market, our military power, or in our own ability to defend ourselves. Our “eyes” must be focused on the power of Almighty God to protect and deliver. If only our congress, our elected officials, and every citizen of our great nation would face our face before God in repentance and then put our trust in Him to give us the victory, there is no limit to the heights that God will bring us.
I don’t think that our nation, or the vast majority of our leaders or our citizens would ever humble themselves before God. Instead, we stand and shake our fists in the face of God and other nations as though we had all power for ourselves. I remind you that empires and nations just as great as the U. S. for their historical time frame have long since crumbled into the dust of history. What make us think that we are so invincible? When God’s judgment begins to fall all the might of man shrinks into insignificance! I doubt if the pride of the American nation will ever bring us to the place where we will confess Christ as Lord so there is only one recourse for any who would seek peace and safety.
We have to “lift up our eyes” one by one, one person to one God, if we really want to make a difference. One person at a time we can make a difference. One heart at a time we can change the destiny of a man. We will never be able to change the end time events but we can certainly change the way those end time events affect the lives of those who come to the know the Lord as their Savior. We may not be able to bring peace and safety to the nation but we can introduce others and ourselves to the Prince of Peace and He can and will speak words of peace and safety to His people.
Oh what a privilege we have, as the people of God, to “lift up our eyes” to our Heavenly Father and know that He hears, He cares and that He will answer our cry. There is no greater privilege in the entire world than to know Jesus as your Lord and Master.
David’s Words ring out to us “…as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us.”
When we look toward heaven and our Heavenly Father we should look in the same frame of mind and spirit that those do who are servants and are depending upon their master’s hand.
When a servant looks at the hand of his master, what does that mean?
That servant, if he is a good servant, is ready and attentive, listening for the master to direct them in their work and business and to point out to them what they shall do.
A motion of the hand of the master or mistress often does commanding of the servant without them having to speak a word. The servant knows the signs of the master’s hand and is ready to assist them because he has built a strong relationship and has developed an intimate knowledge of the ways and wishes of his master.
Servants are usually unarmed, and safe in their masters’ service and have no other to run to for protection in times of trouble. The servant also looks to the hand of the master to receive food and sustenance or in order to receive their wages from them.
Preferring the will of the master above his own and submission to the will of the master, and trust in obeying him, are all expressed by the act of watching the master’s hand and being ready to move at the slightest gesture of the master’s hand. In the Eastern cultures, servants in attending on their masters are almost wholly directed by signs, which require the closest observance of the hands of the latter.
The servants of God should look:
1 - to His directing hand, to appoint them their work;
2 - to His supplying hand to give them their portion in due season;
3 - to His protecting hand, to right them when wronged
4 - to His correcting hand
5 - to His rewarding hand.
It is our Father who is our master and provider. We can look to Him and find Him near.
As servants of the Father, and yet Sons of God, we carry a dual role.
We are sons and have an inheritance that is eternal and glorious but we are also servants who must learn to work and obey the Lord in all that His hand directs us to do.
As both sons of God and servants of God it is our duty, and our privilege, to keep our eyes upon the master’s hand. We are to be observant of the times and seasons so that we are not caught unprepared for the days ahead. We are to “lift up our eyes” toward the Heavenly Father and seek His mercy, His love and His grace for these troublesome times.
These words of Psalms…”Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud…” contain the feelings and desires of every true servant of God.
A servant deserves nothing, earns nothing, and counts for nothing without the support and hand of the master. He must rely upon the mercy of the master for all that he is and all that he needs.
With that thought in mind, let us “lift up these eyes of a servant” to the Heavenly Father and ask Him for what we need. Let’s also be standing at the ready, prepared for whatever the master would direct us to do.
Paul penned these words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:2, "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."
That’s what we must do!
We must spread the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must be ever ready (just like the Eveready Bunny on the battery commercials), always full of the power of the Holy Ghost and charged for His service, like it was fire shut up in our bones that we just had to get out.
…Are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud…
We are filled with sorrow and contempt for those around us who oppose the hand of the master. We are frustrated and greatly saddened by those who would stand and shake their fist in the face of God. We are filled with anguish over the backslidden condition of our friends, our families and our nation. Our soul is ever angered and righteous indignation arises because of all the injustice, hatred and sin in the world.
What makes it so much worse is that there is such an attitude of complacency, not just in the world but in the church also. No one really seems to care. No one seems to be falling on his or her faces before the master in repentance. We just along on our merry way, headlong in eternity, with no thought of tomorrow or of the will of the Master. The proud heart of man will not allow him to humble himself before God and Satan blinds him to fact of facing the judgment of God for sin.
Children of God we must be the servants that turn our eyes toward the master. We must have the eyes of a servant and look for the will of God; to obey His every command. This world is winding down. Our time to do the work of the Lord is coming to a close for the Lord is coming soon to take His Bride away.
Keep your eyes on the master. Watch for His hand in all that happens around the world. God is still in control and He is moving in all the earth to bring about His perfect will and to fulfill every word of the Bible.
