THE DANGER OF TUNNEL VISION #2
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
This is part #2 of a 2 part series, if you need part one email me.
TEXT:
1 Kings 21:5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to Ahab, WHY IS YOUR SPIRIT SO SAD?
Why aren’t you eating?
1 KINGS 19: 2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying so let the gods do to me, and more
also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
3. And When Elijah SAW THAT, he arose and went for his life ...
4. But Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under the juniper tree,
and He might die, and said, It is enough now, O Lord, Take away my life, for I am not better than my
fathers.
11 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that
DAVID SENT JOAB, ... but David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of
the King’s house: and from the roof DAVID SAW A WOMAN WASHING HERSELF: and the woman was very
beautiful to LOOK UPON.
THE CAT WITH LIMITED VISION.
There was a beautiful pedigreed cat that lived in a hugh mansion on a hill. The cat had everything.
The cat was warm in the cold winter, cool in the hot summer. The cat had a choice of food: fresh tuna,
beef, or pork. The cat ate out of silver dishes. The cat drank bottled water out of crystal glassware.
One of the master’s servants was assigned to give any attention the pedigreed cat needed.
Each night the owner would sit in front of the fireplace and read, and gently pet the cat.
The master loved petting the cat.
The cat would get so angry, seems the owner would always rub the cat the wrong way.
One day, in great anger, the pedigreed cat ran away from home.
The pedigreed cat was in the alley looking for food in the garbage can, when an alley cat came up
and asked the pedigreed cat, --- why are you in the alley?
The beautiful cat explained it had to run away, the cat could not take it anymore.
The alley cat said --- what can’t you take?
The beautiful cat said, the master always rubbed me the wrong way, what else could I do but run away.
The old alley cat said you did not need to run away, all you had to do was turn the other way on
the pillow.
Often we see our our problems and we want to run away instead of working for solutions.
Seems we can’t see we are to blessed to be depressed?
7. THE TUNNEL VISION OF POWER AND UNDERMINING AUTHORITY.
1 Kings 21 records another sad TUNNEL VISION. King Ahab SAW Naboth’s vineyard and farm.
Ahab wanted Naboth’s farm. The King was envious of his neighbor. The King owned many "things,"
but the King wanted more!
A. King Ahab goes to bed, crying and pouting. He saw Naboth’s farm and had to have it.
How sad is tunnel vision that can only see what YOU DON’T HAVE, and cannot COUNT WHAT
YOU DO HAVE?
1 Kings 21:5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said to Ahab, WHY IS YOUR SPIRIT SO SAD?
Why aren’t you eating?
B. Jezebel had no fear and no respect for what was right. Jezebel will plot and lie and have an
innocent man killed to steal what was not her’s. The dogs will come and lick Jezebel’s blood!
The dogs will lick Ahab’s blood out of his chariot. The King had TUNNEL VISION.
C. Ahab and Jezebel had no fear or respect for God, the word of God, or the man of God.
Ahab allowed Jezebel to operate out of the bounds of wisdom. After Baal’s prophets died,
Jezebel made a promise based on her limited vision. Jezebel boldly declared, her vision was to stop
the message and the messenger of God.
8. TUNNEL VISION IS CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS, AND THE MAN OF GOD RUNS IN FEAR.
1 KINGS 19: 2. Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying so let the gods do to me, and more
also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.
3. And When Elijah SAW THAT, he arose and went for his life ...
4. But Elijah went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under the juniper tree,
and He might die, and said, It is enough now, O Lord, Take away my life, for I am not better than my
fathers.
A. How sad when those in power narrow their vision to abuse power and side step God’s authority?
While Elijah ran in discouragement and fear, God never ran. God would make notes of this ungodly
couples unchecked power. The same dogs that licked Naboth’s blood, would lick the blood
of the King and Queen, because God keeps good reports.
B. ELIJAH’S VISION WAS BETTER THAN RUNNING AWAY IN FEAR!
Elijah had many great victories, but he was tired and overwhelmed by the opposition he faced.
God will feed Elijah. Elijah will rest and sleep, and God will call his man out of the wilderness of
fear, and Elijah’s vision will be restored and he will see God and accept God’s plan.
We must not just look at the circumstances of today, faith must see beyond this trial, beyond this valley.
God knew all about Jezebel and Ahab, and God was still in control.
C. My friend get up from under that juniper tree, quit crying, lift your head, focus your eyes on God’s bigger
picture. Rest, eat, and see God is still in control!
9. THE TUNNEL VISION OF BEING IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME, UNFAITHFULNESS.
A. Sometimes God has a plan for you, and if you are not in the right place, you are going to get into trouble.
Thomas missed prayer meeting and will forever be known as Doubting Thomas, by missing the fellowship
of the brethren. Thomas vision was so narrow, he had to see Jesus’ nail prints.
B. Unfaithful people will always have a limited vision, they will only see in part and know in part.
I cannot tell you how costly an unfaithful set of eyes can be. Unfaithfulness to your post of duty can cause
your eyes to focus on sensual, trivial pursue.
11 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that
DAVID SENT JOAB, ... but David tarried still at Jerusalem.
2. And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of
the King’s house: and from the roof DAVID SAW A WOMAN WASHING HERSELF: and the woman was very
beautiful to LOOK UPON.
C. If David had his eyes in the right place history could have been different. David might not have faced this
terrible visual temptation if he had been with his men. David thought Joab could take his place. No one
can take your place. The Holy Spirit needs you in active duty. Being AWOL, absent without leave, is a satanic
game tactic. Keep your eyes focused on God’s plan.
D. David will have a sad trail of tears that would flow all through his journey of life, because David’s vision
focused on the sensual, the temporal. Did David look ahead? Did David think he could get away with this
hidden from the eye deed? Just think what a difference David’s family could have experienced, if David’s
eyes would have been where they should have been.
E. How about you? Are you faithful to your Sunday School class? Are you faithful to Bible study?
Can the preacher count on you? What if the preacher was as faithful as you are? You will stand before God
and give an account? May you see what God thinks is important!
10. MINISTRY CAN GROW A DANGEROUS TUNNEL VISION BY SEEKING POPULARITY, PROMOTION,
AND LET THE CROWD DICTATE WHAT GOD IS REALLY SAYING.
A. Meet a good example of a bad example. Balaam is a unique character in the Old Testament.
Balaam knows the word of God. God speaks with Balaam and has used his life on a regular basis.
Some very important people, (VIP’s) approach Balaam about ministry.
The request for these VIP’s is very simple: just CURSE GOD’S PEOPLE.
Balaam knows how to pray and get answers from God.
NUMBERS 22: 12 AND GOD SAID UNTO BALAAM, THOU SHALT NOT GO WITH THEM; THOU SHALT NOT
CURSE THE PEOPLE, FOR THEY ARE BLESSED.
B. The Message is very clear, Balaam --- NO! NO! NO!
The message was not what the people wanted to hear. So let’s give God another chance to change His
mind. If we don’t like the message, let’s pray again, and maybe God will change his mind.
God’s directions were very clear, but Balaam desired to PLEASE THE PEOPLE. Balaam wanted to
LOOK GOOD in the eyes of important people.
C. The Message was clear, yet there was offered unto the man of God a deal --- Balaam was offered a
National Ministry and great fame and promotion. This must be God? God had already spoken,
Balaam was a fool to think God was impressed by people’s manipulation to try to force God’s
man away from God’s plan.
NUMBERS 22:17 FOR I WILL PROMOTE THEE UNTO VERY GREAT HONOR, AND I WILL DO
WHATSOEVER THOU SAYEST UNTO ME: COME THEREFORE, I PRAY THEE, CURSE ME THIS PEOPLE.
D. THE DONKEY COULD SEE MORE THAN THE PREACHER? TROUBLE AND DANGER GO BEFORE A
COMPROMISER.
NUMBERS 22:25 AND WHEN THE ASS SAW THE ANGEL OF THE LORD, SHE THRUST HERSELF UNTO
THE WALL, AND CRUSHED BALAAM’S FOOT AGAINST THE WALL: AND HE SMOTE HER AGAIN.
E. Quit beating the donkey, man. Look in front of you. We cannot allow people, opinions, money, or
promises to change the message God has clearly spoken. DO NOT DOUBT IN DARKNESS WHAT GOD
HAS SPOKEN IN THE LIGHT. The applause of man can fade very quickly! Preachers must avoid tunnel
vision!
NUMBERS 22:31 THEN THE LORD OPENED THE EYES OF BALAAM AND HE SAW THE ANGEL OF THE
LORD STANDING IN THE WAY AND HIS SWORD DRAWN IN HIS HAND, AND FELL FLAT ON HIS FACE.
11. WALKING TREES? TUNNEL VISION, FAULTY VISION CAN BE EASILY CORRECTED! COME UNTO JESUS!
A. A blind man comes to Jesus. Jesus touches the blind man. The blind man can see, but the blind man’s
vision is distorted!
Mark 8:24 And he looked up and said, I SEE MEN AS TREES, WALKING.
B. WE MUST KNOW WE NEED MORE THAN ONE TOUCH OF THE MASTER’S HAND.
The man saw, but he had distorted vision. How many today see men as trees?
Where is the concern for lost, dying man headed toward HELL?
You can’t afford to keep walking around seeing walking trees!
We need a SECOND TOUCH OF JESUS to our hearts and minds and eyes.
Mark 8:25 After Jesus put His hands AGAIN upon HIS EYES, and Jesus made him LOOK UP!
And he was restored, and SAW VERY CLEARLY....
Jesus please touch us again. MAY WE SEE A CLEAR BALANCED VISION FROM THE HEART OF GOD.
May we grow with our priorities in the proper order and may we focus on what is eternality
important.
OTHER VISUAL PROBLEMS TO CONSIDER: near sightedness, far sightedness, cross-eyed,
green eyes (jealousy), double vision, color blindness, glaucoma, foreign objects in the eye,
detached retina, macular degeneration, fatal vision.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me please? Enlarge my hands? Pass this on to another?
