To See Or Not To See

2Cr 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen [are] temporary, but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.

2Cr 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Every person, whether believer or not, struggles with the idea of faith.

For me, it takes more faith to believe there is NO God than to believe there is.

I heard someone say that “people don’t want to be told about God…they want to experience Him.”

It takes faith to experience God.

Let’s look at this battle between faith & sight.

1. Faith looks to God as the source:

Sight trust in possessions…power…people.

Luke 18:18-23 “Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

19 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is], God.

20 "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' "

21 And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."

22 So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.”

2. Faith Focuses on the Who:

Sight focuses on how.

In John chapter 9, we read about a man who had been born blind.

Jesus healed the man of his blindness but those around the man just could not understand what had happened.

They interrogated him, as if he were a criminal, demanding to know HOW this happened.

V26 “Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”

This man told the religious leaders that he had no clue as to what this man [Jesus] was nor how he healed his blindness.

The only thing he knew was WHO this man was…He is the one who set me free and gave me my sight…

3. Faith Measures the Size of God:

Sight measures the size of your problem…David and Goliath…1Sam 17

4. Faith Seeks God First:

Sight takes matters into its own hands…

Mat 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

5. Faith Waits on God;

Sight rushes headlong relying on self…

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew [their] strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.”

6. Faith is Based on What God Has to Say:

Sight is based on how I feel…Abram and Sarai heard what God about giving them a son but they just couldn’t believe it…

7. Faith Looks Beyond the Circumstances to the Possibilities:

Sight looks at how bad things are at the moment…

2Kings 6: 13-17 “So he said, "Go and see where he [is], that I may send and get him." And it was told him, saying, "Surely [he is] in Dothan."

14 Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city.

15 And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?"

16 So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who [are] with us [are] more than those who [are] with them."

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

8. Faith Doesn’t Need to Work on Paper:

Sight demands facts and figures…