Whose Eyes Are You Looking Through Series

Series: Action [#22]

WHOSE EYES ARE YOU LOOKING THROUGH?

Acts 10:1-23

Introduction:

Having a blind person living with you lends itself to jokes and pranks. When Tharon doesn’t notice something, I will say things like, “Tharon, open your eyes”; or “What are you looking at”? When Tharon lost his sight, his siblings would do things like put chairs in front of his bed while he was sleeping; or Tyler would walk him into stop signs; or Kaitlyn would choose a pink “I am a Princess” T-shirt to wear to school.

Although, most of us can see with our physical eyes; I’m not sure how many of us are seeing with spiritual eyes. As Christians, we should be looking through the eyes of God; but often, we are looking through our worldly eyes.

Acts 10:1-2

Look at…

1. Who you are.

It is interesting how people think they know people by just looking and watching them. What are people looking for when they are looking through human’s eyes?

People see…

* Physical differences.

In our text, we find out that Cornelius lived in Caesarea. Caesarea was made up of mainly Romans. It was where the Governor over the Judean Providence lived. He was a God-fearing Gentile; which meant that he didn’t mean much to the Jews. God-fearing or not; he was not from the right lineage. He wasn’t Hebrew by birth.

We hear often about Racism. We live in a time that if you are a white man, you are racist- It’s automatic. We live in a time that Racism only applies when the person being offended is not white. There is discrimination; but not generally what you see and hear about on TV.

Genesis 1:26-27

God sees…

* His creation.

God created us in His image. The “our” in “our image” is the Trinity of God. God doesn’t see income or race- He sees His creation. God sent Jesus to pay our price for sin so that all people could be saved. Salvation is offered to all.

Acts 10:3-8

Look at…

2. What you do.

It is interesting how people think they know people based upon what they do for a living.

People see…

* Your employment.

Cornelius was an officer in the Roman Army. He was in the Italian Regiment which meant that he led a group of Italian volunteer soldiers who were considered the most loyal Roman troops. Because he was such a loyal servant of the oppressors of Israel, any patriotic Jewish person of that day would have been automatically hated him. Most Jews believed that there was no way that he could have anything to do with God.

God sees…

* His servant.

God heard Cornelius’ prayers and noticed how generous he was in helping the poor. God sent an angel to give Cornelius instructions in having Peter brought to his home. The angel told Cornelius to send men to Joppa and find the house of Simon the tanner. Cornelius’ response- He sent 2 servants and a soldier to get Peter.

Acts 9:9-23

Look at…

3. What you believe.

Although Peter was fighting against the Jewish Religious leaders, he was still following Mosaic Law.

People see…

* Tradition.

As a Jewish man, he had never eaten anything that was considered unclean. Peter was on the roof to pray and he was hungry. While he was waiting on the meal to be cooked, he began to see a large sheet coming down on the Earth. That sheet contained many animals that were considered unclean. Then he was told to kill the animals and eat. Peter immediately tells the Lord no.

God sees…

* Truth.

Peter is told not to call anything unclean that God has made clean. Peter was told a 3rd time; and yet he still struggled with the meaning of this message. It is hard to change something that you were taught your whole life. What he was once forbidden to do, he was told to do it.

Conclusion:

We are living in a time when it is hard to see anything good. That is why most people, including Christians are struggling so much. We are angry about what is happening and that we have no control over it. We are angry that God seems to be allowing it to happen. We are angry that we are having to change how we do things.

What we need to do, is get rid of our bitterness. We need to listen to God and pray that we will see things through His eyes and not our own. It is time to see things through the eyes of Jesus.