Sermon: Don’t look into His eyes!
Introduction
Power points of Jesus’ eyes, face looking at us:
(Make the following statements as you progress through slides 1-7)
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want revival!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want to change!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want Holiness!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want to see the fire of the Holy Spirit!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want to be convicted of your unworthiness!
Don’t look into His eyes if you want to remain in bondage!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want something new and fresh!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want to sacrifice for His Kingdom!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want to leave your life of sin!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want a healing to come to your land!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want your kids delivered from drugs!
Don’t look into His eyes if you don’t want to discover His presence!
Highlight the following Scriptures: (power points 8, 9)
Hebrews 12:2: 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Psalm 141:8: 8But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
2 Corinthians 4:18: 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
T.S - He has patiently been waiting - longing since the foundation of the world for you to look into His eyes, and melt in love before Him.
This morning we opened our service remembering 911 – Our time of remembrance and reflection is a reality check of how close we all are to meeting Jesus face to face every day.
Power point 10 - (Picture of the 911 cross)
It was an ordinary day like so many others in New York. The sky was blue the day was beautiful but it would soon become a day when many people’s lives would be changed. There were many that day that did look into the eyes of Jesus as they got up in the morning to get ready for work and to travel to work. These were the ones who had not looked at Jesus for years. Then there were those who had never seen His face because they always turned away. But there were others who did look into Jesus eyes that morning as they prepared for work and commuted to their jobs. They knew He was with them. Many that day never made it out of the towers, but many others did and some of you have heard their stories. But what about those who for the first time in their lives looked into the eyes of Jesus and in horror discovered it would also be their last time to see His face. I can only imagine their sense hopelessness and fear. For years they had turned their face away from Jesus and now they would have no choice but to look into His eyes and see what they had missed.
The cross that formed in the midst of the rubble of the towers became a symbol of Hope and strength to the workers cleaning up the mess from 911. They would look to it daily for strength, they would pray at its feet when things looked dark. They would leave notes to the Lord and prayer requests to Heaven. This cross which represents Jesus will be placed in the memorial of 911, even though an atheist group has petitioned a judge to block its inclusion on the basis that when atheists looks at the cross it brings trauma, pain, torment and depression to their minds.
But for the thousands of others who lived through 911 and its long clean up know that this symbol from the rubble brought a revelation and a glimpse of Jesus and this gave them hope and strength. It gave them peace and purpose. It lifted them up above the devastation and destruction around them!
The Bible tells us that we please God by having the right focus in life! Throughout the Scriptures we have this message, that the right focus for life comes to us as we look into His eyes.
Personal Story 1:
Story the other day I was watching TV and one of the twins was talking to me but I must admit I was more focused on TV and the game. He gently grabbed my cheeks and looked into my eyes and said “Grandpa!” I looked into his eyes to see someone who loved and adored me and wanted my attention at that moment. I could not look away from Him at that moment because He touched my heart.
Personal Story 2:
I also recall similar experiences with my girls when they were small as well. But I also recall the times when Dad would give the look to one of them when they were doing something wrong. For Tiffany and Ashley it only took the look, the eye to stop them. Most of you know what I am talking about!
T.S. – I honestly believe the church of Jesus needs to refocus on the eyes of Jesus, they need to see Him fresh and new.
I. Why do we need to focus?
a. Illustration: Researchers Find that Multitaskers Perform Poorly: So you think you can multitask? Texting while driving? No problem. Watching television and reading the Bible? No problem. Checking your email while listening to a spouse, a child, or a friend? No problem. In reality, however, according to a team of researchers at Stanford University, multi-tasking causes big problems. A Stanford University news service article announced the study this way: "Attention, multitaskers (if you can pay attention, that is): Your brain may be in trouble." The researchers originally set out to discover what gave multitaskers their special focus; instead, they were surprised to discover that in many ways multitasking impairs performance. So while many people think they’re effective at juggling multiple tasks, they’re actually pretty lousy at it.For instance, heavy multitaskers are suckers for distraction and for irrelevancy. According to one of the researchers, "Everything distracts them." Multitaskers were also more unorganized in their ability to keep and retrieve information. They were even worse at the main thing that defines multitasking: switching from one task to the next. Heavy multitaskers underperformed in almost every area of the study.The article based on the study concluded with this advice: "By doing less, you might accomplish more. Stanford News Service, "Media multitaskers pay mental price, Stanford study shows," (8-24-09)
b. We need to focus on Jesus so we too can experience revival in our communities.
i. Story of Clay County: Movie we watched called Appalachian Dawn - The City of Hope – Manchester Kentucky, Clay County.
1. A city and county filled with drug addiction and crime. The kids had no future. But they soon looked into Jesus eyes for help. He delivered their county from drugs and alcohol. He cleaned up the corruption, saved the worst of the sinners to become wounded healers. The city is now called the city of Hope!
c. We need to focus on Jesus so that we do not miss the most important moments of our life.
i. Illustration on right focus in life: IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER
- by Erma Bombeck (written after she found out she was dying from cancer).
1. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the ’good’ living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn’t show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I’d have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you’s." More "I’m sorry’s."
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it . live it and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.
d. We must focus on Jesus so we will win our race for the prize of Heaven:
i. In Hebrews 12:1-13 the Christian life is compared to a race. The words of this chapter were penned to encourage believers who were facing great persecution to "fix" their eyes on the perfect example of the Lord Jesus Christ who overcame life’s toughest obstacles.
1. Fixing our eyes of Jesus help us not to lose heart!
2. To win the race, the Olympian must stay focused on the goal, put forth his very best effort, and stay committed to the task.
3. In the Christian life, winning requires the same disciplines. You must lay aside the sinful habits and attitudes that hold you back and fix your eyes on Jesus.
4. Only by focusing on and following Jesus’ example of love, surrender and obedience can you win the race.
II. How do I focus on Jesus? How do I look into His eyes?
a. Hebrews 12: 14-29: Tells us how!
i. Make every effort to live at peace with others – verse 14
ii. Make every effort to live holy – verse 14
1. No one can see the Lord unless he has holiness!
iii. Don’t miss the grace of God – embrace it and pass it onto others – verse 15.
iv. Make sure you kill the root of bitterness in your life because you will not see Jesus if you allow this to control your life – it will defile you and others and it will cause you a heap of trouble. – verse 15
v. Make sure you are not sexually immoral because this will make you turn away from the eyes of the Lord, it will block out the vision of Jesus – verse 16a.
vi. Make sure that you are not godless in your life- in other words selling you inheritance for momentary pleasures of this life like Esau did – verse 16b, 17.
vii. Make sure you understand that if you have looked into His eyes and stayed focus on Him then you don’t have to fear because we as children of God are welcomed on the holy mountain with Him, he wants us to come into presence and experience the worship of the multitudes with Him verse 18-24.
1. We can come because Jesus is our mediator!
2. He has opened the door with His great sacrifice!
viii. Make sure to listen to His voice so you don’t shut Him out of your life verse 25-27.
ix. Make sure you worship God with reverence and awe then you will continue to see Him and be able to look into His eyes verse 28-29.
1. Our God is a consuming fire: When we look into His eyes we should become consumed by Him and His presence.
a. His fire refines us into becoming pure and holy. We need to embrace His cleansing healing fire.
b. This holy fire burns away anything that is not of Him and makes us more able to see Him clearer!
i. We need to allow it to burn through our lives!
c. The fire of Heaven is a consuming fire. Scripture texts: Isaiah 30:27: See, the Name of the LORD comes from afar, with burning anger and dense clouds of smoke; his lips are full of wrath, and his tongue is a consuming fire. The truth is the Lord is returning sooner than most of us think and that day will reveal what is of God and what is not of God by the power of His Word which is a consuming fire.
d. 1 Cor. 3:11-14: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.
e. Hebrews 12:28, 29: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.”
f. God’s fire from Heaven is associated with His Word and His Truth.
i. These divinely inspired manifestations of God’s fire reveal what is true and what is false.
ii. They judge the world and those in it.
iii. They expose the darkness and bring it out into the light.
iv. He will deal with sin and deception and show it for what it is – evil!
v. The Lord is telling us that this year many things that have been done in secret will be exposed by His light this year.
vi. The Promise of God throughout His Word and in association with “Fire from heaven” is that He will judge sin and expose it openly so that it is dealt with properly so that revival can come forth.
vii. Thought – Is it up to the Christian to receive revival? If I were to ask you this question, “In your opinion, what percentage of the average church members are out of fellowship with the Lord on any given Sunday?” What would your answer be?
1. The statistic by Dr. Wilkinson is 50-80% on the average. This statistic is rather revealing isn’t it?
b. Let me ask you another question, “What do you think of when you hear the word revival?
i. Great Crusades?
ii. People slain in the spirit?
iii. Laughing?
iv. Spiritual gifts being manifested?
v. Supernatural miracles?
vi. Week long evangelistic crusades?
1. In the New Testament, revival is a translation of the compound word anazao, which means “to live again”. It is used in the spiritual sense of bringing life to a Christian who has fallen into sin and is living in disobedience to the Word of God.
2. Many believe that revival is only up to God but in reality revival has to do with our own actions (2 Chronicles 7:14).
a. “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
b. 4 things are pointed out for revival fires to come on us:
i. Will we humble ourselves?
ii. Will we pray?
iii. Will we seek God’s face?
iv. Will we turn from our wicked ways?
1. Wilkerson states, “But how could turning from my wicked ways be a condition of revival? I had always thought acts of repentance and obedience were the results of revival, not the conditions for it. I had incorrectly thought that when God finally decided, in his sovereignty, to send revival, then I’d finally have the power to overcome my sins. So ultimately, then, who was I blaming for my wicked ways? In my confusion, who did I feel was responsible for not sending revival and solving all my problems? God! I sought for away to escape full responsibility for my action and found none. If I wanted God to ‘hear, forgive and heal,” then I must first turn from my wicked ways. Could revival be that clear? Could revival be within the grasp of any of us who choose to obey God’s conditions? Yes, 2 Chronicles 7:14 forever answers the question of who is responsible to act so that revival can and will occur” (353).
v. The point is we are responsible for revival in our lives and God is willing and waiting to pour it out on us if we repent and follow His path to revival.
vi. The point being made here is that once you have confession then you are on the path to restoration.
vii. See Galatians 6:1-10 CEV: 1My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself. 2You obey the law of Christ when you offer each other a helping hand. 3If you think you are better than others, when you really aren’t, you are wrong. 4Do your own work well, and then you will have something to be proud of. But don’t compare yourself with others. 5We each must carry our own load.6Share every good thing you have with anyone who teaches you what God has said. 7You cannot fool God, so don’t make a fool of yourself! You will harvest what you plant. 8If you follow your selfish desires, you will harvest destruction, but if you follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. 9Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up. 10We should help people whenever we can, especially if they are followers of the Lord.
Conclusion:
If we look into eyes and fix our eyes on Him then we will experience revival!
What do I think revival is? The best definition that I’ve heard is "God stepping down from heaven" (read Isaiah 64:1-3). It is God coming to earth in all of His power, glory, holiness and love to cleanse and empower His Church, and to save the lost. Jonathan Edwards, speaking of the revival in 1740 in Northampton, said that you could feel the presence of God in the town. Charles Finney tells of towns which were experiencing revival who said people crossing into the border of the town could feel the presence of God. Dr. Kingsley Priddy, a staff member of the Bible College of Wales, said in the book Rees Howells, Intercessor, that during the visitation that came to the college in the 1930’s people would walk in the garden talking in whispers because the presence of the Holy Spirit was so near.
Some revivals are nice and calm; such as, Asbury in 1970 and the Hebrides in 1949. Others are wild; such as, Azusa in 1906 and the camp meeting revivals in Kentucky in 1800. Revival, I guess, really can’t be defined by what happens. It is more easily defined by its source—God.
Revival is ignited by God showing up in a tangible way and we falling on our knees in reverence to Him and surrendering our lives to His way!
