CHRISTIAN MYOPIA
CHRISTIAN SHORTSIGHTEDNESS
ACTS 4:36-37
1 PETER 4:7-11
Acts 4:36-37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
INTRODUCTION: Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles to dreaming is our own shortsightedness. We cannot, or even worse refuse to see beyond ourselves. Or even worse, we choose who and what we will see.
Can you solve this riddle:
What is 750,000 miles long, reaches around the earth 30 times, and grows 20 miles longer each day?
Give up? Here’s the answer:
The line of people who are without Christ.
If we reduced the world into a village of 1,000 people, we would find 564 Asians, 210 Europeans, 80 South Americans, and 60 North Americans. There would be 300 Christians, 175 Muslims, 128 Hindus, 55 Buddhists, and 47 Animists.
59% of the world lives in Asia
16% of the world lives in Europe
10% of the world lives in Africa
6% of the world lives in the USA & Canada
5.5% of the world lives in South America
3% of the world lives in Central America
.5% of the world lives in Oceania
Ninety-one percent of the world does not speak English and yet, only 6% of the preachers of the Gospel minister to that 91% of the world. How shall their hear without a preacher?
We are desperately shortsighted – and this shortsightedness keeps us from Dreaming BIG and accomplishing big
ILLUSTRATION: John Stott told of visiting a rural church in England while on a study leave. He worshipped with them each Sunday and shared in their fellowship. Week after week he heard the pastor address issues facing the village and pray about the concerns of the church. Stott said, “I came to the conclusion that these people worship a village God.”
What kind of God do we worship?
1 Tim. 2:3-6 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men--the testimony given in its proper time.
WE OUGHT TO BE WORSHIPING A GOD WHO IS CONCERNED FOR MORE THAN JUST OUR “NECK OF THE WOODS”!
OUR GOD IS INTERESTED IN MORE THAN US!
In Matthew Jesus says it this way:
Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
In Mark Jesus says it like this:
Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.
In Luke Jesus says:
Luke 24:47-48 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things.
Finally, Acts records the words of Christ:
Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
How does Jesus choose to answer the need of the lost?
Matthew 9:35-38 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."
Ø Jesus knows the need that needs to be met.
Ø Jesus knows what will meet the need. WE WILL
Ø JESUS CHOOSES TO ANSWER THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD WITH US!
THINK FOR A MOMENT, WOULD GOD REALLY ASK US TO PRAY FOR SOMETHING THAT HE KNEW WOULD NOT WORK?
Peter in His first letter gives us a clue to thinking biblically in this area
1 Peter 4:7-11 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Perhaps nobody emulates the sensitivity and the activity of clear-sighted Christina vision than Barnabas
I. THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CLEAR-SIGHTED CHRISTIAN
Acts 4:32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.
Acts 4:36-37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means Son of Encouragement), 37sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
A. Joseph/Barnabas is a believer
B. Joseph is renamed Barnabas by the Apostles
1. The Importance of a name
a. The First and most important experience which a newborn Hebrew underwent was the receiving of a name.
b. The name was either descriptive of the parent’s wished or prophetic of the personality to be manifested by the one so named
c. When a name is changed it signals the introduction of a new relationship, a new quality or character, or a new phase of life.
2. Why the Change?
a. Barnabas had been recognized as an encourager
b. Encouragement was part of Barnabas’ character as a believer
C. Barnabas’s Initial act of encouragement – He sold his field
1. Barnabas was sensitive to the needs around him
2. Barnabas was concerned about the needs around him
WHAT ALLOWS US TO ACHIEVE A FAR-REACHING SIGHT?
1 Peter 4:7-11 The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 8Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. 11If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Ø PRAYER
Ø LOVE FOR EACH OTHER
Ø HOSPITALITY
Barnabas began to develop at home – in Jerusalem, and we need to develop our sensitivity for the world here first!
We develop the ability to serve through Prayer, Love, and Hospitality – TO THOSE IN NEED!
3. Barnabas could give encouragement
4. Barnabas could give more
WE CANNOT BE CONTENT – OUR VISION MUST EXPAND!
ILLUSTRATION: A couple of days ago, I got a real hankering for some ribs, corn on the cob, and steamed clams. You know what I mean – that “taste it in your mouth” kind of hankering. So I put some ribs on the grill to cook, husked some corn, and put it on the fire. After the corn was done I emptied out some of the water, and put the clams in that I had cleaned. 50 great neck clams. After the right amount of time, I looked in the pot and only a few of the clams had opened, so I left them go a little longer. I kept looking, and each time still noticed that only a few of the clams had opened. THEN it occurred to me what the problem was. I had put too many clams in the pot, and in doing so, had not given them room enough to expand. You see once those clams get a little fire under them they need room to expand in order to be any good.
II. THE EXPANSION OF CLEAR-SIGHTED VISION
Barnabas was not content to just encourage at home!
Acts 9:26-28 When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. 27But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. 28So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord.
A. The desire to see the need of others will make us sensitive to the needs of others.
ILLUSTRATION: Dottie Rambo recorded the following song that kind of says it all in this area:
Amazing grace shall always be
My song of praise
For it was grace
That bought my liberty
I do not know just why He came
To love me so
He looked beyond my fault
And saw my need
I shall forever lift
Mine eyes to Calvary
To view the cross
Where Jesus died for me
How marvelous the grace
That caught my falling soul
He looked beyond my fault
And saw my need
B. When everyone else saw the faults in Paul – Barnabas saw the need
IF WE WILL NOT SEE THE NEEDS AROUND THE CORNER, WE WILL NOT SEE THE NEEDS CIRCLING THE GLOBE!
WE CAN NEVER HOPE TO HAVE CLEAR VISION GLOBALLY UNTIL WE HAVE CLEAR VISION LOCALLY!
C. Barnabas displays a powerful biblical principle:
“Becoming a world-class Christian involves believing that God can take anyone in the world and transform them through the power of the gospel”.
1. God must transform us
2. God can transform others
D. If we do not believe in the power of God to transform people it will be virtually impossible to see the potential for God to make an impact on the world through us and in what we do!
ILLUSTRATION: Paul Bosworth writes in his book, “How to Become A World Class Christian”, “A world –class Christian is one whose lifestyle and obedience are compatible, in cooperation, and in accord with what god is doing and wants to do in our world.”
E. One of the Reasons we are unable to dream is our refusal to acknowledge and believe in the power of God.
If we are not serious about our relationship with God …
1. We will not see the power of God
2. We will not believe in God’s ability to see us through difficulty
3. We will not want to see the needs beyond our front door.
AT THIS POINT WE COME TO A FORK IN OUR SPIRITUAL ROAD – WE CAN GO ONE OF TWO WAYS …:
Ø Throw in the Towel
Ø Huddle for Impact
IF WE REALLY BELIEVED IN THE POWER OF GOD WE WOULD GET SERIOUS ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
IF WE REALLY BELIEVED IN THE MESSAGE OF GOD WE WOULD GET SERIOUS ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM
THE ONLY WAY WE WILL EVER BE BURDENED FOR OTHERS IS TO EXPOSE OURSELVES TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS!
IF WE ARE NOT SERIOUS ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD WE HAVE NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE WORK OF GOD AROUND US
AND EVERYBODY AROUND US HAS THE RIGHT TO POINT A FINGER AT US AND ASK, “HOW COME YOU NEVER TOLD ME?”
SOMETHING TOO IMPORTANT TO MISS: -- PAUL WAS SERIOUS ABOUT THIS “REACH THE WORLD THING
The Struggle Paul Went Through Just To Fellowship With Other Believers!
Paul Fought Until He Could fellowship.
Fellowship Needs To Be More Than A Desire – It Must Be A Necessity!
Barnabas Did Not Let Anything Cloud His Vision!
III. THE VALUE OF A CLEAR-SIGHTEDNESS
Acts 15:36-41 Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." 37Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, 38but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. 39They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, 40but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. 41He went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.
A. Conflict does not mean a lack of concern
CHURCHES WILL ALWAYS HAVE CONFLICTS
PASSIONATE BELIEVERS WILL ALWAYS HAVE CONFLICTS
1. Both had a concern for the mission
2. Both wanted to go
B. Conflict means a difference in carrying out the work of the Lord
1. Difference in method, NOT mission!
2. Motive determines the kind of conflict
a. Selfishness – sinful conflict
b. Method – Move on trusting God.
NOBODY SAYS IT BETTER THAN JESUS:
Matthew 26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
C. Focus is lost when we choose sides
1. History would bear out the misjudgment of Paul
2 Tim. 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.
2. What a poor testimony for the church not to commend the work of Barnabas and Mark
D. What we gain when we keep focus
1. A deserter is restored in ministry – Mark
2. A new disciple is born – Acts 15:34
3. Two mission teams went out!
The Lord’s work should always be our focus.
God honors clear vision
We need to focus on the line not ourselves!
Whenever god moves the devil is right there!
Satan cannot thwart God, but can and will attack His servants
Status Quo is just that – Status Quo
THE FACT THAT WE AS A CHURCH ARE STRUGGLING IS EVIDENCE OF GOD’S WORK, SATAN’S COUNTERATTACK, AND THE CORRECTNESS OF OUR VISION.
James 4:17 Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
GOD HAS EVERY RIGHT TO QUESTION THE CLARITY OF YOUR SIGHT IF YOUR COMMITMENT IS LACKING!
THE DEVIL WILL TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO CLOUD YOUR VISION AND ERODE YOUR COMMITMENT!
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