Open your eyes

We cannot reach what we cannot see...

John 4:34-35

New International Version

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

If God answered your prayers, would it change the world or just you?  

1. We must open our eyes to where other people are.  

We need to connect before we correct.  

Read John 4:27-35

2.  We must open our eyes to who they are.  

We don't have to be like them, but we do have to like them.  

Read Matthew 9:36

3.  We must open our eyes to what they need.    

Truth without grace is mean.  Grace without truth is meaningless.   

Read John 1:14, Luke 19.

 

To change our world, we need to show people the same kind of love God showed us which is unconditional love.

 

 

If we saw God the right way, we'd want to know Him.

 

1.  Some people see God like a locked gate.  

Like He is a God that can't be reached.

 

2.  Some people see God like a garbage can.  

Like He has just thrown them away.

 

3.  Some people see God like an endless ladder.  

Like He always requires more of them than they can give. 

 

4.  We must see God like a free gift. 

That's the right view of God.   

Change your world

 Matthew 5:13-16

The Message

13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

 

We change when...

... we hurt enough that we have too.

... we learn enough that we want too.

... we receive enough that we are able too.

 

1. We need to value people and connect with them.

Matthew 25:35-40

The Message

34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

 

2.  We need to add value to people, so we can influence them.

A. Think of ways to value people beforehand and while you are with them.

B. We don't see people the way they are, but how we are.  

C. We should influence others to add value. 

If we see people as valuable, we will serve them.

 

3. When we live good values, we attract others. 

 

Galatians 5:22-23

New Living Translation

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

4. When we share good values, it transforms the people in our world.

When we have good values on the inside, we need less validation on the outside. 

Romans 15:1-2

New Living Translation

We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves. 2 We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

How to honor

1.  We honor by putting others first. 

Malachi 1:6

New International Version

 

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

2. We honor by our words.

James 3:9-10

New International Version

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

 

Ephesians 4:29-30

New International Version

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

3. We honor by protecting them.  

John 7:18

New International Version

Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

 

Honor who?

Romans 12:10

English Standard Version

Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Who or What to honor.  

1.  Honor others. 

1 Peter 2:17

English Standard Version

Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

2. Honor authority. 

Romans 13:1-2

New International Version

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Types of authority...

A. Government

B. Work or School

C.  Family

D. Spiritual 

 

3.  Honor parents.

Ephesians 6:2-3

New International Version

2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 

4.  Honor marriage. 

Hebrews 13:4

New International Version

Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. 

1 Peter 3:7

New Living Translation 

In the same way, you husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.

 

5.  Honor age.

Leviticus 19:32

New Living Translation

“Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the Lord.

Job 12:12

New Living Translation

Wisdom belongs to the aged,
    and understanding to the old.

 6.  Honor nature. 

 Genesis 1:28

New International Version

God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

7.  Honor God.  

Malachi 1:6

New International Version

“A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty.

“It is you priests who show contempt for my name.

“But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?

The Purpose of Pain

The greatest lessons of life are almost always taught in the classroom of suffering.  Where does pain come from?  It does not come from God, but God is the pain taker.  

John 10:10

English Standard Version

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I (Jesus) came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 

 

Where does Satan target us for pain.  He targets our weaknesses.  Weakness is another name for our blindspots. Areas that we do not see.  Satan also targets our pride.  Areas that we think that we are strong.  We need people who tell us what we need.  

 

Hebrews 12:1

New Living Translation

 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 

James 4:6

New Living Translation

⁶ And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,

“God opposes the proud
    but gives grace to the humble.

1 John 1:9

New Living Translation

9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.

 

James 5:16

New Living Translation

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

 

2 Corinthians 11:24-29

New International Version

24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

New International Version

7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.