Perception is Not Reality

Introduction

Explain Influence Series

We are influencing and being influenced all the time

God designed us to be influenced by him to further glorify him.

Sin removed God’s influence and gave us a natural desire for outside influences.

Salvation moves us back into being influenced by God and thereby influencing others.

Define and illustrate perception

Perception Illustration - 6p vs. 9d game

Perception Definition - the ability to become aware of something through the senses

How We See the World

Psalm 73:3-15 “3 For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. 5 They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. 6 Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. 7 Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. 8 They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. 9 They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. 10 Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. 11 And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” 12 Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. 13 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. 14 For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. 15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.”

The Psalmist says he is envious of the arrogant because of their prosperity.

We don’t have to look very hard to see and experience the world. All day long we perceive the world around us ,and now through technology we are able to perceive the world not around us!

Success, fame, and fortune.

No pangs (hard and painful emotions) until death

Fully satisfied of what they want

Happy and fun

Bold

Godly people turn away to follow these worldly people because they don’t see anything wrong with them. Their appearance is positive, fun, and exciting.

“Find no fault” is literally “return water and pour out”

God’s people will go back to their evil ways and people and pour out what God has given them.

In an effort to be filled they will be emptied.

Easy and rich seems to be the reality.

The Psalmist feels like he is keeping himself pure and innocent for no reason. His efforts are wasted and he has no hope.

Sanctuary of God

Psalm 73:16-17 “16 But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, 17 until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.”

In the midst of hopelessness, weariness, and disappointment the Psalmist entered into the sanctuary of God and found reality.

Living in the world as a believer feels like a meaningless and aimless life if we don’t view the world from the presence of God.

Our only hope for understanding the world around us is being with God.

Matthew 11:28-30 “28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.””

Exodus 33:12-15 “12 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13 Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14 And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15 And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”

Joel 3:16 “16 The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.”

Psalm 71:1-3 “1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! 2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline your ear to me, and save me! 3 Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; you have given the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.”

Philippians 2:12-18 “12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. 14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.”

Reality of the World

Psalm 73:18-22 “18 Truly you set them in slippery places; you make them fall to ruin. 19 How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors! 20 Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms. 21 When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart, 22 I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.”

The world thinks they are stable but they aren’t. They will fall easily.

They will be swept away by terrors and they’re boldness will be gone.

They thought they were rich but in fact they will vanish like a dream. Everything they thought was important and great will disappear.

We have all behaved like this in some way and might even be in this life now!

Hope in God

Psalm 73:23-28 “23 Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. 24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. 26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 27 For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. 28 But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.”

God walks with us through life, those of us that are his, and guides us. We can be sure of his presence and love for his people even when everything around us is against us or what the Bible says.

The goal we aim for is being with God in glory. We look forward to being with him because he is everything we need.

True satisfaction comes from God’s presence. Just as the Psalmist says, it is good to be near God and go and tell the world.

Application

Are we envious of the world because of their prosperity?

Do we move forward from the victory we have in Jesus?

Do we go to the sanctuary of God so find reality?

Do we tell the world about God’s works?