Observation, Opinion, Opportunity

Repeated patterns are everywhere.

Even if you just look at nature, you can see it.

They have a name for it in nature, its called Fractals.

(show pics)

I want to show you a repeated pattern in our lives that dictates so much about how we live and experience.

Observation.

Opinion.

Opportunity.

Observation made.

You make an observation about something.

Then an opinion formed.

Based upon the observation made an opinion is formed about it.

Observation made. Opinion formed. Opportunity given.

Based upon the opinion formed, which was based upon an observation made, an opportunity is given (or not given)

And I would submit to you that this process had played out in our lives over and over again.

to us and through us...

Remember the Prophet Samuel when he was anointing a new king?

1 Samuel 16:6 (NIV)

When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.”

Samuel made an observation. And from that observation, he formed an opinion – pretty quickly, I might add. His observation moved to opinion in the same verse!

We do this ALL the time.

Example: People watching (Airports). How people look. How people behave. How people interact (or don’t).

We walk into rooms, and we form opinions about people based upon what we observe.

Problem: Eliab was the wrong guy!!

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Then David walks out. By the way: Even his OWN DAD didn’t see it.

1 Samuel 16:12 (NIV)

12 Then the Lord said, “Rise and anoint him; this is the one.”

What was the difference?

How did Samuel go from thinking that Eliab was the Lord’s anointed to anointing David?

He had his own observation about the situation and then God had his.

They weren’t the same!!

Here’s the question:

What is the influence behind my observation?? What determines how I see??

Is it ME or is it the HOLY SPIRIT? This is what determines how this process, the pattern, plays out.

An observation led and driven by the HOLY SPIRT results in me creating an opinion that is formed by the Holy Spirit, which results in an an opportunity that is led by the Holy Spirit.

This is so important: That our observations would be in alignment with the Holy Spirit.

So that we would SEE things differently.

If I make a flesh, or self, led observation, I form a self-led opinion. And an opportunity could possibly be given based on the me and my flesh, not the Spirit.

If I let ERIC lead, I’m in trouble. You know why? Because I’ll give opportunity to the wrong people and situations– all because I observe through MY lens and not the SPIRIT lens.

Think about it: If Samuel had gone off of HIS observation, he would’ve empowered the WRONG King! He would have given the opportunity to someone who had authority over an entire nation. He would’ve made a decision that would’ve had a ripple effect for generations to come.

I wonder if were living out the consequences of “opportunities” God never ordained. And we may be missing the opportunities that God is trying to set before us.

We may be even living in a constant state of frustration, where it seems the pattern never changes, and we actually have ourselves to blame because we have been forming opinions and creating opportunities to things off of just what I see and not what the Spirit of God see.

Someday, we will KNOW and BE KNOWN – when we see Jesus face-to-face. Until then, we won’t SEE perfectly.

Which is why he gives us his spirit that we have to rely on heavily.

So what do we need?

We need to have the right PERSPECTIVE. SO THAT when we walk into rooms and environments, we make Spirit-led observations.

What changes my perspective? What can I do to ensure that I have the right perspective? A Holy Spirit guided Perspective.

Praise brings right perspective.

I don’t know about you, but I have those days when I’m just not seeing things correctly. I have those days when I’m comparing myself to other people. And – out of my insecurity – I find myself getting critical. And out of my discontentment, I’m lacking gratitude.

It’s in those moments that I just have to get away and spend some time in worship. And I just get alone in my office.

And as I begin to worship. As His praise fills my mouth. As I hear myself bless the Lord. My perspective begins to change.

I find myself boasting in the things of God. I find myself celebrating the goodness of God and the faithfulness of God. I will bless the Lord at all times HIS PRAISE shall continually be in my mouth.

God uses the sound of music and worship to draw us out of the cave; to draw us out of the darkness (just ask King Saul).

Psalm 149:6 (NIV)

6 May the praise of God be in their mouths and a double-edged sword in their hands.

Your worship is a weapon against the enemy.

What’s worship? Worship is when I magnify God over my situation. Worship is when I make much of HIM. Worship is when I make HIM bigger.

When I make Him big in my life, everything else gets small. When I take a step towards Him, and a step away from my problems, He gets magnified – He gets bigger – and my problems get smaller.

How is your personal worship time?

When was the last time my hands were lifted in worship when no one else was around?

Proximity brings right perspective.

Closeness with God brings a clarity of who you are. It brings a perspective on who I am in Christ. The closer I am to my Heavenly Father, the closer I am to an accurate identity.

The closer I am to the TRUTH, the closer I am to understanding who I am.

James 4:8 (TPT)

Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you.

I have to make an intentional move towards truth. Here’s the principle: Closeness brings clarity; distance distorts.

The further away I get from the truth, the more distorted my perspective becomes. The enemy is trying to get you to believe a lie so that you have a distorted view of yourself, of God, of your situation, of your church, of your people.

I must have truth readily available for me to draw upon in those moments when the enemy is whispering lies in my ear.

Where is truth found? It’s found in His Word. Which is why I must get the WORD written on my heart.

Proximity to the truth brings right perspective.

Where is my perspective distorted?

David that we heard about is not on the run for him life from the current king who was jealous.

1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NIV)

1 David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. 2 All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.

People bring right perspective.

Now think about this: How would you like to be down – I mean REALLY down and out. Problems galore. You’re all by yourself in a cave – all alone. And suddenly your family starts showing up and then all these other people begin showing up.

The RIGHT people bring the right perspective.

Psalm 34:3 (NKJV)

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

But here’s the type of people they are: They’re either in distress, in debt or discontented. Now, I wonder why God sent that bunch to David?

What a group! And we’re not just talking about 1 or 2 – or even a dozen. But 400 of them!

Let me ask you something: Have you ever been down and you really needed to have someone to feel sorry for you and someone came along that was WORSE OFF than you were? Bigger problems, more heartaches, more misery, more financial issues, etc.

And this is exactly what David needed right now more than anything else! He didn’t need to crawl up in a cave and stay there feeling sorry for himself.

Some of us could learn from David. Some of us, when it gets rough, we crawl up in a cave somewhere and spend our time feeling sorry for ourselves. That’s the LAST thing you need!

Let me ask you something: Who does that group remind you of? The distressed. The indebted. The discontented. Maybe I should ask it a different way: Who makes up the church?

Last time I checked, very few people ever came to Jesus because everything was OK.

If we were to take time to hear some personal testimonies, I’m sure there are those – probably the majority – that would say this…“I came to Jesus when I was so distressed, in despair and in a hopeless situation. I was in debt, and I was completely discontent with life.” Some of us would say, “I would fit all three categories!”

And that group of people became David’s mighty men. They became great warriors. They started out as rejects – a motely crue. And they become a mighty army. To the degree that in 1 Chronicles 12, it says that “their faces were like the faces of lions.”

And there’s a reason that you’re surrounded by people today. People that can relate. People that can become your band of brothers and sisters – mighty warriors for God. People that make a difference…together.

Because it’s in the people – in community – that we find perspective and encouragement and support.

1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV)

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Example: National Geographic (Wildebeest/Cheetah). It’s the one on the fringe that gets taken out!

LION PIC.

That’s a reality. You have a real enemy that is hunting you down.

9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

Peter encourages us by saying, “Do you think you’re the only person dealing with that temptation and struggle?” Isn’t it encouraging when you’re not the only one? Not only can Jesus relate to what I’m going through because He suffered, but other people can relate.

Whether you believe it or not, other people are going through similar things that you are facing!!

You are a part of something that is bigger than you. You are not the only one. You are not alone.

Now…You can CHOOSE to be alone in it. But just because you choose to be alone in it doesn’t mean that you are the only one dealing with it.

LION PIC.

LION w/ BUFFALOS PIC. (ORIGINAL)

He’s not running towards you, he’s running away from you…IF you have some friends with you!

Who do I need to get connected to and honest with?

Psalm 34:4 (NKJV)

I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

Pursuit brings right perspective.

You show me what you’re pursuing, and I’ll show you who you’re becoming.

Your perspective can’t help but change when you change what you pursue. You see, because when I’m pursuing something, I’m not just pursuing THAT thing, I’m running away from OTHER things.

Colossians 3:1-2 (MSG)

Pursue the things over which Christ presides. 2 Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective.

When my perspective changes, I SEE differently. I don’t just see the external – I see beyond the surface. Pursuit brings the right perspective.

Who do Christy and I stay close and committed? The answer is, “We keep pursuing each other.” Because if I’m pursuing her, I don’t have to keep reminding myself, “Don’t have an affair. Don’t look at that. Don’t click on that.” No – as I pursue her, I’m simultaneously saying no to other things.

And it’s the same way in our relationship with God. I don’t wake up everyday and keep saying, “Don’t sin. Don’t sin. Don’t cheat. Don’t lie. Don’t steal.” NO – I just get close to Him. And when I’m close to Him and pursuing HIM, I’m simultaneously walking away from other things.

Jeremiah 29:13 (MSG)

13 “When you come looking for Me, you’ll find Me. Yes, when you get serious about finding Me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”

Psalm 142:3,5 (NLT)

3 When I am overwhelmed, You alone know the way I should turn…5 Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.”

Is Jesus what you really want?

What am I pursuing…really?

A number? I promise you: When you hit the number, you’ll just keep moving the goal line. Notoriety? A platform? A position? An opportunity? Recognition?

Be honest: What are you REALLY pursuing? What motivates you? What gets you up out of bed in the morning?

Ultimately…When your PERSPECTIVE changes…

God will being to change how you observe the world around you. The Holy Spirit then forms new opinions in you and opportunity for you.

Praise, Proximity, People and Pursuit – they all play a role in your perspective changing.

Praise in my mouth.

Proximity to the truth.

People who love me and support me.

Pursuit of Jesus.

Result? Right perspective. Which will change the priorities of my life.

And NOW I’m making Spirit-led observations. Which ultimately results in me giving Spirit-led opportunities.

RESPONSE

Does your pattern need to change?

Salvation.