DISCOVER JESUS REVEALING HIS CARE THE EYES OF JESUS

March 20, 2012

By John Barnett

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Have you ever wondered what it must be like to look into the eyes of Jesus ? His were eyes of indisputable compassion. His were eyes of fiery judgment. There was no getting around it, He had eyes that could see right through you. He could see people in the dark, far away and even in the future. What amazing eyes Jesus had. The eyes of God.

This morning we need to Discover the yees of Jesus as they speak to us of His care. He cares about us when we are troubled and says look up for his EYES OF COMPASSION. He cares about us when we are tempted and asks us to look up for his EYES OF CONSECRATION like Joseph. He cares about us when we are lonely or afraid and asks us to look up for his eyes of confidence like David. He cares about us when we are sinking and asks us to look up for his eyes of comfort. He cares about us when we are sinning and asks us to look up and see his eyes of chastening.

We need to look and keep looking into the eyes of Jesus and let Him guide us and care for us as He so longs to do!

Revelation 1:12-16

12" Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength." NKJV

The EYES OF JESUS as He Jesus stands in the midst of the church are laser like eyes. He is looking with a penetrating gaze. He can see to the core of our being. Those eyes are as FIRE. This speaks of the penetrating gaze. It also speaks of their refining power. This morning we can experience the eyes of Jesus wherever we are in life. There are five remarkable instances of the eyes of our Lord Jesus

1. EYES OF COMPASSION: Hagar and His compassionate eyes when we are troubled. Genesis 16:1-13

2. EYES OF CONSECRATION: Joseph and His purifying eyes when we are tempted. Genesis 39:1-9

3. EYES OF CONFIDENCE: David and the ever present eyes when we feel alone & afraid Psalm 139

4. EYES OF COMFORT: Disciples and the rescuing eyes when we are sinking Mt. 14

5. EYES OF CHASTENING: Peter and the sad eyes when we go in our own strength. Luke 22:54-62

JESUS AND HIS EYES OF COMPASSION:

Hagar and His compassionate eyes when we are troubled.

Genesis 16:1-13 "Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.2 So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.3 Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.4 So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.5 Then Sarai said to Abram, “My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her eyes. The Lord judge between you and me.”6 So Abram said to Sarai, “Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her as you please.” And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence. 7 Now the Angel of the Lord found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur"

.8 "And He said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from, and where are you going?” She said, “I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai.”9 The Angel of the Lord said to her, “Return to your mistress, and submit yourself under her hand.”10 Then the Angel of the Lord said to her, “I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude.”11 And the Angel of the Lord said to her:

“Behold, you are with child, And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the Lord has heard your affliction.12 He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.”

13 Then she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen Him who sees me?”

NKJV

Hagar didn’t choose Abraham, she didn’t want trouble, she was only trying to be a mom and a wife…God understands, God is compassionate. Jesus sees us where we are!

JESUS AND HIS EYES OF CONSECRATION:

Joseph and His purifying eyes when we are tempted.

Genesis 39:1-9" Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand.4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. 7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.9 “There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” NKJV

JESUS AND HIS EYES OF CONFIDENCE:

David and the ever present eyes when we feel alone & afraid Psalm 139.

Psalm 139:1-12 A Psalm of David.

1 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.

4 For there is not a word on my tongue,

But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

5 You have hedged me behind and before,

And laid Your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;

It is high, I cannot attain it. 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

10 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me. 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; 12 Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.

15 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!

18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.19 Oh, that You would slay the wicked, O God! Depart from me, therefore, you bloodthirsty men.20 For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.21 Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You? And do I not loathe those who rise up against You?22 I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them my enemies.23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting. NKJV

JESUS AND HIS EYES OF COMFORT:

Disciples and the rescuing eyes when we are sinking Mt. 14

Matthew 14:22-27 "Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.25 Now in the fourth (3-6AM) watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

NKJV

This account is one of the most precious and insightful portions of God's Word dealing with His tender love and care for us as His children.

Some insights to chew on:

⇨ Jesus made them get in the boat and cross the mile at the top of the Sea from the feeding place to Capernaum. So when their lives were in danger, it was out of obedience to Him. KEY: OBEY JESUS !

⇨ Jesus left them all night until they were at the extremity of their trial. Just like Mary & Martha, Jesus didn’t hurry to them. He waited until 3AM! His purpose was to demonstrate in an unforgettable way He would do whatever necessary to rescue them and us His children. KEY: TRUST JESUS !

⇨ Jesus came to them on the sea. His pathway was the very object testing their faith. He knew exactly where they were and came to them. We will never find ourselves anywhere that the Lord can’t find us. There are no storms in life Jesus can’t subdue for us, in His time. So there is never a reason to fear, we should not be anxious, just trusting Him who never leaves or forsakes us (Heb. 1:5). KEY: LOOK FOR JESUS !

⇨ Jesus in their boat brought calm. When we are obedient to the Lord we are in the safest spot in the Universe. No matter how frightening the circumstances around us, Jesus is there and will calm the seas of troubles in His time. The secure place to be is in God's will. Peter sank because this was not a how to walk on water lesson but a how to love the Lord Jesus so much you trust Him lesson. And Peter did love much. KEY: LOVE JESUS!

JESUS AND HIS EYES OF CHASTENING:

Peter and the sad eyes when we go in our own strength. Luke 22:54-62

"Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance.55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them.56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!” Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed.61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly." NKJV

THE EYES OF JESUS are INSPECTING and REFINING OUR LIVES. As penetrating scrutinizer: those eyes of fire discover and with consuming light reveal secrets, THE SEER OF ALL SECRETS. Remember the comment of the woman at the well, that fell under His gaze? He told her the secrets of her past, she thought were long forgotten. John 4:19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. (KJV)

As the EYES OF JESUS look through you this morning, ask yourself two questions:

Do you like what He sees?

Does He like what He sees?

Pastor Kent Hughes of The College Church of Wheaton says: for the Christian, the most chilling fact is this: there is little statistical difference between the ethical practices of the religious and the nonreligious. Sadly, Christians are ALMOST as likely as non-Christians to:

• Surf dirty waters on the internet

• Falsify their income tax returns

• Commit plagiarism [teachers especially know this]

• Bribe to obtain a building permit -- "That's the way business is done."

• Ignore construction specs.

• Illegally copy a computer program

• Steal time.

• Commit phone theft.

• Exaggerate a product

• Tell people what they want to hear

• Selectively obey the laws.

Sometimes we need to look up in our sin and see those sad eyes of Jesus. He always sees us. He offers a way out, He offers a way through, He offers us victory. Let’s take His victory today!

1. WHEN TROUBLED LOOK UP FOR HIS EYES OF COMPASSION: Hagar and His compassionate eyes when we are troubled. Genesis 16:1-13

2. WHEN TEMPTED LOOK UP FOR HIS EYES OF CONSECRATION: Joseph and His purifying eyes when we are tempted. Genesis 39:1-9

3. WHEN LONELY OR AFRAID LOOK UP FOR HIS EYES OF CONFIDENCE: David and the ever present eyes when we feel alone & afraid Psalm 139

4. WHEN SINKING LOOK UP FOR HIS EYES OF COMFORT: Disciples and the rescuing eyes when we are sinking Mt. 14

5. WHEN SINNING LOOK UP AND SEE HIS EYES OF CHASTENING: Peter and the sad eyes when we go in our own strength. Luke 22:54-62

# 505 “Love lifted me”

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