Do You See What He Sees?

Introduction

This is the final message from our series: Friendships, Relationships, Sinking Ships. This will focus on how we view others and ourselves.

As I started to write for this sermon, I almost titled it the game we all played as kids: “I spy with my little eye something…” Everyone know what I’m talking about? But that title did not convey what I want to share tonight.

Let’s look at Scripture together and let’s look at our own life and ask “Do I see what He sees?”

When it comes to friendships and relationships, it is easy for us to formulate thoughts about them. Other times we may be the one worrying about what another thinks of us. People’s answers often fit into two categories: introverts and extroverts.

Psychologists teach that extroverts are quick thinkers. They speak before they think. They need public gatherings to charge their battery.

Psychologists also teach that introverts are processing thinkers. They take extra time to think through something. Their social battery is charged when they are alone.

In our friendships and relationships, we will encounter both types of people and we will formulate thoughts about them. We may also worry about what they think about us. My goal this evening is for “You to See What He Sees!” When we see what Jesus sees, this opens up opportunities for real friendships and relationships.

As we read this passage, observe to see how God sees you!

Isaiah 43:1–4 (ESV)

1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. 4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life.

LET”S PRAY TOGETHER

Do You See What He Sees in You?

God sees you for who you are, because He is the One who created you. He sees everything about you…

intelligence

strengths

weakness

weirdness

dumb moments

kindness

struggles

pain

temptation

Name it and God sees it. God sees everything that you see. Let’s alter that sentence. Go sees everything that you don’t see. Some of us only see our weaknesses in life. Some of us only see our failures. Some of us only see our circumstance.

If that is all you see, you are missing so much! Isaiah 43:1 “1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Do you see how He sees You?

He who created you/formed you — — If you worry about your appearance, remember that Jesus created you. Do you see how the Creator sees you? I think about the artist Vincent Van Gogh. Many people critiqued his paintings of nature. Many did not appreciate his art, but to the artist it was everything. You are God’s art, a masterpiece.

For I have redeemed you — — Even though the art messed up the art. Even though we messed up God’s masterpiece, the Artist still loves the art. He still loves you and the Bible says that He has redeemed you. Don’t see yourself of what your past holds. See what Jesus sees as one who is forgiven

Do You See What He Sees? Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Jesus does not see what you can’t do, but He sees what you can do through His strength.

Do You See What He Sees in Others?

I am going to extremely honest in an unfiltered way. When I was going through High School and Middle School, you would see some people and think, “They are a weirdo.” You know what people would tell your youth pastor growing up, “You can be kinda weird/awkward sometimes.” It happens to everyone, even the coolest guy in the room.

When we make a judgement of someone who is “weird” or “awkward,” we are not seeing them how Christ sees them. This point asks a question, “Do You See What He Sees in Others?”

How does Christ see others? Isaiah 43:4 “4 Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you,…”

Precious in my eyes — — The people of God are precious to God. Knowing people are precious to God, how can our response be any different? Some of the people that are precious to God may be a little different than you. We can easily ignore the ones that are different from us. Ignoring them is not seeing them how God sees them.

Honored — — It means to value or have great respect. Scripture teaches in 1 Peter 2:17 “17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” If we see others the way God sees them, we will address and respect them.

I love you — — Want to know how God sees others? He loves them just like He loves you. Just as God loves you, we are to love others!

Dod You See What He Sees in Others?

How Can You Start Seeing?

I shared in the introduction a little about introverts and extroverts. We see extroverts as the loud ones in the groups and likely has the friends. We view introverts as the quiet ones who keep to themself.

The true explanation of extroverts is that they are energized by being in groups. It’s not that they are better at making friends, but their life battery is fueled being around people

Introverts are energized by being alone. It’s not that they always like being along, but their life battery is fueled by being alone.

Personally, I am an introvert. I am recharged when I am alone. It is actually tiring to engage and interact in groups. Growing up I always wanted to be able to interact with groups and make friends, but I knew that it wasn’t natural for me. So I had to go through a lot of practice as an introvert to practice extroversion. It wasn’t an immediate switch, but years of learning.

Another aspect that helped was extrovert friends who welcomed me and stayed with me through my learning process of practicing extroversion.

The thoughts we all go through when it comes to friendships and relationships

“That person is so outgoing, I don’t know how I can be friends with them.”

They are so quiet, I don’t know if they want to make friends.”

See yourself how God sees you - precious in His eyes.

See others how God sees them - precious in His eyes.

Tonight’s alter call will be slightly different. Seeing yourself how God sees you and seeing others how God sees them, let’s exercise what we learned. In a just a minute, I want you to get in groups of 2-3 with people you do not know or don’t know well. Let’s keep it guys with guys and girls with girls. In these groups, I want you to do three things:

Learn their name

Ask how you can pray for them

Pray together out loud, even if it is a short prayer.

You can’t use the excuse it’s awkward, because everyone is doing it. It is only going to be awkward if you make it awkward.

The title of this message is “Do You See What He Sees?” What God sees is a family of believers together who needs to know one another. Some music is going to start and I want you to find your group and come to the alter or spread out amongst the room and follow these three instructions.