Keeping our Eyes on the Lord

Psalm 123:1–2 “1 To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens! 2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He is gracious to us.”

Intro: Great Work Pastor’s Breakfast-

Main Thoughts:

I. God Has Called Us to a Great Work

A. The Purpose of this church

(Not a hyped up rally cry, but a reminder) - I have come to realize people think they come to church to make the check mark in their lives… oh this is a place of so much more!

We desire to see lives changed through the Gospel- man is separated from God- he redeems humanity, changed forever

Ephesians 2:4–5 “4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),”

B. How the Gospel Works

The law repels, the gospel attracts. The law shows the distance which there is between God and man; the gospel bridges that awful chasm, and brings the sinner across it.

Charles Spurgeon

C. The Uniqueness of the Work

It is unique- though we may use the same tools or maybe wont use them.

What are some tools- outreach, invitations, unique opportunities- look!

D. How are lives changed through the Gospel?

It begins with this group here now.

For the longest time I thought that my walk with Christ was all about me.

1 Corinthians 6:11 “11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

God does do an individual work not for us but for His glory.

Ezekiel 36:26 “26 Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.”

It is Him working through us- others are impacted and lives are changed

E. Avoiding Pride

The greatest mistake we can make- is through our pride- pump the brakes!

It is about the Lord.

I desire to see the people of this church know that they have been called to that great work uniquely but also unified. (Serve, Disciple, this call is not revoked - I think I will try it out)

Hebrews 10:24–25 “24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”

We are called to this together- different roles, same call, same outcome it cannot be revoked.

II. The Enemy Is Aware and Responds with Destruction

1 Peter 5:8 “8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

A. The Reality of Spiritual Warfare

How do you view the enemy?

Do you know he is trying to distracted to harm you and me

No beast of the field is ever a target of Satan’s attack. However, because God has put within the heart of each person a sense of everlastingness, man is the target of the devil’s hateful attacks.

A. W. Tozer

Armor of God- Eph. 6

Resist- James 4:7 “7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

B. Forms of Attack

(1) Spiritual warfare- unique- but a lot are going through it

(Me too)!

Not one and done- 4 times in Nehemiah (4 times) 5th open scrutiny

C. Division as a Weapon

The enemy would love for us to be divided

it is an attack on Jesus prayer for those who are His

John 17:20–23 “20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; 21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; 23 I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.”

Be mindful of it- turn from it

Only the armor God provides will enable the church to stand against this formidable onslaught. That the church too often falls prey to divisions and sins results from its failure to heed Paul’s call to arms.

William W. Klein

Do you enjoy division so you can be right?

Do you enjoy seeing someones downfall?

Oh that we would be a church of reconciliation not one of being right

III. The Work Will Be Inviting and Others Will Want to Come

(Don’t be nervous to grow)

A. God's Word Will Spread

2 Thessalonians 3:1 “1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you;”

Nervous growth- inventing things to bring others in

They are doing it

Committed Growth- the word of the Lord in our lives spreading.

Be creative- you we created- be creative- where does the word of God need to spread- not where it already is.

(Early Church)

B. The Danger of Losing Sight

This brings me to my thought what happens when we find ourselves- we don’t believe there is a good work to be done, we have fallen to the schemes of the enemy, we lost sight that I am to be actively participating in the growth.

IV. Keep Your Eyes Fixed on Jesus

A. The Command

Keep your eyes fixed.

Hebrews 12:2 “2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Greek-turn our eyes away from all other things, Hebrew- mediate focused (physical and mental discipline)

B. Benefits of Keeping Eyes Fixed

(1) It will rescue you from the ensnarement

Psalm 25:15 “15 My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.”

(2) It will give you courage

Psalm 16:8 “8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

(3) Eternity on the mind

Colossians 3:1–2 “1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”

C. Final Thought

Commitment not the size

I have prayed for a renewed commitment.

Application:

(1) Eyes Fixed

(2) Proactive Protection

(3) Gospel Driven