What do you see?

Title: What do you see?

Main Idea:

Faith in God involves seeing the opportunity, seeing the obstacles, and seeing His Omnipotence.

Purpose:

How to Accomplish This Purpose:

Introduction:

Outline:

.....Transition

I. We must see the opportunity.

A. The opportunities are plentiful. (Text: "it floweth)

B. The opportunies are great. (Text: v.23, two men had to carry a cluster of grapes)

There's always a but when it comes to great opportunities, "Nevertheless (but).....Transition

II. We must see the obstacles.

A. The obstacles are people.

1. They are strong.

a. Illustration: In spite of what they say, 90% of the chronic patients who see today’s physicians have one common symptom. Their trouble did not start with cough or chest pain or hyperacidity. In 90% of the cases, the first symptom was fear. This is the opinion of a well-known American internist as expressed in a roundtable discussion on psychosomatic medicine. This is also the consensus of a growing body of specialists. Fear of losing a job, of old age, of being exposed—sooner or later this fear manifests itself as “a clinical symptom.”

Sometimes the fear is nothing more than a superficial anxiety; sometimes it is so deep-seated that the patient himself denies its existence and makes the round of doctor to doctor, taking injections, hormones, tranquilizers and tonics in an endless search for relief. Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979).

This is the opinion of a well-known American internist as expressed in a roundtable discussion on psychosomatic medicine. This is also the consensus of a growing body of specialists. Fear of losing a job, of old age, of being exposed—sooner or later this fear manifests itself as “a clinical symptom.”

Sometimes the fear is nothing more than a superficial anxiety; sometimes it is so deep-seated that the patient himself denies its existence and makes the round of doctor to doctor, taking injections, hormones, tranquilizers and tonics in an endless search for relief. Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979).

b. Ref: Psalms 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, camea upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

B. The obstacles are unreachable territories. (Text: cities are walled)

1. Financial Territories:

a. No credit, No bank account, No collateral, No Networth

2. Employment Territories:

a. No college education, Not bi-lingual, No friend or relative to give you the job,

3. Ministrial Territories:

a. No Appointments, No

C. The obstacles are great.

1. Ref: Psalms 60:12 Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.

.....Transition

III. We must see His omnipotence.

A. It is only in obstacles that we can see the omnipotence of God

B. It is only in our weakness that we can see the omnipotence of God

1. Illustration: A preacher was busy in his study, while his little boy looked at a book of pictures by the fireside. He suddenly wanted a large book he had left upstairs, and asked his boy to go for it. He was away a long time, and after a while the father heard the sound of sobbing on the stairs. He went out, and at the top of the staircase he saw his son crying bitterly, with the large book he had tried to lift and carry, lying at his feet. “Oh, Daddy,” he cried, “I can’t carry it. It’s too heavy for me.”In a moment, the father was up the stairs, and stooping down, took up both the book and the little fellow in his strong arms, and carried them both to the room below. “And that,” he found himself thinking later, “is how God deals with His children.

In a moment, the father was up the stairs, and stooping down, took up both the book and the little fellow in his strong arms, and carried them both to the room below. “And that,” he found himself thinking later, “is how God deals with His children.

1. Ref: II Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

2. Ref: Psalms 118:10 All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroyb them. 11 They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them. 12 They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroyc them. 13 Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

3. Ref: Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? C.

C.

.....Transition

Conclusion:

}}}