Stop.. Look.. Listen..

Deuteronomy 28:1-13

Deuteronomy 28:1–13 KJV 1900

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 9 The Lord shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. 11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:

ii. intro

There use to be a phrase in the 1980s that simply said .. “stop .. look.. and listen..

no im not talking about that popular song by the stylistics… but it was a phrase that was used to promote saftey..it was used to promote awareness to a situation… a situation that was happening more and more..

There use to be a

you had more and more people just going thru life laxidazycal … and when they came to this particular section.. place in life … instead of paying attention.. instead of heeding the warning…they just keep going…

and because they keep going… the results were devastating… many of there decisions lead them to there death… some were fortunate enough to survive.. but the scars had an everlasting effect on them… on their families...

we sing songs like..

how i made it over..

you dont know my story...

these songs were more than likely birth out a season of great trails and glorious victory… but when you close your eyes and truly listen to the lyrics.. when you listen to the words… you can almost feel the scars… the that were left on there bodies… souls ...

has anyone here.. ever been thru a storm .. been thru a season of trail and tribulations.... and when it was over… you gave God the praise…you testified… you told someone about the goodness of God.... but at the same time you were testifiying… at the same time you were giving God the praise fro bringing you out.. you knew.. you were not the same person .. that you were when the season began...

no your last name didnt changed… and you didnt go in for a sex change operation.....

but ask your neighbor.. “ ARE YOU BETTER OR ARE YOU BITTER”

now right before you turn away… .... STOP .. LOOK AND LISTEN...

stop what your doing… look at them.... and listen.....

this is the part of the service where you forget about your self… and listen for the cry of your neighbors heart…

grab them by the hand… look them in the eye..... ask them .. are you better or are you bitter........ take three seconds.. just look at them.....

now tell them God still loves you....

now give God some praise...

iii.. Stop

we are starting a new year.,.. and more importantly a new decade.... this is very significant because some of the deciesions we make in this year will be with us for the rest of our lives… and because we are in a fundamental and foundational year… we need to be strategic in everything we do… we cant be happy go lucky this year.. and just go and do what ever without prayer… i have three quick points and then i will be out of your way..

the phrase stop look and listen came because many poeple .. would get to a railroad crossing and often times there was no.. gate… nothing to make them use caution .. nothing to make them stop and think.. is it safe for me cross these tracks....

there are some here today that are like so many others that said .. ill be ok.. the person in front of me made it.... they did it… i can do it too…

well i came to tell somebody… they need to stop..... stop .. stop stop.. stop it right now.. because if you dont.. your next decision is going to be an emotional one.. and its going to wreck havoc in your life and you will pay for it the rest of your life...

you need to stop.. and settle yourself....you need to stop and consecrate yourself… the Lord said.. and seek my face… get off social media.. get away from the gossip…get away from the negativity…because its eating you up inside .. like a cancer...

when you stop what your doing… and allow you eyes to focus… then you will be see ..

somebody shout .. LOOK

IV.. look

…

we have made it to 2020.... the new years resolutions have already started… when you think about 2020 most of the time you will think about wha the world calls perfect vision..... the optometrist may say you have the right amount of eye sight… you can see… your peripheral vision is good...... meaning you can see whats around you even when your not souly focused on it.... you can see close up.. when something is right in your face.. and most importantly .. you can see 20ft in front of you clearly.... meaning you can see whats coming even before you get to it.. .. that way your able to make the adjustments necessary.

we have made it to 2020.... the new years resolutions have already started… when you think about 2020 most of the time you will think about whaT the world calls perfect vision..... the optometrist may say you have the right amount of eye sight… you can see… your peripheral vision is good...... meaning you can see whats around you even when your not souly focused on it.... you can see close up.. when something is right in your face.. and most importantly .. you can see 20ft in front of you clearly.... meaning you can see whats coming even before you get to it.. .. that way your able to make the adjustments necessary.

well i came to tell somebody that has been making decsions off wha they see… everytime you see the result that you dont want.. you react.... everytime you see things going south you react… everytime you do see God move when you said move.. you react.. like your way is better..

but God said

Isaiah 55:8–9 KJV 1900

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are my ways higher than your ways, And my thoughts than your thoughts.

is

so why are you moving and reacting off what you see… you say you belive my word… but my word says..

2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV 1900

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 corinthians 5

so whats it going to be.... are you going to trust me… or trust your emotions… or you going to doubt or are you going to have faith....

i just want to remind you… that without faith.. its impossible to please God… .. you need to start praying and talking like the blind man.... the only thing i know.... i once was blind but now i see...... i was blinded by my emotions and feelings… but God came in and opended my eyes to his power and his might..

V. listen

i came to tell somebody..... you need to stop listening to folk.. and listen to God… listening to folk.. will have you out of order.... listening to folk will make you an emotional wreck.... and others need to stop and shut up long enough for God to speak....you think your praying.. but all you doing is talking.. because prayer is supposed to be a time of communication with God… A time when you speak and allow God to speak back.... or a time when God does all the speaking… and all you can say is yes Lord...

in our text

we have the word of the Lord … the blessing of the Lord.... a covenant … coming to Gods chosen people.... his children.. the men and women of God.... this blessing was not for everyone… this was for the ones that made it.. the ones that had been redeemed by Gods grace and mercy.... in order that the redeemed would … could enjoy a personal relationship… fellowship.... with God..

im here to tell you that if you will .. stop what your doing.... take time to look around you… and most importantly… listen to what God says.... the bible hearken diligenlty… meaning… if God speaks and tells you to move.. move in a hurry… do wha tever you need to do to get in a place that you can hear from God...

because if you are willing and obedient.... ever aspect of your life will be blessed....

your marriage

your children

your business

your minisrty

your church

your community

when you hearken .. when you wait and listen to God then move.....everything and everbody connected to you will be blessed...

vi. prayer

Lord close our eye and ears from stuff… from people.. an dhelp us to hear your voice and see you move…God take away all the distractions .. break up the hurt.. the bitterness and anger..Lord was us over so that worship you…so that we can be pleasing in thy sight in not a stink thy nostrils..

today i want to pray for those.. who sincerely want to please God… you realize your at the begining of a new year and decade....and you dont want ..neither can you afford for this next decade to be like the last…why dont you come..

tell yo nighbor… dont be deaf and dumb...