Looking to Jesus
There will be situations that will arise in our lives; there will be things that we would call problems. We could pray all we want but there will still be those daily situations, problems, or attacks of the enemy. I’ve had people ask me to pray for them so that they will not have any more problems. Jesus said in (JOHN 16:33), “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be a good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
I) The only way that we’ll not have any more trouble with the devil is that if we die and go to heaven. But that doesn’t mean we just have to sit back and take it. We can fight back against the enemy and win. You don’t have to be overcome.
A) Turn with me to 1 JOHN 4:4.
1) You don’t have to the overcome but you can be an overcomer.
B) Look with me at 1 JOHN 5:4-5.
1) In these Vs. the Word “OVERCOMETH” means, “TO PREVAIL, TO GET THE VICTORY, OR VICTORIOUS.”
2) The Word “WORLD” in these verses means, “THE WORLD SYSTEM.”
a) The Bible says that Satan is the God of this world. (1st Corinthians 4:4)
3) According to verse we just read in (1 JOHN 5:4-5), What is it that gives us the victory over the problems that we have in this world and even over Satan and his cohorts?
a) Verse 4 says, “OUR FAITH.”
(i) But FAITH in what?
b) Verse 5 says its, “Believing or having faith that Jesus is the Son of God.”
(i) You could word this way; “Victory comes through your faith in Jesus Christ.”
c) Listen to how the Bible Knowledge Commentary explains this verse; he says, “The writer affirmed that a believer is a world conqueror by means of his faith in Christ. This suggests that faith is the secret to his continuing victory.”
II) When these things come in our life, situations, adverse circumstances, and problems, instead of looking to those things, start looking to Jesus.
A) We can have God’s peace even when we’re going through something.
1) Phil 4:6-7
a) 1st of all in this V. it says, “Be careful for nothing.”
(i) That means don’t worry. (1PET 5:7) says, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
(ii) Worry is meditation on the “WORD” OF THE DEVIL. That type of meditation is going to bring the worst upon us.
(iii) Our meditation should be on the Word of God. It’s only through the Word of God, that’s were faith comes from, and prayer that we’re going to have the victory.
(iv) It’s the Word of God that’s going to produce faith in our hearts. Jesus said in (JOHN 8:32), “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(a) Free from what? Free from the problems and storms that we all go through.
b) Then in (PHIL 4:6) it says, “In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
(i) It’s important that we let our request be made known unto God. It says in (JAM 4:2) “Ye have not, because ye ask not.”
(ii) When you begin to pray in faith, God will begin to move in that problem, or situation.
c) Then he says in (verse 7) “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:7)
III) 2COR 4:13-18
A) In (V 18) he said that we don’t look at the things that are seen.
1) (2COR 5:7) Says, “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)”
2) But he went on to say in (V 18) that we do look to the things which are not seen.
a) We look to Jesus who we can’t see with our physical eyes.
3) [2COR 4:18] He even goes on to say that the things that are seen are temporal.
a) What are some of the things that are temporal?
(i) The storms of life.
(ii) Personal problems.
(iii) Situations
(iv) And All the works of the devil.
4) The things that are not seen are the things that are eternal.
a) What are some of the things that are eternal and unchanging?
(i) Word of God? Peter said the Word of God abides forever. (1 Peter 1:23)
(ii) What about God Himself? In (MAL 3:6) He says, “For I {am} the Lord, I change not.”
(iii) The same is true for the name and blood of Jesus. It will never lose its power.
(iv) And Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
IV) When you begin to look to Jesus instead of looking to the situation, you’re standing in faith.
A) DAN 3:14-18
1) In (V 17) the 3 Israelites said, “If you do throw us into the burning fiery furnace our God whom we serve is able to deliver us.”
a) That’s good, but there’s more to it than just that.
b) This is where many Christians are.
c) They know that God is able, but they don’t know that He will. It’s not doing them very much good.
2) (HEB 4:2) Says, “For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard {it}.”
a) Weather you hear the Word or not, if you don’t have faith that God will deliver you, normally He won’t.
3) But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went on to say something more in V. 17b {read}
a) Now that’s faith…
B) Look at V 18 again.
1) They’re not saying something in doubt. They’re saying, “Whether you throw us into the burning fiery furnace or not, we will not worship the image that you made.”
2) They believed God.
C) DAN 3:23‑25
1) Who do you think that they had their eyes on?
2) The Lord Jesus Christ.
V) When the children of Israel went out to spy out the land, Caleb came back with a good report.
A) NUM 13:30
1) How did Caleb know that they we’re well able to overcome it?
2) NUM 13:1-2
a) He had God’s Word on it.
b) In other words, he was looking to the Lord for the answer.
c) He was looking to The Lord for VICTORY.
d) He was looking to Jesus the author and finisher of his faith.
B) When you’re going through the storms of life and different tests and trials or when problems arise, you have to do what needs to be done in the natural, but stop worrying about those things. Get your eyes off the problem and start to focus on Jesus and on His Word, that’s where you’ll find victory.
5/05/1990 TFC and 5/12/91 and WOLCC 6/91 and WOLCC Sunday, 3/29/98