Through Christ's Eyes

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What do we see?

When we look around our world....our little community.... What do we see?
Seriously…what do we see? Do we see loving…successful…joy-filled people? Do we see prosperity....strong families....and hope? Do we see God’s blessings…God’s grace…filling people’s lives to overflowing?
Or.... Do we see destruction? Loss? Sorrow? Fear?
When we look at people....do we see people who are deeply loved by God? Or....Do we see people who are destructive....and need to be avoided?
Or....worse yet....do we not see them at all?
What do we see?
At the peak of WWII, Dr. J B Chapman looked around at the world he was a part of, and recognized a need. He saw destruction, knew pain, death, sorrow, all the horrors of war, and in the midst of it, he recognized a need.... A need for Christ to intervene, and he penned these words:
“We believe we can take our best contribution to world peace and every other reform and world good by preaching old-time personal salvation and praying down a heaven-sent revival upon our churches and upon the world.”
When Chapman looked at his world, he saw the destruction....he saw the need of the people....he saw their plight.....because he saw what SIN was doing to them....
For Chapman, the “fix” — the “Cure” — was simple.... “preaching old-time personal salvation and praying down heaven-sent revival...”
Can I tell you that that has not been my experience in the Church?
When faced with this question in the Church, I have not experienced people — pastors, church boards, ministers, Sunday School teachers, etc…— “seeing” the need for the type of preaching Chapman is talking about....
You see, what he is talking about is not what we think it is....
When you think of “old-time personal salvation” preaching, what comes to mind? (get responses)
That is not what Chapman is talking about!
The preaching he is talking about is something much deeper, something far older, something much much wiser than traditional preaching and revivals.......
It is the “preaching” that Christ commanded of each and every one of us..... it is preaching that isn’t concerned with buildings, entertainment, prosperity, programs, and activities..... BUT… true internal healing....revitalized lives....changed hearts.....strengthened families and relationships....salvation of souls..... transformed lives.... because.....
That is the preaching that changes the world!!!!!
But.....that is not what we experience in this world is it?
I can honestly say.....and it hurts my heart to admit this....in nearly 15 years of ministry, when looking at the world around us.... literally every church I have been a part of....has not seen the need for true, Biblical, life-changing, preaching — you know, the type that comes from the “body” of Christ....the type that every believer should be engaged in — No....
What they have seen is “programs.” More “charismatic”…younger preachers..... (or vice versa)
Can I tell you this — Programs will not change the world. Charismatic Preachers will not change the world. “Fire and Brimstone” preaching will not change the world.
Consider our little church here..... Our little slice of the Kingdom in Bonham TX.....
We came here two years ago to “restart” this church....to essentially “replant” it.... two years later, we have an average attendance of 25.... In a town of over 10,000...
So, let me ask you — “Is this what we desire our church to be?”
Or....Do we want to see it grow and impact people’s lives the way the 1st century church did?
So...... What do we need? What do you think?
Where do your minds turn when I ask that question?
If we are honest, I think most of us will have to admit that we thought about programs....activities....revivals....concerts.... things that we probably picture someone else doing..... right?
Church — That is not what we need!!!
Programs....activities....ideas requiring someone else to do the work.... are not what we need. (they are fun! but....)
What we need is to “SEE” the world....to “SEE” people as Jesus saw them!
Jesus did not call us to “sit in a pew”..... Let me tell you this — if You call yourself a “Christian,” but all you do is “warm a pew”… You are not a Christian! You are an attender!
Church.... my Brothers and Sisters.... the World does not need more people just sitting in a pew!
Look at MT 7:21-23
Matthew 7:21–23 NRSV
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’
We are not Christians just because we come to church.... Being Christian REQUIRES that we have a relationship with Christ....that we follow Him....that we learn from Him....that we see and do things like He did them.....
To be a Christian means that we have to BE His hands and feet…we have to DO what He did!
When Jesus called the disciples, he didn’t say “Come sit in a pew....” He said:
Matthew 4:19 NKJV
Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
If we are going to “BE THE CHURCH”.... if we are going to be “Builders of the Kingdom”.... If our desire is to see people’s lives transformed..... Then we have got to start “SEEING” the world through Christ’s Eyes!!!
So.... What does Jesus see when He looks at the world?
Look at Matthew 9:36
Matthew 9:36–10:4 NRSV
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
“When he saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep....”
When Jesus looks at the world.....when He looks at you and me....He doesn’t see worthless, evil, destructive people......
He doesn’t see a bunch of selfish, self-centered, egotistical, rebels — although that is often what we are.....
He doesn’t see disinterested individuals so preoccupied with material things that they don’t care about the rest of the world — although that is often true as well.....
Christ sees lost…worn-out…beaten down… scattered scared sheep in need of a Shepherd to guide them, love them, and protect them....
When Christ looks at us, He does not see “tainted and worthless objects” needing to be destroyed..... He sees the “object of His love.”
Look back at verse 35.
Matthew 9:35 NRSV
Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness.
Jesus saw the people’s needs, and how He could fill them.
What do we see?
Over the last few months, I have asked several times: “What are the needs in our community? What are you seeing around you?”
The answer we have come to is this: “I don’t know.”
And, I’m guilty of it too!!!!
Church.... How horrible is that?!
Why is it that we....God’s people....His children....can’t seem to “SEE” the world as He does?
It’s because we don’t have His eyes.....
He sees their needs, we see ours.
We are fail in evangelism and are weak in missions....even though we claim to be focused on them…because we don’t “SEE” the needs....
— We aren’t out where the needs are..... (He was)
— We aren’t looking.....
We need to be looking at the world as He does....We need to “SEE” people as He “SEES” them.....
Matthew 9:36 NRSV
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Christ saw the people.....He “SEES” the people for what they are.
When Christ looks at the world, He sees people who have been beat down....broken....mistreated....abused by this world...... He see people “SUFFERING” under the destructive burden of SIN in their lives..... People who need help....who need a shepherd....who need someone to come beside them, pick them up, and walk with them through their mess!
Christ sees people He loves deeply....who need His salvation and Grace!
But.....I don’t think we see that....
When we look at people, we see outward appearances....
We see self-satisfied…smug…selfish…people.
We see successful…wealthy…sometimes greedy people secure in their own success.
We see drug addicts…thugs…prostitutes…adulterers...
We see people out to “use” the church....who are just “after free money” and are “too lazy to work”....
We see judgmental…angry…gossips....both inside and outside the church.....
We prejudge people based on these “views” of them… and worse..... We write them off!
Church.... people are no different today then they were in Christ’s time, but.... They are being “sold-out” by the ones who should be helping them!
All because we do not “SEE” them.
Church — When Jesus looks at people — He does not "SEE” labels..... He does not “SEE” skin color.... He does not “SEE” cultural statistics...criminal records....inherent political teachings....
When Christ looks at people.... He “SEES” the “SIN” that is destroying them.
Matthew 9:37 NRSV
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
When Christ looks at people He sees a “bountiful harvest”.... He sees people “ripe and ready”....needing to receive the freedom, rest, and peace that His grace and mercy bring....
But.... He also sees the lack in His Church.....
“…the laborers are few...”
I want you to understand something.... look at Rev. 20.
Revelation 20:12–13 NRSV
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done.
When Christ returns we will ALL have to give an account for our works.....
The “Account” is not an account of our “sins”....those have been forgotten.... We will have to give an account for what we did with His grace...
God gave us a work to do....What are we doing with it?
“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few...”
Church..... We are missing the Harvest, because we are too busy....too distracted....too blinded by our own ideas and concerns....to see what Christ is trying to show us!
We can’t “SEE” the people, because we are refusing to “SEE” them through Christ’s Eyes....
Look at John 4.
Jesus has just spoken to the Samaritan woman at the well.... We know the story.... He has told her who she really is....He has revealed her sin.... He has shared salvation with her....
Can I tell you something — Christ never shied away from confronting sin.... But He also never judged the sinner...
In John 8, the Pharisees and teachers of the Law brought a woman to Jesus and accused her of being a prostitute.... This meant that she had to be stoned according to the Law....
What did Christ say? (“Let he who has no sin cast....)
One by one they all left.... Look at what Jesus says to her:
John 8:10–11 NIV
Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
That is why we say: “HATE the SIN, LOVE the SINNER.”
Christ extends Grace.... ALWAYS!
Here in John, Christ has spoken to this Samaritan woman....He has confronted her sin… the sin that is destroying her life.... He has extended Grace…salvation… to her, and she has hurried back to her village to “share the good news” with her people....
But.... Notice the disciples’ reaction:
John 4:27 NRSV
Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?”
Instead of being concerned for her…or what Jesus might be sharing with her, the disciples were more concerned with whether or not Jesus had eaten.....
It’s like they didn’t even “SEE” her....
Look at Jesus’s reaction:
John 4:35 NRSV
Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.
The disciples couldn’t “SEE” the woman.... they missed her “NEEDS”.... they didn’t even notice her..... because they were too caught up in themselves....
Church..... WE do the same thing!
Jesus is saying to use: “Open your eyes! Look around! Can’t you see?! The Harvest is ripe! People have needs! Their “SIN” is destroying them! You ARE the ONE to help!”
When we “HATE THE SIN” we are able to truly “LOVE” the SINNER, because we can “SEE” the SIN that is destroying them!
Look at Titus 3:3
Titus 3:3 NRSV
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another.
We “HATE” the SIN, but “LOVE” the SINNER, because we were once where they are..... We know what they are experiencing..... We know that destruction in their lives.... the chains....the bondage....the suffering......
But..... We also know the FREEDOM of God’s Grace!
Brothers and Sisters — We are not truly loving people if we do not “HATE” the SIN that is DESTROYING them.
Matthew 9:37 NRSV
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
We have a responsibility to the Kingdom…to our fellow brothers and sisters in this world....amen?!
Matthew 9:38 NRSV
therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Jesus tells them to pray...
This is a prayer for the harvest....for workers…for a passion for people....for “eyes to see”.....
Let me tell you this — The Harvesters do not come from outside the kingdom....they come from among the disciples!
Matthew 10:1 NRSV
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness.
Christ told the disciples to pray....then He called them to Him....and He sent them out to do the job.
He has done the same with us:
Matthew 28:18–19 NRSV
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
We cannot fulfill the “Great Commission” if we cannot “SEE” the people’s “NEED”.
“The Harvest is Ripe!”
We need to pray for God to give us “Eyes to SEE”..... To “SEE” people as Christ “SEES” them.... To “SEE” their “NEEDS”..... To “SEE” the “SIN” that is DESTROYING their lives.....
We need God to remind us of where we were..... of what He brought us out of..... of our NEEDS....when He came to us....
We NEED a fire kindled in our hearts for the people around us....amen?!
The more we walk with Christ.... the more we “SEE” through His Eyes..... The more "SEE” the SIN that is DESTROYING our brothers and sisters…our neighbors… the more we will “SEE” the Harvest.
“Seeing” through eyes of Christ....
— Will change us....
— Will change our view of missions....
— Will change our view of evangelism....
— Will change our view of ministry....
If we cannot “SEE” the SIN that is DESTROYING people all around us.... then we cannot “Love our neighbor.”
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