I Can See Clearly

I Can See Clearly

Hebrews 2:1 (HCSB)
We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.

παραρρέω [pararrhueo /par·ar·hroo·eh·o/] v. 1 to glide by: lest we be carried by, pass by. 1a lest the salvation which these things heard show us how to obtain, slip away from us. 1b a thing escapes me. 1c slips my mind.

To slip into unawareness

The easiest way to lose sight of something is distance

We have the technology to fix even the worst eyesight

Kristin

Yet if you put enough distance between yourself and the thing you are focused on even 20/20 vision will be blurred

We must therefore pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away.

Example from the Singles: Study the gospel and we see more of the side characters than we do the main character

If you are here it is probably do to the fact that at one point Jesus, in and of Himself has impressed you.
Kristin: Example of Latisha

2 weeks went from “I want what you have without God” to “Jesus is My LORD!”

We have to be careful to Pay Attention

So what creates this distance?

What are some the factors that cause us to Drift?

· Although there are many, we would like to address two of them

o Culture, Especially our culture of consumerism

o Confidence

1. Our Culture

John 14:1-6 (HCSB)
“Your heart must not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also. You know the way where I am going.” “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where You’re going. How can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

We are part of a culture that is increasingly, “Educated”

· Not that we have mastered

o Faith, Hope, Love

o Or what it means to Follow Jesus

· It just means people know what they LIKE.

From

· Coffee (Starbucks: 20,000 different ways to order a cup of Coffee)

· Styles of communication

· Friendships

· Music

· Scheduling

· And Leisure Activity

o We live in time of options

Consumerism and choice: this is the spirit of our age

· Not that buying and selling things is bad

· Or that an abundance of choices is evil

o The danger is how such a culture distorts our ability to see clearly

· We’re trained to look at everything through a consumer lens:

· From goods

· To services

· To relationships

· To God

The problem is not the choices we’re presented with but on the basis on which we decide among them:

Without intentional and deliberate effort to focus our vision on Jesus we will become…

“iChurch” – where “I” comes before church.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

One choice to make: I want to see no else expect Jesus

2. Confidence

Matthew 14:22-33

Who did Peter lose faith in?

Jesus?

No, Jesus seemed to be doing just fine
In fact, Peter even cried out to him for Jesus to save Him

Faith in what the Rabbi could do seems to be pretty firm and secure

Peter lost faith in Himself

Review what it took for someone to become a disciple of a Rabbi

The entire Rabbinic System was based on the Rabbi’s faith that these disciples can be just like me!

Jesus’ says, “come”

I believe you can be like me
I believe you can do what I can do

Does Jesus have this kind of confidence in you?

Acts 2:39 (HCSB)
For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Developing a Spiritual Culture of Confidence:

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v v: verb