Eyes of Faith

Pastor Dave Martin ~ Cross Creek Community Church ~ Nov 1, 2020

“Eyes of Faith” part4

· Welcome to Cross Creek, we’re glad you’re here or watching via streaming… Past few weeks we’ve been in Isa 6:1-8… A powerful passage where God’s prophet Isaiah, Saw the Lord high and exalted… He witnessed the Seraph angels flying as they encircled the throne crying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is filled with His glory… Isaiah then realized and confessed his sinfulness, then his sins were forgiven and heard the voice of the Lord asking whom shall I send, who will go for us? Isaiah responded, Here I am, Send me!

· As we’ve been learning the past few weeks about the Prophet Isaiah’s encounter with the Lord and how that encounter with the Living God can relate to our lives, our nation… In such a time as this…

· God is Sovereign, He is supreme in power & authority and has absolute dominion over all creation… Absolute dominion over every nation, every candidate and election…

· So sad there are so many people today, even those who call themselves Christians and yet are so uniformed of what is at stake with this election… We printed out an information sheet comparing the candidates and their party’s stand on pertinent issues such as Abortion, Israel, court system, etc…

· Seeing the main stream news organization so slanted and blacking out major news stories, Twitter, Facebook, Google suppressing and banning free speech… We’re living in unprecedented times… It can be frustrating to those who actually understand what is happening in America… We needs eyes of faith

1. God is in Control… TRUST

Isaiah 33:22 22 For the LORD is our judge (Judicial branch), the LORD is our lawgiver (Legislative branch), the LORD is our king (Executive branch); it is he who will save us.

· Our founding fathers used this verse from Isaiah to set up a new form of government in America…

· America is not perfect, but America is the greatest nation upon earth, because America has been blessed by God… God has raised up this nation to protect His people… Israel, Jerusalem and the Jewish people will take front and center in the entire world following the rapture of the church…

· God has raised up America and our President in particular to bring final shaping of this politically charged world… There are tremendous forces throughout this world that are evil and corrupt pushing for Western block of nations to be shutdown… I could speak much about this New World Order of globalist trying to wrestle control of this election… Freedom is under attack throughout the world… European countries are shutting down… While masses of people, patriots are emboldened to take a stand… COVID pandemic is the catalyst… An identifying vaccine mark is proposed… Just like God predicted in Rev 13… These sure are exciting times! … GOD IS IN CONTROL, TRUST HIM! Jesus coming!

2. REST in God’s peace… OBEY

Psalm 29:11 11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Isaiah 26:3 3 You will keep [as a city is guarded by a garrison of troop] in perfect peace [ ] him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.

· RELAX… Rest in God’s peace… HOW? By staying faithful to Him… Don’t violate scripture to prove your point of view… Walk in obedience to His Word… Run from sin and unrighteous living… God’s blessing of peace and strength shows up big time in our lives… You may be a nervous wreck about the elections, or what will the future hold? When you please Him, He’ll infuse His strength into your life and bless you with His peace in whatever the outcome

· Satan is the author of confusion, he’ll attempt to keep you in fear rather than faith… Out of fellowship with the Lord… Clouded minds, listening to lies, filled with panic, not trusting, praying to the Lord…

· Enter into His Rest, stay in His PERFECT peace as God is first in our lives! Trust & obey then rest!

3. OPEN Eyes of Faith… PERSPECTIVE

· Background to the story… The Arameans were staging guerrilla warfare against Israel. God’s prophet Elisha was enabled by God know their plans and warn God’s people… Finally the king of Aram figured out the leaker of their plans must be Elisha… The king ordered his armies to go get Elisha so he could not give information to the king of Israel… Let’s pick up our story…

2 Kings 6:14-17 14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city [Dotham]. 15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes [got message title], and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

· Enemy armies moved in under darkness and surrounded Elisha & his servant… Fear, panic struck… What shall we do… We’re going to die, its all over, terror… The enemy always uses our circumstances to invoke fear and despair… Elisha prayed, Lord open eyes of faith… HE LOOKED and SAW… God sent an army of angels, chariots of fire & horses surrounding, watching over and protecting them…

· We face so many unknowns through life don’t we… Snow storms, road conditions, health issues, tests, invisible virus called COVID… National election where freedom is on the line… What’s our responses?

· Will we see with eyes of faith? Throughout Word of God… Over & over it comes down to faith or fear

· No matter what happens, keep your perspective (God’s point of view… Remember He’s in Control, we can Rest in His peace… As God works out His perfect plans getting the ready for the return of His Son.

· Eyes of faith… Peter saw Him then step out of the boat… David saw Him, then confronted Goliath with a sling and few stones… Daniel saw Him, then spent the night with lions… Noah saw Him, then built an ark to preserve life… Moses, Isaiah, Job, Paul, John all saw Him… In 2020 a year to forget, we must open eyes of faith and keep perspective… YES, we’re facing COVID it can kill but quite treatable and 99.8% survivability… National elections… Who will win the election… Questions swirl… Riots break out… Massive vote fraud… Scary things… We’re surrounded by the enemies… Those with us are more than those with them!

· My friends, Relax… Open your eyes of faith… Look up… God is there… See Him?? Keep perspective, understand what is happening across America… All the noise we’re hearing… Politicians, media, social platforms, pollsters, internet… Always remember, God has His people… Spread across this beautiful land… California to Montana, to Wisconsin and Florida, from Maine to here in Pennsylvania, God is on the move… He knows, He sees perfectly everything… Lies, corruption, cover-ups, back room deals…

· Don’t fight against God but connect with Him… Have you been praying? Lord help us… Lord we need you… Lord Forgive us… Lord heal our land! Eyes of faith! Those w/ us are more than those with them

Play one minute video from last Sunday, the scene from the National Mall in Washington DC… God is moving across the land… Righteousness exalts a nation… Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord!

· God is in control… Rest in His peace… Open eyes of faith… More with us than with them! WAVE coming

4. TURN Faith into Action… VOTE

· Now here’s the rest of the story…

2 Kings 6:18-23 18 As the enemy came down toward him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, "Strike these people with blindness." So he struck them with blindness, as Elisha had asked. 19 Elisha told them, "This is not the road and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will lead you to the man you are looking for." And he led them to Samaria. 20 After they entered the city, Elisha said, "LORD, open the eyes of these men so they can see." Then the LORD opened their eyes and they looked, and there they were, inside Samaria. 21 When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, "Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?" 22 "Do not kill them," he answered. "Would you kill men you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master." 23 So he prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. So the bands from Aram stopped raiding Israel's territory.

· Lord blinded the enemy… Elisha led them to the capital city of Samaria to the king of Israel

· Lord opened their eyes… King asked, shall I kill them? Elisha said… NO, feed them, throw a great feast. Then release them to go home… Notice the result… The raiding stopped… Powerful lessons learned…

· Lesson for us, treat everyone with grace… Even those who votes or responds to COVID differently…

· Don’t ever violate scripture for your “higher cause”… Love your enemies… Turn your faith into action… Faith without deeds/action is DEAD…

Luke 6:27-28 27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

Acts 23:1 1 Paul looked straight at the Sanhedrin and said, "My brothers, I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day."

· Paul stood strong and tall against the Sanhedrin… He fulfilled his duty to God in good conscience

· Examples: Can you in good conscience before God vote for a candidate who supports abortion?

· We must choose wisely… Do we want a dark winter or bright future filled with optimism…

· We have a civic duty as free citizens to vote for the candidate that most represents your Biblical views… Marriage… Prolife… Law & order… Support for police… Freedom… Truth… Free press, etc.

· This is the most important election in your lifetime… Turn your faith into action and VOTE…

· Avail yourself to voter guide… Honestly compare party platforms… We must be wise & informed.

· We must trust God… in obedience to His Word… Keeping Biblical perspective… Then making a difference, putting your faith in action, getting out to VOTE… Get family, friends, get out to vote!

· Vote for the candidate who most aligns with God’s Word! This vote affects future generations!

· Check out this one minute video!

Lord, we pray that you would use us to make a difference, we would cast a righteous vote… Protect our country from the forces of evil that are out to subvert liberty… Grant your spiritual protection, lead this nation in the path according to your will.