Pastor David L. Hicks
June 25, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Where Are You Looking?
where_are_you_looking_6_25-2023.docx
Where & To Whom are you . . . Looking ?
Too many people are “Looking” in “All the Wrong places” for “All the Right answers”.
It’s so easy to be “Focused” on the “Wrong Things” in our journey of doing life.
In Driving School, they teach a simple but important principle . . . “Wherever your eyes are looking, that’s where your car will be going.”
A sound Biblical principle to live by would be: “Looking at everything” through the “Lens of Eternity and Truth”.
- tells the Church at Laodicea, “To anoint their eyes with eye salve that they may see”. Rev. 3:18 (to see what is important, to see things as they really are, Spiritual things and Truth, to have the right focus).
We, as the Church today, need Holy Spirit anointed eyes with 20/20 vision focused on the right things in these last days.
- the Bible there are over 200 references to the words look, looking and looketh. Some of those direct us in what we should be looking at and for:
Always looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher/perfector of our Faith. Heb. 12:2 (Jesus, the “Finisher”, will carry us through all the way to the end provided we keep our eyes on Him. He’s the source, the Cross is the means.
Always looking into & obeying the perfect Law of Liberty. “But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do if you listen & obey, and don’t just hear and forget.” James 1:25 (CEV)
Always looking unto the fields, ready for the harvest of souls. “Lift up your eyes that the fields are white, ready for the harvest.”John 4:35b (always carrying the burden for the souls of men)
Always keeping yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of the Lord to bring you to eternal life. Jude 21 (always in the circle of his love, looking for the Rapture)
Always, like Abraham, looking for the City with foundations, whose architect and builder is God Heb. 11:10 (now that your kids know about Disney World, don’t you think it is time you tell them about Heaven?)
Always looking for a New Heaven and New Earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. II Pet. 3:13
(remember the old song, This World is not my Home, I’m just-a passing through . . .
Always looking for the Rapture. “Looking for that blessed Hope and Glorious Appearing of our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13 (“Blessed Hope” is His Glorious Appearing)
Always looking for the fulfillment of Bible Prophesy. “And when you see these things come to pass, look up, lift up your heads for your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28
Always looking to Christ and the Cross for deliverance. “And it shall come to pass, that everyone who is bitten, when he “Looks” upon it, shall live.” Num. 21:8 (the serpent, ie, sin & satan, was the reason for the Cross, the pole, a type of the Cross, everyone who looks shall live
Always be careful how you look at Worship. Michal, “Looking” out at a window upon King David, has distain for true Worship. “Looking from a window, and when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.” II Sam.6:16
Michal was embarrassed at the lack of decorum and gave a sarcastic rebuke of her husband.
It tells us that the “flesh” can never approve of the things of the “Spirit”, the Holy Spirit refers to her as Saul’s daughter.’
But the Lord “Looks” on the heart, while man looks on the outward appearance. I Sam. 16:7
(at the time of Samuel’s choosing of David) (only God knows the heart of man; I Sam. 16:6-13
Always moving and looking forward. Jesus speaks about discipleship. . . “And Jesus said unto him, no man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
Paul says, “Forgetting those things which are behind me and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press towards the goal, for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus
Phil. 3:13-14 (refers to not looking back at past relationships, memories, failures, temptations or anything that might distract from a single-minded focus on the upward call of God in Christ) Paul draws on the image of the athlete running a race with determination to reach the finish line and win the prize.
REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE. Luke 17:32,33/Gen. 19:26 Lot’s wife lost her life because she
“Looked Back”.
When overwhelmed, always remember King Jehoshaphat, King of Judah. Armies from three Nations had surrounded Jerusalem and the future looked grim. But rather than looking at the armies bent on Judah’s destruction, Jehoshaphat “Turned his Eyes” elsewhere; “We have no power against this great multitude but our eyes are upon You. If you are surrounded by forces too strong for you, take a giant leap of courage and turn your eyes upon God and away from what you fear. II Chron. 20:12 AMEN
We have a personal responsibility to check ourselves on a regular basis and ask the question:
Where & To Whom am I Looking !!!
