In a world fraught with division, violence, and conflicting ideologies, how can we as people of faith navigate these turbulent waters? The answer lies in developing our spiritual sight - learning to see through God's eyes rather than through the lens of culture or our own biases.
Recent events have shaken our nation, leaving many of us grappling with questions about safety, freedom of speech, and the role of faith in public discourse. It's in times like these that we must turn to the living Word of God for clarity and hope.
As followers of Christ, we're called to a deeper discernment. This doesn't mean avoiding difficult topics or retreating into our comfort zones. Instead, it requires patience, prayer, and a willingness to engage in open dialogue - even with those who think differently from us.
One troubling trend in our society is the labeling of some core Christian values as "hate speech" or "judgmental." This narrative fails to recognize that many believers live humbly in God's grace, holding to scriptural truths not out of hatred, but out of conviction. We must champion open dialogue and resist the urge to silence or "cancel" those with differing viewpoints.
The church has a vital role to play in healing our fractured nation. We're called to lead the way by glorifying Jesus Christ - not ideologies or political agendas. Our faith should overflow with love, grace, and forgiveness, influencing our communities and the world around us. This doesn't mean compromising our foundational beliefs, but it does require us to approach others with compassion and a willingness to listen.
As we seek to "see in the Spirit," we must be prepared for both comfort and confrontation. Spiritual sight can bring clarity to God's promises, but it can also reveal uncomfortable truths about ourselves and the world around us. It's like standing before a mirror in dim light, thinking we look fine, only to have someone flip on the bright lights - suddenly, every flaw and blemish is exposed.
The Holy Spirit doesn't create these flaws; it simply reveals what was already there. This spiritual confrontation serves several important purposes:
1. Clarity: Seeing truth beyond the lies and falsehoods of our culture. We must learn to discern good from evil, even when evil disguises itself as righteousness or zeal. The apostle Paul's conversion story in Acts 9 illustrates how spiritual blindness can masquerade as righteousness until God opens our eyes.
2. Balance: Holding grace and truth together. We need discernment to know when to stand firm in truth and when to extend grace. Jesus exemplified this perfect balance, being "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
3. Courage: Choosing calling over comfort. God often calls us into "holy discomfort," asking us to step out in faith even when it feels risky. Ananias demonstrated this courage when he obeyed God's call to pray for Saul, despite his fear.
4. Transformation: Confronting our desires and aligning them with God's will. As Hebrews 5:14 states, spiritual maturity involves developing "the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong."
To help us navigate these spiritual confrontations, we can use a "God filter" - a framework for decision making during discernment that includes:
Seeing:
- What does Scripture clearly say about this?
- Will it cause temptation to do wrong?
- Do I see God's fingerprints in this, or does it look more like self, culture, or compromise?
Listening:
- Can I honestly pray and ask God to bless this?
- Does this contradict my faith community's interpretation of Scripture and core values?
- Will this strengthen my witness, devotion, and obedience to Jesus?
Recognizing:
- Am I open to discussing this with those I'm spiritually accountable to?
- Will it potentially harm a less mature believer?
- Will this weaken my witness, devotion, or obedience to Jesus?
Following:
- Will this truly bring glory to God, or just give me the feeling of glorifying God?
- Is it harmful to my health or someone else's?
- Can I do this with a clear conscience and ask for God's blessing?
As we apply this filter and seek to see in the Spirit, we must be prepared for God to confront not just the culture around us, but our own hearts as well. He may reveal misplaced loves, hidden idols, or areas of self-deception that we've been blind to.
The challenge for each of us is this: When our eyes are opened, are we willing to let go of the false training of culture, religion, and our own desires, and respond in faith to what God is truly showing us?
Seeing in the Spirit means allowing God to both comfort us with His promises and confront us with His truth. He comforts us with His presence while confronting us with our idols. He envelops us in His love while pushing us toward transformation.
Ultimately, God doesn't open our eyes just so we can see better - He opens them so we can live better. In a world desperate for hope and healing, may we have the courage to truly see as God sees, and to live out that vision with love, grace, and unwavering faith.
As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, let's remember that our primary allegiance is not to any political party or ideology, but to the Kingdom of God. By cultivating spiritual sight and responding to both God's comfort and His confrontation, we can be a powerful force for good in our communities and beyond.
May we have the humility to be transformed, the courage to speak truth in love, and the wisdom to discern God's voice amidst the clamor of our age. In doing so, we can shine as beacons of hope in a world that desperately needs to see the light of Christ.
Recent events have shaken our nation, leaving many of us grappling with questions about safety, freedom of speech, and the role of faith in public discourse. It's in times like these that we must turn to the living Word of God for clarity and hope.
As followers of Christ, we're called to a deeper discernment. This doesn't mean avoiding difficult topics or retreating into our comfort zones. Instead, it requires patience, prayer, and a willingness to engage in open dialogue - even with those who think differently from us.
One troubling trend in our society is the labeling of some core Christian values as "hate speech" or "judgmental." This narrative fails to recognize that many believers live humbly in God's grace, holding to scriptural truths not out of hatred, but out of conviction. We must champion open dialogue and resist the urge to silence or "cancel" those with differing viewpoints.
The church has a vital role to play in healing our fractured nation. We're called to lead the way by glorifying Jesus Christ - not ideologies or political agendas. Our faith should overflow with love, grace, and forgiveness, influencing our communities and the world around us. This doesn't mean compromising our foundational beliefs, but it does require us to approach others with compassion and a willingness to listen.
As we seek to "see in the Spirit," we must be prepared for both comfort and confrontation. Spiritual sight can bring clarity to God's promises, but it can also reveal uncomfortable truths about ourselves and the world around us. It's like standing before a mirror in dim light, thinking we look fine, only to have someone flip on the bright lights - suddenly, every flaw and blemish is exposed.
The Holy Spirit doesn't create these flaws; it simply reveals what was already there. This spiritual confrontation serves several important purposes:
1. Clarity: Seeing truth beyond the lies and falsehoods of our culture. We must learn to discern good from evil, even when evil disguises itself as righteousness or zeal. The apostle Paul's conversion story in Acts 9 illustrates how spiritual blindness can masquerade as righteousness until God opens our eyes.
2. Balance: Holding grace and truth together. We need discernment to know when to stand firm in truth and when to extend grace. Jesus exemplified this perfect balance, being "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
3. Courage: Choosing calling over comfort. God often calls us into "holy discomfort," asking us to step out in faith even when it feels risky. Ananias demonstrated this courage when he obeyed God's call to pray for Saul, despite his fear.
4. Transformation: Confronting our desires and aligning them with God's will. As Hebrews 5:14 states, spiritual maturity involves developing "the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong."
To help us navigate these spiritual confrontations, we can use a "God filter" - a framework for decision making during discernment that includes:
Seeing:
- What does Scripture clearly say about this?
- Will it cause temptation to do wrong?
- Do I see God's fingerprints in this, or does it look more like self, culture, or compromise?
Listening:
- Can I honestly pray and ask God to bless this?
- Does this contradict my faith community's interpretation of Scripture and core values?
- Will this strengthen my witness, devotion, and obedience to Jesus?
Recognizing:
- Am I open to discussing this with those I'm spiritually accountable to?
- Will it potentially harm a less mature believer?
- Will this weaken my witness, devotion, or obedience to Jesus?
Following:
- Will this truly bring glory to God, or just give me the feeling of glorifying God?
- Is it harmful to my health or someone else's?
- Can I do this with a clear conscience and ask for God's blessing?
As we apply this filter and seek to see in the Spirit, we must be prepared for God to confront not just the culture around us, but our own hearts as well. He may reveal misplaced loves, hidden idols, or areas of self-deception that we've been blind to.
The challenge for each of us is this: When our eyes are opened, are we willing to let go of the false training of culture, religion, and our own desires, and respond in faith to what God is truly showing us?
Seeing in the Spirit means allowing God to both comfort us with His promises and confront us with His truth. He comforts us with His presence while confronting us with our idols. He envelops us in His love while pushing us toward transformation.
Ultimately, God doesn't open our eyes just so we can see better - He opens them so we can live better. In a world desperate for hope and healing, may we have the courage to truly see as God sees, and to live out that vision with love, grace, and unwavering faith.
As we navigate the complexities of our modern world, let's remember that our primary allegiance is not to any political party or ideology, but to the Kingdom of God. By cultivating spiritual sight and responding to both God's comfort and His confrontation, we can be a powerful force for good in our communities and beyond.
May we have the humility to be transformed, the courage to speak truth in love, and the wisdom to discern God's voice amidst the clamor of our age. In doing so, we can shine as beacons of hope in a world that desperately needs to see the light of Christ.
Posted in Sermon Outline
Recent
Archive
2025
January
February
March
June
July
August
2024
January
March
May
July
August
September
October
2023
February