Open Your Eyes | Change Your World
Galatians 6:4 (MSG) 4Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that.
We have to recognize our influence before we can exercise our influence. Pastor Chris Hodges
1 Corinthians 8:1b (NLT) …1But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
Matthew 28:19-20 (NIV) 19“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and 20teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark 16:15 (NIV) 15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Luke 24:47 (NLT) 47“With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me.”
John 20:21 (NIV) 21“As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
Acts 1:8 (NIV) 8“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
- If I cannot see it, I cannot do it. (My Sphere of influence)
- We cannot reach what we cannot see. (Seeing people differently)
Nearsighted: A common vision condition in which you can see objects near to you clearly, but objects farther away are blurry.
Farsighted: A common vision condition in which you can see distant objects clearly, but objects nearby may be blurry.
The degree of your farsightedness influences your focusing ability.
John 4:27-35 (NIV) 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him. 31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?” 34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.
If God answered all my prayers, would it change the world or just change me?
We need to “Open Our Eyes”:
Soul Tattoo: Reaching people starts with seeing people.
1. Open our eyes to where people are.
Psalm 37:23 (KJV) 23The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.
Proverbs 16:9 (NIV) 9In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
To change our world…We need to connect before we correct.
2. Open our eyes to who people are.
Matthew 9:36 (NIV) 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
To change our world…We don’t have to be like them, but we do need to like them.
3. Open our eyes to what people need.
John 1:14 (NIV) 14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
To change our world…We need to show people the same kind of love God showed us; unconditional love.
Because everyone counts, Destination Church relentlessly loves and serves like Jesus.
Matthew 28:18-20 (ESV) 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 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, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
John 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Soul Tattoo: Reaching people starts with seeing people.
How do I view God?
“TRUTH WITHOUT GRACE IS MEAN. GRACE WITHOUT TRUTH IS MEANINGLESS. TRUTH AND GRACE IS MEDICINE.”
John 1:14 (NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Sometimes we cannot see right, because we cannot see God right.
- A locked gate.
View: God can’t be reached. - A garbage can.
View: God doesn’t want me. - An endless ladder.
View: God requires a lot from me.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NLT) 8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
- A free gift.
The right view of God.
“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 (NIV)
Soul Tattoo: Reaching people starts with seeing people.