HIStory  Consumed by the Invisible   1 Visible hindering walk   2 Corinthians 4: 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.   We know we are eternal beings, but we can get fixated with things going on around us so easily.   Like Eve, we trade the word of God that is spoken to us for the fruit that is just in front of us.   Lead to questions that can shipwreck faith.

  1. Why did this happen?
  2. Does God even Care?
  3. Why didn’t God heal that person?
  4. We trade blame that should be directed toward satan toward God (Job and wind that blew over building killing children)

2. Jesus Walk among the sick.   John 5 and Jesus visiting a sick person

  1. Stepped among many other people who were sick
  2. Man had no faith in Jesus because he did not even know who he was.
  3. Wasn’t focused on Jesus, his focus was on the water.
  4. Bitterness because someone always gets to the water before him and receives their healing.
  5. Confronted by Pharisees he put the blame on the one who healed him Vs 11
  6. Jesus confronted him and told him to repent and break the pattern of sinning he was involved in or hell awaited.
  7. He went and told the Pharisees who healed him knowing that they were mad at Jesus.

Anyone else have a problem with this?   3. Doing the works of God.   Jesus uses the situation to start a confrontation with the Pharisees.

  1. In Two chapters they want to stone him
  2. In  12 chapters they arrest him to kill him.

John 5: 17, 19 My Father is always working and so am I….I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself.  He does only what he sees the Father doing.   Sees is present tense, the Father is doing something and I want to be a part of what it is.   THIS IS NOT A CALL TO BE BUSY BUT TO BE PRODUCTIVE IN OUR WORK.   When we pray your kingdom come your will be done we are asking what are you doing that I may be a part of it?   4. hard situations help our focus   Looking at eternity when surrounded by things is not easy.   EXAMPLE:  a ship without a storm can go where it wants, but a storm drives it to a different location.

  1. Steven stripped of everything saw a vision of Jesus standing
  2. Paul said everyone deserted him when on trial, but Jesus stood by his side.
  3. What a difference to Eve trading everything for a piece of fruit.

 

  1. Jesus will speak to us if we will listen Vs 24
    1. Spiritual Bulimia we just regurgitate everything without it really taking effect.
    2. Post on Facebook without depth.
    3. Pharisees visible was healing on the sabbath. Can’t hear a word you’re saying.
  2. Already passed from death into life. Vs 24 Two words for life
    1. Dead will hear the voice and will live Vs 25
      1. Dead those who are destitute of life and devotion to God because of trespasses and sins.
    2. Life Zao make you fresh strong and efficient.
  3. Time is coming when Life will be spoken from the life giving one.
    1. Zoe Life genuine consummation that will last forever.

5. Walking among the wounded.

  1. Created situation ourselves pursuing the temporary instead of the eternal.
  2. Some are wounded people who we think we have more compassion than Jesus.
  3. Step over situations I don’t understand
  4. God you are working send us out into  the labor fields to do your work.