IT'S A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE: 5
NOV.14, 1999

Prov 23:7

For as a man thinks within himself, so is he:

Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

DO YOU REALIZE THAT IN 46 DAYS WE WILL START THE NEW MILLENNIUM AND I'M BELIEVING FOR A BUG FREE MILLENNIUM, AMEN! ALL THIS FEAR AND APPREHENSION ABOUT THE YEAR 2000 WILL PROVE TO BE THE HOAX I PRESUMED IT TO BE. YOU KNOW THE YEAR 200O IS REALLY A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE. THE EGYPTIAN CALENDAR IS ALREADY UP TO 3000 SOMETHING, THE CHINESE ARE UP TO THEY YEAR 5723, AND WE JUST HAPPEN TO BE AT 2000. NOW WHEN YOU CONSIDER BIBLICAL YEARS THERE ARE 360 DAYS IN THE YEAR WHICH MEANS THE YEAR 2000 OCCURRED IN 1972. SO YOU SEE, IT'S REALLY ALL A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE. NOW IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHEN JESUS IS COMING BACK AGAIN, TO PUT ALL THE Y2K FALSE PROPHETS OUT OF BUSINESS, I'LL TELL YOU. IT'S THE YEAR 2841 BASED ON A COUPLE OF REASONS THE FIRST BEING A REAL COMPLICATED HEBRAIC NUMBERING SYSTEM WHICH I WON'T GO INTO DETAIL AND THE SECOND REASON IS BECAUSE IT'S AFTER MY LIFETIME. WHEN SETTING A DATE ITS VERY IMPORTANT TO DO SO AFTER YOUR LIFETIME THEN IF IT DOESN'T HAPPEN YOU STILL GOT YOUR CREDIBILITY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THESE GUYS WHO SET A DATE FOR 3 YEARS AND THEY'VE JUST SET A LIMIT OF CREDIBILITY ON THEIR WHOLE MINISTRY. IN FACT, PERSONALLY I DON'T DABBLE IN WHAT GOD ALONE KNOWS.

SO THIS MORNING I WANT TO CONCLUDE THIS MINI-SERIES ON PERSPECTIVE BUT BEFORE I DO I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ANOTHER CONCEPT ABOUT PERSPECTIVE. I REMEMBER PLAYING A COMPUTER VIDEO GAME CALLED "NEED FOR SPEED". IT'S A RACE CAR VIDEO GAME. NOW WHEN YOU RACE YOU HAVE 4 CAMERA VIEWS OF YOUR CAR RACING. YOU HAVE A LEFT SIDE VIEW, A RIGHT SIDE VIEW AND DASHBOARD WINDOW VIEW. IN THE DASHBOARD VIEW YOU SEE THE ROAD JUST AS IF YOU WERE SITTING IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN A CURVE COMES UP YOU JUST SEE A LITTLE BIT OF IT UNTIL YOUR INTO THE TURN AND THEN MORE COMES UP ON THE SCREEN. NOW THE 4TH CAMERA SHOT IS THE BEST OF ALL BECAUSE YOU GET AN ARIAL VIEW OF YOUR CAR RACING. FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE YOU SEE EVERYTHING: THE CARS AROUND YOU, THE CURVE AND WHAT'S AROUND THE CURVE AND ITS MUCH EASIER TO MANEUVER YOU CAR AND WIN THE RACE. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIFE WHEN OUR ONLY PERSPECTIVE IS FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT AND WE CAN'T SEE EVERYTHING AHEAD OF US VERY CLEARLY. THAT'S WHEN WE NEED TO PRAY AND ASK GOD TO PAN US OUT TO HIS ARIAL VIEW OF OUR LIFE, OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES, OF OTHER PEOPLE AND OF GOD HIMSELF. WHEN WE DO THAT, REALITY SETS IN AND WE GAIN GOD'S PERSPECTIVE AND WE CAN LIVE LIFE GOD'S WAY.

THERE WAS A GUY WHO BOUGHT A BRAND NEW PORSCHE AND WAS OUT DRIVING HGW.1 ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST. HE WENT TO PASS A GUY ON CURVE AND LOST CONTROL. HIS CAR ROLLED SEVERAL TIMES AND HE WAS THROWN OUT OF THE SUN ROOF. HE STOOD ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD AND LOOKED DOWN ON HIS TOTALED OUT PORSCHE. HE KEPT SOBBING AND CRYING, MY BRAND NEW PORSCHE, OH NO, WHAT HAVE I DONE. THAT CAR WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. ABOUT THAT TIME ANOTHER MOTORIST STOPPED AND CAME TO THE MAN CRYING OVER HIS CAR. HE ASKED, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE. HE SAID, MY BRAND NEW PORSCHE. THE OTHER MAN SAID, I REALIZE YOU HAD AN ACCIDENT BUT DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOUR LEFT ARM HAS BEEN CUT OFF. THE MAN LOOKS AND SAYS, OH NO, I LOST MY BRAND NEW ROLEX. YOU SEE ITS ALL A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE.

I RECEIVED AND INTERESTING QUOTE THIS WEEK THAT SAID THIS, "Christianity is what God said. Religion is what man says God said." HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE BE TALKING ABOUT IN THIS SERIES ON PERSPECTIVE

PERSPECTIVE IS MY WORLD VIEW. IT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT THINGS, ITS MY VANTAGE POINT OR MY VIEW POINT. IT'S HOW I SEE MYSELF, ITS HOW I SEE MY CIRCUMSTANCES. ITS HOW I SEE OTHERS AND IT EVEN HOW I SEE GOD. WHAT'S YOUR PERSPECTIVE? IT'S A FRAME OF REFERENCE. ITS HOW I PROCESS MY INFORMATION. IT'S THE WAY I THINK, IT'S THE WAY I AM. WEBSTER DEFINES PERSPECTIVE AS A SPECIFIC POINT OF VIEW IN UNDERSTANDING OR JUDGING THINGS OR EVENTS AS THE ABILITY TO SEE THING IN A TRUE RELATIONSHIP. WHICH BRINGS US TO THE QUESTION, "WHY IS PERSPECTIVE SO IMPORTANT?" ITS BECAUSE PERSPECTIVE GOVERNS YOUR BEHAVIOR AND BECOMES THE GUIDING FORCE OF YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. AS A MAN THINKS IN HIS HEART SO IS HE.

ISA.55:8-11

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your

ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

THERE ARE FOUR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES THAT WE MUST EMBRACE IF WE ARE GOING TO LIVE LIFE GOD'S WAY.

1. HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF? IN NUM.13 MOSES SENDS 12 SPIES TO SEARCH OUT THE PROMISED LAND. 10 OF THEM COME BACK WITH A BAD REPORT:

Num 13:30-33

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.

32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

NOW HERE'S A POINT OF VIEW HELD BY THESE 10 SPIES THAT WAS A WRONG PERSPECTIVE. THEY THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS SMALL AND INFERIOR, SO THEY LOOKED INFERIOR AND SMALL TO OTHER PEOPLE. THE WAY YOU SEE YOURSELF IS THE WAY OTHERS WILL SEE YOU.

2. NOW HERE'S THE NEXT THING WE MUST DO TO DISCOVER WHAT OUR GOD GIVEN PERSPECTIVE IS IN LIFE. WE MUST ASK OURSELVES THIS QUESTION: HOW DO I SEE MY CIRCUMSTANCES?

Rom 8:28

28 And we know that all that happens to us is working for

our good if we love God and are fitting into his plans.

GOD HAS THE ABILITY TO WORK MY CIRCUMSTANCES TOGETHER FOR MY GOOD. GOD CAN TAKE ALL THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES IN OUR LIFE AND WEAVE THEM TOGETHER TO FORM CHARACTER IN US AND MAKE US A BETTER PERSON. THIS IS WHAT'S SO AMAZING: THAT SOMETHING GOOD IS HAPPENING NO MATTER HOW I FEEL ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN MY LIFE. CIRCUMSTANCES ARE NOT GOING TO DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF MY LIFE BECAUSE GOD WILL WORK THROUGH THEM TO BRING GOOD. WHEN WE WORRY ABOUT OUR CIRCUMSTANCES AND BROOD OVER THEM WE LOOSE PERSPECTIVE AND PRETTY SOON OUR PROBLEMS ARE BIGGER THAN THEY REALLY ARE.

SO IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN GOD'S PERSPECTIVE ON OUR CIRCUMSTANCES WE MUST WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT.

Heb 11:1 (LIVING)

1 What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.

3. THE THIRD THING THAT DETERMINES WHETHER WE HAVE GOD'S PERSPECTIVE FOR OUR LIFE IS: "HOW DO YOU SEE GOD?"

DO YOU SEE GOD AS THE ENFORCER, THE TERMINATOR, THE PUNISHER OR THE PREDATOR. SOME SEE GOD DETATCHED AND NOT INTERESTED. PROPER PERSPECTIVE SEES GOD AS A GOOD SHEPHERD, THE GOD OF MERCY, HE'S MY ABBA FATHER OR MY DADDY, HE'S THE LOVER OF MY SOUL, HE'S THE ONE WHO FORGIVES MY SIN, HE'S THE GOD OF LOVE WHO ACTIVELY LOVES ME AS AN INDIVIDUAL. LISTEN, WE ARE NO LONGER UNDER A DISPENSATION OF GOD'S JUDGEMENT THROUGH THE LAW BUT WE ARE NOW UNDER A DISPENSATION OF GOD'S MERCY AND GRACE. HE DOESN'T JUDGE OUR SINS BECAUSE HE ALREADY JUDGED THEM IN CHRIST AT CALVARY.

4. THE FOURTH THING THAT DETERMINES WHETHER WE HAVE GOD'S PERSPECTIVE FOR OUR LIFE IS: "HOW DO YOU SEE OTHERS?"

Matt 9:36

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad,

as sheep having no shepherd.

Matt 14:14

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Mark 1:39-41

39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee,

and cast out devils.

40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Luke 7:11-15

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her,

and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak.

And he delivered him to his mother.

IT WOULD APPEAR THROUGH TH FOUR GOSPELS THAT EVERY WHERE JESUS WENT HE SAW PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL AND HE WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION TOWARDS THEM. THE WIDOW OF NAIN JUST LOST HER ONLY SON AND THE FUNERAL PROCESSION IS GOING DOWN THE ROAD. JESUS HAPPENS ON IT AND SEES THE GRIEF OF THIS POOR MOTHER. SO HE STOPS THE PROCESSION AND MOVED WITH COMPASSION RAISES HER SON FROM THE DEAD. NOW HE DOES IT OUT OF COMPASSION FOR THIS GRIEVING MOTHER NOT TO PROVE HIS MESSIAHSHIP. LET'S LOOK AT ANOTHER ONE:

Luke 10:25-37

25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all t

hy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him,

and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way:

and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked

on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was:

and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more,

when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour

unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus

unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

NOW WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING HERE ABOUT THE JEWISH PEOPLE. THEY WERE VERY PREJUDICE AND BIAS IN THEIR OPINION AND PERSPECTIVE ON OTHERS, AFTER ALL THEY WERE GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE. THE SAMARITANS ON THE OTHER HAND WERE HALF BREED ISRAELITES AND THE JEWS DIDIN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THEM. IN FACT IF THEY WERE TAKING A TRIP THEY WOULD WALK AROUND SAMARIA EVEN THOUGH IT MIGHT BE SHORTER TO JUST WALK STRAIGHT THROUGH IT TO THEIR DESTINATION. SO HERE JESUS IS MAKING AN ILLUSTRATION TO THE JEWS. THERE IS A MAN THAT HAS JUST BEEN CAR JACKED SITTING AND BLEEDING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. A JEWISH HIGH PRIEST SEES IT AND WALKS RIGHT BY. A LEVITE WALKED BY AND SAW IT AND HE THOUGHT IT WAS DISGUSTING AND WENT AND PREACHED A MESSAGE ON CRIME RISING IN THE STREETS AND VIOLENCE IN OUR CULTURE. BUT NOBODY STOPPED TO DO ANYTHING FOR THIS MAN. THEN THE SAMARITAN CAME BY, THE OL HALF BREED, HE'S GOT A CASE OF BEER IN HIS BACK SEAT, HE'S GOT A MILLER HIGH LIFE BUMPER STICKER ON HIS CAR, HE'S GOT DICE HANGING FROM HIS REARVIEW MIRROR, HE'S SMOKING A MARLBORO AND HAS TATOOS ALL OVER HIS BODY AND HE STOPS THAT OLD 56 FORD BURNING OIL AND HELPS THE GUY. WHAT YOU THINK, JESUS IS PAINTING A PICTURE OF THIS HALF BREED SAMARITAN, HE'S A MINORITY AND HE'S LOATHSOME IN THEIR EYES BUT THIS MAN PICK THIS GUY UP, GETS BLOOD ON HIS CARSEAT AND TAKES HIM TO MOTEL 6 CLEANS HIS WOUNDS AND PAYS FOR HIS ROOM UNTIL HE GET BETTER. SO JESUS TOLD HIS JEWISH DISCIPLES NOT TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF THEIR RELIGIOUS LEADERS BUT TO LOOK ON OTHER PEOPLE IN NEED THROUGH THE EYES OF COMPASSION. NOW LET'S LOOK AT ANOTHER ONE:

Luke 15:20-24

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran,

and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

SO HERE WE SEE THE PRODIGAL SON WHO TAKES HIS INHERITANCE FROM HIS FATHER AND LAUNCHES HIS ACTING CAREER IN HOLLYWOOD. HE STARTS OFF PRETTY GOOD BUT THEN GETS IN WITH THE WRONG CROWD. HE STARTS TO PARTY AND USES ALL HIS MONEY ON DRUGS AND WOMEN AND ENDS UP IN A DRUB REHAB CENTER. BUT THEN HE COMES TO HIS RIGHT MIND AND DECIDES TO GO BACK HOME. AND HIS FATHER SEES HIM 2 BLOCKS FROM HOME AND GOES RUNNING OUT TO SEE HIS ERRING SON AND HAS COMPASSION ON HIM, SMOTHERS HIM WITH KISSES AND THROWS A PARTY TO WELCOME HIM HOME. YOU SEE JESUS'S PERSPECTIVE WAS COMPASSION FOR OTHERS BUT THAT'S NOT THE CHURCHES PERSPECTIVE. OH NO WE SAY SOMETHING LIKE, " WE KNEW YOU WERE PLAYING WITH FIRE AND WERE GONNA GET BURNED SOME DAY NOW YOU'LL JUST HAVE TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF THE FIX YOUR IN." THE CHURCH IS FULL OF MEAN, VINDICTIVE, CRITICAL AND JUDGMENTAL PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE AN OUNCE OF COMPASSION FOR OTHER PEOPLE.

1 Pet 3:8-12

8 And now this word to all of you: You should be like one big happy family, full of sympathy toward each other, loving one another

with tender hearts and humble minds.

9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't snap back at those who say unkind things about you. Instead, pray for God's help for them, for we are

to be kind to others, and God will bless us for it.

10 If you want a happy, good life, keep control of your tongue,

and guard your lips from telling lies.

11 Turn away from evil and do good. Try to live in peace even

if you must run after it to catch and hold it!

12 For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord's face is hard against those who do evil.

SO WHAT'S PETER SAYING HERE? WE HAVE TO SEE OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE. CAN YOU HAVE COMPASSION ON ANYONE BESIDES YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS. IF DONALD TRUMP WALKED INTO OUR CHURCH WITH HIS 3RD MISTRESS COULD WE HAVE COMPASSION ON HIM OR WOULD WE SAY SOMETHING LIKE, "MY GOD I CAN'T BELIEVE HE'S BROUGHT THAT SLUT IN HERE." CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS INSTEAD OF PRAYING FOR HIS SALVATION, PRAYING THAT HE'LL BE OPEN TO RECEIVING THE WORD AND THAT GOD WILL TOUCH HIS HEART." WE SHOULD BE THINKING HOW CAN WE MAKE HIM FEEL WELCOMED HERE AND FEEL AND ATMOSPHERE OF GRACE. SADLY, SOME WOULD BUT MOST WOULDN'T BUT THAT'S WHAT I'D WANT IF I WERE DONALD TRUMP. WELL, HE DUG HIS OWN DITCH LET HIM…...WAIT A MINUTE NOW, THAT'S NOT WHAT GOD SAID, HE SAID HAVE COMPASSION, RIGHT? I'M TRYING TO GET YOU OUT OF YOUR RELIGIOUS, HOLIER THAN THOU PERSPECTIVE. SURE HE'S DUG HIS DITCH AND WE'VE DUG OUR'S BUT GOD'S HAD SOME MERCY AND COMPASSION ON US AND SO SHOULD WE. IF AFTER JFK JR. DIED AND I SAW TED KENNEDY I'D HAVE NO PROBLEM SHOWING HIM SOME MERCY AND SYMPATHY EVEN THOUGH I MAY NOT BELIEVE IN HIS POLITICAL IDEOLOGY OR AGREE WITH HIS IMMORAL LIFE. IF GOD COULD SHOW MERCY TO HIM THEN HOW DARE ANY OF US NOT HAVE COMPASSION FOR HIM. THE CHURCH HAS TO CHANGE THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THEY SEE BOTH SINNERS AND CARNAL CHRISTIANS.

THESE 4 THINGS WILL DEVELOP GOD'S PERSPECTIVE FOR YOUR LIFE:

1. HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF.

2. HOW DO YOU SEE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

3. HOW DO YOU SEE GOD.

4. HOW DO YOU SEE OTHERS.

LET'S DESIRE TO SEE GOD'S PERSPECTIVE IN THESE FOUR AREAS OF OUR LIFE AND WE WILL BE CHANGED IN OUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, ATTITUDES AND OUR CHARACTER, CONDUCT BEHAVIOR WILL BECOME MORE LIKE GOD. THAT SHOULD BE THE DESIRE OF EVERY CHRISTIAN IN HERE THIS MORNING, TO BECOME MORE LIKE JESUS IN EVERYTHING WE SAY AND DO.