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Pastor Dennis

 TBA-3

1 Mar 2009 LOOK UNTO JESUS  

Ps Dennis Tan

As we face the storms of life, we need to look unto Jesus.

Hebrew 12:1-3

God Disciplines His Sons

 ¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Look At Jesus

Looking at Jesus  means looking away from people. Our journey of faith is like  race with a finish line. We will bring to pass many things when we consider His goodness  and His grace for he is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the author and finisher of our faith. Life is forward looking but the experiences of life can only be enjoyed/remembered by looking backwards. More often , the past and history of our life cannot  be changed including all the scars, hurts, past mistakes, decisions, our neglect of the  Lord ( in worship, prayer life, Word of God) or lack of devotion. We can, however, move forward and press on towards the future. God is not interested in the substance  but our conditions of the heart.

Psalms 119:11

 ¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
       that I might not sin against you.

This is how we ought to look at Jesus

Look back- thank Him

Look up -worship Him

Look forward- Trust Him

Look out- Honour Him

Look around- Serve Him

Look in- Find Him ( for His Holy Spirit dwell within us)

Look  far- Feel Him Close

Look straight – Walk with Him

Jesus came not to be served but to serve humanity. In the eyes of God we are all the same – all saved by His grace. We need to serve one another. We do not need to look far and wide for   pastors or other churches, start where you are. He who is within me is greater than he who is in the world.

Look at the world- distress

Look within – depress

Look to Christ- be at rest

With the anxiety and stresses of this world, who else can we look to. When you experience double storms, God  will grant  you double grace. When we are disappointed – we need to turn our eyes to Jesus.

Fanny Crosby- who is blind from birth wrote the beautiful song – All the way  my savior leads me. She recognize that life is a pilgrimage, and she will still choose to be born blind again, so that the first person she sees in heaven will be the Lord.  We who have eyes are blind to the lost souls. Even with vision, we lose sight of lost souls.

Crosby was never bitter about her disability. At the age of eight she wrote these verses about her condition:

Oh what a happy soul I am,

Although I cannot see;

I am resolved that in this world

Contented I will be.

How many blessings I enjoy,

That other people don't;

To weep and sigh because I'm blind,

I cannot, and I won't."

She later remarked:

It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.

She also once said, "when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"

She composed her poems and hymns entirely in her mind and then dictated them to someone else. She was said to work mentally on as many as twelve hymns at once before dictating them all out.

Like Peter, we have many fears about tomorrow,  finances, uncertainties, business, crisis and storms. In our moments of discouragement, depression and despondence,  lift up your eyes and look to Jesus and He will lead you – to victory, success, breakthroughs.

Matt 14:28-31

²⁸"Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water."

 ²⁹"Come," he said.

   Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

 ³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

Psalms 121:1

 ¹ I lift up my eyes to the hills—
       where does my help come from?

Look unto Jesus

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