1 00:00:00,460 --> 00:00:04,740 God and Father, what a glory it is 2 00:00:04,740 --> 00:00:08,420 to be here on a beautiful day, to 3 00:00:08,420 --> 00:00:11,480 have the privilege and the freedom and the 4 00:00:11,480 --> 00:00:14,580 responsibility of corporate worship. 5 00:00:15,580 --> 00:00:23,580 Lord, we are so blessed and so privileged, 6 00:00:24,580 --> 00:00:30,520 and thus we are truly responsible today to 7 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:35,940 draw near in faith, to worship You, to 8 00:00:35,940 --> 00:00:38,200 hear Your voice through Scripture by the Spirit, 9 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:42,060 to respond in our hearts in faith. 10 00:00:44,320 --> 00:00:49,200 Lord, in a few minutes from now, to 11 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:54,460 sing unto You and to share fellowship, thank 12 00:00:54,460 --> 00:00:55,360 You for this morning. 13 00:00:56,960 --> 00:01:00,780 We do remember Brother Michael in San Antonio. 14 00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:03,760 Lord, anoint Your Word through Your servant. 15 00:01:03,760 --> 00:01:06,900 Lord, send Your Spirit down upon Grace Community 16 00:01:06,900 --> 00:01:07,440 Church. 17 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,220 Bless Your Word with power there two times 18 00:01:12,220 --> 00:01:12,780 this morning. 19 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,300 Thank You, Father, that You are faithful and 20 00:01:17,300 --> 00:01:21,260 true, and Your purpose is to honor Your 21 00:01:21,260 --> 00:01:27,060 Word, to build Your Kingdom, to glorify Your 22 00:01:27,060 --> 00:01:30,380 Son, to build Your Church. 23 00:01:31,320 --> 00:01:34,200 We pray You do that this morning in 24 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:34,800 our midst. 25 00:01:36,300 --> 00:01:39,280 For His name's sake we pray, Amen. 26 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:45,520 Let's turn in the New Testament to two 27 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:46,040 places. 28 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:50,120 The first place we'll read is 1 Corinthians 29 00:01:50,120 --> 00:01:50,940 7. 30 00:01:52,960 --> 00:02:00,220 1 Corinthians 7, verses 29 through 31. 31 00:02:00,220 --> 00:02:08,669 1 Corinthians 7, 29. 32 00:02:10,570 --> 00:02:12,110 The Word of God. 33 00:02:13,810 --> 00:02:17,990 But this I say, brethren, the time is 34 00:02:17,990 --> 00:02:18,530 short. 35 00:02:19,290 --> 00:02:22,690 Let's just stop at that phrase and realize 36 00:02:22,690 --> 00:02:26,830 the significance that Paul is putting in here 37 00:02:26,830 --> 00:02:30,470 in this parenthesis in the context of many 38 00:02:30,470 --> 00:02:32,590 topics in 1 Corinthians 7. 39 00:02:32,590 --> 00:02:36,070 When he says the time is short, he's 40 00:02:36,070 --> 00:02:42,810 saying that God has worked providentially, supernaturally, historically 41 00:02:42,810 --> 00:02:48,050 to compact time in history to bring about 42 00:02:48,050 --> 00:02:50,890 redemptive purposes that are working out. 43 00:02:51,070 --> 00:02:54,350 It's an amazing phrase, and you could read 44 00:02:54,350 --> 00:02:55,710 more on that yourself. 45 00:02:56,770 --> 00:02:59,610 But he's saying the time is short. 46 00:02:59,610 --> 00:03:02,950 It's almost like he's saying the time has 47 00:03:02,950 --> 00:03:03,630 been shortened. 48 00:03:05,450 --> 00:03:07,170 So that, here's why. 49 00:03:07,970 --> 00:03:10,510 From now on, even those who have wives 50 00:03:10,510 --> 00:03:12,930 should be as those who have none. 51 00:03:14,750 --> 00:03:16,850 Those who weep as though they did not 52 00:03:16,850 --> 00:03:17,290 weep. 53 00:03:19,470 --> 00:03:21,690 Those who rejoice as though they did not 54 00:03:21,690 --> 00:03:22,270 rejoice. 55 00:03:23,050 --> 00:03:28,410 Those who buy, meaning doing business, as though 56 00:03:28,410 --> 00:03:30,010 they do not possess anything. 57 00:03:33,070 --> 00:03:36,410 And those who live in this world as 58 00:03:36,410 --> 00:03:37,710 not misusing it. 59 00:03:38,450 --> 00:03:40,430 In other words, who have to live in 60 00:03:40,430 --> 00:03:44,470 this world and function, but you don't become 61 00:03:44,470 --> 00:03:50,370 worldly and carnal and attach yourself to this 62 00:03:50,370 --> 00:03:54,190 earthly life and all that is tainted that 63 00:03:54,190 --> 00:03:55,130 comes with it. 64 00:03:55,190 --> 00:03:57,250 Not misusing it. 65 00:03:57,510 --> 00:03:57,790 Why? 66 00:03:58,450 --> 00:04:01,490 Because the form and the fashion of this 67 00:04:01,490 --> 00:04:04,970 world is passing away. 68 00:04:05,630 --> 00:04:07,270 Aren't we thankful for that? 69 00:04:08,050 --> 00:04:11,510 There will be a new heavens and a 70 00:04:11,510 --> 00:04:15,490 new earth wherein only dwells righteousness. 71 00:04:16,649 --> 00:04:18,510 David, we could take a road trip then 72 00:04:18,510 --> 00:04:18,870 together. 73 00:04:19,850 --> 00:04:22,150 We probably won't even need gas in the 74 00:04:22,150 --> 00:04:22,910 car, I don't know. 75 00:04:23,650 --> 00:04:25,730 But anyway, this world's passing away. 76 00:04:27,250 --> 00:04:31,310 Now fast forward to 2 Corinthians chapter 4. 77 00:04:31,310 --> 00:04:40,750 If that is all true, here is the 78 00:04:40,750 --> 00:04:43,910 perspective that the believer must have and walk 79 00:04:43,910 --> 00:04:44,230 in. 80 00:04:45,090 --> 00:04:49,370 2 Corinthians 4 beginning in verse 16 through 81 00:04:49,370 --> 00:04:49,830 18. 82 00:04:50,550 --> 00:04:55,810 Therefore we do not lose heart, even though 83 00:04:55,810 --> 00:04:59,310 our outward man is perishing, yet the inward 84 00:04:59,310 --> 00:05:02,250 man is being renewed day by day. 85 00:05:03,170 --> 00:05:06,450 For our light affliction, which is but for 86 00:05:06,450 --> 00:05:11,750 a moment, is working for us a far 87 00:05:11,750 --> 00:05:16,170 more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 88 00:05:17,610 --> 00:05:19,810 While we do not look at the things 89 00:05:19,810 --> 00:05:24,130 which are seen, but at the things which 90 00:05:24,130 --> 00:05:24,870 are not seen. 91 00:05:27,050 --> 00:05:29,250 For the things which are seen are temporary, 92 00:05:30,230 --> 00:05:32,770 but the things which are not seen are 93 00:05:32,770 --> 00:05:33,390 eternal. 94 00:05:33,890 --> 00:05:35,750 Now I want you to notice this connection. 95 00:05:36,830 --> 00:05:38,910 Even though our outward man is perishing, the 96 00:05:38,910 --> 00:05:44,170 outward man is connected to the seen realm. 97 00:05:44,990 --> 00:05:47,210 But the inward man that is being renewed 98 00:05:47,210 --> 00:05:51,290 is connected to the not seen realm. 99 00:05:52,250 --> 00:05:55,830 And Paul here says that we are to 100 00:05:55,830 --> 00:05:58,350 look, not at things that are seen, but 101 00:05:58,350 --> 00:05:59,450 at things that are unseen. 102 00:06:00,310 --> 00:06:01,890 William, how much have you been looking lately 103 00:06:01,890 --> 00:06:03,430 at invisible things? 104 00:06:04,530 --> 00:06:07,590 The Christian is to live that way, the 105 00:06:07,590 --> 00:06:08,530 apostle says. 106 00:06:09,490 --> 00:06:11,150 And so I want to speak this morning 107 00:06:11,150 --> 00:06:14,930 on seeing the unseen is what we need 108 00:06:14,930 --> 00:06:15,350 to see. 109 00:06:16,470 --> 00:06:21,230 Seeing the unseen is what we actually need 110 00:06:21,230 --> 00:06:21,950 to see. 111 00:06:21,950 --> 00:06:25,770 You know, the Old Testament prophets were always 112 00:06:25,770 --> 00:06:27,670 getting in trouble, weren't they? 113 00:06:27,710 --> 00:06:30,170 They were God's spiritual troublemakers. 114 00:06:31,150 --> 00:06:37,290 They were always rebuking the nation, preaching against 115 00:06:37,290 --> 00:06:41,730 idolatry, calling the people to renew their covenant 116 00:06:41,730 --> 00:06:42,290 with God. 117 00:06:43,090 --> 00:06:44,790 They were the spiritual troublemakers. 118 00:06:44,990 --> 00:06:45,590 They were hated. 119 00:06:46,210 --> 00:06:47,270 They were lied about. 120 00:06:47,810 --> 00:06:48,830 They were opposed. 121 00:06:48,830 --> 00:06:52,050 And often they were punished and killed. 122 00:06:53,670 --> 00:06:57,590 Elisha was the greatest miracle working prophet, really 123 00:06:57,590 --> 00:06:58,610 in all the Old Testament. 124 00:06:59,130 --> 00:07:00,970 He did twice the number of miracles that 125 00:07:00,970 --> 00:07:01,630 Elijah did. 126 00:07:02,930 --> 00:07:06,910 And he, like Elijah, they were wanted men, 127 00:07:07,050 --> 00:07:09,650 wanted by the king, wanted by soldiers. 128 00:07:10,630 --> 00:07:12,790 Always a bounty on their heads. 129 00:07:13,990 --> 00:07:17,230 So you remember the king of Assyria, the 130 00:07:17,230 --> 00:07:22,270 king of Syria, wanted to find Elisha. 131 00:07:24,450 --> 00:07:27,930 And one of the servants said, well, Elisha, 132 00:07:28,030 --> 00:07:31,550 he knows what you're doing behind closed walls. 133 00:07:31,790 --> 00:07:33,390 He even knows what you say in your 134 00:07:33,390 --> 00:07:33,730 bedroom. 135 00:07:34,530 --> 00:07:38,790 And then ironically, the king says, well, find 136 00:07:38,790 --> 00:07:39,350 out where he is. 137 00:07:39,390 --> 00:07:40,070 I want to get him. 138 00:07:40,190 --> 00:07:42,850 As if Elisha couldn't be prepared for that. 139 00:07:43,550 --> 00:07:45,510 So what does the king of Syria do? 140 00:07:45,510 --> 00:07:48,790 He sends a massive army to surround the 141 00:07:48,790 --> 00:07:53,830 city where Elisha and his servant was at 142 00:07:53,830 --> 00:07:54,530 night time. 143 00:07:54,650 --> 00:07:56,050 They come by stealth in the night. 144 00:07:56,430 --> 00:07:59,250 They surround the city with horses and soldiers. 145 00:07:59,770 --> 00:08:02,470 A big army with chariots. 146 00:08:02,710 --> 00:08:04,090 Very intimidating. 147 00:08:05,690 --> 00:08:07,670 And the servant goes out early in the 148 00:08:07,670 --> 00:08:10,530 morning and he sees that they're there. 149 00:08:10,850 --> 00:08:14,130 And his heart is fainting and fearing and 150 00:08:14,130 --> 00:08:14,510 panicking. 151 00:08:14,510 --> 00:08:16,590 And he runs in and he says, Master, 152 00:08:16,690 --> 00:08:17,430 what shall we do? 153 00:08:18,050 --> 00:08:19,930 And he tells Elisha. 154 00:08:21,650 --> 00:08:22,630 Elisha's calm. 155 00:08:23,150 --> 00:08:24,190 He says, don't fear. 156 00:08:25,630 --> 00:08:29,070 Those who are with us are more than 157 00:08:29,070 --> 00:08:30,050 those who are with them. 158 00:08:31,690 --> 00:08:33,309 And then what did Elisha pray? 159 00:08:34,250 --> 00:08:36,350 Lord, open his eyes. 160 00:08:38,190 --> 00:08:42,870 And suddenly, the servant's eyes were open when 161 00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:45,110 he went back outside and he saw a 162 00:08:45,110 --> 00:08:46,470 different bunch out there. 163 00:08:46,570 --> 00:08:47,270 What did he see? 164 00:08:47,370 --> 00:08:47,710 Do you remember? 165 00:08:48,310 --> 00:08:50,910 He saw other chariots of fire. 166 00:08:51,110 --> 00:08:56,670 He saw supernatural protection greater than the human 167 00:08:56,670 --> 00:08:59,790 army surrounding them. 168 00:09:01,950 --> 00:09:05,070 He saw the invisible reality. 169 00:09:05,170 --> 00:09:06,450 He saw the unseen. 170 00:09:07,930 --> 00:09:09,730 And it was because God had to open 171 00:09:09,730 --> 00:09:10,710 his eyes. 172 00:09:10,710 --> 00:09:16,270 We often only see primarily, we're shaped by, 173 00:09:16,410 --> 00:09:19,250 we're controlled by what our physical senses see, 174 00:09:19,350 --> 00:09:21,510 what we read in social media, in the 175 00:09:21,510 --> 00:09:24,670 newspaper, the news reports, what we see in 176 00:09:24,670 --> 00:09:26,710 the world and the dangers. 177 00:09:27,390 --> 00:09:32,970 We often are controlled by the seen rather 178 00:09:32,970 --> 00:09:34,710 than the unseen. 179 00:09:36,820 --> 00:09:40,620 So that's what Scripture calls us to, to 180 00:09:40,620 --> 00:09:41,620 see the unseen. 181 00:09:41,860 --> 00:09:45,280 That is to see reality in what's really 182 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,480 true beyond the veil of the physical. 183 00:09:49,940 --> 00:09:53,520 Because you see, beyond the warfare that goes 184 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,120 on in the earth, the physical realities among 185 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,280 men and kingdoms and nation and political parties 186 00:09:59,280 --> 00:10:03,800 and the cultural, beyond that, beyond the physical 187 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:08,120 eyes, there's an invisible reality greater than all 188 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,380 of it that's going on all the time. 189 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:13,480 Kingdoms in conflict. 190 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,160 The kingdom of God and the kingdoms of 191 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:18,600 Satan and the kingdom of man. 192 00:10:19,740 --> 00:10:27,500 And so, that's why Paul tells us, for 193 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:29,980 we look not at that which is seen, 194 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,660 but we look at that which is unseen. 195 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:37,340 We look not at that which just affects 196 00:10:37,340 --> 00:10:40,580 the outward man that's perishing, the temporal, this 197 00:10:40,580 --> 00:10:45,380 world passing away, but we must look increasingly 198 00:10:45,380 --> 00:10:48,800 with our focus and our perspective, a radical 199 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:53,600 perspective, to let the unseen shape our lives 200 00:10:54,340 --> 00:10:57,900 and govern our perspective more than anything in 201 00:10:57,900 --> 00:10:59,040 the earth that's seen. 202 00:11:00,740 --> 00:11:02,940 And I don't know about you, but I 203 00:11:02,940 --> 00:11:05,400 still have a long way to go in 204 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:09,200 not letting this world and what I see, 205 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:14,100 hear, and observe affect my faith and try 206 00:11:14,100 --> 00:11:16,600 to rob me and discourage me. 207 00:11:18,580 --> 00:11:21,140 Lord, open His eyes that He may see 208 00:11:22,710 --> 00:11:25,530 to see what's really true, to see the 209 00:11:25,530 --> 00:11:27,410 eternal and not just the temporal. 210 00:11:27,730 --> 00:11:30,330 This is why Hebrews 11 says what it 211 00:11:30,330 --> 00:11:31,270 says so often. 212 00:11:31,370 --> 00:11:31,910 Think about it. 213 00:11:31,910 --> 00:11:34,150 Faith is the evidence of what? 214 00:11:35,550 --> 00:11:38,330 Things not seen. 215 00:11:39,890 --> 00:11:45,150 Noah being warned about things not seen, moved 216 00:11:45,150 --> 00:11:46,110 with fear. 217 00:11:46,790 --> 00:11:49,530 The Christian is called to live by faith, 218 00:11:49,970 --> 00:11:53,350 not by seeing reality that is not earthly, 219 00:11:53,630 --> 00:11:55,190 temporal, or physical. 220 00:11:55,990 --> 00:12:00,870 To live by looking continually and increasingly at 221 00:12:00,870 --> 00:12:01,910 what is not seen. 222 00:12:03,450 --> 00:12:05,910 Now, we know, don't we, that the Christian 223 00:12:05,910 --> 00:12:09,330 lives in two worlds simultaneously. 224 00:12:09,770 --> 00:12:11,610 One that's seen, one that's not seen. 225 00:12:11,950 --> 00:12:14,810 The unbeliever only lives in one world. 226 00:12:15,710 --> 00:12:17,310 He only believes in one world. 227 00:12:17,590 --> 00:12:20,190 The one that's down here that physical eyes 228 00:12:20,190 --> 00:12:22,370 can see, that physical ears can hear. 229 00:12:23,170 --> 00:12:24,670 Earthly, physical experience. 230 00:12:24,770 --> 00:12:27,350 The unbeliever, that's the only world he knows 231 00:12:27,350 --> 00:12:28,310 anything about. 232 00:12:29,110 --> 00:12:31,750 The mind of the unbeliever is blind to 233 00:12:31,750 --> 00:12:32,690 spiritual reality. 234 00:12:33,090 --> 00:12:36,170 He can't enter or see the kingdom of 235 00:12:36,170 --> 00:12:40,250 God until he's regenerated and born again. 236 00:12:41,290 --> 00:12:44,690 But the believer lives simultaneously in both worlds. 237 00:12:45,330 --> 00:12:46,950 Now let's think about those two worlds. 238 00:12:47,070 --> 00:12:49,370 What's true about both of them? 239 00:12:49,870 --> 00:12:52,090 Well, the seen is physical. 240 00:12:52,870 --> 00:12:53,970 It's visible. 241 00:12:53,970 --> 00:12:55,730 It's tangible. 242 00:12:56,530 --> 00:12:59,570 It's connected with all five of our senses. 243 00:13:00,550 --> 00:13:03,470 It's temporary, dangerous, and deceptive. 244 00:13:03,930 --> 00:13:07,750 And it is, Paul says, and John the 245 00:13:07,750 --> 00:13:10,930 Apostle says in 1 John, it's passing away. 246 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,480 The unseen is spiritual and invisible. 247 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:20,340 And it's a greater reality. 248 00:13:20,500 --> 00:13:22,220 It's not experienced through our senses. 249 00:13:22,220 --> 00:13:26,740 It's experienced through a regenerated heart that sees 250 00:13:26,740 --> 00:13:29,760 spiritual truth through a renewed mind that views 251 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,200 all things through God's perspective and God's truth. 252 00:13:34,240 --> 00:13:38,720 The unseen is true and spiritually eternal. 253 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:42,100 And unlike the seen, it's not passing away. 254 00:13:42,340 --> 00:13:43,540 It's here to stay. 255 00:13:43,900 --> 00:13:44,840 It's eternal. 256 00:13:46,340 --> 00:13:50,180 Which world, the seen or unseen, is more 257 00:13:50,180 --> 00:13:50,480 real? 258 00:13:53,130 --> 00:13:56,050 And which one is more real to you 259 00:13:56,050 --> 00:13:57,790 and me? 260 00:13:59,530 --> 00:14:02,790 Is this world, and all you see, feel, 261 00:14:02,930 --> 00:14:06,890 smell, touch, taste, experience, is this world more 262 00:14:06,890 --> 00:14:09,690 real to you than the unseen world? 263 00:14:10,690 --> 00:14:15,150 Lord, open His eyes. 264 00:14:15,970 --> 00:14:18,090 Open her eyes to see. 265 00:14:19,370 --> 00:14:19,470 It's visible. 266 00:14:19,810 --> 00:14:22,370 It's right out there and that's real. 267 00:14:22,370 --> 00:14:26,370 It's far greater than the physical world. 268 00:14:27,490 --> 00:14:29,750 Which one is lasting and which one will 269 00:14:29,750 --> 00:14:30,450 soon be gone? 270 00:14:30,970 --> 00:14:34,030 It's the unseen that is to be real 271 00:14:34,030 --> 00:14:35,350 to every Christian. 272 00:14:36,670 --> 00:14:39,850 It's the unseen we're to believe more than 273 00:14:39,850 --> 00:14:42,190 the seen that's down here. 274 00:14:43,250 --> 00:14:47,830 The question is, what kind of eyes do 275 00:14:47,830 --> 00:14:48,430 I have? 276 00:14:49,270 --> 00:14:52,350 What kind of eyes do you have? 277 00:14:53,250 --> 00:14:56,350 What kind of lenses of your mind and 278 00:14:56,350 --> 00:14:59,450 heart do you view this world in all 279 00:14:59,450 --> 00:15:04,570 its vanity, all its wickedness, all its corruption, 280 00:15:05,210 --> 00:15:09,250 all its alluring pull to lust and covet 281 00:15:09,250 --> 00:15:13,290 and get greedy and have power plays to 282 00:15:13,290 --> 00:15:16,130 be somebody in this world and to accomplish 283 00:15:16,130 --> 00:15:16,830 much? 284 00:15:17,570 --> 00:15:19,910 All that the world pulls us to and 285 00:15:19,910 --> 00:15:22,030 wants us to see, do we have eyes 286 00:15:22,030 --> 00:15:25,790 to see it correctly or are we blinded 287 00:15:25,790 --> 00:15:29,770 by it and therefore we don't see the 288 00:15:29,770 --> 00:15:31,730 unseen enough? 289 00:15:32,250 --> 00:15:36,190 Paul says, just as a declarative statement, we 290 00:15:36,190 --> 00:15:40,330 look not at things that are seen, but 291 00:15:40,330 --> 00:15:43,030 we look at things that are unseen. 292 00:15:43,030 --> 00:15:47,350 And then he unfolds that in a parallel 293 00:15:47,350 --> 00:15:49,410 way in 1 Corinthians 7. 294 00:15:49,790 --> 00:15:52,290 So go back there to that passage we 295 00:15:52,290 --> 00:15:58,010 read, verse 29, and he unfolds really because 296 00:15:58,010 --> 00:16:03,810 the seen is passing away and we're not 297 00:16:03,810 --> 00:16:05,810 to look at it, he wants us to 298 00:16:05,810 --> 00:16:09,070 see how we're to live and look at 299 00:16:09,070 --> 00:16:12,670 everything we experience in the earthly realm. 300 00:16:13,250 --> 00:16:14,550 Some of you are married. 301 00:16:15,330 --> 00:16:17,110 Some of you want to be married. 302 00:16:17,990 --> 00:16:19,650 Some of you are a long ways from 303 00:16:19,650 --> 00:16:20,090 marriage. 304 00:16:20,890 --> 00:16:23,410 Some of you work at good jobs. 305 00:16:24,830 --> 00:16:27,490 Some of you don't know what you're going 306 00:16:27,490 --> 00:16:28,670 to do as far as work in the 307 00:16:28,670 --> 00:16:28,970 future. 308 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,680 Some of you own businesses. 309 00:16:35,920 --> 00:16:37,700 Others work for businesses. 310 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:42,260 But we all live and function in this 311 00:16:42,260 --> 00:16:42,760 world. 312 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:47,760 As Paul said there, we have to use 313 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:50,180 this world by living in it, but we're 314 00:16:50,180 --> 00:16:52,020 not to abuse this world. 315 00:16:52,780 --> 00:16:56,300 So 1 Corinthians 7 tells us the what 316 00:16:56,300 --> 00:16:59,880 and why about learning to live by what 317 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:01,340 is not seen. 318 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:06,480 In those verses, 29-31, Paul lumps together 319 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:07,900 all of life. 320 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:08,920 It's amazing. 321 00:17:09,700 --> 00:17:14,220 The thing he says there in putting it 322 00:17:14,220 --> 00:17:18,480 all together, in verse 29, just look at 323 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:18,859 it again. 324 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,359 He says the time has been shortened so 325 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:27,079 that from now on, here's the perspective we 326 00:17:27,079 --> 00:17:28,380 must live with. 327 00:17:28,740 --> 00:17:30,400 It's an unseen perspective. 328 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:32,180 An eternal perspective. 329 00:17:32,600 --> 00:17:36,220 It's not governed by living life down here 330 00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:37,520 by the seen. 331 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:39,780 Notice what he says. 332 00:17:42,340 --> 00:17:46,700 Those who are married should live with a 333 00:17:46,700 --> 00:17:50,820 bigger perspective as if they weren't married. 334 00:17:52,540 --> 00:17:58,200 Those who weep and have sorrows must have 335 00:17:58,200 --> 00:18:00,680 the perspective that they're not always going to 336 00:18:00,680 --> 00:18:00,900 weep. 337 00:18:01,860 --> 00:18:05,580 Those who have great joys must realize that 338 00:18:05,580 --> 00:18:08,420 the joys, the earthly joys, are only temporary. 339 00:18:08,820 --> 00:18:10,920 Those who rejoice as though they did not 340 00:18:10,920 --> 00:18:11,340 rejoice. 341 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,080 Those who buy, do business as though they 342 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:15,260 don't possess anything. 343 00:18:16,380 --> 00:18:19,080 And those who use this world is not 344 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:19,880 misusing it. 345 00:18:20,380 --> 00:18:23,620 Why should we be that way? 346 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:29,940 Because all that's earthly and physical and temporal 347 00:18:29,940 --> 00:18:33,800 and verse 31 says it is all passing 348 00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:34,240 away. 349 00:18:35,140 --> 00:18:37,240 Now let's just think about that. 350 00:18:38,540 --> 00:18:39,260 Marriage. 351 00:18:40,140 --> 00:18:41,580 Human sorrows. 352 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:42,880 The worst of them. 353 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:44,520 The loss of a baby. 354 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:46,780 The loss of a loved parent. 355 00:18:48,180 --> 00:18:48,900 Tragedies. 356 00:18:49,500 --> 00:18:53,180 The deepest human sorrows and the greatest joys. 357 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:55,260 Having your first baby. 358 00:18:55,900 --> 00:18:56,400 Marriage. 359 00:18:57,240 --> 00:18:58,520 Seeing a child converted. 360 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:03,620 Seeing God do amazing things that produces inexpressible 361 00:19:03,620 --> 00:19:04,120 joy. 362 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,320 The greatest sorrows and the greatest joys. 363 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:13,120 Your career and what it will do for 364 00:19:13,120 --> 00:19:13,700 your family. 365 00:19:14,180 --> 00:19:15,220 Your income and your business. 366 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:16,620 All that you possess. 367 00:19:16,880 --> 00:19:18,360 When Linda and I got married in May 368 00:19:18,360 --> 00:19:22,060 of 78 and that winter we moved to 369 00:19:22,060 --> 00:19:22,800 Fort Worth. 370 00:19:24,630 --> 00:19:27,030 We had a little car and the smallest 371 00:19:27,030 --> 00:19:29,330 U-Haul trailer you could have. 372 00:19:29,330 --> 00:19:31,390 And everything we owned was in it. 373 00:19:32,710 --> 00:19:34,470 A small U-Haul trailer now? 374 00:19:36,130 --> 00:19:37,170 No, possessions. 375 00:19:37,810 --> 00:19:39,090 They accrue, don't they, Ian? 376 00:19:39,890 --> 00:19:41,330 I mean, possessions. 377 00:19:41,910 --> 00:19:42,470 Stuff. 378 00:19:43,830 --> 00:19:47,110 It grows like mold in families. 379 00:19:47,510 --> 00:19:48,790 Where does it come from? 380 00:19:49,250 --> 00:19:51,110 The bigger your family gets, the more you 381 00:19:51,110 --> 00:19:51,330 go. 382 00:19:52,050 --> 00:19:52,930 The more you have to live. 383 00:19:53,850 --> 00:19:54,870 So, possessions. 384 00:19:54,870 --> 00:19:55,210 Possessions. 385 00:19:56,850 --> 00:20:01,370 Paul says we must live as if we 386 00:20:01,370 --> 00:20:03,130 really don't own anything after all. 387 00:20:03,770 --> 00:20:04,010 Why? 388 00:20:05,430 --> 00:20:07,810 Because that U-Haul is not going with 389 00:20:07,810 --> 00:20:08,890 us to glory. 390 00:20:09,730 --> 00:20:13,830 We'll take nothing but what is eternal and 391 00:20:13,830 --> 00:20:14,210 spiritual. 392 00:20:16,770 --> 00:20:19,230 So, all that he says here, how you 393 00:20:19,230 --> 00:20:20,970 live your life in this short period of 394 00:20:20,970 --> 00:20:24,610 earthly existence and all those things, all of 395 00:20:24,610 --> 00:20:28,570 that in Paul's few words summarizes the temporal, 396 00:20:28,890 --> 00:20:31,850 the earthly, the seen, the here and now. 397 00:20:33,940 --> 00:20:34,980 What eyes can see. 398 00:20:36,220 --> 00:20:37,860 What ears can hear. 399 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:39,180 What the nose can smell. 400 00:20:39,540 --> 00:20:40,660 What our hands can touch. 401 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:43,500 The places that our feet can take us. 402 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,900 What emotions can be experienced. 403 00:20:47,340 --> 00:20:48,780 What money can buy. 404 00:20:50,060 --> 00:20:54,420 The present life for the Christian should not 405 00:20:54,420 --> 00:20:56,360 be marked by the seen. 406 00:20:56,620 --> 00:20:58,440 It must be marked by the unseen. 407 00:20:59,380 --> 00:21:01,360 Marked by an eternal perspective. 408 00:21:01,940 --> 00:21:02,440 And you know what? 409 00:21:02,460 --> 00:21:03,280 It already is. 410 00:21:03,560 --> 00:21:05,840 Our lives are already marked by eternity. 411 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:11,220 We're already in eternal kingdom realities. 412 00:21:12,300 --> 00:21:15,000 We now possess eternal life, don't we, as 413 00:21:15,000 --> 00:21:15,420 a Christian. 414 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:17,580 We've got it now. 415 00:21:17,700 --> 00:21:19,960 Our sins are already forgiven. 416 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,600 Now we're the sons of God. 417 00:21:24,100 --> 00:21:26,480 We have passed from death to life. 418 00:21:28,870 --> 00:21:30,830 We're heirs of God and join heirs with 419 00:21:30,830 --> 00:21:31,490 Jesus Christ. 420 00:21:31,830 --> 00:21:33,950 Our life is hidden with Christ in God 421 00:21:33,950 --> 00:21:37,910 and we are already glorified, Romans 8 says. 422 00:21:39,270 --> 00:21:45,210 This amazing reality that the unseen is what 423 00:21:45,210 --> 00:21:48,610 marks our life much greater than anything that's 424 00:21:48,610 --> 00:21:50,790 seen down here below. 425 00:21:50,790 --> 00:21:53,310 In other words, the reason is eschatological. 426 00:21:53,970 --> 00:21:56,530 This present world is passing away. 427 00:21:57,310 --> 00:22:00,930 And all marriage and family and possessions and 428 00:22:00,930 --> 00:22:06,090 houses and cars and 401ks and everything under 429 00:22:06,090 --> 00:22:09,590 the sun that we as believers experience for 430 00:22:09,590 --> 00:22:12,610 decades will be gone. 431 00:22:14,550 --> 00:22:15,750 Michael, we're going to heaven. 432 00:22:16,470 --> 00:22:18,490 Just us with Jesus. 433 00:22:19,530 --> 00:22:23,130 Angels will carry us there and we won't 434 00:22:23,130 --> 00:22:24,590 have any carry-on luggage. 435 00:22:25,690 --> 00:22:26,870 It's real. 436 00:22:28,330 --> 00:22:29,590 It's eschatological. 437 00:22:30,090 --> 00:22:33,210 The form of this world, the present temporal 438 00:22:33,210 --> 00:22:37,370 system of this world is passing away. 439 00:22:37,710 --> 00:22:41,130 And the danger is why Paul says we've 440 00:22:41,130 --> 00:22:43,550 got to look at things not seen rather 441 00:22:43,550 --> 00:22:45,750 than things that are seen is because of 442 00:22:45,750 --> 00:22:54,090 the danger and enemy of earthly mindedness about 443 00:22:54,090 --> 00:22:56,930 marriage, singleness, jobs, relationships, possessions. 444 00:22:57,570 --> 00:23:01,610 Earthly mindedness, not those things, but earthly mindedness 445 00:23:01,610 --> 00:23:07,250 about this world is damaging, hindering, and controlling 446 00:23:07,570 --> 00:23:11,410 and it hinders our spiritual mindedness and our 447 00:23:11,410 --> 00:23:12,350 heavenly... 448 00:23:12,350 --> 00:23:16,470 It clouds the eyes of seeing the unseen. 449 00:23:17,470 --> 00:23:21,970 Earthly mindedness puts spiritual cataracts over your eyes 450 00:23:21,970 --> 00:23:26,430 and you will not see spiritual reality clearly 451 00:23:27,350 --> 00:23:32,670 with earthly mindedness causing us to only primarily 452 00:23:33,390 --> 00:23:36,590 be dominated by things we see in the 453 00:23:36,590 --> 00:23:36,850 earth. 454 00:23:40,510 --> 00:23:42,570 Doesn't it still try to shape how we 455 00:23:42,570 --> 00:23:43,250 see things? 456 00:23:44,070 --> 00:23:45,830 If we're honest, it does. 457 00:23:46,550 --> 00:23:47,530 How we see everything. 458 00:23:48,260 --> 00:23:52,590 Our past and our present even regarding earthly 459 00:23:52,590 --> 00:23:52,930 life. 460 00:23:53,050 --> 00:23:55,470 Our past and our present tries with all 461 00:23:55,470 --> 00:24:00,650 its might to rob us of spiritual clarity, 462 00:24:01,030 --> 00:24:05,190 of spiritual vision, of spiritual freshness, of being 463 00:24:05,190 --> 00:24:07,750 on the front line spiritually. 464 00:24:07,910 --> 00:24:09,750 We're in tune with the things of the 465 00:24:09,750 --> 00:24:12,030 Kingdom of God and you're marching forward. 466 00:24:12,510 --> 00:24:13,770 You're not on the fringe. 467 00:24:14,250 --> 00:24:15,790 You're not in neutral. 468 00:24:15,990 --> 00:24:17,650 You're not in second gear. 469 00:24:17,650 --> 00:24:18,450 You're in first gear. 470 00:24:18,510 --> 00:24:19,270 You're in forward. 471 00:24:19,630 --> 00:24:23,490 And you're moving on to see things clearly 472 00:24:23,490 --> 00:24:26,530 and walk by faith and not by what? 473 00:24:27,170 --> 00:24:27,810 Sight. 474 00:24:28,950 --> 00:24:32,410 We walk by faith and not by sight. 475 00:24:32,670 --> 00:24:36,270 We look at things not seen rather than 476 00:24:36,270 --> 00:24:37,930 things that are seen. 477 00:24:38,350 --> 00:24:43,350 And the new is our reality that must 478 00:24:43,350 --> 00:24:47,570 control and shape our lives because we are 479 00:24:47,570 --> 00:24:51,330 marked by seeing the unseen, marked by eternity, 480 00:24:51,830 --> 00:24:54,470 and not marked anymore by time. 481 00:24:54,690 --> 00:24:59,430 We're pilgrims and strangers in the earth only 482 00:24:59,430 --> 00:25:01,590 passing through. 483 00:25:04,590 --> 00:25:07,830 Now brethren, the more that happens in this 484 00:25:07,830 --> 00:25:11,830 world, in this county, in this state, in 485 00:25:11,830 --> 00:25:15,170 this country, and in this world, that seems 486 00:25:15,170 --> 00:25:19,430 urgent to the natural mind, to the thinking 487 00:25:19,430 --> 00:25:21,050 mind as we hear news and we see 488 00:25:21,050 --> 00:25:23,890 things, more that seems urgent and dangerous and 489 00:25:23,890 --> 00:25:29,260 critical in the seen realm, in the culture, 490 00:25:29,860 --> 00:25:34,800 in politics, in society, toward the church and 491 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:39,960 society, toward the church and the kingdom, in 492 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:43,940 this world which are kingdoms in conflict, they'll 493 00:25:43,940 --> 00:25:45,540 never be reconciled. 494 00:25:49,870 --> 00:25:53,030 It's all in the category of things seen, 495 00:25:53,110 --> 00:25:56,950 the physical and earthly, the now, the all 496 00:25:56,950 --> 00:26:02,090 around us we see, the physical like Elisha's 497 00:26:02,090 --> 00:26:06,850 servant saw, but not seeing the invisible like 498 00:26:06,850 --> 00:26:08,670 Elisha did. 499 00:26:09,810 --> 00:26:14,190 Our eyes, brothers and sisters, must continually be 500 00:26:14,190 --> 00:26:16,730 opened daily. 501 00:26:19,130 --> 00:26:21,750 The outward man perishes, but the inward man 502 00:26:21,750 --> 00:26:23,650 is what? 503 00:26:24,330 --> 00:26:25,590 Renewed, how often? 504 00:26:26,030 --> 00:26:27,490 Day by day. 505 00:26:28,530 --> 00:26:32,370 Eyes to see, to view things rightly in 506 00:26:32,370 --> 00:26:33,750 the unseen world. 507 00:26:35,370 --> 00:26:38,570 Paul says we don't lose heart because we 508 00:26:38,570 --> 00:26:40,170 look not at that which is seen. 509 00:26:40,170 --> 00:26:43,890 It's all earthly, temporal, and passing. 510 00:26:45,350 --> 00:26:50,590 And he says we don't live by sight. 511 00:26:50,770 --> 00:26:52,350 We live by faith. 512 00:26:52,430 --> 00:26:57,410 It's the unseen that is greater, that is 513 00:26:57,410 --> 00:27:00,070 more important, and that is lasting. 514 00:27:02,230 --> 00:27:07,750 Abraham went out not knowing in what geographical 515 00:27:07,750 --> 00:27:10,190 location they would land at. 516 00:27:11,530 --> 00:27:12,930 Kind of feel sorry for Sarah. 517 00:27:14,070 --> 00:27:14,910 Where are we going? 518 00:27:15,670 --> 00:27:16,650 I don't know yet. 519 00:27:17,510 --> 00:27:18,370 When are we going to know we're there? 520 00:27:18,890 --> 00:27:19,890 I don't know that either. 521 00:27:21,290 --> 00:27:23,790 But Abraham went out not knowing whether he 522 00:27:23,790 --> 00:27:24,270 was going. 523 00:27:26,790 --> 00:27:30,390 Sarah could see no way to have a 524 00:27:30,390 --> 00:27:30,710 baby. 525 00:27:31,070 --> 00:27:32,730 And humanly there wasn't a way. 526 00:27:33,170 --> 00:27:34,330 But you know how she had a baby? 527 00:27:34,330 --> 00:27:38,430 She had a baby by considering Him, by 528 00:27:38,430 --> 00:27:41,010 seeing Him who had promised. 529 00:27:44,450 --> 00:27:47,250 Faith conceives children. 530 00:27:48,290 --> 00:27:49,510 Faith moves kingdoms. 531 00:27:50,070 --> 00:27:52,450 Faith raises the spiritual dead. 532 00:27:53,010 --> 00:28:00,710 Faith accomplishes impossible things that God wants accomplished 533 00:28:01,990 --> 00:28:06,470 in the lives of those who live based 534 00:28:06,470 --> 00:28:07,490 on what they don't see. 535 00:28:10,130 --> 00:28:13,990 Moses saw the invisible reproach of Christ greater 536 00:28:13,990 --> 00:28:17,270 than the visible treasures of Egypt. 537 00:28:18,150 --> 00:28:22,130 And the Bible says he endured by what? 538 00:28:22,750 --> 00:28:26,310 Seeing Him who is invisible. 539 00:28:27,110 --> 00:28:31,990 How clearly and increasingly, dear brothers and sisters, 540 00:28:32,430 --> 00:28:36,050 do you see the invisible God? 541 00:28:40,610 --> 00:28:42,350 Hebrews 12 reminds us. 542 00:28:42,850 --> 00:28:45,330 Look, it's kind of like the writer of 543 00:28:45,330 --> 00:28:46,750 Hebrews begins to summarize. 544 00:28:48,010 --> 00:28:50,850 He writes through 11, and then at 12 545 00:28:50,850 --> 00:28:53,350 he begins to say, okay, look, here's the 546 00:28:53,350 --> 00:28:53,590 deal. 547 00:28:55,810 --> 00:28:57,910 Because we're surrounded by so great a cloud 548 00:28:57,910 --> 00:29:00,150 of witnesses, what should we do? 549 00:29:00,950 --> 00:29:01,810 How should we live? 550 00:29:04,550 --> 00:29:09,070 Let's lay aside every weight and the sin 551 00:29:09,070 --> 00:29:12,910 that so easily besets us and let us 552 00:29:12,910 --> 00:29:15,770 run the race with patience and endurance. 553 00:29:16,310 --> 00:29:17,250 What's the next phrase? 554 00:29:18,610 --> 00:29:19,230 Looking. 555 00:29:20,810 --> 00:29:22,370 Looking unto Jesus. 556 00:29:23,510 --> 00:29:24,650 The invisible God. 557 00:29:25,330 --> 00:29:29,350 One day, our physical glorified eyes will behold 558 00:29:29,350 --> 00:29:31,590 Him and we'll see Him as He is 559 00:29:31,590 --> 00:29:32,670 and we'll be like Him. 560 00:29:33,290 --> 00:29:35,730 But until then, the eyes of faith, we're 561 00:29:35,730 --> 00:29:37,630 looking unto Jesus. 562 00:29:37,770 --> 00:29:38,750 And we see Him. 563 00:29:39,750 --> 00:29:40,730 Our hearts see Him. 564 00:29:40,810 --> 00:29:44,350 Our minds know how glorious and beautiful He 565 00:29:44,350 --> 00:29:44,790 is. 566 00:29:46,050 --> 00:29:48,910 In the world, the scene will rob us 567 00:29:50,330 --> 00:29:54,490 of seeing the unseen Christ who to those 568 00:29:54,490 --> 00:29:56,990 who believe, He is what? 569 00:29:57,590 --> 00:29:58,390 Precious. 570 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:03,660 This is what Paul prayed for in Ephesians 571 00:30:03,660 --> 00:30:04,000 1. 572 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:05,040 Remember? 573 00:30:05,880 --> 00:30:08,940 He prayed for the Ephesians and for us 574 00:30:08,940 --> 00:30:11,880 because it's written in Scripture that the Father 575 00:30:11,880 --> 00:30:14,780 of glory may give you what? 576 00:30:16,000 --> 00:30:21,280 The spirit of wisdom and revelation in the 577 00:30:21,280 --> 00:30:27,280 knowledge of Him that the eyes of your 578 00:30:27,280 --> 00:30:29,460 understanding may be enlightened. 579 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:32,240 Seeing the unseen. 580 00:30:33,220 --> 00:30:38,960 The eyes of Elisha's servant were enlightened and 581 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:43,180 he saw what was there before but he 582 00:30:43,180 --> 00:30:44,320 didn't have eyes to see it. 583 00:30:45,420 --> 00:30:47,800 The eyes of our understanding must be enlightened 584 00:30:47,800 --> 00:30:53,600 about marriage, about raising children, about work, about 585 00:30:53,600 --> 00:30:57,540 possessions, about living in this world and not 586 00:30:57,540 --> 00:31:01,340 letting it affect us or us abuse it. 587 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:06,620 All of life must be lived and walked 588 00:31:06,620 --> 00:31:10,780 through by seeing the invisible. 589 00:31:11,820 --> 00:31:13,480 Who wants to see better? 590 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:15,580 I'm a candidate. 591 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:20,300 Do you live by what you see? 592 00:31:20,820 --> 00:31:22,220 Or do you live by faith? 593 00:31:24,560 --> 00:31:26,700 Do you live by looking normally? 594 00:31:27,060 --> 00:31:29,540 Because you just haven't trained yourself enough? 595 00:31:30,000 --> 00:31:32,700 You haven't become serious minded enough? 596 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:35,720 Do you live by looking at what is 597 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:36,460 not seen? 598 00:31:38,610 --> 00:31:41,890 Or do you live by looking at Him 599 00:31:41,890 --> 00:31:43,610 who is invisible? 600 00:31:44,590 --> 00:31:46,610 Brian prayed it this morning. 601 00:31:46,610 --> 00:31:48,330 Did you hear what he prayed? 602 00:31:49,030 --> 00:31:51,910 Lord, remove anything that would block our vision. 603 00:31:53,650 --> 00:31:55,490 And when he prayed that, my heart said 604 00:31:55,490 --> 00:31:58,030 yes, this is what I'm supposed to preach 605 00:31:58,030 --> 00:31:58,230 on. 606 00:31:58,330 --> 00:32:01,330 Lord, remove anything that would block our vision. 607 00:32:01,450 --> 00:32:02,550 Can you pray that today? 608 00:32:03,150 --> 00:32:04,290 Can you pray it as you go home? 609 00:32:04,370 --> 00:32:06,850 Can you make that a prayer this week? 610 00:32:07,110 --> 00:32:09,170 If we just prayed that prayer all week 611 00:32:09,170 --> 00:32:12,110 from our hearts, who knows what would happen? 612 00:32:14,620 --> 00:32:17,900 We might see angels surrounding us on the 613 00:32:17,900 --> 00:32:18,380 freeway. 614 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:24,380 Brethren, blessed are the eyes that see. 615 00:32:25,940 --> 00:32:28,140 Blessed are those who walk by faith and 616 00:32:28,140 --> 00:32:28,760 not by sight. 617 00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:31,880 Blessed is the one who makes the invisible 618 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:35,200 God of Jacob His trust. 619 00:32:41,870 --> 00:32:47,020 If this is in our hearts, as individual 620 00:32:47,020 --> 00:32:50,820 believers and as a church body, we have 621 00:32:50,820 --> 00:32:52,500 a path to walk. 622 00:32:52,780 --> 00:32:54,540 We have a kingdom to build. 623 00:32:54,540 --> 00:32:57,440 We have a gospel to take forth. 624 00:32:57,900 --> 00:32:59,960 We have a church to edify. 625 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:02,780 We have missions to do. 626 00:33:03,540 --> 00:33:06,180 We have more praying than ever to do. 627 00:33:06,920 --> 00:33:09,800 And we will not do it the more 628 00:33:09,800 --> 00:33:10,920 we look at things seen. 629 00:33:12,540 --> 00:33:13,680 Lord, open our eyes. 630 00:33:14,940 --> 00:33:19,000 And remove anything that blocks our vision. 631 00:33:19,540 --> 00:33:25,040 Make us like Elisha's servant that not seeing, 632 00:33:27,020 --> 00:33:29,820 we're seeing more and more all the time. 633 00:33:31,620 --> 00:33:34,120 Let's bow and pray together. 634 00:33:35,960 --> 00:33:37,980 We're going to pray right now and then 635 00:33:37,980 --> 00:33:40,940 after we pray, we'll have some announcements and 636 00:33:40,940 --> 00:33:42,400 then we're going to sing. 637 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:44,600 But right now, let's seek the Lord. 638 00:33:45,060 --> 00:33:47,700 I want you right now before the Lord 639 00:33:47,700 --> 00:33:51,380 to pray back to Him what He said 640 00:33:51,380 --> 00:33:52,260 to you this morning. 641 00:33:53,830 --> 00:33:55,970 Just tell Him. 642 00:33:57,190 --> 00:34:01,690 Respond to Him in prayer about what He's 643 00:34:01,690 --> 00:34:02,610 made real to you. 644 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:12,040 Father, You see us perfectly. 645 00:34:21,810 --> 00:34:26,570 And we do not see as we ought 646 00:34:26,570 --> 00:34:29,409 to yet see. 647 00:34:29,570 --> 00:34:32,690 We confess, Lord, Lord, we have a vision 648 00:34:32,690 --> 00:34:33,230 problem. 649 00:34:37,020 --> 00:34:39,040 We pray that You would work in us 650 00:34:39,040 --> 00:34:44,000 deeply and continually more and more open the 651 00:34:44,000 --> 00:34:46,739 eyes of our understanding that we would be 652 00:34:46,739 --> 00:34:52,800 enlightened to see more clearly, first and foremost, 653 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:56,100 the living God and our great God and 654 00:34:56,100 --> 00:34:57,300 Savior Jesus Christ. 655 00:34:57,480 --> 00:35:00,140 That we would look unto Him and run 656 00:35:00,140 --> 00:35:00,680 the race. 657 00:35:02,400 --> 00:35:04,980 And Lord, we would more and more look 658 00:35:04,980 --> 00:35:07,040 not at things that are seen but at 659 00:35:07,040 --> 00:35:07,880 things that are unseen. 660 00:35:09,740 --> 00:35:15,760 So apply this to us today and sanctify 661 00:35:15,760 --> 00:35:19,100 Your truth in our minds, in our hearts, 662 00:35:19,260 --> 00:35:24,120 in our spirits deeply that we would be 663 00:35:24,120 --> 00:35:30,620 transformed transformed into this image by the Spirit. 664 00:35:32,790 --> 00:35:40,390 Lord, make us increasingly like Elisha and less 665 00:35:40,390 --> 00:35:41,770 and less like His servant. 666 00:35:45,850 --> 00:35:50,970 Open our eyes that we might see the 667 00:35:50,970 --> 00:35:51,430 unseen. 668 00:35:52,370 --> 00:35:54,010 In Jesus' name we pray. 669 00:35:54,350 --> 00:35:54,750 Amen.