Seeing Clearly: Embracing God's New Beginnings
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound theme of perception and its critical role in our spiritual journey. Drawing from Isaiah 43:18-19, we delved into the importance of perceiving the new things God is doing in our lives. The children of Israel, during their time of exile, struggled with perception, unable to see the new deliverance God was promising them. This serves as a reminder that our perception can be clouded by past experiences, negative thinking, and fear, preventing us from embracing the new blessings God has in store.
Perception is not just about what we see with our eyes but also about understanding and interpreting the world around us. It is shaped by our upbringing, experiences, and biases, and can either be accurate or misleading. We shared illustrations to highlight how different perceptions can lead to different understandings of the same reality. Just as the students' drawings of Pastor Will varied based on their perceptions, our understanding of God, ourselves, and others can be similarly diverse.
We also discussed the barriers to perception, such as dwelling on the past, negative thinking, and fear, which can distort our view and hinder us from stepping into the new things God has for us. Wrong perceptions can lead to missed opportunities, broken relationships, and a negative self-view. It is crucial to align our thoughts, beliefs, and actions with God's perspective to fully embrace the new day He is offering.
To correct our perception, we must repent and seek to see through the eyes of faith, allowing God to open our spiritual eyes. By doing so, we can discern the new things God is doing and align our lives with His will. As we step into this new season, let us strive to perceive with clarity and embrace the fullness of God's promises.
Key Takeaways:
1. Perception Shapes Reality: Our perception influences how we interpret the world and can be clouded by past experiences and biases. It is essential to seek God's perspective to see clearly and embrace the new things He is doing in our lives. [01:13:37]
2. Barriers to Perception: Dwelling on the past, negative thinking, and fear can distort our perception and prevent us from seeing God's work. Overcoming these barriers requires aligning our thoughts and actions with God's truth. [01:30:25]
3. The Power of Spiritual Eyesight: Seeing with spiritual eyes allows us to discern God's new work in our lives. It requires faith and a willingness to look beyond physical obstacles to perceive God's promises. [01:56:33]
4. Repentance and Realignment: To correct wrong perceptions, we must repent and seek to see through the lens of the Spirit. This involves a change of mind and aligning our lives with God's revelation. [01:56:33]
5. Embracing the New Day: Perception is everything when stepping into a new season. By having the right perception, we can walk in the fullness of God's blessings and not miss the opportunities He presents. [01:30:25]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[28:04] - Worship and Praise
[36:12] - Celebrating Women
[51:21] - Sacrifices of Motherhood
[01:02:13] - Entering a New Day
[01:04:48] - The Power of Perception
[01:10:41] - Illustrations of Perception
[01:13:37] - Understanding Perception
[01:16:12] - Perception and Misunderstanding
[01:21:27] - Biblical Insights on Perception
[01:23:03] - Israel's Perception Problem
[01:30:25] - Barriers to Perception
[01:32:55] - Fear and Perception
[01:38:49] - Dangers of Wrong Perception
[01:56:33] - Correcting Our Perception
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Isaiah 43:18-19
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the main issue with the perception of the children of Israel during their time of exile, according to the sermon? [01:23:03]
2. How did the different drawings of Pastor Will illustrate the concept of perception in the sermon? [01:04:48]
3. What are some barriers to perception mentioned in the sermon, and how do they affect our ability to see God's work? [01:30:25]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of spiritual eyesight in perceiving God's new work in our lives? [01:56:33]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. Why is it important to align our perception with God's perspective, as discussed in the sermon? How does this alignment impact our spiritual journey? [01:13:37]
2. In what ways can past experiences cloud our perception of the new things God is doing, and how can we overcome this? [01:30:25]
3. How does the sermon suggest we can develop spiritual eyesight to better perceive God's promises? [01:56:33]
4. What does the sermon imply about the consequences of having a wrong perception of ourselves and others? [01:38:49]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when your perception was clouded by past experiences or negative thinking. How did it affect your ability to see God's work in your life? [01:30:25]
2. Identify a current situation where you might be holding onto a wrong perception. What steps can you take to align your perception with God's perspective? [01:13:37]
3. How can you actively seek to develop spiritual eyesight in your daily life? What practices or habits might help you see through the eyes of faith? [01:56:33]
4. Consider a relationship in your life that might be affected by wrong perceptions. How can you work towards understanding and seeing the person as God sees them? [01:38:49]
5. What are some practical ways you can overcome fear and negative thinking to embrace the new things God has for you? [01:32:55]
6. Think about a recent opportunity you might have missed due to a wrong perception. How can you be more open to recognizing and seizing opportunities in the future? [01:50:25]
7. How can you encourage others in your small group to perceive God's work in their lives more clearly? What role can you play in supporting them in this journey? [01:44:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Perception Shapes Our Spiritual Reality
Our perception is a powerful lens through which we interpret the world and our spiritual journey. It is not merely about what we see with our physical eyes but involves understanding and interpreting the world around us. This perception is shaped by our upbringing, experiences, and biases, which can either lead us to truth or mislead us. The children of Israel, during their exile, struggled with perception, unable to see the new deliverance God was promising them. This serves as a reminder that our perception can be clouded by past experiences, negative thinking, and fear, preventing us from embracing the new blessings God has in store. To see clearly, we must seek God's perspective, allowing His truth to guide our understanding and interpretation of our circumstances. [01:13:37]
Isaiah 42:20-21 (ESV): "He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. The Lord was pleased, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where your perception may have been clouded by past experiences or biases. How can you seek God's perspective to see the situation more clearly today?
Day 2: Overcoming Barriers to Perception
Barriers such as dwelling on the past, negative thinking, and fear can distort our perception and prevent us from seeing God's work in our lives. These barriers can lead to missed opportunities, broken relationships, and a negative self-view. To overcome these barriers, it is crucial to align our thoughts, beliefs, and actions with God's truth. By doing so, we can step into the new things God has for us, free from the chains of past experiences and fears. This requires intentional effort to renew our minds and focus on God's promises rather than our limitations. [01:30:25]
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (ESV): "For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Reflection: Identify one negative thought or fear that has been holding you back. What steps can you take today to align this thought with God's truth and overcome this barrier?
Day 3: The Power of Spiritual Eyesight
Seeing with spiritual eyes allows us to discern God's new work in our lives. It requires faith and a willingness to look beyond physical obstacles to perceive God's promises. Spiritual eyesight is about seeing the unseen, trusting in God's plans even when they are not immediately visible. This perspective enables us to embrace the new things God is doing, stepping into His promises with confidence and hope. By cultivating spiritual eyesight, we can navigate life's challenges with a sense of purpose and direction, knowing that God is at work in every situation. [01:56:33]
2 Kings 6:17 (ESV): "Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.' So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
Reflection: Consider a current challenge you are facing. How can you ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see His work and promises in this situation?
Day 4: Repentance and Realignment
To correct wrong perceptions, we must repent and seek to see through the lens of the Spirit. This involves a change of mind and aligning our lives with God's revelation. Repentance is not just about turning away from sin but also about turning towards God's truth and perspective. By realigning our thoughts and actions with God's will, we can correct our perceptions and embrace the new day He is offering. This process requires humility and a willingness to let go of our own understanding in favor of God's wisdom. [01:56:33]
Acts 3:19-20 (ESV): "Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus."
Reflection: Reflect on an area of your life where your perception may be misaligned with God's truth. What steps can you take today to repent and realign your perspective with His?
Day 5: Embracing the New Day
Perception is everything when stepping into a new season. By having the right perception, we can walk in the fullness of God's blessings and not miss the opportunities He presents. Embracing the new day requires a willingness to let go of the past and trust in God's plans for the future. It involves seeing beyond our current circumstances and believing in the new things God is doing. As we align our perception with God's perspective, we can step confidently into the new season, ready to receive His blessings and fulfill His purposes. [01:30:25]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: What is one new opportunity or blessing that God is presenting to you in this season? How can you adjust your perception to fully embrace and step into this new day?
Quotes
The children of Israel had a serious problem in their perception. They couldn't see and understand that the new thing that God was just about to do. They couldn't see it. They didn't know what God was doing. They had... They had no revelation of what God was doing to them. God makes a big statement to them. He says, See. Underline see in your Bible. Or in your phone. Mark it. [01:23:03] (24 seconds)
I am doing a new thing. Now it brings up, Do you not perceive it? Underline the word perceive. I am making a way in the wilderness and trees in the wasteland. So God says to them, I am doing a new thing. Do you not perceive it? Do you not recognize it? Do you not understand what's happening? What's going on? Can't you see it? What are you not seeing this morning, church? [01:23:40] (27 seconds)
They couldn't see themselves as God saw them. They couldn't see the new things. They were still acting like slaves and rebels against God. They had no understanding and no revelation of who they are. They were God showing the people. They were God's holy nation. They were a royal priesthood. But they could not see who God saw them. [01:25:57] (20 seconds)
When it comes to stepping into our new day, perception is everything. The way that we interpret the new day, this new season in our life is everything. And you have to have the right perception. If not, you will not be able to walk in the fullness that God has for you. [01:30:41] (17 seconds)
Another barrier is to the perception of negative thinking, unbelief, and doubt. Those things can distort, say distort, cause us to doubt God's word. It can cause us to doubt God's promises. It can cause us to doubt God's plans for our lives. And then it puts us in a place where we begin to question God. [01:32:10] (21 seconds)
Fear is another barrier. Fear will paralyze you. It will skew your perception. What it does, it makes you hesitate to embrace and to step into the new thing that God has. It makes you fearful to step into the new thing that God has said, I've got a new relationship for you. But because you've been hurt in the past by some ugly man or some awful woman, you won't enter into the new relationship that God has for you. [01:33:09] (27 seconds)
We need to really one thing, repent. Repent, make a turn, make a U-turn, change your mind and see with spiritual eyes, see through the lens of the spirit, with the revelation of Jesus, see through the eyes of faith. Allow the Lord to open your eyes and the eyes of your spirit. You see, when you see with spiritual eyes, you can discern the you thing in our lives. [01:56:33] (27 seconds)
When you look with your physical eyes, you're going to see the obstacles. You're going to see the no's. But when you open your eyes and you see with God's eyes and through his lens, you will be able to see and embrace this new thing that God has for you. [01:57:28] (19 seconds)
Do you see yourself as God sees you? Do you see your situation as God sees it? Do you see the times and the season as God sees it? The question that God is asking, what is it that you need to say? See, I am doing a new thing. Would you not perceive it? Perception is everything, people. In order to step into this new thing that God has for us, we must have the right perception. [01:59:40] (31 seconds)
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