HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Through The Eyes Of A Lion  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Intro -

Today we start a new series called Through the Eyes of a Lion. It is my hope that this series will bring you hope, let you have a clear vision of eternity, and in some way help you heal from any sorrow, doubt, or fear you may be going through.
This series is based on the book Through the eyes of a lion by Levi Lusko.
Levi and his wife pastor Fresh Life- a multi site church in Montana and Utah.
In 2012 - Levi and his wife lost their young daughter Lenya (Lion) a the age of 5
She died due to a fatal asthma attack days before Christmas.
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Let me read an excerpt that describes the book.

Her parents called her Lenya (Lion) because of her ferocious personality and hair that had been wild and mane-like since birth. But they never expected that, five days before Christmas, their five-year-old daughter would suddenly go to heaven after an asthma attack. How do you walk out of the ER without your daughter?More a manifesto for high-octane living than a manual for grieving, Through the Eyes of a Lion will help you turn your journey into a "roar story" by guiding you to look past what you can see with the naked eye and see eternity through the eyes of a lion.
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This series is a survival guide to help us navigate the savage and uncertain terrain of difficult seasons.
navigate the savage and uncertain terrain of difficult seasons
Recently we lost our dear sister Amy, Dianna has recently had the tragedy of her past resurface, and all of us at one time or another have faced the savage and uncertain terrain of life.
My hope with this series is to help us not just heal but rather to see the world through the eyes of a Lion. Not to manage in pain but to thrive. Not to allow hurts, pains and fears to suffocate us but, to live fearlessly.
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Some of you may say ah, well I have never really went through any real tragedy. What good is this series for me.
Well let me be clear, it is not a matter of if but when. And when you face tragedy it is better to be prepared than to have to learn this after the fact.
Tragedy leaves us in a state where our minds are blank, breathing becomes a challenge, our skin gets hot, and our emotions are on a roller coaster.
You may not have experienced this yet, but you will and I want you prepared.
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Today's message is called - HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT”.

That is the language that describes looking at something you cannot see.
You know this feeling it is when you lose your keys and you look for hours only to find they were laying on your table the whole time.
in 2011 The FBI ended most extensive manhunt in the bureau's history when
they captured Former mob boss Whitey Bulger from Boston whom they had
they captured Former mob boss Whitey Bulger from Boston whom they had
been chasing for 16 years.
been chasing for 16 years.
He was #2 on the FBI most wanted list only behind Osama Binladden
Unlike Ossama when Whitney was found he was not hiding in a dark cave, he was hidden in plain sight.
Living in an apartment 3 blocks from the beach in Santa Monica, CA
People looked at him every day and they just did not know what they were seeing.
All they saw was just another retired couple living the dream in CA.
He was known by the neighbors as friendly, and he liked to take care of stray cats (That right there should have been a hint.)
They had no idea that in the walls of his home he had $800 K stashed away, along with an arsenal of guns and grenades. (He was wanted for 19 murders)
Truth is - Here is our first point.

LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING

Things are not always what they seem.
This is why
2 Cor 4:18
2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
What we see with the naked eye is only part of the story.
There are things right in front of us we cannot see all the time.
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That is true with our physical eye
Little biology lesson
what we call sight is light passing through the cornea into
the pupil where it’s focused by a lens onto the retina, the tissue at the back of
the eye that is covered by photoreceptors called Rods And Cones.
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Rods-Rods process only shapes and are colored blind
Rods-Rods process only shapes
Cones - Process color and or more for details.
This is why is you are hunting for a shirt in your closet and you keep the lights off to not wake the wife, you can make out shapes but not colors. You are using your Rods but the cones do not work because they need more light.
Now where the optic nerve attaches to the retina there are no Cones or Rods. We have a built in blind spot.
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If you take a sheet of paper and draw 2 circles at 4 inches apart and focus 1 eye on one dot. As you move the paper forward and backwards eventual one dot will disappear from your sight.
The dot is still there you just cannot see it.
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Spiritually it is the same way. We have a blind spot in our soul.
Why? Because of what happened in the garden.
Gen 3:4-5
Genesis 3:4–5 ESV
But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Satan promised our eyes would be open but instead he gave us a blind spot in our souls.
It was like a botched lasik surgery in our soul.
Our eyes were opened but opened to see things we were never meant to see.
Sin, guilt, death.
Adam the first man walked with God daily.
After the fall man could no longer see God visibly. God and eternal things became part of our blind spot of the Soul.
Now we focus on snap chat, facebook, and lattes.
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Fortunately- and here is our second point.

ETERNITY BECOMES VISIBLE BY FAITH.

Faith is like a Telescope.
It allows us to see the unseen.
2 Cor 5:7
2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
For we live by faith, not by sight.
Faith gives you night vision for your soul.
It allows you to see the truth in the dark.
It allows us to see that Amy is not dead, rather she is present with our Lord.
Faith allows us to see that while we may not enjoy a cup of coffee with Amy now, we will have a resurrected eternity with Amy. (And plenty of coffee).
You see faith changes everything.
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Now when you look at people with faith you see potential.

All people are born with a calling on their life and faith allows us to see that calling and the impact they can make.

When you look at pain through faith you see it is not without purpose.

As bad as it is - God works all things out for the good of those who love him and are called to his purpose.

And when you look at problems through faith you remember that God has a glorious plan.

Whatever has you surrounded, is surrounded by God!!!!
Faith is not denial of pain and our current situations. Rather faith is knowing that the same God that walked with Adam is walking with you. And no matter what happens he will be with you to the end.
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But - Here is our 3rd point.

NEARSIGHTEDNESS MUST BE CONSTANTLY CORRECTED.

That is our problem. We are nearsighted.
Lions are longsighted, they see far away really good.
We see things here on earth, right in front of us. heaven seems blurry, God can seem far away.
Faith corrects that.

But just as a near sighted person has to put glasses on everyday. We must constantly make the choice not to rely on our naked eye.

How do we do that?
The battle for our eyes is won through our ears.
Romans
Romans 10:17 NIV
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

If we don’t hear what he says we wont see what He see.

Our vision must be constantly corrected by His Word.
When our eyes are focused on what we are missing we must allow the Word to remind us of eternity.
When our eyes are focused on not having enough, we must allow his word to remind us that he is El Shadi -The God who is more than enough.

All of life is a war of the Lenses - we either believe what we see or, believe what he says.

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Lastly

SEEING THE INVISIBLE, YOU CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE!

If we only look at what we can see with our eyes we will lose heart.
If we focus on the mess of children’s ministry we will lose heart.
But if we focus on what God sees - salvation, maturity, love we can then do what may seem impossible.

When you let God give you vision that is supernatural, he will then give you strength that is super human.

Hebrews 11:33–34 NLT
By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.
faith taps you into power from on high, peace that passes understanding, and
joy unspeakable.

In the most difficult times, through the telescope of faith we see, that we are not alone.

God is with us and we are -
H
Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Therefore, 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,
Chris - Amy is cheering you on.
Dianna - Your son is cheering you on.
We all are being cheered on by past loved ones and by the big dogs, like Paul, James, John, and Peter, Ruth, Naomi and millions more.

If you will see through the eyes of a lion you will see the cheering section urging you to live Brave, live with joy, and to live with the purpose God created you with.

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SEEING THE INVISIBLE YOU CAN DO THE IMPOSSIBLE
NEARSIGHTEDNESS MUST CONSTANTLY BE CORRECTED
ETERNITY BECOMES VISIBLE BY FAITH
LOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING
Or To put it another way
L.E.N.S.
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And that is what God wants for you. He wants you to put the lens of faith on so you can see the invisible, eternity.

He wants you to LIVE - Live with boldness- joy- hope- and the knowledge that with Him all things are possible!

Prov
Proverbs 30:29–30 NLT
There are three things that walk with stately stride— no, four that strut about: the lion, king of animals, who won’t turn aside for anything,
Proverbs 28:1 NLT
The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

Live life with a ROAR!

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