Sermon Tone Analysis

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

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

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

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.