Five Looks

 

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 

Five Looks: (Get someone to Help)

1. Mad/anger
2. Joy/Happy
3. Look of Question? Huh?
4. Excited!
5. Sad.

 

Introduction: There are certain looks that every person must take if he is to make it to heaven.

These looks are not something that we can take or leave, but they are absolutely necessary to our salvation.

We can’t stick our heads in the sand like the ostrich and refuse to take these looks because God demands them of us.

 

1. 1.   The Backward Look
   1. A.   This is the look back to the cross of Jesus that saves us.
      1. 1.   Jesus Christ died a miserable death in order that we might live.
      2. 2.   Hung on a Roman cross 6 long hours for you & I.
      3. 3.   Was spat upon, beaten, stripped, cursed, and rejected to make a way for us to find forgiveness for the death that we deserved.
2. B.   This look is necessary for our salvation.
   1. In the Old Testament it was necessary to look forward to Christ through annual     feasts and holy days; and it was the only way they were saved.
   2. The only way for us to be saved is to look back to that old rugged cross of Calvary and personally accept the work done there.

 

2. The Inward Look (2 Cor.13: 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.)

A. This is a look of self-examination.

1.We should continually examine our motives, deeds, words, etc. to make sure they are Christ like.

1. 2.   We need to take inventory occasionally.
2. There is only one standard to examine ourselves by and that is God’s standard.
   1. As given in His Word.
   2. As shown in the life of Jesus Christ.
   3. As revealed and taught to us by the Holy Spirit.

 

3. The Outward Look

 

John 4:3 5 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest! Behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.

 

1. Millions of souls die and go to hell within the grasp of the church.
   1. We have the answer to their problem if we will but give it to them.
      1. Sociologists say they have the answer.
      2. Psychologists say they have the answer.
      3. Scientists say that they have the answer.
      4. Statesmen say that they have the answer.
      5. BUT…THE CHURCH HAS THE ANSWER!

While many church members sit on their plush pews… people are plagued by sin.

While many walk their carpeted aisles, men cry in the gutter of sin, for a hope for the future.

If we could really get a vision of a lost and dying world it would soon be said of us, ‘these who have turned the world upside down have come here also.

If we had the burden we should… we would cry with Rachel of old “give me children or I die.”

A WORLD WAITS TO BE MOVED BY GOD…

AND WE ARE CALLED TO MOVE IT!!!

 

 

4. The Forward Look (Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.)

A. This look is made through eyes of faith.

This look lets us see great things in the future.

This look lets us see pathways for God where there is only dense jungle.

This look lets us be like David and look past Goliath and see the victory.

This look lets us look past the ash heap as Job, and know that a better day is coming.

5. This look lets you sleep in lions den with Daniel.

6. You can sing in the prison with Paul and Silas.

7. You can walk in the fiery furnace with the three Hebrew children.

8. You can pray on Mt. Cannel with Elijah.

The fire can burn in your bones like Jeremiah.

 

5. The Upward Look (and when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh? Luke 21:28)

1. An earth-shattering event is about to happen that will shake this world and upset the entire course of mankind.

This event is the rapture of the church and the beginning of the Great Tribulation.

 

The Bible says to comfort one another with these words.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

 

If the Lord comes today…are you ready to go?

You can be…

 

1. The backward look

2. The inward look

3. The outward look

4. The forward look

5. The upward Look