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LOOK UP

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   Illustrations:

1.    The little girl was made fun of by a boy on the playground.  She was sitting on the ground crying.  When the teacher approached her, she asked:  “What’s wrong?”  The little girl said nothing.  The teacher then said:  “Look up here.”

2.    The young singer was practicing for an upcoming recital.  When he stood before the microphone, his head was hanging down in fear.  The first thing his teacher told him was this:  “You need to look up.”

3.    The high school track participant was quick.  From time to time, she was breaking records.  Her coach asked her:  “Do you want to be a real star athlete?”  She said enthusiastically:  “Yes.”  To which the coach replied:  If so, when you run, look up.”

 

B.   All three individuals were given the same advice:  “Look up.”

1.    One was hurting and needed to look up.

2.    One was in fear and needed to look up.

3.    One was competing and needed to look up.

 

C.   In our spiritual lives, there are times when we need to “Look Up.”  Let’s examine some of those times in this lesson.

 

I.             LOOK UP WHEN IN TEMPTATION

 

A.   Temptation is one of the tests for the Christian.

Temptation is one of the weapons of Satan.

 

B.   Temptation is not sin, but it can definitely lead to sin (Jam. 1:14-15).

 

But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when is it finished, bringeth forth death.

 

1.    Temptation happens when our desires meet Satan’s enticements.

2.    Sin happens when our desires yield and partake of those enticements.

3.    Jesus knew the danger of temptation.  Thus, His model prayer involves these words in part:  “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13).

 

C.   One of the ways to overcome temptation is by looking up. 

1.    Temptation has our eyes focused on the world, that is, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

2.    In temptation, we must take our eyes off of these things and look up to God.

3.    Example:  Joseph (Gen. 39:9b)

 

…how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

 

II.           LOOK UP WHEN IN PERSECUTION

 

A.   Persecution will come to God’s faith (2 Tim. 3:12).

 

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

B.   Jesus teaches us that not all will endure persecution in “The Parable of the Sower” (Matt. 13:20-21).

 

But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while:  for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

 

1.    Persecution brings pain both physically and emotionally.

2.    Persecution brings hardship to life and takes happiness from us.

3.    Persecution brings separation from family and friends.

4.    Persecution makes the child of God wonder:  “Is living the Christian life really worth it?”

 

C.   In times of persecution, therefore, it is essential for the Christian to look up.

1.    Two examples:

a.    When Jesus was about to be persecuted, He looked up (Matt. 26:39).

 

And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me:  nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.

 

b.    When Stephen was being stoned, he, too, looked up (Acts 7:55a).

 

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven…

 

2.    If we are being persecuted, we can look up in three ways.

a.    We can look up in prayer as Jesus did.

b.    We can look up to the example of Jesus Christ (Heb. 12:2-3).

 

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…for consider him who endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be weary and faint in your minds.

 

c.    We can look up to our eternal reward in heaven (Matt. 5:11-12).

 

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad:  for great is your reward in heaven…

 

III.         LOOK UP IN TIMES OF TRAGEDY

 

A.   A tragedy is defined as a lamentable, dreadful, or fatal affair of life; calamity, disaster

 

B.   We hear about tragic events happening all over the world because we have constant access to news. 

1.    Sometimes tragedy strikes those who are close to us.

2.    At other times, we find ourselves in the midst of tragedy.

 

C.   Tragedy involves many horrible things:

1.    Rejection:  broken trust, revenge, jealousy, envy, hatred

2.    Losses:  love, health, income, belongings, life

3.    Violence:  war, crime, bullying

 

D.   Many in the past have suffered tragedy:  Joseph, Moses, David, Job, the prophets, the apostles, and our Lord Jesus Christ.  The key to their endurance is that during their tragedies, they looked up. (Ex., the psalms)

1.    Psalm 3:1-4

 

Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!  many are they that rise up against me.  Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God.  Selah.  But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.  I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.  Selah.

 

2.    Psalm 46:1-3

 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the sea;  though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.  Selah.

 

E.   We wonder about God when tragedy strikes.  Does He love me?  Does He care?  Why doesn’t He intervene?  We must trust Paul’s words in Romans 8:37-39.

 

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

IV.         LOOK UP IN TIMES OF BLESSING

 

A.   Life is not always bad.

Life is not always doom and gloom.

Life is not always one tragedy after another.

Life is not always suffering and loss.

 

B.   There are times in our lives when we are deeply blessed by God.

1.    He might bestow gifts upon us.

2.    He might give us great prosperity.

3.    He might enable us to conquer our enemies.

4.    He might bless us with peace and joy in our lives.

 

C.   In times of blessing, it is easy not to look up because we do not stand in need of anything from God.  Yet, in times of abundance, we should look up.

1.    God is the giver of all good and perfect gifts (Jam. 1:17).

 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

2.    Examples:

a.    Miriam praised God for Israel’s victory over the Egyptians (Exo. 15:20-21).

b.    Hannah gave God glory for blessing her with a son (1 Sam. 2:1-10).

c.    David rejoiced in God for giving him victory over the Philistines (2 Sam. 22:1-51).

d.    David expressed sincere gratitude to the Lord when the ark of the covenant was brought into the city of Jerusalem (1 Chron. 16:1-34).

e.    Solomon gave thanks to God at the dedication of the temple (1 King 8:14-21).

f.     Elizabeth was grateful because God took away her reproach and blessed her with a son (Luke 1:46-55).

g.    The one leper returned and glorified God after being healed by Jesus (Luke 17:11-19).

3.    Four times in the psalms we read these words:  “O give thanks unto the Lord for he is good:  for his mercy endureth for ever” (Ps. 107:1; 118:1, 29, 136:1).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Looking up is a habit that all Christians need to develop.

1.    We need to look up when we are tempted.

2.    We need to look up when we are persecuted.

3.    We need to look up when we are going through tragedy.

4.    We need to look up when our lives are blessed.

 

B.   Two verses could be the theme verses for this lesson.  Each Christian needs to make them part of the Word which is hidden in their hearts.

1.    Psalm 121:1

 

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

 

2.    Psalm 123:1

 

Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.