Seeing Everything From God's Perspective
Sermon notes from Minister Russell Williams at Linked UP Church on God's presence, courage in His Word, and learning to interpret circumstances from His perspective.
Seeing Everything From God's Perspective
Minister Russell Williams
Linked UP Church
Opening Prayer
Father, we thank You and honor You for who You are in our lives. You are our source, provision, and protection. We give our lives to You as we seek Your face and follow Your Word.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Let Your Word accomplish what You send it to do, and let people be blessed by it. In Jesus' name, amen.
Foundation Scripture
God called Joshua to be strong and courageous, to remain faithful to His Word, and to trust His presence.
We can have joy in chaos because God is with us wherever we go.
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them.
7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do.
9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
A Life That Won't Stumble
In the preceding messages on stability, Pastor taught that God's divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness. Through His precious promises, His character is developed within us.
Peter walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, saw His transfiguration, and witnessed His resurrection. Yet he spoke of believers sharing like precious faith and instructed us to add to that faith:
- Virtue
- Knowledge
- Self-control
- Perseverance
- Godliness
- Brotherly kindness
- Love
4 Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge;
6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;
7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
8 For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9 But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10 Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
What Stability Means
God does not want believers living spiritually unstable: up one day and down the next, trusting Him when things go well and doubting Him when circumstances become difficult.
Stability does not mean everything around you remains stable. It means that even when circumstances change, your confidence in God does not change.
One key to becoming stable in Christ is learning to see everything from God's perspective.
Perspective Shapes Your Response
Your perspective determines your interpretation, and your interpretation influences your response.
From my perspective, I may interpret difficulty as defeat, delay as denial, or opposition as God abandoning me. If I interpret my situation incorrectly, I may respond with fear, anxiety, frustration, or disobedience.
What I see is real, but what I see is not all there is.
Our View Is Limited; God's Is Complete
We see what is happening right in front of us. God sees what happened before, what is happening now, and what is coming next. He sees how it all fits His purpose.
God is leading and guiding us for a purpose. When we fail to see from His perspective, we can begin doubting and lose our way.
Joshua's New Assignment
Moses had died, and Israel was preparing to enter the promised land. God told Joshua to arise, lead the people across the Jordan, and enter the land He was giving them.
Joshua could view the assignment from his own perspective or from God's perspective.
1. Live With an Awareness of God's Presence
From Joshua's perspective, the assignment could seem overwhelming: “I can't handle this. I have to lead all these people. I'm not Moses.”
But God did not want Joshua's circumstances to determine his future. Don't let what is happening around you determine the plan God has for you.
The Promise Behind the Courage
We can hear that no one will stand against us and rush ahead in our own strength. But the promise rests on God's presence: He would be with Joshua as He had been with Moses.
Before God told Joshua to be courageous, He gave him a reason for courage: “I will be with you.”
Confidence in His Presence
Joshua would face things he had never faced before. God did not show him every step, but He promised His presence.
Joshua's confidence was not to rest in his personality, experience, leadership ability, or comparison with Moses.
Our confidence should not be, “I can handle everything.” It should be, “Whatever I face, I can handle because God is with me.”
2. Allow God's Word to Strengthen Your Heart
Joshua's assignment was bigger than he could handle in his natural strength. His courage had to come from God.
God had promised that Joshua would lead the people into their inheritance. That promise gave him a reason to keep moving forward.
Strength and Courage
The word translated “strong” carries the sense of growing firm, taking hold, strengthening, prevailing, and holding fast. “Courageous” carries the sense of being determined, resolute, bold, and firmly committed.
Courage is not the absence of fear. It is obedience to God despite what fear is telling you.
When fear comes, remind yourself: God is with me. Find His promises and move forward with them.
Very Courageous in the Word
God did not merely tell Joshua to be very courageous about facing enemies. He told him to be very courageous in obeying His Word, without turning to the right or left.
We can rush forward claiming God's promises while acting in our own strength. But courage must include doing things His way.
We do not get to choose only the instructions we want to follow.
Obedience That Takes Courage
A conversation with his barber led Minister Russell to reflect on Jesus' teaching about enemies. God had not given a command to hate one's enemies, though people had heard it taught that way.
Jesus calls us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute us.
That takes courage in the Word.
44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Revealing Jesus
From our perspective, these commands may look like instructions for dealing with difficult people. From God's perspective, He wants us to reveal His Son, Jesus.
This is kingdom living. We cannot do it in our own strength. We must get into the Word and courageously follow what God says.
Strength When Your Soul Is Heavy
There are moments when circumstances leave us weak and burdened. We need the strength that comes through God's Word.
Let heaviness lead you to prayer. Let prayer lead you to the Word. Let the Word lead you to God's resources and strength.
3. Let God's Word Shape How You Interpret Your Circumstances
Habakkuk looked around and saw violence, destruction, arguments, injustice, and the wicked outnumbering the righteous. He asked why God seemed not to listen or act.
God answered that He was doing a work Habakkuk would not believe even if someone told him.
2 How long, O LORD, must I call for help but You do not hear, or cry out to You, “Violence!” but You do not save?
3 Why do You make me see iniquity? Why do You tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me. Strife is ongoing, and conflict abounds.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.
5 “Look at the nations and observe— be utterly astounded! For I am doing a work in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.
God Was at Work
Habakkuk's complaint sounds familiar when we look at the world around us. Yet God was moving.
God's answer involved the Chaldeans coming against His people. That answer raised more questions for Habakkuk about the righteous and the judgment coming upon the land.
He needed to move beyond his own perspective and listen for God's.
Take Your Place to Listen
Habakkuk took his place at the watchtower to wait for God's answer and correction.
When trouble comes and you do not understand what is happening, do not remain in complaint. Set yourself to hear from God and see from His perspective.
What He says may not be what you want to hear, but you must trust Him.
3 For the vision awaits an appointed time; it testifies of the end and does not lie. Though it lingers, wait for it, since it will surely come and will not delay.
Get God's Vision First
We can take “write the vision” and make it about writing what we want. But Habakkuk was receiving what God was showing him.
Get the vision from God, then write the vision.
Make His message plain so others can hear it and respond. The vision had an appointed time. Even if it seemed delayed, it would come.
This is about God's purpose and His glory, not merely what we think should happen.
Joy in Chaos
When I see from God's perspective, I know which way to go. I can stand on a firm foundation rather than be ruled by fear and anxiety.
The rain, wind, and storms may come, but I know who is with me. That is why we can have joy in chaos.
God has already given us what we need for life and godliness. We must trust Him and be doers of the Word, not hearers only.
Seeing Your Life From God's Perspective
Sometimes we look at circumstances and see only problems, at people and see only how they hurt us, or at our past and see only mistakes and failures.
God does not see you merely through the lens of your past. He sees what His grace can make possible through Jesus Christ.
You may see brokenness, but God sees restoration. You may see failure, but God offers forgiveness. You may feel you have wandered too far, but God is still calling you home.
God Did Not Wait
God did not wait for us to straighten out our lives, stop making mistakes, or become worthy. Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
Your past does not have to determine your future when you surrender it to Christ. Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead, offering forgiveness and new life to everyone who turns to Him in faith.
6 in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
An Invitation to Respond
Seeing clearly from God's perspective begins with a right relationship with Christ. You do not have to clean yourself up or have all the answers. Recognize your need for a Savior, repent, and place your faith in Him.
- Salvation: Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
- Rededication: Restore fellowship with God where sin, disappointment, circumstances, or pressure have affected your relationship.
- Church membership: Become part of a church family where believers can encourage and build one another up. Minister Russell invited those who believed God was leading them to make Linked UP Church their home.
Prayer of Faith
Dear Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that He died, rose from the grave, and is alive right now.
Lord Jesus, come into my heart and save me now. As a result of what I confess with my mouth and believe in my heart, I am right now born again and in right standing with God. All of my sins are forgiven.
