Sunday, January 21, 2024

Pastor Rick Stuhmer

Seeing Beyond our Circumstances - RE: Vision: What Do You See?

Scripture

 Matthew 13:10-16, Common English Version

13:10 Jesus' disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you use stories to speak to the people?”

11 Jesus answered:

I have explained the secrets about the kingdom of heaven to you, but not to others. 12  Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose even what little they have. 13 I use stories when I speak to them because when they look, they cannot see, and when they listen, they cannot hear or understand. 14  So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,

“These people will listen
and listen,
    but never understand.
They will look and look,
    but never see.
15 All of them have
    stubborn minds!
They refuse to listen;
    they cover their eyes.
They cannot see or hear
    or understand.
If they could,
they would turn to me,
    and I would heal them.”

16  But God has blessed you, because your eyes can see and your ears can hear!

Revelation 3:14-22, Common English Version

3:14  This is what you must write to the angel of the church in Laodicea:

I am the one called Amen! I am the faithful and true witness and the source of God's creation. Listen to what I say.

15 I know everything you have done, and you are not cold or hot. I wish you were either one or the other. 16 But since you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 You claim to be rich and successful and to have everything you need. But you don't know how bad off you really are. You are pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.

18 Buy your gold from me. It has been refined in a fire, and it will make you rich. Buy white clothes from me. Wear them and you can cover up your shameful nakedness. Buy medicine for your eyes, so you will be able to see.

19  I correct and punish everyone I love. So make up your minds to turn away from your sins. 20 Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together. 21 Everyone who wins the victory will sit with me on my throne, just as I won the victory and sat with my Father on his throne.

22 If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.