Seeing Things | Reflect '22 | Holly Furtick

Before you sit down, I want to read our scripture. It's a tad bit long, but you got it. And then you're going to sit down. If you have a Bible. Matthew 20, starting in verse 20. If you don't got a phone or we'll have it up on the screen, it's all good. Matthew 20, verse 20. Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and kneeling down, asked a favor of him. What is it you want? He asked. She said, grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom. You don't know what you are asking. Jesus said to them, can you drink the cup I am going to drink? We can, they answered. Jesus said to them, you will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or my left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my father. When the 10 heard about this, they were indignant with the two brothers. I had to look that up. That means angry. Jesus called them together. He's like, guys. And he said, you know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant. And whoever wants to be first must be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside. And when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, lord, son of David, have mercy on us. And the crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted all the louder, lord, son of David, have mercy on us. Jesus stopped and called them, what do you want me to do for you? He asked. Lord, they answered, we want our sight. Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. And immediately they received their sight. And they followed him. Lord, would you bless the time that we have together tonight? You've put this word on my heart. Would you speak through me in Jesus name? Amen. Give someone a hug on your way to your seat. Thank you, choir. All right, we're going to come back to our scripture, but first I have a story to tell you. Now, Stephen talked this weekend about the story that we tell, and he mentioned how I love stories. I really do. I love to hear them, I love to tell them. And I have a good one for you tonight. I've been waiting to tell you this story, and I think they put my. I'm just. Just hold on a second. They put my table too far up and there. See, I'm. No, it's perfect. That's where I want it. Okay, before I tell you my story, I have a question. Just so you can put my mind at ease. Is there anyone in here who has ever wanted to lose a few pounds? Raise your hand. Okay, great. Me, too. In fact, I have been trying unsuccessfully to lose a few pounds for the last two months. You see, this summer, I enjoyed myself. I love food. I really love. Do I have any other, like, food lovers in the house? Okay. I love food. I love grocery stores. I love cooking. I love cookbooks. I love to read restaurant menus before I go to the restaurant. And then when I get there, I act like I haven't read it, and I'm gonna make, like. Just. I love to know the specials. And unfortunately, I have very little willpower. And so every summer, the summer starts, and I say, I am going to be healthy this vacation, and it lasts until our first stop for gas. And I don't know. I don't know. So, like I said, I had a wonderful culinary summer. And as July was coming to an end, I started to think about what I had ahead of me. In August, I was set to record our newest video curriculum for our egroup study that's coming out in January. Raise your hand if you're in an egroup. All right, Let me know online if you're in an egroup in the chat, and if you're missing out if you're not in an egroup. I know you hear me say this every time I get on the stage, but that's because I really want you to be in any group. Anyway, that's not what my message is about tonight. So I started to realize that I really needed to trim down a little bit before recording these videos because, you know, like, the camera adds 10 pounds and everything. And so I tried. I really tried. But long story short, I failed. And so, you know, I'm just like, whatever. And I'm sitting in staff meeting one day, and I realize that the upcoming fast that we had planned for our staff was right around the corner. We had some things that we were praying for as a church and as we were heading into the fall season. And so the plan was for us to all, as a staff, join through a fast, and each team could pick how they were going to fast. So some teams fasted from social media Wimps. Some people did. Let's try the worship team. That was the first one that came to my mind. Okay. Some of them did a Daniel fast. And so my team, we decided that we were going to fast from breakfast and lunch every day for seven days. And. Yeah, I know. And it must have been the hand of God, because this fast fell the week before my video shoot. And I was like, lord, I'm doing this for you, but maybe you could bonus me back by letting me, like, trim down a little before this video shoot. So, in all seriousness, I. I really did. I wanted to concentrate on the fast and the things that we were believing God for. And so I made some rules for myself, and the biggest one was I was not allowed to weigh myself during that week. And I tried really hard to focus on the fast. But I gotta tell you, a few days in, I was hungry, but I was feeling good. I would look in the mirror. I got a mirror here. I would look in the mirror, and I would like, oh, yeah. I think I would tell myself. I think I look thinner. And then I would tell myself not to think about that. That was not the reason that we were fasting. But, like, by day five and six, I was like, I'm definitely losing weight. I was like, my pants for sure feel looser. And I'm probably gonna look into intermittent fasting after this is over, because this really seems to be be working for me. I mean, it's hard, but I was having dessert every night after dinner, and so that was awesome. And so I'm feeling good about my physical health. I'm feeling good about my spiritual health. And the morning of the eighth day finally comes, and I step on the scale to see how much God had blessed my sacrifice. And I think you know what's coming. Anybody want to guess how much weight I lost? Nothing. Nada. Not. I'm telling you, not an ounce. It was the exact same, and only that could be God, because, you know, your weight changes a lot, like, during the day and everything. And I was shocked. And then I was angry. I was like, well, what was I saying all along? Like, I had truly convinced myself that I was thinner, when in reality, nothing had physically changed. So the title of my message tonight is Seeing Things. And I want to talk to you tonight about how what we see affects how we act and how we feel. And in our passage, we have these two seemingly separate stories. The first one is about a mother and her sons, and the second one is about two blind men. But I want to show you tonight that these Two stories are two sides of the same coin. In the first story, we have a mother and her two sons, as well as the disciples. And in the second son, we have the two blind men, Right? But if you look a little bit closer, you will see that the mother and her two sons, they're actually blind as well. And their blindness is a spiritual blindness, which is perhaps more dangerous than the two men who are physically blind, because at least those two men know that they cannot see and they can, you know, protect themselves. And I find it interesting that Jesus asks both sets of people basically the same question, which is, what do you want me to do for you? And I wonder how you would answer this question. Have you ever actually thought about what it is that you would like God to do for you? Even tonight? What do you want to get out of tonight? It's an important thing to think about. And just a few verses before our mother enters the picture. Jesus had a very stern talk with the disciples. And he tells them, we're on our way to Jerusalem, and when we get there, I'm going to be handed over and condemned to death. And they're going to mock me and they're going to flog me and they're going to crucify me, but on the third day, I'll be raised again. But they just. They can't grasp it because they're blinded by their own vision, their own idea of what they are going to accomplish on the earth. And Matthew tells us that this mother, the mother of James and John, she comes and she kneels before Jesus. And when Jesus asks her the question, she says, lord, grant that these two sons of mine might sit on your right and on your left in your kingdom. You see, they had a vision. James and John on the right and on the left of Jesus. And actually, James and John, they were using their mom to ask Jesus this question. Like little boys who are too afraid to tell the teacher, they didn't do their homework. So they make their mom write a note, make something up, right? That's what they're doing. And we know this because the Bible tells us that Jesus turned to them and said, you don't even know what you're asking. They had a vision for what Jesus would do on the earth. They thought that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman government and that he would set up a new kingdom on earth and that they were the chosen ones to help him establish this kingdom. And no matter how many times Jesus tries to tell him, you've got the wrong idea, they just can't receive it. They're seeing things. They're seeing themselves in a seat of prestige and prominence and power. And what they wanted was to be seen. And it's obvious when we read this about them. But then I got to thinking about me and how many times in my life I have been blind to what God wanted to do in and through me. Because I wanted to be seen. God let me lose a few pounds so that I'll look better in these videos that I'm making for your glory. Jesus. I just can picture him shaking my head, his head from heaven, saying, you have no idea what you're asking me, because I'm just going to be honest with you tonight. A lot of times, that's one time. A lot of times my driving motivation is how I'm seen by others. Am I fashionable enough? Am I smart enough? What do people think of me? Maybe you don't think about those things. Maybe I'm just vain. Maybe you've had this thought, though. Does anyone even care what I do in this house? Does anyone even see how many hours I put into this project? Everyone wants to be seen. Right now, the currency of our world is how many followers and likes we have. You can actually make money with people following you. How many people saw your post or responded to your. We all do it. We think that the ultimate fulfillment is to be seen by others. We want to be seen by the house that we live in, or the car that we drive, or the job that we have, or the handbag that we carry. Whether it's real or you bought it on the streets of New York. We want people to notice us so badly that we are blind to God's purpose for our lives. And the most dangerous part is we don't even know it. Now, I want to be clear. My nose is dripping a little bit. Sorry. I want to be clear. It is perfectly okay and actually very beneficial for you to have a vision for your life, have career goals, have family goals, enjoy the blessings that God has given you. Swipe up, buy the Stanley cup, but the water is gonna taste the same no matter how cool your cup is. I have one. I have one. It's okay to have one. But don't be fooled. If you think when I get there, then I will feel then you are just chasing a carrot on a stick. And the disciples, they get angry, indignant, Angry at James and John for not because they asked something so stupid, but because they didn't think to ask for it first. And so Jesus, he calls them all together, he's like, guys, guys, you have it all backwards. Whoever wants to become great among you must be a servant. He said, I didn't come to earth to be served. I came to serve. He was trying to get them to see that how you are seen is nowhere near as important as how you see others. But they just couldn't get it. And I don't either. I remember when I was 14, I begged my mom to get me contacts because I needed glasses. I had worn them since the third grade. Well, I wore them in the third grade. But by the time I was 14, you know, middle school's tough, and glasses cramped my look, right? And so I really only wore my glasses to watch tv. You know, priorities. And so my mom takes me to get contacts. And I will never forget the day that I left the eye doctor with my contacts in. I was mesmerized by all of the detail that I could see. And I remember telling my mom, I didn't realize that you could actually see the individual leaves on the trees. I was so used to blurry trees that I thought that that was normal. And now we get to the blind men in our story, and they're paired up together, because when you bag together, it becomes normal. And the scary part about our culture right now is that we are all blind and begging. And because everybody else is doing it, it's normal. But I have to tell you tonight, listen to me. Normal is not necessarily good for you. It's not wrong to have the desire to be seen. It's not wrong to seek significance in our lives. But are we asking for it from the wrong source? We beg. We beg for attention and affirmation and acceptance from the people around us. And then we beg for affection and affirmation and acceptance from people we don't even know. And it only lasts for a moment. And then the hunger comes again. And then we have to beg again. Because when you seek significance from the wrong source. Source, you will never be satisfied. Like, and comment and swipe up to buy the right shoes and the right sheets, get the hair extensions and the lash extensions and the lip filler and the weight loss tee. Do it all until your heart is content. Okay? The problem is not in having those things. The problem is in thinking that they will make you feel seen and therefore significant. If begging was satisfying, they wouldn't have cried out to Jesus if they were like make and bank. But they were tired of living a life of begging, and they wanted to be set free from their darkness. And they hear a commotion, and they hear people talking and they figure out that Jesus is about to pass by, the one who has made the lame to walk, the one who has healed the leper's skin. They even, they heard that he caused the blind man to see. And if they can get to him, if they can get Jesus to see them, they won't have to beg anymore. So they cry out to Jesus, they say, son of David, have mercy on us. And the crowd tries to silence them, but together they cry out louder, jesus, son of David, have mercy on us. And they are seen by the one who can rescue them from a life of begging for scraps from other people. And I just. I love the part where Jesus, he comes to them and he asks them the question, what do you want me to do for you now? Why. Why did you just ask this question? Like God in flesh, but able to read our minds and. And know our thoughts? And why did he ask them, what do you want me to. I mean, you don't have to be a mind reader to know what those guys wanted, right? But Jesus knew that if they couldn't say what they needed, then it wouldn't be from their heart. And he knew that the right question could unlock their heart. And so they say, we want our sight. And I want to say to you tonight, don't let your vision for your life keep you from seeing Jesus tonight. I want us to get our sight back. Paul said, I pray that the eyes of your heart would be enlightened so that you would know the hope to which he has called you. We want to see. And Jesus had compassion on them, and he touched their eyes and they received their sight and they followed Him. How can we, like the blind men, get our sight back tonight? Is it really as simple as asking for it? I think that it is. So I came up with these three prayers to pray regarding my sight. And I decided that over the next 30 days, I am going to pray these prayers every day because I want to follow Jesus. I want to see what he sees. Do you? So here's the first one. They're not rocket science. I got to tell you, I'm not a rocket science, and I'm not Stephen Furtick. But sometimes the simple and the obvious is the most penetrating. So here's the first one. Lord, help me see you for who you really are. Holy, faithful, loving Father, the God who provides, the God who is with me. He's my shepherd. I wonder what you think of when you think of God. Because he is not a harsh judge who stands by, ready to punish us if we make the wrong. If we take the wrong step. And you know that. But do you believe that? And he's not a faraway God who watches from his throne as the events of our lives unfold. He is Emmanuel God with us. He's a loving father. He's a faithful friend. He is at work in our lives and in our situations. And I want to fix my eyes on Jesus each day to remember that he is for Me, not against me, that I can call on him and. And he hears me when I cry. He is a very present help in times of trouble. James and John and the rest of the disciples, eventually they did let go of their vision and their idea of Jesus and they accepted who he was and the work that he was calling them to do to go into all the world and. And preach the gospel. They did eventually get it. And you can, too. When we see God for who he really is, our calling becomes clear. But we have to start with the right vision of God. Here's the second one. Lord, let me see myself the way you see me. These questions get harder as they go along. When I stand in front of the mirror each and every morning, and I've done my best to present myself to the world that day, whatever that means for you. Some of you, you have a full face of makeup. Some of you, you got a bra on, and that's a win. It doesn't matter where you fall in that spectrum. I want to look in the mirror and not hate what I see. Don't you? You know what I realized recently? I didn't like my body when I was 16 and I weighed about 95 pounds. And if I didn't like my body, then. I know you know this, but I'm just going to tell you again. The number on the scale or the size of my pants will never make me feel satisfied. Don't get me wrong. It's important to take care of our bodies, to eat well and to exercise. But if you think that a number will finally make you feel worthy, you are going down a path that has no end. It is a dark tunnel. And in God's economy, the least interesting thing about you is, is your outward appearance. He made you. He loves you. He knows how many hairs that you have on your head. But stop looking at yourself. Stop looking at a picture of yourself. Don't lie. Every time you look at a picture and you're in it, what do you do immediately? Immediately you look at that part of your body that you don't like. You focus on the area that you don't like, like, maybe this time the camera angle, you know, that thing that you're supposed to do. I never can figure it out. I don't know what my good side is. I want to know. I do. I care. I am standing before you guys today. I got false eyelashes on. I got hair clipped in my hair. Okay? I care. As long as you're always. What? Maybe your spot is right here, you know, as long as you're focusing on that. He's just begging for scraps. When I stand in front of the mirror, when I look at a picture of myself, I want to focus on the things about myself that are more important than the way that I look. Because if I focus on all the things that I wish were different, I'm just starting off my day, ready to beg all day long. I'm gonna find a better picture of myself or picture of my puppy. Maybe people will tell me that they like it. Abby is in sixth grade this year, sitting on the front row. And something in me as she is going into middle school has just shifted as I thought about my own daughter going into middle school. The last thing I want is her begging for scraps with a bunch of other blind girls. I want her to look in the mirror, and I want her to see herself as her father sees her. Beautiful. Just as she is loved by her mom and her dad and her heavenly father. And so I don't know where I got some. I found this sticker, and it says, you are loved. And so I put it on her mirror. It's at the top of her mirror. You are loved. But you know what? The example that she has is me. And that means that I need a sticker on my mirror, and I need to look in the mirror and see a woman who is loved by God. I mean, what if we walked around just constantly overwhelmed by God's love for us? Paul said to the people of Ephesus, he said if they could just grasp how high and how wide and how deep is God's love for you, he said that you would be able to experience the love of Christ. And then he said, it's too great for us to even fully understand. But I'm going to try. I have to try. I want to look in the mirror. Oh, guys, I have a marker. I was going to write on it. Okay, look. So I'm going to look in the mirror, and I'm gonna see a woman who's loved. You know what else I want to see? Is it dripping? I don't want it to get on my jacket. Just being honest with you. You don't want it to get on my jacket either. Okay. Sorry. I want to see a woman who is called. I am here for a purpose. You are here for a purpose. And my purpose today is to reflect the glory of God in everything I do. Everything. Whether you're changing diapers or you're running spreadsheets, I am going to do the work that I have been given to do today for the glory of God. I'm gonna do it. You're gonna do it. Say, do the work. Our theme verse for reflect this year is 2nd Corinthians 3:18. This is what the Passion translation says. We can all draw close to him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil, we all become like mirrors. Who brightly reflect the size of our pants. Who brightly reflect the glory of God. God, open my eyes to the ways that I can reflect your glory today. The work might not be glorious, but I want to reflect your glory today. People are watching me. People are watching you. My daughter is watching me. My co workers are watching me. My family is watching me. My boys are watching me. Let me be a clear reflection of what it looks like to be a woman who is loved by God, who knows that she's loved by God, who lives out her calling. Let me be a woman who knows that she is chosen. God, I want to see myself the way that you see me. And our third prayer. I told you, they get harder as they go along. Lord, help me see others the way you see them. Jesus looked at the blind men with compassion. When he saw them, he didn't see their outward appearance. He didn't see their filth and their beggar's clothes. He saw their hearts. He knew they wanted to follow him. And in order to follow him, they needed to see him. And when the disciples were fighting over who was going to sit at the right and at the left, what did Jesus say to them? If you want to be great, you must be a servant. And he modeled this for them. Even in his question. What did he ask them? What do you want me to do for you? If we could see people the way that God sees them, I think we'd have a whole lot less angry women in this world and a whole lot more compassion. And I told you, I'm talking to myself. The other day, someone who was close to us was upset about something. And without going into detail about it, they did not handle it well. They didn't handle it with maturity. And to be quite honest with you, neither did I. And I called my sister and I cried because my feelings were hurt. And then the next day, I called my friend Nicole and I vented because I was angry. I was done crying, and now I'm mad, and I just. I just couldn't let it go. And finally, Stephen looked at me and he said, holly, I feel like you're taking something personal that, at the core, isn't really about you. And it wasn't until I was able to see this person with the eyes of compassion that I was able to let it go. Stephen told us last week to stop telling our story in first person. And that really got me, because I like first person. I really want to stop taking everything so personally. I want to hear the story that Jesus is telling. And I wonder if we would be more quick to forgive if we saw people the way that God sees, if we treated them with the compassion of Jesus. And I think the process of being set free from the need to be seen begins with seeing others with the compassion of Jesus. So how I see God, how I see myself, how I see others, it affects every single thing that I do. So I'm wondering, do you want to join me? For the next 30 days, let's get our sight back together. Just like the blind men who cried out to Jesus tonight at all of our campuses, wherever you're watching from, let's cry out together. We want to see. We want to let go of the desire to be seen. God, I just want to see. Let's pray these three prayers together every day and just see if maybe the leaves on the trees become a little clearer.