How many times have you heard this expression. “What You See Is What You Get”. Often it is used as a compliment about a person; meaning that they are very genuine. It means that the person does not disguise their true nature.
What You See…..IS….What You Get! We have two pair of eyes, our spiritual eyes, and our natural eyes. It might help to understand this teaching, to consider the fact: that we are Spirits that live in a body, that have a soul. We are given by God the free will to choose which set of eyes we rely on.
Jesus taught clearly and often about the difference between Spiritual eyes, and our natural eyes. The urgent nature of understanding the power of sight is that our New Covenant with God requires us to live by faith:
“For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus : for it is the power of God unto salvation for every one that believes; to the Jew first, then to the Gentile. For therein is the righteousness of GOD revealed from faith to faith: As it is written, THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” (Romans1:16-17)
And……. “BUT WITHOUT FAITH…..IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM; FOR HE THAT COMETH TO GOD MUST BELIEVE THAT HE IS, AND THAT HE IS A REWARDER OF THOSE THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Faith is defined for us in Hebrews 11:1: NOW, (making a decision to live in this present moment) the SUBSTANCE (faith is a substance) of things hoped for (JOYFULLY EXPECTED) and the evidence of (THE UNSEEN). So, to live by faith is to decide to stay in this present moment, and have joyful expectation of the things that we can not see with our natural eye. But the ONE who can see, who does know, has made us promises of the things to come; and HE guaranteed those promises with HIS BLOOD.
THIS IS AN URGENT MESSAGE FOR US. It is life changing. If we do not understand this teaching, we will always be victims of circumstance.
The Worlds greatest pathologist and our partner, recently proclaimed in a brilliant speech to a group of Christians that: “There are the things that we know. There are the things that we do not know, And there are the things that we do not know that we do not know.” Think on these words for a moment.
Paul assigned by God and Jesus and anointed by the Holy Ghost to be our teacher; reported a fact so shocking in its accuracy that it is stunning today: “Through faith, we understand that THE WORLDS,(note the plural) WERE FRAMED (constructed/built) BY THE WORD OF GOD (Jesus), SO THAT THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN WERE MADE OF THINGS WHICH…….DO NOT APPEAR!” (Hebrews11:3)
Please take a moment and review thoughtfully, what you have just read. As you consider these things, ask yourself how Paul who lived 2000 years ago, could possibly have known about the unseen? How could this man who was admittedly learned and highly skilled in letters, have known ANYTHING of Atoms, Molecules, or Cells?
HOW COULD PAUL KNOW, that the human body is actually a swirling mass of cells. HOW COULD PAUL KNOW THAT THE UNSEEN even by modern scientific research is infinite. How Could Paul Know that it is an irrefutable fact that all things are made of unseen things?
Their is no question that the Unseen is greater than the seen. That is why Paul who was led in all of his writings by the Holy Ghost, wrote this:
“WHILE WE LOOK NOT, AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE SEEN, BUT AT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN: FOR THE THINGS THAT ARE SEEN ARE TEMPORAL(related to earthly matters. Also, temporary and subject to change),BUT THE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT SEEN, WHICH ARE ETERNAL.” (2Corinthians 4:18)
Our flesh is constantly at odds with our Spirit. Paul understood this and explained it like this:
“For the flesh lusteth against (passionately desires to be superior to) the Spirit: and these are contrary (opposite in nature) the one to the other: so that you can not do the things that you would (want to).” (Galatians 5:17)
Our natural flesh mind PASSIONATELY DESIRES to be superior to our Spirit. The two are OPPOSITE IN NATURE. The flesh mind is constantly fighting for superiority over our Spirit mind. The outcome of this battle, determines what we see.
Paul wrote about this: “For they that are after the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be Spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity ( a state or feeling of hatred or hostility, either shared by two parties, or confined to one.) with God for it is not subject to the Word of God, neither can it be. SO THAT THOSE WHO ARE IN THE FLESH, CAN NOT PLEASE GOD.” (Romans 8:5-8)
Our CARNAL flesh mind believes that what it sees is more real than what it does not. It believes that the seen is more real than the unseen. Ask yourself, “How can the creation be greater than the Creator.” Some readers may not believe in “Creationism”. Even if one denies the existence of God, the question is still valid. Whether one believes in God or not, it is an unarguable fact that the things that we see were created from things that do not appear. Without the unseen, the seen could not and would not exist.”
Many of us have been tempted with this statement…”I will believe it when I see it.” Some of us have actually said the words and thought the thoughts so often, that we are trained and skilled in them. These are fatal words. Unbelief of the unseen, is the unforgivable sin. It is the one thing for which there is no forgiveness. The choice between belief and unbelief dictates the course of our lives.
The, I will believe it when I see it demand, was one that drew this immediate and final response from Jesus:
“AN EVIL AND ADULTEROUS GENERATION SEEKETH AFTER A SIGN, AND THERE SHALL NO SIGN BE GIVEN TO IT, BUT THE SIGN OF THE PROPHET JONAS: FOR AS JONAS WAS THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS IN THE WHALES’ BELLY; SO SHALL THE SON OF MAN BE THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH.”
“THE MEN OF NINEVEH SHALL RISE IN JUDGMENT WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SHALL CONDEMN IT; BECAUSE THEY REPENTED AT THE PREACHING OF JONAS; AND BEHOLD, A GREATER THAN JONAS IS HERE.” (Matthew 12:40-41)
Just as Jonas was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, Jesus was in the bowels of the earth for three days and three nights. Then He rose from the dead and walked the earth for 40 days doing miracles signs and wonders in the presence of hundreds of people; before He ascended to the Father. If the very fact that He accomplished these things alone does not cause us to believe passionately every thing that He said, then nothing will.
Many of us have been taught from the Pulpit not to believe the unseen. Few if any Christians believe Mark 11:24 or even know of it’s existence. Many “devout Christians” will fight over this teaching claiming that Jesus did not mean it. Consider:
“THEREFORE, I SAY UNTO YOU, WHATSOEVER THINGS YOU DESIRE, WHEN YOU PRAY, BELIEVE THAT YOU RECEIVE AND YOU SHALL HAVE THEM.”
I have literally taught /ministered eyeball to eyeball to thousands of Christians who do not believe that when they pray, they receive. Their belief is in the seen. They believe their prayers are answered when they see the thing that they are praying for, manifest in their lives, and not until then. We just read Jesus’ teaching on this.
Most people believe that if the thing that they pray for does not appear immediately that their prayers were not answered. THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THINGS TO “BLOCK” YOUR BLESSINGS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD NOT TO GIVE YOU THE THINGS THAT YOU PRAY FOR WHEN YOU PRAY. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO WITHOLD BLESSINGS BASED ON YOUR PERFORMANCE. How do we know this?
BECAUSE GOD CAN NOT TELL A LIE! Anything that God says becomes the truth as soon as He says it. These are the Words of God.
“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO LIE, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:18)
“So shall my WORD BE THAT GOETH OUT OF MY MOUTH. IT SHALL NOT RETURN UNTO ME VOID, BUT IT SHALL ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH I PLEASE, AND IT SHALL PROSPER WHERETO I SENT IT.” (Isaiah 55:11)
If you have followed the Spiritual track of this teaching, you have learned: that the Words of God are truth and can not be changed, that the unseen is more real than the seen, and that to walk in the New Covenant, we must make an ongoing decision to live one moment at a time with joyful expectation of the unseen.
So, how do we overcome the tendency to use our natural mind?
We make a decision to see through the eyes of Jesus and His Word. Jesus explained this in the 11th Chapter of John. In this report, a messenger has been sent to Jesus from His beloved friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. The messenger reports to Jesus that Lazarus is sick and about to die.
Jesus instructs the messenger to tell all involved, that Lazarus will not die, but that in his healing, God would be glorified. The sisters and Lazarus, made a decision to believe what they saw, more than what Jesus had said. They made a decision to believe that if Jesus came to Lazarus and layed hands on him, that Lazarus would be made whole. They decided to believe that if Jesus did not come, Lazarus would die.
In fact they, the sisters and Lazarus, unbelieved Lazarus to death. Even though, Jesus had just sent the messenger to tell them that Lazarus would not die.
HAVE YOU EVER MADE A DECISION TO BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE OR BELIEVED, MORE THAN WHAT JESUS SAID?
Let us go to the scripture to learn more about this:
“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister Mary, and Lazarus. When he heard therefore that he was sick, He abode two days still in the same place where He was. Then after that, He said, Let us go into Judea again.”
Jesus had no reason to rush to Lazarus’ side. He had spoken healing over him.
“His disciples said to Him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone you; and you want to go there again?”
Jesus’ response to this question seems random and irrelevant. It certainly, however, is not.
“Are there not twelve hours in the day? If any man walks in the day, he will not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But, if a man walks in the night he will stumble because there is no light in him.”
In this comment, Jesus is teaching us that there is a guiding light that is far brighter than the one that guides our natural eyes. And, He is guided by that light. The light is the Holy Spirit. Jesus is teaching us to be led by the Spirit and not the Flesh. As Jesus continues, He is about to reveal something to the disciples that He could not possibly have known or seen with His natural eyes.
“These things said He, then after that He said to them, Our friend Lazarus sleeps; but I go, that I may awake him out of his sleep. Then said His disciples , Lord, if he sleeps, he shall do well, Howbeit Jesus spoke of his death; but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. Then Jesus said to them plainly, LAZARUS IS DEAD. AND I AM GLAD FOR YOUR SAKES THAT I WAS NOT THERE, TO THE INTENT YOU MAY BELIEVE; nevertheless, let us go unto him.”
I urge you to read the continuation of this teaching from the 11th Chapter of John on your own. But ask yourself this question: “How did Jesus know that Lazarus was dead?” This is the central point of the whole experience. Remember that Jesus said that He was glad that He was not present when Lazarus died to the intent that the disciples would believe? No human messenger came to tell Jesus of Lazarus’ death. The disciples knew that Jesus had not been approached by anyone with a report of Lazarus’ death. They had been with Him the entire time. So how other than by revelation of the Holy Spirit, could He have known.
Here comes an embarrassingly FLESHLY response from Thomas. If you think that considering the fact that it was GOD IN PERSON who had just spoken to Thomas; and therefore, he should have had no fear to return to the place where he was almost stoned, reflect on your own beliefs.
“Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, LET US ALSO GO, THAT WE MAY DIE WITH HIM.” The disciples did not understand what Jesus was saying. Do we?
You may be thinking to yourself, well that was Jesus; God in the flesh. Of course Jesus could be led of the Holy Spirit and see the unseen. But not me. Do you believe Jesus?
“VERILY, VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU, HE THAT BELIEVES ON ME, THE WORKS THAT I DO SHALL HE DO ALSO; AND GREATER THAN THESE SHALL HE DO ; BECAUSE I GO TO MY FATHER.” (John 14:12-14)
I have frequently heard certain Preachers say that “Now God is not going to wake you up in the morning and tell you to go to the corner of 7th street and Main street, and find a man wearing a blue shirt with a dark blue tie who is about six feet two inches tall, with blond hair and brown eyes. Go minister to that man.” Every time I hear this I laugh, because that is precisely how God speaks to me. Not necessarily as a voice. More often it is an urgent direction, an undeniable unction. Sometime it is a pressing thought or a leading by scripture. Sometimes it is that still quiet voice of the mind. Sometimes it is just that I know that I know what to do.
Jesus sent two of His disciples saying, “GO YOUR WAY INTO THE VILLAGE OVER AGAINST YOU: AND AS SOON AS YOU HAVE ENTERED IT, YOU SHALL FIND A COLT TIED, WHEREON NEVER MAN SAT. LOOSE HIM AND BRING HIM, AND IF ANY MAN SAYS TO YOU, WHY DO YOU DO THIS? SAY YOU THAT THE LORD HAS NEED OF HIM; AND STRAIGHT AWAY HE WILL SEND HIM HITHER.”
A couple of questions come to mind instantly. How did Jesus know that there was a colt that had never been ridden? Who told Him? How did Jesus know where the colt was? How did Jesus know the exact words to say to anyone who would stop the disciples, for stealing what would amount to, a brand new luxury car with the plastic still on the seats? And how did Jesus know what the precise response of the responders would be?
Here is what happened:
“And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside in a place where two roads met; and certain of them that stood their said to them, What are you doing loosing that colt? And they said to them exactly what Jesus had commanded them to say; and they let them go.” (Mark 11:2-6)
Seeing into the unseen is a decision to believe Jesus and His Word. You may have heard the reverse, but BELIEVING IS SEEING! To believe Jesus is to receive from Him.
“FOR VERILY, I SAY UNTO YOU THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, BE THOU REMOVED AND BE THOU CAST INTO THE SEA; AND DOES NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT SHALL BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAYS SHALL COME TO PASS, HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAYS.” (Mark 11:23)
To believe this promise guaranteed by the blood of Jesus, is to see the mountain; no matter what that mountain or circumstance in our lives may be, removed and cast into the sea; and to make a decision to believe it beyond the shadow of a doubt. This type of belief is seeing with Spiritual Eyes.
THOMAS, BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME, YOU HAVE BELIEVED, BUT BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HAVE NOT SEEN (with their natural eye) AND YET BELIEVE. (and have therefore seen with their spiritual eyes). (John 20:21)
Here is the formula as explained by Jesus: “Where your treasure is (the seen or the unseen) their will your heart be also. And from the overflow of the heart the mouth will speak. Whatever you speak, as long as you have no doubt or unbelief (good or bad) you will have.”
So, what you see, you say and what you say you have! And what you see is a decision that you make about what you believe.
WHAT YOU SEE….IS….WHAT YOU GET!!!!!
We can make a choice to think positive thoughts about our lives. We can make a choice to believe and speak all of the glorious promises that Jesus made to us, over our lives. We can make a choice to see our lives the way Jesus sees it: That we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, holy, blameless and unreprovable in His sight. We can choose to see ourselves as the children of God; and if children then heirs and if heirs then joint heirs with Jesus.
We can choose to see ourselves empowered to enter into the state of grace (God’s willingness, ability and power to do those things for us that we can not or will not do for ourselves) through faith (living in the present, with joyful expectation of the unseen).
We can make a choice to see and believe that we have received the requests we have made of God, whether they appear immediately or not. We can make a choice to believe that because we believe Jesus, the works that He did shall we do also and Greater than those shall we do. We can make a choice to be a commander not a beggar. We can make a choice to see ourselves as prosperous and deserving of the best that life has to offer. We can make the choice to believe that nothing is impossible for those who believe and see ourselves as over comers.
We can choose to see ourselves as more than conquerors in every situation. We can choose to see ourselves as abounding in grace in every situation. We can see ourselves walking in the destiny that God created for us before He knitted us together in our mothers wombs.
What do you see?
Your Brother in Jesus, Pastor Allen
