THE UPWARD LOOK

ISAIAH 40:2

A. "LIFT UP YOUR EYES ON HIGH"
  1. Life's experience shows conclusively:
    1. That most of our difficulties, if traces to their original cause, comes from our neglect of the upward look
    2. When for any cause we take our eyes from the Lord, our Helper, we court disaster
  2. It is the upward look with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning:
    1. Which brings to us help in time of need
    2. To see the author and finisher of our faith will bring new vision and new hope into our needy lives B. THE UPWARD LOOK EXPRESSES
  3. Our constant need of:
    1. His sustaining grace to live a humble and godly life in this present world - Ps. 121:1-3; Heb. 4:16
    2. Our child-like faith that He is willing and able to supply these needs - Phil. 4:19
    3. For He has promised, "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" - Deut. 33:25
  4. The upward look is indicative:
    1. Of our living connection with Heaven
    2. That is why we pray, "Our Father which art in heaven" - Matt. 6:9-14
    3. Also, we have an Advocate with the Father who represents our needs before God I John 2:1; I Tim. 2:5
  5. The upward look brings four specific blessings to us:
    1. It corrects the ever present tendency to become wrapped up with the material things of this world to a point that we forget the temporary or transitory - I John 2:15- 16
    2. The upward look enobles our conception of duty - that stern necessity of which life is so large a part. Here again the Lord's prayer is a timely commentary to this point - Matt. 6:9-14
    3. The upward look continues a living connection between us and God - Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:2
    4. It brings also into life a power for the bearing of the strain which Christian service inevitable imposes - Mark 6:41; John 11:41 C. A TIMELY ADMONITION FOR GOD'S PEOPLE LIVING AT THE END OF TIME
  6. The outlook in this present world is dark and foreboding for the remnant church:
    1. Satan has a design to destroy God's people
    2. He will induce the leaders of the nations to deprive God's commandment keeping people of civil rights - Rev. 13:11-17
    3. Immorality and lawlessness will be on the increase among the nations, and that too, will affect God's people - Matt. 24:12-13; 2 Tim. 3:1-9
  7. The upward look is the only reassuring and bright spot for those who set their affections on the things that are above:
    1. The upward look confirms our faith in what Jesus admonishes us to do in the last days
    2. "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh" - Luke 21:28
    3. The upward look testifies that we are, in this present world, pilgrims and strangers, we look for a new heaven and a new earth - Heb. 11:13-16; 2 Pet. 3:13
  8. Finally and gloriously:
    1. God wants us to turn our eyes to heaven in expectation of God's blessings from the bountiful storehouse of God's grace - Ps. 121:1-6; 123:2; 104:27
    2. The upward look keeps us in a constant attitude of the life of prayer. Praying people must turn their eyes upon Jesus, but He is in heaven
    3. It is the upward look that keeps us from becoming discouraged and despondent
    4. It will be the upward look that will see and recognize our blessed Lord coming in the clouds of heaven


Design © John Bryant 2011