The Eyes Of Faith

Q: What does the Bible say about the object of saving faith?

The object of saving faith is solely the Lord Jesus Christ, not traditions or feelings. According to Psalm 141 and other scriptural references, the faith of God's elect is specifically fixed upon a person—Jesus Christ, the exclusive object of saving faith. It is not grounded in a place, tradition, or ceremony but depends entirely on the living Lord. Isaiah 45 exemplifies the centrality of looking to Christ in faith, demonstrating that genuine faith is anchored in reliance on Him alone rather than any human effort or works.

Q: How do we know our prayers are accepted by God?

Our prayers are accepted through the intercession of Christ and are perfumed by His righteousness. The acceptance of our prayers before God relies on the intercessory work of Jesus Christ. Psalm 141 mentions that our prayers should be like incense, reflecting the necessity of Jesus' righteousness to sweeten and make our petitions acceptable to God. Apart from Him, our prayers are unworthy and full of sin. However, through the merit of His blood and sacrifice, believers can confidently approach God's throne knowing that their prayers are received and heard.

Q: Why is trusting God important for Christians?

Trusting God is crucial because He is the source of all salvation and provision. Trusting God is fundamental for Christians as it affirms our reliance on Him for every aspect of our salvation. Psalm 62 emphasizes that our support comes from God alone, who is our refuge and strength. The act of trusting Him entails looking to Him for guidance, salvation, provision, and spiritual sustenance. This trust should persist through life's challenges, reminding believers that God is actively at work, upholding and preserving them through His power.

Q: What does it mean to have the eyes of faith?

Having the eyes of faith means to look to God for hope and salvation continually. The notion of having the eyes of faith is highlighted in Psalm 141, where David expresses his earnest desire to look unto the Lord. This perspective signifies a continuous reliance on God, both for initial salvation and ongoing sanctification. The eyes of faith see beyond immediate circumstances, trusting in God's promises and His sovereignty. Salvation begins with a look towards Christ, continues with a focus on Him through life's journey, and culminates in an ultimate vision of Him in eternity.

Q: Why is the concept of intercession important in prayer?

Intercession is vital because it is Christ who advocates for us before the Father. In the context of prayer, intercession plays a crucial role as it highlights Jesus Christ's function as our advocate before God. Without His intercession, our prayers would lack the sanctifying power necessary for acceptance by a holy God. Psalm 141 illustrates prayerful reliance, emphasizing the need for our words to be perfumed by Christ's righteousness. This underscores that our relationship with God is mediated by Christ, thus making His intercessory role a foundational component in our approach to the Father in prayer.

Now this evening, Psalm 141. Psalm 141. I'm entitling the
message, The Eyes of Faith. The Eyes of Faith. The Eyes of
Faith. Notice the words found in verse
eight. But mine eyes, mine eyes are
unto thee. Are eyes. look to him. As David said in another psalm,
my heart is fixed, fixed upon thee, O God the Lord. Now that's a good place to look,
unto thee. It's a good place to cry, unto
God our Savior. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
exclusive and only object of saving faith, the only object
of saving faith. The faith of God's elect is fixed
upon a person, a person, not a place, not a thing, not a creed. The object of saving faith is
fixed upon a person, living Lord. Not a feeling, not a tradition,
not a ceremony, but upon the true and living God." We just
read in Isaiah 45, our Lord said, look, look, look, and that's
to look of faith, to look of faith, looking to the Lord Jesus
Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. We sang a moment
ago, my faith looks up to thee, and it does. we look to the Lord
to supply all our need according to his riches in glory through
Christ Jesus. You see, we have turned to God
and in turning to God we turn from our idols to serve the living
and true God. Now looking at this psalm again
we see the inward heart cry of a believer looking unto the Lord
our God for grace to help in time of need. And isn't that
all the time? Don't you find yourself all the
time crying unto the Lord, Lord intercede, Lord help, Lord supply,
Lord bless according to your purpose and grace. Now let's
look at verse 1 and 2. Lord, Jehovah, I cry unto thee. My faith looks to thee, but my
prayer also The cry here is a cry of a broken heart. The cry here
is a cry of a needy heart. I cry unto thee, unto the Lord. Would it do any good to cry unto
the preacher? Do any good to cry unto the mama,
daddy? Lord, I cry unto thee. My prayer is unto the Lord. Make
haste unto me. You see, this thing is personal.
Thee and me. Thee and me. I cry unto thee. Make haste unto me. Give ear. Many times we've seen through
our study in the Psalms when David asked, Lord, hear my cry. Hear my cry. He does. He does. He hears the cry of
our heart. Give ear. unto my voice when I cry, when
I pray unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before
thee as as incense, incense that was prepared and sprinkled on
the sacrifice that typical of the intercessory prayers of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Let my prayer be set forth before
thee as as incense As the lifting up of my hands, as the evening
sacrifice. Now I couldn't get away from
two things there. Incense and sacrifice. And both speak of the inaccessory
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And you know back under the law
there was that morning sacrifice and that evening sacrifice. Not
counting all the other sacrifices, the burn offering, the heave
offering, all those other blood offerings, the day of atonement,
there was that daily morning sacrifice and the evening sacrifice. And all those things, all those
sacrifices are all typical, pictures and types, of that great sacrifice,
the Lord Jesus Christ. David in his day prayed looking to that sacrificial lamb
in type and picture. But he looked beyond the type. You know he did. He looked beyond
the type to, as John said, behold the Lamb of God. He looked beyond
the morning and evening sacrifice. He looked beyond that which is
in picture. He looked to the substance. Now,
how could he do that? By faith. by faith, looking to
the Lord Jesus Christ, beholding the Lamb of God. Now our prayers
in and of themselves are full of sin. Our prayers in and of
themselves need to be cleansed, need to be perfumed with the
Redeemer's righteousness. Our prayers need the merit of
His atoning blood and sacrifice. Our prayers, apart from the Lord
Jesus Christ, our intercessor, think about it, our prayers without
Him would be offensive unless perfumed by the sweetness of
His sacrifice and His intercession for us. Thank God we have Mediator
between God and men and that is the man Christ Jesus you remember
from reading Ephesians chapter 5 where it talks about the sacrifice
of the Lord Jesus Christ he had given himself for us an offering
and a sacrifice unto God for a sweet smelling savor Satisfying
the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ is most satisfying satisfying
You know believers are satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ,
but you know, that's not the most important thing The most
important thing is that God Almighty Sees his blood sacrifice and
is satisfied. That's what's important Thank
God the Lord Jesus Christ ever lived to intercede for us and
think about this our worship Our prayers, our preaching, what
would it be apart from the perfuming of His intercession? Apart from
the blood sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to make our worship,
our prayers, our preaching acceptable unto God? In and of themselves
are full of sin. Our prayers are so full of self,
selfishness. I catch myself all the time praying
that way selfishly. selfishly We need an intercessor John said
Thank God. He said my brother and little
children these things. I write unto you that you sin
not Wouldn't that be great? One day we won't but he said
when you do we have an advocate with Father Jesus Christ the
righteous. I Thank God he ever lived to
intercede for us. Thank God we have an all-sufficient
atonement satisfying unto God. Now if you'd like to, find over
here Isaiah 53, and I'll read you something about the satisfaction
of Christ. The pleasure of the Lord shall
prosper in his hand, Isaiah 53, look at verse 11. He shall see of the travail of
his soul, and shall be satisfied." You see that word? Satisfied. The substitute satisfied God. Brother Mahan used to put it
this way, you remember? Lionel, you remember this. Learn
two words and learn the gospel. Substitution, satisfaction. Substitution, Christ dying in
the room instead of God's covenant people, satisfying God. to substitute satisfied. He shall
see the travail of his soul and shall be satisfied by his knowledge
shall my righteous servant justify many for he shall bear their
iniquities." He satisfied God for his covenant people. Aren't you glad our prayers are
perfumed with his righteousness, perfumed with his glorious sacrifice,
the sacrifice of Christ. Now look at verse back at the
text. Psalm 141, verse 3 and verse 4. I said to watch, O Lord, before my mouth. Keep the doors
of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil
thing. to practice wicked works with
men that work iniquity, let me not eat, let me not partake of
their wicked practice, let me not eat of their pleasantries,
their dainties, their pleasant things." Now several things here
David prays about and asks for, and I believe every believer
can identify with this. Verse three, he said, watch,
keep my mouth, keep my door, the door of my lips. Turn over here to Psalm 39 verse
one a minute, Psalm 39 one. I said, I said, I'll take heed
to my ways. that I sin not. Psalm 39.1. You
got it? I said I will take heed to my
way that I sin not with my tongue. I'll keep my mouth with a bridle. A bridle. While the wicked is
before me. Be careful what you speak. Be
careful. Let us not speak words contrary
to the gospel. Even when we pray. Let us pray
in a way consistent that's honoring to God. We read these instructions
in the letter written to the Colossians. Let your speech be
always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer every man. Now here's the thing. Let us
not speak of the sovereignty of God as it's taught in the
Word of God. And then go about complaining
about his good and great providence. God's in charge of all things.
Let us not speak of the sovereignty of God, the almighty grace of
God, and then complain about the way things fold out in time. That's inconsistent. Lord, set
a watch before my mouth. Keep the doors of my lips. especially
when we pray unto God, especially when we cry unto God. Lord, not
only keep my mouth, look at verse 4, but my heart, my heart, out
of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. Lord,
not only keep my mouth, but keep my heart from every evil thing. I thought about this, evil thoughts. I don't have a great problem
with, as far as doing things outwardly, morally evil. I mean, I don't go around robbing
banks of things that are unlawful. But I've thought about robbing
a bank. Evil thoughts. Evil thoughts. Lord, keep my heart from every
evil thing." Evil thoughts. Evil thoughts. And you could
expand that to, you know, I could talk about things that would
just absolutely embarrass me. The evil thoughts that I have.
Let us not practice, as it says there, keep my heart from any
evil thing, evil thought. I catch myself all the time praying
this, Lord, take that wicked thought from me. I don't want
to think about wicked things. To practice, to put into practice
my thoughts, Lord, incline not. Practice wicked work with men
that work iniquity. Let me not partake of their pleasantries,
their dainties. They'll only keep my mouth but
my heart. Let us not practice the wickedness of others. Now, listen to this. I think this speaks specifically
of this problem we have in this day that's so prevalent. Nothing
more wicked, now you think about this, nothing more wicked before
God than giving the creature frail, sinful, wicked creatures,
glory at the expense of God. That's wicked. That's nothing
more wicked than to go about to establish a righteousness
of your own and spit in the face of the Lord Jesus Christ, to
promote freewillism, will worship at the expense of God's purpose
and grace. That's wicked. I don't want to
practice any wicked thing that workers of iniquity practice
that they glory in. I don't want to eat of their
dainies. I don't want to partake of their
doctrine. I don't want to partake of their fellowship or even their
company. To leave here this assembly and
to fellowship with another assembly where the gospel is denied despised
and hated How can that be? I don't want to partake of any
wicked thing. Do you? God's people don't. Let
me not eat of their wickedness. Let me not partake of their dainties,
what they glory in. God, keep me from it. They glory
in the flesh. They glory in man. You remember
what the apostle said, God forbid I should glory save in the cross
of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then in that Psalm over there,
Psalm 34 or Psalm 32, My soul shall make her boast in the Lord.
The humble shall hear thereof and be glad. He that glorieth,
let him glory only in the Lord. You see what, that's what this
verse says to me and speaks to me and what it teaches to me.
Incline not my heart. And this is the way we pray.
Lord, keep me from anything contrary to the gospel of your grace.
And certainly let me not glory in the flesh, in the doctrines
of the flesh, that which promotes free willism, will worship, man-centered,
a man-centered religion. Look at verse 5. Let the righteous smite me, and
it shall be kindness. Let the righteous believer, let
a believer rebuke me, and it will be kindness. And let him
reprove me, rebuke me, and it shall be an excellent oil, which
shall not break my head, it be good for me. For yet my prayer
also shall be in their calamities." When I'm rebuked of my friend,
rebuked in the righteous, I still pray. I don't quit praying. Now
David here, what he's saying, would much rather be rebuked
and chastised of the righteous, the believer, than to feast with
the wicked, than to partake of the dainties. I'd rather be smitten
and rebuked of a believer than feast with the dainties and the
pleasantries of the wicked. It is much better to pray, worship,
and fellowship with believers than any other company. Matter of fact, you can have
fellowship. Not really. Not like you do with
believers now. We're fellows in the same ship.
Saved sinners, saved by His grace. Proverbs 27 says, Faithful are
the wounds of a friend. Faithful are the wounds of a
friend. But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Faithful
are the wounds of a friend. Psalm 27, or Proverbs 27, 6. But the kisses of an enemy, that's
deceitful. I'd rather have the rebuke of
a friend. Virgins said this on this verse. When the ungodly
smile upon us, their flattery is cruel. When the righteous
Rebuke us their faithfulness is kind and that's so Fools resent
rebuke Wise men endeavor to profit from it We are to care and to
pray for one another and in love if need be rebuke one another We're to be kind tender-hearted
one to another Forgiving one another loving one another even
as God for Christ's sake have forgiven us But because we love
each other, you know when you really love someone and you see
that one you love especially Talking about the family of God
go in error Going away this contrary to the gospel bringing offense
to the gospel in love. What do we do? rebuke them rebuke
them That's love. Love. So, let the righteous might
be and it shall be kindness. It shall be kindness. But chiefly
here, what I see is this in this verse 5. Chiefly here is the
gracious and needful rebukes of the Lord. This is chiefly
through the word written. And the word preached. That's
how he rebukes us. And that's how he corrects us.
Through the word written and the word preached. I guess it's
chiefly my responsibility to rebuke him when you need rebuking. And I think about that verse
over in Titus chapter 2 where it says, rebuke him, rebuke that
person These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority,
and let no man despise thee." Now what he's saying there? Speak,
exhort, and rebuke with all authority, but do it in such a way that
the man doesn't despise you for the rebuke. Now that's wisdom.
That's wisdom. So let the righteous smite me. Chiefly here, needful rebukes
of the Lord. I think of this verse, I quote
it all the time, Hebrews 12, My son despised not the chastening
of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him for whom the
Lord loveth, he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Now if the Lord loves us, he
will rebuke us and he will chasten us. And he does it again through
the word and through the preaching of
the gospel. Now look at verse 6. When their judges are overthrown
in stony places, they shall hear my words, for they are sweet. Now we can apply these words
to David and to the greater David. When the Lord was pleased to
defeat David's enemies When Saul and others who rose up against
him were thrown down in stony places the Lord blessed and anointed
David his words became sweet to others great comfort unto
his people David reigned in Israel for 40 years and God blessed
him. God said he's a man after my
own heart now that's true of David, but this is also true
of every believer. This is certainly true in our
own salvation, in our own conversion experience. When the enemies
of our own heart are overthrown, when we are made new creatures
in Christ Jesus, the words of the Lord are sweet and precious
unto us. Now turn back to Psalm 19. When the enemies When our enemies
are overthrown, I'm talking about a work of grace that God does
in our heart. When they're thrown down, when
old I is put in the dust, we hear his words as most precious
and most sweet. Psalm 19, turn over there, Psalm
19 verse 7, the law of the Lord
is perfect converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is
sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are
right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment of the Lord is
pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are
true and righteous, altogether more to be desired are they than
fine gold, yea, than much than gold, than fine gold, sweeter
also than honey of the honeycomb." His word are Words are sweet
unto us. One other reference, Psalm 119,
103. Psalm 119, 119, 103. When the Lord is pleased to convict
us and put us in the dust, overthrow our pride, our self-righteousness,
our self-glory, His words, His promise, exceeding great and
precious promises are most sweet unto us. Verse 103 of Psalm 119. How sweet are thy word unto my
taste, yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth. His words are sweet
unto us. The Lord is pleased to speak
to us through His word. Now look at verse 7, back to
the text. Our bones are scattered at the
grave's mouth. David here, he said, I'm at the
point of death. Our bones are scattered at the
grave's mouth. As when one cutteth and cleaveth
or plows up the earth, the ground, David was in a very low, low
spot. Look, just the neighboring psalm
there, the next Psalm 142, look at verse 4. I looked on my right
hand, behold, there was no man that would know me. Refuge failed
me. No man cared for my soul. Our bones are scattered at the
grave's mouth. We see something of how low David
was. He had no sense of hope, like
bones ready to return to the dust. Now think about this. God had promised him the throne
in Israel. He had already been anointed
by Samuel as the king of Israel in 1 Samuel 16. But he saw no
hope in and of himself of ever sitting on the throne. Saul occupied his family. Saul's family occupied and David
was cast out. And he felt so low. That is our
case too. By nature we are without God,
without hope, and without Christ. But God, who is rich in mercy,
for His great love with which He loved us, like David, dead in sin at the grave's mouth,
plowed ground. Now, here's our hope, verse 8.
And this is the way the Lord deals with us. He brings us down
and He raises us up. He strips us, then He clothes
us. He empties us, then He fills us. But mine eyes, but mine eyes. And there's that big word again,
B-U-T, but God, but God. See, man is never raised up till
he's put in the dust. Salvation is for sinners. But
my eyes are unto Thee, O God the Lord. In Thee is my
trust. Leave not my soul destitute. Now let's look at three things
here in that verse. And this is the main verse, I
think the key verse to this particular psalm. Mine eyes are unto thee,
O Lord God. My eyes are unto thee. You remember
from last week, verse 7, Psalm 140, O God, the Lord, the strength
of my salvation, thou has covered my head in the day of battle.
the strength of my salvation, we look to Him. But my eyes are unto thee." What
eyes is he talking about? The eyes of faith. The eyes of
faith are the eyes of hope. We have a good hope through grace.
You see, salvation, when God works salvation within us, salvation
begins with a look, doesn't it? Salvation begins with a look,
looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation begins with a look.
Our Lord said, look unto Me and be ye saved. Salvation continues
with a look. We continually look unto Him,
don't we? Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith. And salvation will be consummated
and completed with a look. A three-fold look. Salvation
begins with a look, continues looking to the Lord Jesus Christ,
and will be consummated with a look when one day our faith
will end in sight and we'll see Him as He is. Hold your place
here and find 1 John. 1 John chapter 3. 1 John chapter 3. Salvation begins with a look,
my eyes are unto thee. 1 John chapter 3, look at verse
1. 1 John 3, behold what manner
of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth us
not, because it knew him not. Beloved now we sons of God and
it does not yet appear what we shall be but when we know that
when he shall appear We shall be like him for we shall see
him as he is one day faithful end in sight and We'll see him
as he is he changed our vile body and it'll be fashioned like
unto his glorious body and according to the working whereby he's able
even to subdue all things unto himself." For our conversation
is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord
Jesus Christ. Look unto Him. Now, back to the
text. My eyes are unto thee, looking
unto Him. O God the Lord, in thee do I
trust. I trust in thee. Not the blessings
of the Lord. We don't trust the blessings
of the Lord. We trust the Lord Himself. In the Lord Himself. Turn back
to Psalm 62. Trusting Him. Trusting the Lord
all the time. Looking to Him. Relying upon
Him. And trusting Him. Indeed Oh God the Lord indeed
is my trust Psalm 62 look verse 7 and God
is my salvation my glory the rock of my strength and my refuge
is in God trust in him Trust in him rely upon him lean upon
him Trust in him at all times you people Pour out your heart
before him. God is a refuge for us trust
Him. So we look to Him, and looking
to Him, we trust Him. Now, for what part of salvation
do we trust Him for? For what part of salvation do
we look to Him for? What do we trust Him for? Everything! Everything! He's performed all
salvation for us. He means We're to trust the Lord
for all of salvation, every bit of it. In Him dwells all the
fullness of the Godhead bodily and in Christ we are complete. So my eyes look to Thee, O God
the Lord, and I'm trusting the One who is God my Savior for
all of salvation. Then it says thirdly, leave not
my soul destitute. Leave not my soul destitute."
And that word destitute has a reference to naked and empty. Don't leave me naked. Don't leave
me alone. Don't leave me empty. Destitute. Now, think about this. Because
the Lord Jesus Christ as our substitute for our sin, because
He was forsaken by God because of our sin and made destitute
As our sacrifice for sin, we shall never be destitute. We
shall never be forsaken. We shall never be destitute of
peace, pardon, or righteousness. Because the Lord Jesus Christ
was forsaken. He was made destitute. He was
made sin for us. He was made the sin offering,
guilty before God, for us. Therefore we'll never be destitute. We'll never Be naked. He will
never forsake us. He will never leave us. And then in Isaiah 61, remember
it says, He's clothed us with the garment of salvation. He's
clothed us with the robe of righteousness. His righteousness. You see verse
8 there, that's a real sweet promise, isn't it? My eyes are
unto thee, O God the Lord. In thee is my trust. Leave not my soul naked. Bare. He's clothed us. He's provided
for us. And then David said, keep me. Leave me not destitute of pardon
and peace. We have peace with God through
our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, verse 9 and 10. Keep me
from the snares which they've laid through me. David had many,
many enemies, many foes, and as I told you last week, our
chief enemy is our own sinful nature, our own wicked nature. Keep me from the snares which
they have laid for me, for the djinns and the workers of iniquity.
The djinns and the workers of iniquity, let the wicked fall
into their own nets. And Lord, be our Passover. Be
our Passover. I'm thinking of one other verse
here where he says, Lord keep me. Turn back to Psalm 121. Thank God he does keep us. Thank
God he will not let us go. We're kept by the power of God.
It says in 2 Samuel 8, 6, twice, it said the Lord preserved David
whether so ever he went, and he did. And he did. And as David waited upon the
Lord, and in due time he was anointed
king over all Israel, publicly owned by that nation. Psalm 121,
I lift up mine eyes into the hills from whence cometh my help.
Psalm 121, 121, 121. I lift up my eyes unto the hills,
from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord,
which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to
be moved. He that keepeth thee will not
slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber
nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper. The Lord
is thy shade upon thy right hand, kept by the power of God. He
will keep us, and he will not let us go. Christ is our Passover. He has made us to escape. We
look unto Him. We trust Him for all things.

The Eyes Of Faith

What does the Bible say about the object of saving faith?

How do we know our prayers are accepted by God?

Why is trusting God important for Christians?

What does it mean to have the eyes of faith?

Why is the concept of intercession important in prayer?

Sermon Transcript

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The Eyes Of Faith

What does the Bible say about the object of saving faith?

How do we know our prayers are accepted by God?

Why is trusting God important for Christians?

What does it mean to have the eyes of faith?

Why is the concept of intercession important in prayer?

Sermon Transcript

About Tom Harding

Comments

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