Here's Pastor Alan Wright with Today's Blessing: a biblical faith-filled vision. for your life. Easter is big like Christmas at our house, overflowing with presents for grown kids and the grandbaby and nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. But as gift giver Ann requires, no child can get their giant loot of Easter presents without surrendering a special gold coin that was tucked inside their special golden egg that was hidden somewhere during a pre-gifts egg hunt. When the little ones struggle to find their special egg, Anne helps them find it.
She all but points at it. Because she spent half a year buying up Easter goodies for them and she wants them to find their egg. She needs them to find their egg so she can give them. what she has long prepared for them. I think Jesus wants you to see spiritual treasure like that.
He's purchased so much for you. It doesn't want you to ever be Blind to it. He wants you to. Find the spiritual riches. I bless your spiritual eyes, child of God, to see the treasures Jesus sees, to see.
The spiritual Gold. Pastor, author, and Bible teacher Alan Wright. The way that we will end our worries is to say, even if the Syrian army is on the hillside. Even if I should have to face the worst. God has a provision of His grace that is greater.
That's Pastor Alan Wright. Welcome to another message of good news that will help you see your life in a whole new light. I'm Daniel Britt. Excited for you to hear the teaching today in the series, No Worries, as presented at Ronalda Church in North Carolina. If you're not able to stay with us throughout the entire program, I want to make sure you know how to get our special resource right now.
It can be yours for your donation this month to Allen Wright Ministries. As you listen to today's message, go deeper as we send you today's special offer. You can learn more about it, contact us at pastoralen.org. That's pastorallen.org. Or call 877-544-4860.
That's 877-544. 4860. More on all of this later in the program. But now. Let's get started with today's teaching.
Here is Alan Wright. The la vera. This is the kind of prayer that the New Testament is filled with. Ephesians 1.16 Paul said, Remembering you in my prayers that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. This is God's will for your life, Christian, that you would have a spirit of wisdom and revelation.
That you walk in revelation, knowledge of Him. Having the eyes of your heart enlightened. This is a spiritual. and supernatural way of seeing. Your spiritual eyes, the eyes of your heart enlightened, so that you would know the hope to which He's called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints?
And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power towards us who believe according to the working of his great might? He worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead. and seated him at the right hand in the heavenly places.
So that you would be able to See At the same time, the troubles of the world and the provisions of God. that you would be able to see the very real challenges and battles that need to be faced. and have wisdom for that. but that there would be something inside of you that would be very different from the world. That you would have the eyes of your heart be able to see.
What the natural eye can't see, but only the eyes of faith can see. But when you do have the eyes of faith and you have the Holy Spirit within you, He is committed to revealing to you truth. Not every detail of everything that's going to happen in your life, but every assurance. of his presence with you that will never leave you and never fail you. and to know that God is more for you than you can ever be for yourself.
and to know that God has laid up treasures for you that you couldn't dream of. God loves you infinitely, and God has grace surrounding you. I I try to build so much of my My mental framework on just rehearsing those God moments over the years. And I'd like to do that for our church as well. I remember a time I got caught up in worry.
Sometimes worry just comes in in an instant like that.
Sometimes it creeps in slowly over months and years. And sometimes it just comes upon you like Elisha's servant when he looked out and saw an army surrounding him. And I remember, I was remembering, reflecting with Ann this week about one of those wonderful miracles that the Lord gave us as a church. We had years ago a problem in that we were trying to develop a master site plan for the village campus. And we had a problem in that there was a house on the property that was an island in the middle of our property.
Mr. and Ms. Harper owned it. And I had tried to get to know Mr. and Ms.
Harper over the years. They had, in the past, for some reason, said they had never wanted to sell to the church. But we just started praying about that, that maybe they would be willing to, and time went by and began to open up to maybe being willing to sell the house. And then it got closer and conversation with our elders. I was having conversations with them and we were discussing kind of what it might take to buy the house.
You know how you can kind of dance around that type of thing. And it was going to be a hefty price. But we decided it was very, very important for us to get that. We initially thought that we would maybe tear that building down and be building a bigger auditorium. This was all before we decided to become a multi-site church.
So we finally went over and we offered them what we thought it was going to take. And it was a very handsome price, especially for that day, $450,000. for this uh old house. And I was expecting him to say, well, thank you very much. We'll start working on the paperwork, but he said, well, thank you for the offer, but that's not going to do it.
I was like, why? And I learned the next day that our neighbor, some at school, had bought it right out from underneath us for a higher price. And I got so frustrated and so worried about, oh, you know, the whole thing's falling apart now. We're going blah, blah, blah, blah, you know. And uh what in the world is going on?
And I was so thankful to have some elders around me that said, now listen, let's don't, let's just. Hold on a second, maybe the Lord's up to something here. But you know how worry can just come in on you and we're like, I've cultivated this, we work on this, this is integral to our plan. It turned out That the reason that our good neighbors summit, that we had a very good We have very good relationship with them. But they knew that we wanted the property.
And they wanted to do a land swap with us. Long story short, they wanted to get some of our land on that side of their building, near their buildings, so that they could. Make some new roads and a new safer drop-off for kids.
So they had only bought this. House and Mr. Harper's for leverage to swap with us. And so we worked out a land swap with them. And which we didn't pay anything for the house, and gave them some land that we didn't need nearly so much as we needed this land and became happy neighbors, shared a parking lot together that was available now on their property where many of you have parked this morning, and the Lord just saved us $450,000.
Which was uh a nice savings. Don't you just wish that some of the things that you have spent so much energy worrying about that you could have just known. how the Lord was going to provide. And then You'd have had so much more fun living all the while. Open up his eyes.
Elisha said, so he could see What it is. that I see And so Verse 17. The Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, The mountain Was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
So they're Syrian horses and chariots. And at the same time, he sees horses and chariots of fire. that are all around. And if you've got a choice between natural wooden chariots And chariots that are blazing with supernatural fire, I'd take the blazing supernatural fiery chariots every time. That God's chariots and horses were More glorious.
and more powerful and he saw it. And And then you realize That the Syrian army can't see the chariots of fire. The servant hadn't been able to see, but now is able to see. and everything changes. In an instant, Because when he sees what God's grace is doing surrounding him, how can you worry anymore?
And surely he thought of the fact that it was a chariot of fire that had taken Elijah, Elisha's predecessor had taken him into heaven. And so what happened was Elisha did not, note this well, did not pray, O Lord God. Remove the Syrian army. He didn't say cure the problem of of the troubles in front of me. He didn't pray that because Elisha was already seeing the answer of God.
He just wanted his friend, his servant, to be able to see what he saw. Because he knew if he could see what he saw. then it would be enough. God's like that. He doesn't answer every one of your questions.
Sometimes he will. Amazingly, give you some details about things that how it's going to unfold. But instead he usually just wants to capture your sight, your vision. Uh That's Alan Wright, and we'll have more teaching in a moment from today's important series. This month's featured resource from Pastor Alan is the Untroubled Heart, a powerful digital bundle including audio messages and a digital study guide.
With practical insight and biblical encouragement, you'll discover how to quiet anxious thoughts and rest in Christ's peace that endures. When you give today to support Allen Wright Ministries, we'll send you the Untroubled Heart digital bundle as our thanks. Call us at 877-575-845-8525- Five four four. 4860. That's 877.
Five four four. or come to our website. PastorAllen.org. Today's teaching now continues. Here once again.
is Alan Wright. Years ago, I wrote a book called Shame Off You. And I think that the sweetest most stirring letter I ever received about that book was from somebody who had not read it. I want to share it with you. It was from...
2010. Dear Sir, You don't know me. and I had never heard of you before this evening. But what I have to tell you almost sounds crazy and untrue. But I do believe in God.
And he spoke to me tonight. I own a florist. in Midland, Texas. And until four weeks ago I owned it with my husband Tom. He died of cancer on January 3rd.
As I was closing the store today, the first day I had to run the store completely alone, the phone rang. I knew it was close to 5.30 closing time. On the other end of the phone a man's voice asked, When did I close? And I said, I just did. He said he only needed one rose, and he was close by.
I said, come on, I'd wait. As I hung up, I thought maybe I wasn't so smart. I mean Could be someone who knew I was alone. Maybe I was about to be robbed. But I got the rose ready.
And he came through the front door. The sale was $3.25. He handed me six dollars and said to keep it. I pushed it back, taking only what I needed. I told him it was no big deal waiting for him.
And how can I stand between him and whomever was to receive the rogues. As I said it, tears welled up in my eyes. He had turned to leave. pause and look back at me. And he said, I will be back.
God told me to bring you a book. I said, excuse me. He said, God told me to bring you a book called Shame Off You. By this time I was crying. I asked him if he knew me, if he knew my situation.
if he'd ever been in my store before. And he said no. I was in shock. He then asked if he could pray for me. And he took my hands in his and prayed.
And he prayed for me to know that the decisions I was making in my life were of God. and that what other people thought didn't matter. And I thought, this is so amazing. God is awesome. I've been in agony trying to make decisions about my business.
My husband was my partner completely. You can't pay someone to take his place. And it's clear I can't run it alone. And while my husband was sick in the fall, an old friend I hadn't seen in 25 years contacted me and heard my husband was sick and just wanted to help. offer help any way you could.
He was available to come here and keep it. Keep the store while I took care of. Tom. And now Tom is gone. A greenhouse flooded Thursday.
A tree fell the same day. I just can't physically take care of these things. My childhood friend can still come to help, but what would people say or think? It's just better and safer to close the door, throw in the towel. I've always worried.
about what other people think of me. The gentleman said he promised to Bring the book to me, your book. And I can't wait to read it, but no matter what it says. It's already changed my life. I'll always wonder who visited me tonight.
Did someone really receive that rose? Was he an angel? or God or Jesus. I'm not going to spend a lot of time questioning it. I feel honored to have been visited by whomever he was, for I know he was.
Yeah. You know, I never heard from her again, but. When she started reading that book, once he would bring it to her. She'd get a couple chapters in and read a chapter, ironically. called A Rose for a Rose.
which is a story. About a Sunday morning on Valentine's Day when we gave out a rose to every woman. in church. What if you could just see? The hillsides around you with the eyes of God.
He wants you to be able to see things differently. And so the Syrians, verse 18, came down against him, and Elisha. prayed. Please strike this people with blindness.
So he struck. the Syrian army with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. How ironic. that now the Syrian army, powerful in their chariots and horses, All of a sudden, they can't see. Interestingly, the word for blindness here in Hebrew is a.
It's kind of a rarely used word, and it actually is a word that's related to the word for light.
So, some scholars think that they were blinded by a blazing light. We don't know for sure, but they were bedazzled and they couldn't see. And this is where it gets really funny. At verse 19, Elisha said to him, This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, I'll bring you to the man whom you seek.
And he led them to Samaria.
So they couldn't see what was going, and all of a sudden, this voice comes out and saying, You're in the wrong city. And this is not where the man of God lives. And uh so I guess that's one of those few. Instances of God-sanctioned lying in the Bible. And he leads them northward for about 12 miles.
So I don't know what this scene looks like, but this huge army that's just kind of. Ambling along behind Elisha, who leads him up into Samaria, where there they are under the trap of being surrounded by the The whole army of Israel. And as soon as they entered Samaria, verse 20, Elisha. Said, O Lord, open the eyes of these men that they may see. And so the Lord opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria, surrounded by the Israeli army.
We won't take time to read the rest of the story, but it's really quite remarkable. Elisha tells the king of Israel to have mercy on them.
So they fed them and they sent them on their way with their tails tucked. and humiliated and the text says they didn't come back to invade them anymore. Would you? Jesus came. And when he called out from the cross, LA LA Lama Sabaitane.
Some people thought he was calling for Elijah Eli. Or Elisha? Elisha's predecessor Elijah, they always keep at the Passover table an empty place set in case Elijah would return. This sort of thought of the return of Elijah, And Elisha was fulfilled in the actual coming of the true Elisha Jesus. And what Jesus said in a hundred different ways to his disciples was essentially this.
The truth that God, as the Father, has shared with me. I'm sharing with you. And the Holy Spirit is going to come. And he's going to make these things known to you. 1 John says, As many as are the children of God, will be led By the Spirit.
of God. Jesus is the one who opens up our spiritual eyes. We were, according to the scriptures, Spiritually, in a sense, blinded by what the Bible calls the God of this age, referencing Satan. That the image is of darkness. And we who were born in sin...
Can't see. spiritually very well. And Jesus came and said, I am the light of the world. And anyone who trusts in me and follows me. will have the light of life.
and will never stumble in the darkness. I am the way and the truth and the life. And what happens when you accept Christ? is that you become such a new creature That the old way of seeing is gone. And there's a new way of seeing.
You get your heart transformed so that. What you previously were unable to see because of sin, Now you can see Because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. And so much of our Christian growth is simply yielding more and more. To The promptings of the Spirit. and looking at all of life through the lens of God's truth, through the lens of the Word.
You don't just look at the Bible, you look Through the Bible. at everything in your life. And the answer for your worry. No matter the smallest little petty kind of worries, Or the deep looming fears of death itself, The answer for it is not so much to say, well, These aren't really problems. And um There probably won't ever be any major battles after all.
That's not really the biblical picture. Because, beloved, there will come a day. in which we will, each one of us, will breathe our last. And in that moment, that it seems to the world's eyes that death has the final say. God will do his greatest miracle.
And there will be angels surrounding you. I don't know if you get taken in a chariot of fire, but you are escorted into the very presence of God where there is supreme happiness. happiness and delight. And a joy that is beyond description. the greatest joy you've ever experienced on this earth.
multiplied A thousandfold. That in other words, The way that we will end our worries is to say, even if the Syrian army is on the hillside. Even if I should have to face the worst, God has a provision of His grace that is greater. And I'm his.
Now and forevermore. You don't have to worry. Because you're surrounded By the grace of God. And that's the gospel. Alan Wright.
And such good news for our lives. In the series, No Worries, The Teaching Wrapping Up Your Do You See What I See? Alan is back with us in the studio here in a moment, sharing our parting good news thought for the day. This month's featured resource from Pastor Alan is the Untroubled Heart, a powerful digital bundle, including audio messages and a digital study guide. In this series, Pastor Alan unpacks Jesus' promise from John 14, 27.
I leave you peace. My peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does.
So don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid. With practical insight and biblical encouragement, You'll discover how to quiet anxious thoughts and rest in Christ's peace that endures. When you give today to support Allen Wright Ministries, we'll send you the Untroubled Heart digital bundle as our thanks. Call us at 877-575-845-8525. Five four four 4860.
or come to our website. PastorAllen.org. Alan, I love how you talk here about seeing how God sees in this teaching. Do you see what I see? And that's good news for all of us.
Well, it's such good news, and here's the great exchange that's taken place. Though before Christ, the scripture says the God of this age had blinded our hearts. When we come into Christ, he opens up the eyes of our hearts. But God Has done another miracle, just as we see typified in the Syrian, the enemy army, being blinded so they couldn't see. And in so many ways God blinded the devil himself to the To the ultimate purpose and power of the cross, such that.
God accomplished his purposes on the cross And in so doing, opened our eyes while very clearly the father of lies was blinded from the ultimate purpose at hand. God's good like that. And so expect. that he'll open your eyes if you'll ask him. Today's good news message is a listener-supported production.
of Alan Wright Ministries.
