Lesson 06 — Kingdom Eyes

“Kingdom” Defined:

1. A realm or region in which someone or something is ___________________.
2. An area or sphere in which one holds a preeminent ________________.
3. The eternal __________________ of God.
4. The realm in which God’s ________ is ____________.

Foundational Scripture:
The disciples came up and asked, “Why do you tell stories?” He replied, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn’t been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. That’s why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight… But you have God-blessed eyes—eyes that see! And God-blessed ears—ears that hear! A lot of people, prophets and humble believers among them, would have given anything to see what you are seeing, to hear what you are hearing, but never had the chance. — Matthew 13:10-13, 16-17 (MSG)

Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then 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. — 2 Kings 6:8-17 (NKJV)

Eight Characteristics of Kingdom Eyes
Characteristics 1-4

1. Characteristic One: Kingdom Eyes Are… ______________________ Eyes!

Scripture:
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. — Psalm 19:8 (NIV)

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength… — Ephesians 1:18-19 (NIV)

And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces. He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the Lord God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over. — 2 Kings 2:9-14 (NKJV)

2. Characteristic Two: Kingdom Eyes Are… ______________________ Eyes!

Scripture: I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. — Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy. — Psalm 123:1-2 (NIV)

The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. — Psalm 145:15 (NLT)

It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible. — Hebrews 11:27 (NLT)

3. Characteristic Three: Kingdom Eyes Are… ____________________ Eyes!

Scripture:
I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, O Lord, for it is good. For he has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes. — Psalm 54:6-7 (NIV)

My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes. — Psalm 92:11 (NIV)

4. Characteristic Four: Kingdom Eyes Are… _____________________ Eyes!

Scripture:
Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back. So let’s keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. — Philippians 3:13-15 (MSG)

What’s God going to say to my questions? I’m braced for the worst. I’ll climb to the lookout tower and scan the horizon. I’ll wait to see what God says, how he’ll answer my complaint. And then God answered: “Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” —  Habakkuk 2:1-3 (MSG)

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.” — Revelation 4:1 (NKJV)

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points: Discuss (or ponder) why you think the Bible speaks so often of the significance of the human eye. What do you think it means to have “enlightened eyes”?

Prayer Points: As you review the four characteristics of Kingdom Eyes  discussed in this session, select at least one that you feel would enhance your walk with the Lord and claim it in prayer.

Eight Characteristics
Characteristics 5-8

5. Characteristic Five: Kingdom Eyes Are… ________________ Eyes!

Scripture:
Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. — Proverbs 4:25 (NLT)

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death. — Psalm 141:8 (NIV)

But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. — Acts 7:55 (MSG)

That’s why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn’t stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I’d think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! — Ephesians 1:15-19 (MSG)

6. Characteristic Six: Kingdom Eyes Are… ______________________ Eyes!

Scripture:
Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people. — Jeremiah 9:1 (NIV)

“This is why I weep and my eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me, no one to restore my spirit. My children are destitute because the enemy has prevailed.” — Lamentations 1:16 (NIV)

The hearts of the people cry out to the Lord. O wall of the Daughter of Zion, let your tears flow like a river day and night; give yourself no relief, your eyes no rest. — Lamentations 2:18 (NIV)

Our hearts are sick and weary, and our eyes grow dim with tears. — Lamentations 5:17 (NLT)

7. Characteristic Seven: Kingdom Eyes Are… _________________ Eyes!

Scripture:
Do you not say, “Four months more and then the harvest”? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. — John 4:35 (NIV)

My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. — Isaiah 51:5-6 (NIV)

Pray diligently. Stay alert, with your eyes wide open in gratitude. Don’t forget to pray for us, that God will open doors for telling the mystery of Christ, even while I’m locked up in this jail. Pray that every time I open my mouth I’ll be able to make Christ plain as day to them. — Colossians 4:2-4 (MSG)

8. Characteristic Eight: Kingdom Eyes Are… ___________________ Eyes!

Scripture:
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. — Colossians 3:1-4 (NLT)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. — 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)

There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever. — 2 Corinthians 4:18 (MSG)

This “insider world” is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come. — Hebrews 13:14 (MSG)

AFTERTHOUGHTS… PONDER AND PRAY

Ponder Points: Discuss (or ponder) what you think it means to develop focused eyes as followers of Jesus. How (and why) are  harvest eyes and eternal eyes so interrelated?

Prayer Points: Think of areas of your life where you need greater focus. Ask God to give you “focused eyes” so you can see more clearly His purposes regarding these situations. Claim the same for friends or family members who may be lacking focus in their lives.