Frankie Mazzapica - Your Next Shifts Your Vision
The title of today’s message is «Your Next Shift: Your Vision.» This is part three of a series, and it will be the last part. We will send out an email or a text message to let you all know what the next series will be. Today, we are discussing a truth that everyone knows deep down: God has something more for you. The enemy will come and say, «You’re stuck; you’re going to be in this season forever. You’re never going to move forward. You’re never going to make more money. You’re never going to be healthy.» These are called «never lies.» Never lies are lies that start with the word «never» because they come from the enemy—never, never, never. But deep down, you know that you are here for a purpose and that there is something more for you. I want to describe what happens when you start stepping into that season. I want you to notice the little changes that begin to happen, and you’ll think, «Whoa, I think things are changing.»
One of the things that happen is the way you see people. When you start seeing people differently, you can say, «Whoa, I haven’t always looked at people this way.» Number two is the way you talk about people. You’ll catch yourself thinking, «Wow, I haven’t always talked about people this way.» The way you talk to people will also change. Here’s the cool thing: you will notice that God is changing you, but what’s even cooler is that people will notice that God is doing something with you. It’s not an arrogant thing; you want someone to notice: «You’re different, aren’t you?» That’s what happens. We’re going to use the Apostle Paul and Onesimus as a case study. Now, Onesimus is not a name that mothers typically say, «I’m going to name my kid Onesimus,» but it is a fun name to say. So let’s say it three times so you can hear it in your head, and then I want you to say it a couple of times too because it’s just fun: Onesimus, Onesimus, Onesimus. Now you say it: one, two, three—Onesimus! It’s fun to say, right? There’s really no point, but it’s a little moment of joy.
We’re going to go to the book of Philemon. Philemon is great; if you’ve never finished a book in the Bible, you should look for Philemon because there’s only one chapter with about 30 verses. You’ll read the whole thing, and then you can say, «Look!» The book of Philemon is about a man who had a servant, and in some versions of the Bible, he is called a servant, while in others, he is called a slave. However, it doesn’t mean a slave like what you and I would think of; it’s a servant. So Philemon had a servant named Onesimus, and Onesimus did something wrong to Philemon. Most theologians believe he stole something and then ran away from Philemon, making him a runaway slave. While he was away, he somehow met the Apostle Paul, which was a divine assignment because Paul was sitting in prison for preaching about Jesus. Paul led Onesimus to the Lord, and Onesimus confessed, «Okay, I used to serve this guy named Philemon.»
Paul responded, «Wait a minute; I know Philemon! He’s a friend of mine. Don’t worry; I will write a letter to Philemon. You go back; I believe in Philemon, and he will do the right thing.» Here we see Paul viewing Onesimus differently, speaking about him differently, and communicating with him differently. He’s telling Philemon, «I want you to see him differently. I want you to talk about him differently. I want you to talk to him differently.» Onesimus steps back and thinks, «Wow, there’s something different about you, Paul. There’s something different about you, Philemon.» This shift happens—people step back and notice something different about you.
Let’s dive into Philemon chapter 1, verse 10: «I appeal to you,» Paul writes to Philemon, «to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.» Paul does not look at Onesimus as a runaway slave; God changed his vision. Paul used to be a person in Acts 8:2 who ravaged the church, but God changed how he views others. As Paul looked at Onesimus, he didn’t see a runaway slave; he saw a spiritual son. But remember what I said about how people see you differently? Onesimus looked back at Paul and didn’t see a judge; he saw a spiritual father.
As God shifts the way you see people, people will begin to see you differently. It’s a transformation where things begin to change based on how you perceive others. Sometimes we judge people for their sins because their sins are different from ours. You can never judge someone because their struggles are not the same as yours.
Let’s think about this: there are two types of sins. The first type is the sins of the flesh. Sins of the flesh are easily identified but hard to justify. I’ll unpack this shortly. The second type is the sins of the heart. Sins of the heart are hard to identify but easy to justify. For example, you can see an adulterer; it’s very hard to justify that. A person who steals is also easy to identify but hard to justify. Gluttony or someone who constantly talks down to people with profanity is easy to identify yet hard to justify.
Now consider the sins of the heart: these sins are hard to identify because they’re internal. You don’t forgive someone; you harbor hate, anger, or bitterness. Jealousy is hard to spot, but it’s easy to justify. You may wonder, «Why am I so angry?» It’s easy to justify: «Because he’s a jerk!» Here’s a truth we must grasp: in James 2:10, it says, «For the person who keeps the entire law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.» This means, regardless of what sin you’re struggling with, it’s just as bad as the one you’re observing and thinking, «I can’t believe you’re doing this.»
When God takes you into a new season, you start seeing people differently, and you don’t condemn them for their shortcomings. A man named Billy Graham, wave if you know who he is—okay, this worries me because only about 60% of you waved, indicating we’re getting older! Billy Graham preached to more people face-to-face than anyone in history. While in Seoul, Korea, he preached to one million people. He said what I’m communicating much better than I just said it, so let me show you a clip of him on The Johnny Carson Show.
Billy Graham is a good friend. He certainly needs no lengthy introduction. For the past two decades, he has provided guidance and comfort to millions across all faiths. Would you please welcome evangelist, author, and educator Dr. Billy Graham?
«Well, that was quite a monologue, and I appreciated one thing about it—you’ve been reading the Bible! Yes, I know. You know, I would sound awful, but if you asked me to name all ten of them right now, I might leave one out. But I think you can remember them; after all, we’ve all broken each commandment,» he says. «The Bible says that if we break one point, we’re guilty of all. When Jesus came after Moses, he explained that the Ten Commandments can be broken by thought and intent. So, in that sense, we’re all guilty, and that’s why the Bible says everyone is a sinner—even Ed is a sinner.»
Some people articulate things better than we can. The principle remains the same: there are sins of the flesh and sins of the heart. The intent is the same. When God begins to work within you, you view people differently; you don’t condemn them.
Every person you encounter is fighting a battle you know nothing about. They are overwhelmed with something hidden from you. When you start viewing them through this lens, you know God is at work in you—and it’s remarkable because it’s rare. People will notice a difference in you.
Point number two: not only does God change how you see people, but also how you talk about them. Look at how Paul speaks about Onesimus to Philemon in verse 18: «If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.» Paul urges Philemon to forgive and embrace Onesimus. When Paul looked at Philemon, he did not see a runaway slave; as mentioned earlier, Onesimus did not see him as a judge either. They regarded each other as divine connections—a spiritual father and son.
When you’re discussing someone who isn’t present, ensure your words are a shield rather than a weapon aimed at them. If you’ve ever spoken with someone who criticizes someone behind their back, you can immediately tell that God’s work isn’t happening in that person as hoped because they wouldn’t be speaking that way.
Luke 6:45 says, «Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.» You will notice you see people differently, and you talk behind their backs differently. To add another subpoint, I recall a friend of mine who used to work at a church. Something happened that caused a lot of chaos; people were leaving, and he stepped away from the church. I asked him, «What happened?» His response was, «I won’t talk about someone who’s not present. It’s been ten years, and I still don’t know what happened.» He maintained a level of integrity and wouldn’t break it unless the person could share their side of the story. Engaging with someone like this is a sign you’re interacting with a godly person.
Point number three involves how you talk to a person. We all know what it feels like to have someone believe in us. When Paul refers to Onesimus in verse 11, he states, «Onesimus hasn’t been much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.» A godly person speaks about what they know God is forming in others—not focusing on the fading past.
We need to be people who speak hope and encouragement. Everyone in your life looks to you for advice, and recognizing this can mean everything when they see you viewing others differently and speaking hope into their lives. Paul would affirm Onesimus, saying, «This is who you’re becoming.»
Onesimus eventually became a leader over churches, while Paul encouraged him, asserting that he wouldn’t remain where he was for long. I assure you—if you feel stuck, you won’t be there forever. You may say, «I’ve been here a long time.» But every season has an expiration date. Maintain the «white-knuckle anointing»; just hang on. This room is filled with testimonies of individuals who went through tests that led to their testimonies.
If you’re in a season that feels as though it could break you, remember—you’ve been here before. This isn’t the first time you’ve faced struggle. If you’re older than twelve, you’ve been through this cycle and can advise others to avoid potholes along the way.
It’s vital for someone to come beside you and say, «You’re not going to be here forever.» When you find yourself encouraging someone this way, it’s a clear indication that God is shifting you. People often don’t realize their own growth until they look back and see how far they’ve come.
Let’s illustrate this with a video. If there’s one thing I want you to take away today, it’s this: you are growing. You are stronger today than you’ve ever been. You’ll continue to improve, and where you once felt weak, you’re becoming stronger. As I address you, I am talking to the Lord about you. Because of this, you value my voice.
When you do the same, people will value your voice too. You will recognize that God is using you. Would you please stand to your feet and give our Father a standing ovation? Come on, we love you, Jesus! We love you, Jesus!
I would like all our prayer partners to come down. I say this every week because I don’t know who is in the room. If you’re here and say, «Frankie, if my heart were to stop beating in the next five minutes, I am not ready to see the Lord.» The Bible says, «To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ.» If you have a loved one who has died, their last breath means they left their body and, before they could blink, found themselves in the presence of Jesus.
If you’re not ready to see Him, you’re the most important person in the room. I urge you: come forward and take the hand of a prayer partner to say, «I need to get my life right.» The Bible says that if you’re ashamed of Him in front of people, He will be ashamed of you in front of the Father.
For the rest of us, if you’re simply drained and exhausted, come down and take the hand of someone to let them pray with you. The Bible says, «Wherever two or three are gathered in my name, that’s where I’ll be.» The literal translation is: when two or three come together, I will be in their midst.
There’s no official dismissal; you can leave whenever you’re ready. However, let’s sing this next song at least once or twice before anyone departs. May the Lord bless you; may He keep you; may His face shine down upon you and be gracious to you. May His countenance be lifted up on you and bring you peace. In Jesus' name, amen.