Open Our Eyes, Lord…
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Let’s look at some things that are NOT SEEN!
2 Kings 6:8-14 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
Have you wondered why Christians are hated so much?
It’s because they are avoiding SO MANY of the TRAPS that are set out for them!
As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit’s ministry (as our Comforter) includes:
-Warning us of traps
-Defending us when we mess up
-Protecting us from secret enemies
Examples:
Christians that are prayerfully trying to win souls do not;
-Drink alcohol or us mind-altering drugs.
-Gamble with God’s money (all of their money is God’s).
-Smoke or chew tobacco, marijuana or “vape”.
-Have sex outside of marriage.
-Lie to get their way.
-Steal or cheat others.
-Use obscene or profane language, etc…
Of course, many Christians DO these things, but NOT THOSE that intend to win souls!
2 Kings 6:15-17 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
May God open your eyes to see the real battle going on around you!
-Notice that the king of Syria wasn’t angry at the king of Israel.
-He wasn’t upset with all those religious folk that lived there.
-He was only upset with Elisha!
So the horses and chariots and the great host were sent
to capture ONE MAN!
At this very moment, the hosts of God are surrounding us! YOU might not SEE them, you might not “believe” they are there, but your blindness won’t make them leave!
Psalm 34:7-9 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
What GOOD are they?
2 Kings 6:18-23 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
Is this any way to win a war??
-This is how war is avoided.
-This is how unbelievers become believers.
-This is how men come to fear God.
-This is how souls are SAVED!!
The goal is not to defeat sinners; it is to SAVE THEM!
Jesus has a more powerful ministry than Elisha…
John 9:32-41 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34 They (the Pharisees) answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Are we blind… or do we see?
How often we meet people that say they “know God”! They say that they are Christian and God “talks” to them… They have a “personal relationship” with God. Yet they are trapped in sin and selfishness. They are carefully religious, but do not win souls. This is the condition of the Pharisees in this passage:
-they read the Bible, even memorize “favorite” passages.
-they attend synagogue (church) regularly.
-they tithe and give money to the synagogue (church).
-they fast often.
-they “speak in tongues” and “preach”.
HOW can these people be SAVED??
They won’t sacrifice themselves to get something they believe they ALREADY have.
They won’t repent when they think they are doing fine.
They won’t search the scriptures to learn what they ALREADY know.
These are the people that sought to KILL Jesus.
Let’s see how blind eyes are opened;
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Substance = an assumed position, a strong confidence
Evidence = proof, conviction, that which exposes something
otherwise unseen
This is NOT a definition of Faith.
It is an explanation of HOW we SEE that which is unseen!!
ANY person who has surrendered their life to God’s will and plan will SEE God moving in the events of their life.
Shall we join Job in saying:
Job 13:13-16 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
Your faith, your trust in God, will PROVE to those around you that Jesus is your Messiah! He will put you in a place where ONLY GOD can save you, then He WILL save you!!
Hebrews 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report (reputation).
Do YOU have a reputation as a man or woman with faith in God?
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
EVERYTHING that you can SEE came about by FAITH!!
Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Genesis 5:24 tells us that Enoch walked with God.
If you walk with God, you will not see death. God will translate you!
This whole chapter (Hebrews 11) tells of examples of how walking with God changed the world around them. This is how souls are won. This is how revivals are ignited. This is how the Kingdom of God is at hand.
When we live our lives surrendered to Christ and working in His ministry we are revealing unseen things to those around us!
1 John 4:4 says that He that is in you is GREATER than he that is in the
world!
Today is the day to start opening blind eyes.
Today is the day prove to those around you that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Today is the day to let Jesus have your life for His service.
Today we will look at the things which are NOT SEEN and wait for them.
Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Let’s look at some things that are NOT SEEN!
2 Kings 6:8-14 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.
9 And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down.
10 And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice.
11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not shew me which of us is for the king of Israel?
12 And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.
13 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan.
14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
Have you wondered why Christians are hated so much?
It’s because they are avoiding SO MANY of the TRAPS that are set out for them!
As a matter of fact, the Holy Spirit’s ministry (as our Comforter) includes:
-Warning us of traps
-Defending us when we mess up
-Protecting us from secret enemies
Examples:
Christians that are prayerfully trying to win souls do not;
-Drink alcohol or us mind-altering drugs.
-Gamble with God’s money (all of their money is God’s).
-Smoke or chew tobacco, marijuana or “vape”.
-Have sex outside of marriage.
-Lie to get their way.
-Steal or cheat others.
-Use obscene or profane language, etc…
Of course, many Christians DO these things, but NOT THOSE that intend to win souls!
2 Kings 6:15-17 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
May God open your eyes to see the real battle going on around you!
-Notice that the king of Syria wasn’t angry at the king of Israel.
-He wasn’t upset with all those religious folk that lived there.
-He was only upset with Elisha!
So the horses and chariots and the great host were sent
to capture ONE MAN!
At this very moment, the hosts of God are surrounding us! YOU might not SEE them, you might not “believe” they are there, but your blindness won’t make them leave!
Psalm 34:7-9 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9 O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
What GOOD are they?
2 Kings 6:18-23 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
19 And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.
20 And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
21 And the king of Israel said unto Elisha, when he saw them, My father, shall I smite them? shall I smite them?
22 And he answered, Thou shalt not smite them: wouldest thou smite those whom thou hast taken captive with thy sword and with thy bow? set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master.
23 And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.
Is this any way to win a war??
-This is how war is avoided.
-This is how unbelievers become believers.
-This is how men come to fear God.
-This is how souls are SAVED!!
The goal is not to defeat sinners; it is to SAVE THEM!
Jesus has a more powerful ministry than Elisha…
John 9:32-41 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34 They (the Pharisees) answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
40 And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
41 Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.
Are we blind… or do we see?
How often we meet people that say they “know God”! They say that they are Christian and God “talks” to them… They have a “personal relationship” with God. Yet they are trapped in sin and selfishness. They are carefully religious, but do not win souls. This is the condition of the Pharisees in this passage:
-they read the Bible, even memorize “favorite” passages.
-they attend synagogue (church) regularly.
-they tithe and give money to the synagogue (church).
-they fast often.
-they “speak in tongues” and “preach”.
HOW can these people be SAVED??
They won’t sacrifice themselves to get something they believe they ALREADY have.
They won’t repent when they think they are doing fine.
They won’t search the scriptures to learn what they ALREADY know.
These are the people that sought to KILL Jesus.
Let’s see how blind eyes are opened;
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Substance = an assumed position, a strong confidence
Evidence = proof, conviction, that which exposes something
otherwise unseen
This is NOT a definition of Faith.
It is an explanation of HOW we SEE that which is unseen!!
ANY person who has surrendered their life to God’s will and plan will SEE God moving in the events of their life.
Shall we join Job in saying:
Job 13:13-16 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will.
14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand?
15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.
Your faith, your trust in God, will PROVE to those around you that Jesus is your Messiah! He will put you in a place where ONLY GOD can save you, then He WILL save you!!
Hebrews 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report (reputation).
Do YOU have a reputation as a man or woman with faith in God?
Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
EVERYTHING that you can SEE came about by FAITH!!
Hebrews 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Genesis 5:24 tells us that Enoch walked with God.
If you walk with God, you will not see death. God will translate you!
This whole chapter (Hebrews 11) tells of examples of how walking with God changed the world around them. This is how souls are won. This is how revivals are ignited. This is how the Kingdom of God is at hand.
When we live our lives surrendered to Christ and working in His ministry we are revealing unseen things to those around us!
1 John 4:4 says that He that is in you is GREATER than he that is in the
world!
Today is the day to start opening blind eyes.
Today is the day prove to those around you that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Today is the day to let Jesus have your life for His service.
Today we will look at the things which are NOT SEEN and wait for them.
Romans 8:24-25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Photo used under Creative Commons from Philippe Put
