I WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE
I was blind BUT NOW I SEE!
1 John 1:1-2
“This one who is life itself was revealed to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and proclaim to you that He is the one who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was revealed to us.”
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IN THE BIBLE
1. Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen 11)
2. The Syrian army (2 Kings 6)
3. The Blind man in Bethesda (Mark 8)
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IN THE BIBLE
1. Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen 11)
2. The Syrian army (2 Kings 6)
3. The Blind man in Bethesda (Mark 8)
4. The Blind man in Jerusalem (John 9)
John 9:24-25 NKJV
So they (The Pharisees) again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”
SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS IN THE BIBLE
1. Sodom & Gomorrah (Gen 11)
2. The Syrian army (2 Kings 6)
3. The Blind man in Bethesda (Mark 8)
4. The Blind man in Jerusalem (John 9)
5. Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9)
2 Corinthians 4:4
“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
Acts 9:1-2 NKJV
Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Acts 9:3-4 NKJV
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
Acts 9:5 NKJV
“And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”
Acts 9:6 NKJV
So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Acts 9:7-9 NKJV
“And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”
Like a foolish dreamer, trying to build a highway to the sky All my hopes would come tumbling down, and I never knew just why Until today, when you pulled away the clouds that hung like curtains on my eyes Well I've been blind all these wasted years and I thought I was so wise But then you took me by surprise Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed Until your love broke through I've been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me Until your love, broke through
Keith Green
Philippians 3:4-7 NIV
“…If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”
Philippians 3:8-11 NLT
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with Him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with Himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead. I want to suffer with Him, sharing in His death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!”
Lord, help me to understand I can never satisfy the requirements of your law.
And that the attempt to do so is to resist your righteousness that can only come by grace.
Help me to understand I could not and cannot save myself, and the effort to do so is resisting Your Holy Spirit and Your gift of salvation.
Deliver me from confidence in myself to daily walk in your righteousness.
I believe that faith alone in the gospel saves me and empowers me to walk as Jesus walked…
THE GOSPEL PLUS NOTHING SAVES
Acts 9:10-16 NKJV
“Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. And in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.” Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”
Acts 9:17-18 NKJV
“And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.”
Acts 9:20-22 NKJV
Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.
I was blind BUT NOW I SEE!!!
Luke 24:28-31
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.