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We “See” in two Primary Ways:. We see physically , using our natural eyes . We see intellectually, through the eyes of our understanding, Eph. 1:15-20; Psalm 119:18. Many people have eyes to see, but they see not , Matthew 13:15; Ephesians 4:18; Luke 24:44-45.
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We “See” in two Primary Ways: • We see physically, using our natural eyes. • We see intellectually, through the eyes of our understanding, Eph. 1:15-20; Psalm 119:18. • Many people have eyes to see, but they see not, Matthew 13:15; Ephesians 4:18; Luke 24:44-45. • This point may be illustrated by the life and work of William Tyndale, 1492-1536, one of England’s leaders of “the Protestant Reformation.”
Facts About Wm. Tyndale: • Educated in Oxford, later at Cambridge, was fluent in eight languages. • Determined to translate the Bible into English. • “…if God spares me, I will one day make the boy that drives the plow to know more of the Scriptures than the pope does!” • Tyndale also had an enemy in Henry VIII, who had him arrested. He was strangled and burned at the stake on Oct. 6, 1536. His last words were: “Lord, open the eyes of the king of England!”
The Same Point was also Illustrated by the Servant of Elisha, 2 Kings 6:8-17. • Time Period – in the 9th Century B.C. • Elisha succeeded Elijah; now God’s spokesman. • The battle plans of the king of Syria against the king of Israel continually thwarted • Elisha’s servant, seeing the multitude that had come to apprehend Elisha, was alarmed, v. 15, but Elisha said “they that be with us are more than they that be with them,”v. 15. • Elisha prayed, “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 about Elisha,” v. 17.
Lord, Open Our Eyes That We May SeeThe Ugliness of Sin! • Sin is universal, Rom. 3:10,23; I John 1:8,10. • Sin is something God hates, Heb. 1:8-9; Genesis 1:27-28; Rom. 1:18-32; Isaiah 59:1-2. • Illustrate the ugliness of sin by looking at: • The sin of Adultery, I Cor. 6:18; Heb. 13:4; Matt. 19:9. Consider who is hurt by this sin! • The consumption of alcohol and other drugs, Prov. 23:29-35
Lord, Open Our Eyes That We May SeeThe Beauty of Holiness! • From hagiasmos, signifies separation to God, I Cor. 1:30; 2 Thess. 2:13; I Peter1:2. • We are to worship God “in the beauty of holiness,” Psalm 29:2; I Chron. 16:29. • God is the Standard of holiness, Isaiah 6:1-5. • God despised the worship of apostate Israel, Isaiah 1:13-15, because they were “laden with iniquity,” Isaiah 1:4. Hence, they were to make the needed correction, Isaiah 1:16-18.
Lord, Open Our Eyes that We May SeeThe Weakness of Error! • The Prophets of Baal reflected the weakness of error! I Kings 18:19-24. • Elijah challenged them to “put up or shut up;” their gods could not answer, I Kings 18:26-29. • Elijah called upon the God of Abraham, and He answered with fire! I Kings 18:38. • Teachers of Error today “do not have a leg to stand on! • Truth makes us free, John 8:32. • The best way to stop the mouths of gainsayers, Titus 1:9-11, is to cite Scripture!
Lord, Open Our Eyes that We May SeeThe Power of the Gospel! • The Gospel is the power of God unto Salvation, Romans 1:16-17. • There is power in the Gospel! Ephesians 1:18-20; 2:1. • People who are dead in trespasses and sins can be made alive, and motivated to share the gospel with the lost! Eph. 2:1; Romans 6:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:2; Mark 16:15.
Lord, Open Our Eyes that We May SeeThe Stupidity of Prolonged Anger! • Anger is a normal emotion with a wide range of intensity. A warning bell that something is wrong. • However we are commanded not: • To sin when we become angry, Eph. 4:26. • To let the sun go down on our wrath, v. 26. • To be quick to become angry, James 1:19-20. • Anger Rests in the bosom of fools, Eccl. 7:9! Psalm 37:8; Hebrews 12:14-15.
Lord, Open Our Eyes That We May SeeThe Wisdom of Forgiveness! • From aphiemi, means “primarily, to send forth, to send away,” Vine. It means to: • Remit or forgive debts, Matthew 6:12. • Remit or forgive sins, Matthew 9:2; Acts 2:38. • Jesus was a forgiving Person, Luke 23:34! • However, those for whom He prayed were not forgiven until they obeyed! Acts 2:36-38. 2 Pet. 3:9. • There are no limitations on Christ’s law of forgiveness for those who meet His conditions, Matt. 18:21-22; 6:12,14-15.
Conclusion: • May God Help us to see: • The Ugliness of Sin! • The Beauty of Holiness! • The Weakness of Error! • The Power of the Gospel! • The Stupidity of Prolonged Anger! • The Wisdom of Forgiveness! • May God also help us to “see:” • The Horrors of Hell! • The Joys of Heaven!