Seeing What God Wants Me To See
Illumination: Letting the Holy Spirit show me the meaning of God’s Word and how it applies to my life.
John 14:26 “Jesus said, ‘The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’”
John 14:17 “He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.”
John 16:15 “…The Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”
Ephesians 1:17 “I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God.”
Ephesians 1:18-19 “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.”
What actually happens when God opens my spiritual eyes?
1. I see the barrier to my progress.
Numbers 22:22-27 But God was furious that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way… Balaam’s donkey suddenly saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand and the donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat the donkey and turned it back on the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing there, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place so narrow that the donkey could not get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat it again with his staff.
verse 31 “Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, He saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn.So He bowed low and fell facedown.”
2. I see how God is walking with me.
Luke 24:15-31 “Suddenly, Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them. But they didn’t know who he was, because God kept them from recognizing him. Jesus said, ‘You seem to be in a deep discussion about something, what are you so concerned about?’ They stopped short, sadness written on their faces. Then Cleopas said, ‘You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard about all the things that have happened in the last few days.’ Jesus said, ‘What things?’ And thedisciples said, ‘The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth,’ they said. ‘He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles. He was a mighty teacher, highly regarded by both God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had thought he was the Messiah. who had come to rescue Israel. That all happened three days ago,’ they continued. ‘Then some women were at his tomb early this morning, and came backwith an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and that they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus’ body was gone, just as the women had said.’” “Then Jesus said, ‘You are such foolish people. You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering into his time of glory?’ Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all of the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about him.”
“By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus would have gone on, but they begged him to stay the night with them, since it was getting late. So he [Jesus] went home with them. As they sat down to eat, Jesus took a small loaf of bread, asked God’s blessing on it,, broke it, then gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him and he disappears from their sight.”
Three things to cooperate with the Holy Spirit
1. I must begin a relationship with Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 2: 14 “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” .
2 Corinthians 4:4 “The devil who rules this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe. They cannot see the light of the Good News…”
John 3:3 “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God] until he is born again.”
2. I cleanse my heart of sin and conflict.
Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
1 John 2:11 “Whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and he walks around in the darkness. He does not know where he’s going because the darkness has blinded him.”
3. I commit in advance to do what God says.
Psalm 119:33-34 “Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”
Memory Verse: James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
