Bible Text: 2 Kings 6:15-18
We're going to be looking in 2 Kings chapter 6 beginning in verse 8 as our basis for discovering where we need to open our eyes to spiritual sight.
The king of Syria is planning an invation of Israel. Yet, he finds himself thwarted. But, they tell him it is because of the man of God, Elisha. They surround the entire town, just to bring this one man, the man of God. They were aware of this man, remember that just in the previous chapter, the captian of the Syrians, Naaman was found with leprosy and it was through the word of Elisha that he was healed.
Elisha and his servant found themselves surrounded by the Syrian army. Elisha’s servant was worried. But Elisha was not.He knew that God was with him. He prayed for the eyes of the servant to be opened. When they were, the servant saw the armies of the Lord revealed.
He had to open his eyes to that which was spiritual. He could see physically that they were surrounded by the enemy, but Elisha reminded him he needed to see spiritually.
We Need Spiritual Sight
- 2 Corinthians 5:7
There are some things we can’t see unless we look with the eyes of faith. The patriarchs had such faith.
- Hebrews 11:13-14
They looked and they saw. We need to look at some things with the eyes of faith as well. We need to pray that the Lord open our eyes.
We need to open our eyes to spiritual possibilities. Let us pray the Lord open our eyes to our/my spiritual needs.
The lost souls of men. We should pray for the opportunity to teach someone the gospel of Christ. We need to pray for the growth of the church.
That each would focus upon having a vision and praying the Lord to open our eyes to these things as we go about our daily business.
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
— Thomas Edison
Open Our Eyes to Our Spiritual Needs
We’re not going to see our spiritual needs until we believe that we have spiritual needs. We all have a sin problem. We all have to come to the conclusion that we each have a sin problem.
- 1 John 1:8, 10
As a result of this problem, we are all struggling to maintain fellowship with God. It’s our efforts to walk in the light that maintains that fellowship.
- 1 John 1:7
We’ve got to believe we have a problem before we can see that problem. Let us open our eyes to our need for fellowship with God. Our spiritual needs come from our spiritual nature. We’re all made in the image of God.
- Genesis 1:27
We each have a spiritual nature, a soul, and an eternal spirit. We also have physical nature, a body. That part of our nature that will grow is the one that we feed. We've got to grow spiritually not just physically.
Growth is commanded.
- 2 Peter 3:18
We're to grow in grace. We need to grow in all things.
- Ephesians 4:15
We need to imbibe spiritual milk.
- 1 Peter 2:2
Let us open our eyes to our need for spiritual growth. The answer to our spiritual needs is in the Word.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The Word will thoroughly furnished us to every good work.
- Acts 2:42
The apostles continued in the apostles teaching.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:13
They received the Word of God as the truth.
Let us open our eyes to the truth that the solutions to our spiritual problems are found in the word of God.
Let us Open Our Eyes to The Lost Souls of Men
Who do we see when we look on our family and friends? We see the fleshly relationships. We tend to see the good in people’s lives first; that is what we want to see.
We must understand that the people who stand before us also have a sin problem ant that their relationship with God is affected by this problem.
We need to see that God sees their souls in jeopardy. And, we need to also see that there is the lost within the church, those who have spiritually separated themselves from God.
- Isaiah 59:2
- 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
We need to open our eyes to the spiritual reality that the souls of our friends and families are in jeopardy.
- 2 Corinthians 5:10, 11
Knowing that the souls of men are in jeopardy of eternal damnation should motivate us to teach them the truth.
Those souls need God’s message of truth because this world cannot save them.
- Matthew 16:24-26
And we cannot save ourselves; our righteousness is as filthy rags.
- Isaiah 64:6
- John 8:31-32
If we continue to be disciples indeed we will have true freedom.
We need to open our eyes to the fact that God’s message will bring them out of darkness and into light.
We have an obligation to teach that message.
- Matthew 28:18-20
- Mark 16:15-16
They were persecuted, the early church was. Yet, they went everywhere preaching and teaching the Word.
- Acts 8:4
It wasn't just the preachers preaching, everyone, went everywhere preaching the Word.
- 1 Timothy 3:15
We are to be the pillar and ground of the truth. We need to open our eyes to performing our role in evangelism. We need to open our eyes to the lost souls of men.
Let us Pray for the Lord to Open Our Eyes to the Growth of the Church
What is our vision of this congregation? Do we see the church here with more members or less? Do we see ourselves involved in that effort? Can we envision a plan to make that happen?
We need to open our eyes to a vision for the growth of the church. How do we see the church growing?
In the first century, the growth of the church was commanded. Jesus told the apostles to take the message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the whole world, Acts 1:8.
It wasn’t an option for them. They either grew or died. With the church being persecuted in Jerusalem, it was to leave or die. Yet, they left, going everywhere preaching the Word.
What about us. Can we see the growth of the church in that way?
We need to open our eyes to the fact that the growth of the church isn’t optional. Do we see ourselves with a role in that growth?
We each need to develop our abilities to teach others.
- Hebrews 5:12
Disciples are made by teaching.
- Matthew 28:18-20
We need to teach through our example as well.
- Philippians 3:17
We need to open our eyes to the fact that God wants us to teach!
Let us pray the Lord open our eyes to our or my spiritual needs to the lost souls of men, and the growth of the church.
We need to look to these areas in our lives and we can be like the servant of Elisha to open our eyes and see that there is a powerful host against us, but with spiritual eyes see that the Lord is on our side.
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Adapted from a sermon by Kevin Cauley
