31 August 2008

Key verses – v 17-18. Something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.
Introduction. This passage is about blindness and vision. God communicates in visions. V 10,12.
We need clear vision to be able to see. Our windscreens can get very smeared - causing danger.
To see God clearly. (Only the Holy Spirit can do this bit.)
To see ourselves clearly. (Robert Burns’ bit) See Numbers 13 : 33. We seemed like grasshoppers.
To see non-christians clearly. (Daryl’s bit.)
To see others in the church clearly. (Robert’s bit.)
Saul was physically blinded. Through prayer and being filled with the Holy Spirit he could see.

1. Causes of Vision Problems.
a, Hurts or perceived hurts. When someone has hurt you, you see them differently.
Tears are salty and scale can build up in our eyes if they are not bathed.
Perceived hurts. We are all very tender and get offended easily. The effect is the same.
b, Lack of clear focus.
We tend to see others through rose tinted spectacles (the halo or pedestal effect)
or else we see them through dark glasses. (The horned effect.) Quote. Hitler’s Willing Executioners p 433.
c, Imagination gone wrong.
Conclusion. Only God can see people clearly. He can see right inside. I Samuel 16 : 7.

2. Let’s paint a biblical picture of the others in the church. They/we are –
a, Created by God. They are God’s handiwork, made in is image.
b, Deeply loved by God. Chosen before the foundation of the world.
c, A sinner Jesus died for. To purchase them for God.
d, A disciple in the process of sanctification yet holy and blameless now in Christ.”
e, A wounded , insecure person looking for acceptance.
f, A different part of Christ’s body – part of the same body as you.
g, A brother or sister in the Lord. ( Family – not always a place of peace and harmony!)
h, A person indwelt by the Holy Spirit. A temple of the Holy Spirit.

3. “My eyes are dim, I cannot see, I have not brought my specs with me.” What do I do?
a, Admit that you have a vision problem. Matthew 7 : 3-5. You just may be wrong!
b, Admit that you need help from the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1 : 18. He gives us revelation. Pray for it.
c, Do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4 : 27. Watch how you speak about others. We can build up scale in
our own and others eyes through criticism, nasty names, belittling – the stuff of office politics. Repent! Stop it!
Repeated stuff gets believed in the end.
This was the secret of Coue. “Every day in every way I am getting better and better.”
d, Speak out blessing about others. Ephesians 4 : 29-30. A strong command and how hard we find it.
e, Recognize your enemy. Ephesians 6 : 12. Our real enemy is not flesh and blood.
Often the real enemy is in us. Ruth Graham, Broken Heart. P 49.
“Vindication comes through the cross of Christ. My vindication was secured when Jesus shed his blood for me. He took to the cross all of my feelings of revenge, anger, bitterness, malice and spite; and he died in my place. I began to see that Ted (her ex-husband) was not my enemy. Fear, jealousy, pride and self-condemnation – these were my enemies fighting from within me. I came to realize that I was no better than Ted. God loved Ted as much as he did me; we were equal in God’s eyes. Jesus died for everyone. None of us can stand before God. Perhaps my invisible sin of self-righteousness was worse than any visible sin Ted had committed.”
f, Be filled with the Spirit. Acts 9 : 17-18. Ephesians 5 : 18.
Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes and he could see again. Do you want to?

Robert Duncan, 31/08/2008