SundaySermon
Regaining Spiritual Sight And Hearing
by Ptr. Gerry Gregoire
Scriptural Reference: John 12:47-50; Matthew 13:9-17

John 12:47-50
47 If anyone hears My teachings and fails to observe them [does not keep them, but disregards them], it is not I who judges him. For I have not come to judge and to condemn and to pass sentence and to inflict penalty on the world, but to save the world.
48 Anyone who rejects Me and persistently sets Me at naught, refusing to accept My teachings, has his judge [however]; for the [very] message that I have spoken will itself judge and convict him at the last day.
49 This is because I have never spoken on My own authority or of My own accord or as self-appointed, but the Father Who sent Me has Himself given Me orders [concerning] what to say and what to tell.
50 And I know that His commandment is (means) eternal life. So whatever I speak, I am saying [exactly] what My Father has told Me to say and in accordance with His instructions.

Matthew 13:9-17
9He who has ears [to hear], let him be listening and let him [a]consider and [b]perceive and comprehend by hearing.
10Then the disciples came to Him and said, Why do you speak to them in parables'
11And He replied to them, To you it has been given to know the secrets and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
12For whoever has [spiritual knowledge], to him will more be given and he will [c]be furnished richly so that he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
13This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because [d]having the power of seeing, they do not see; and [e]having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand.
14In them indeed is [f]the process of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, which says: You shall indeed hear and hear but never grasp and understand; and you shall indeed look and look but never see and perceive.
15For this nation's heart has grown gross (fat and dull), and their ears heavy and difficult of hearing, and their eyes they have tightly closed, lest they see and perceive with their eyes, and hear and comprehend the sense with their ears, and grasp and understand with their heart, and turn and I should heal them.(A)
16But blessed (happy, fortunate, and [g]to be envied) are your eyes because they do see, and your ears because they do hear.
17Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous men [men who were upright and in right standing with God] yearned to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

THERE IS A PLACE THAT WE NEED TO GET TO IN SEEING AND HEARING GOD.
KJV WAXED GROSS = THEY HAD BEEN SET UP TO THICKEN THEIR HEARTS ALLOWED THEM TO BECOME CALLOUSED OR HARDENED.

NOT ONLY OURSELVES BUT MANY THAT WE KNOW HAVE NOT JUST GOTTEN IT! MAYBE A RELATIVE OR FRIEND.

GEN 3:7 3:7 (Amplified Bible)
7Then the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves apron like girdles.

THEY WERE SEEING BEFORE, BUT AFTER THE FALL THEY COULD ONLY SEE WITH PHYSICAL EYES. AND NOW THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY WERE NAKED.

Acts 9:8
8Then Saul got up from the ground, but though his eyes were opened, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

Acts 9:18
18And instantly something like scales fell from [Saul's] eyes, and he recovered his sight. Then he arose and was baptized,

Acts 9:19
19And after he took some food, he was strengthened. For several days [afterward] he remained with the disciples at Damascus.

HE LOST HIS PHYSICAL SIGHT SO THAT HE COULD RECEIVE SPIRITUAL SIGHT. ARE YOU GETTING THIS ' GIVE POSSIBLE, I.E.

REMEMBER WHAT JESUS SAID WHILE BEING TEMPTED OF SATAN.

Matthew 4:4-11 (Amplified Bible)
4But He replied, It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.(A)
5Then the devil took Him into the holy city and placed Him on [a]a turret (pinnacle, [b]gable) of the temple [c]sanctuary.(B)
6And he said to Him, If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down; for it is written, He will give His angels charge over you, and they will bear you up on their hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone.(C)
7Jesus said to him, [d]On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, [e]test thoroughly, or [f]try exceedingly the Lord your God.(D)
8Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendor, magnificence, preeminence, and excellence) of them.
9And he said to Him, These things, all taken together, I will give You, if You will prostrate Yourself before me and do homage and worship me.
10Then Jesus said to him, Begone, Satan! For it has been written, You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him alone shall you serve.(E)
11Then the devil departed from Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

MAN LIVES BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD !!!!! It's SO IMPORTANT FOR US TO HEAR WHAT GOD IS SAYING.

WELL, HOW DOES THE ENEMY THICKEN PEOPLE'S HEARTS'

HEART PROBLEM # 1 SIMPLY PUT, OUR HEARTS IS SET ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE TRUTH OF GOD.

IF WE LET THE WORLD WITH ALL ITS PROMISES OF WEALTH, STATUS, POWER, AND PERSONAL FREEDOM CAPTURE OUR HEARTS, WE WILL GRADUALLY TURN OUR EARS AND EYES AWAY FROM SPIRITUAL TRUTH, THE WORD OF GOD. YOU SEE, THE WORLD AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD ARE IN DIRECT OPPOSITION OF EACH OTHER. WE CANNOT LOVE THE WORLD AND GOD ALSO.

James 4:4 (Amplified Bible)
4You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world's friend is being God's enemy' So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.

1 John 2:15 (Amplified Bible)
15Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

Timothy 6:9-10 (Amplified Bible)
9But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish (useless, godless) and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing.
10For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many [a]acute [mental] pangs.

John 14:30
30I will not talk with you much more, for the prince (evil genius, ruler) of the world is coming. And he has no claim on Me. [He has nothing in common with Me; there is nothing in Me that belongs to him, and he has no power over Me.]

THAT FACT ALONE PROVIDES A MAJOR CLUE AS TO THE REAL NATURE OF THE WORLD, AND HOW LOVING THINGS OF THE WORLD AFFECT ONE'S ABILITY TO RECEIVE THE TRUTH.
SATAN IS THE AD-MAN FOR THIS WORLD. IF WE ARE NOT CAREFUL HIS IDEA OF SUCCESS CAN BECOME OUR OWN. SPIRITUAL TRUTH CAN SOUND LIKE NONSENSE TO WORLDLY EARS AND EYES !!!

1Corinthians 2:14 (Amplified Bible)
14But the natural, non-spiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.

IF I BELIEVE THAT MY HAPPINESS LIES IN WHAT THE WORLD HAS TO OFFER, I AM NOT APT TO BE EARNESTLY SEEKING SPIRITUAL TRUTH. IN FACT I MAY BE AGAINST IT.

John 7:7 (Amplified Bible)
7The world cannot [be expected to] hate you, but it does hate Me because I denounce it for its wicked works and reveal that its doings are evil.

HEART PROBLEM # 2 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE BECOME SPIRITUAL EARPLUGS.
I.E I ALREADY KNOW BETTER ! OR WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ME, I'M OLDER, SMARTER, WISER, MORE EDUCATED. THAT IS LOOKING DOWN ON THE MESSENGER. LOOK HOW THEY LOOKED DOWN ON JESUS. OH !! HE IS ONLY THE CARPENTER'S SON.

John 7:52 (Amplified Bible)
52They answered him, Are you too from Galilee' Search [the Scriptures yourself], and you will see that no prophet comes (will rise to prominence) from Galilee.

WHAT THEY FAILED TO DO IS ASK HIM WHERE HE WAS BORN...!!

HEART PROBLEM #3 THE SOUNDPROOF BOOTH. THEY DO AWAY WITH ALL OBJECTIVE TRUTH, TRUTH TO THEM BECOMES WHATEVER THEY BELIEVE.

Timothy 4:3-4 (Amplified Bible)
3For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,
4And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THEIR WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS IS THE ONLY WAY AND THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SAY.
RESOLVING THE PROBLEM

NOW WE WANT TO LOOK AT WAYS TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS IN OUR LIVES AND IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WE KNOW SUCH AS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST WE TURN TO PRAYER FOR IT IS THE KEY FOR RECEIVING ANYTHING FROM GOD. WE PRAY FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS.

PAUL GIVES US AN AVENUE TO TRAVEL ON IN PHILIPPIANS. WE MUST ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND AND FOR THOSE WE PRAY FOR TO UNDERSTAND THAT:

1. THAT CHRIST IS LIFE'S PURPOSE.

Philippians 1:21 (Amplified Bible)
21For me to live is Christ [His life in me], and to die is gain [the gain of the glory of eternity].

YOU SEE, EVERYTHING POINTS TO CHRIST !! (PAUL UNDERSTOOD SOMETHING)
A CENTRAL TRUTH IS THAT THE WHOLE PURPOSE IS CHRIST JESUS

A. WE ARE TO REST IN GOD'S SECURITY. (EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE O.K.)
B. WE ARE TO REJOICE EVEN IN GREAT SUFFERINGS. (IT WILL MAKE YOU AND OTHERS STRONGER) LIVE LIKE YOU KNOW LIFE'S PURPOSE!!!
C. WE ARE TO REMAIN GLAD IN PURPOSE. (THAT IS TO STAY THE COURSE HAPPILY). NEVER SURRENDER TO ENEMY TACTICS, THE ETERNAL PURPOSE TRIUMPHS IN THE END.

2. THAT CHRIST IS LIFE'S PATTERN

Philippians 2:5 (Amplified Bible)
5Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

A. CHRIST MIND IN ALL OF US MEANS UNITY, THE ANSWER TO JESUS'S PRAYER IN JOHN 17. (THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW, UNDERSTAND COMPREHEND)
B. JESUS WAS ALWAYS OPENED TO THE MIND AND WILL OF THE FATHER. (ARE WE')
C. JESUS RESURRECTED FROM WHAT APPEARED AS A NEGATIVE SITUATION, BECAUSE IN HIS MIND HE TRUSTED THE FATHER!! THAT ATTITUDE AND MIND SET NEEDS TO BE IN US ALL THE TIME!!!

3. CHRIST IS LIFE'S PRIZE.

Philippians 3:14-15 (Amplified Bible)
14I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.
15So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

A. WE NEED TO BE POSSESSED AND POSITIONED BY GOD'S REDEEMER CHRIST.
B. ALL THE BLESSING THAT HAVE COME TO US AND THAT WILL COME TO US ARE A RESULTS OF WHAT JESUS SAID AND DID. ( NEW KNOWLEDGE, NEW RIGHTEOUSNESS, NEW POWER, NEW GOAL, NEW HOPE.)

4. CHRIST IS LIFE'S POWER.

Philippians 4:13 (Amplified Bible)
13I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

HIS POWER CAN:
A. UNIFY US.
B. FORTIFY US.
C. PURIFY US.
D. SUPPLY US.

WE CAN TRY TO EXPLAIN SPIRITUAL TRUTHS TO THOSE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAF AND BLIND BUT IT WON'T ACCOMPLISH MUCH. WE NEED TO PRAY FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS THAT THESE TRUTHS WILL BE MADE KNOWN TO US AND TO THOSE WE PRAY FOR.

IT'S REALLY VERY SIMPLE, GOD WANTS US TO LIVE A LIFE ON EARTH FULL OF BLESSINGS. THE ENEMY DON'T, AND HE HAS GIVEN US THE HEART PROBLEMS TO MAKE ARE HEARTS DULL AND NOT ABLE TO RECEIVE. THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN ACCOMPLISH IN US ANYTHING WE WILL ALLOW HIM TO. WE NEED TO PRAY FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS THAT THESE THINGS BECOME MORE REAL TO US, ESPECIALLY NOW MORE THAN EVER AS WE SENSE THE END TIMES APPROACHING.