Sm—What is “This”?

Sm—What is “This”?

Matthew 9:27-34; 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out,

“Have mercy on us, Son of David!”

28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them,

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.

29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored.

34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”

INTRODUCTION

When people encounter “the church” many are like the blind men and the elephant. Have you heard the story of the six blind men and the elephant?

THE BLIND MEN AND THE ELEPHANT.

The First approached the Elephant, and fell against his broad and sturdy side, At once began to bawl: The Elephant is very like a wall!"

The Second, feeling of the tusk, so very round and smooth and sharp, cried This Elephant is very like a spear!"

The Third took the squirming trunk within his hands, and boldly spake: "the Elephant Is very like a snake!"

The Fourth reached out his hand and felt about the knee. He declared, “It is clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth touched the ear and said: This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!

The Sixth seizing on the swinging tail exclaimed, "the Elephant Is very like a rope!"

And so these blind men disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, and all were in the wrong!

What is This? The Elephant of the Church, What is it? A Wall of Institutional Fragmentation? A Snake Hierarchal Leadership A Tree (Posts) of Tradition that have stood the tests of time A Fan adapting to the challenges and changes of the times A Rope easily grasped and underestimated A Spear of Powerful Truths enduring the tests of time What is This? The Internet is full of prolific voices declaring that they alone know what this is. We must remember today that although the church may be seen in a multitude of ways, She is first and foremost The Bride and the Body of Christ. The question in the background of our text today was directed to the emerging church—the person of Yeshua and His ministry of healing, deliverance, and empowerment. People were asking, What is This?

In Matthew 9:27-34 two contrasting answers are proposed.

Two blind men followed Yeshua?

How was that even possible?

Simply put, a blind person has a perception of light; meaning he or she can tell there is a source of light, even though they are unable to see the color. For example, if a blind person is near a Christmas tree with lights, she can tell they are flashing but can’t distinguish between the various colors or patterns.

The blind perceive sunlight, camera flashes, and the light from computer monitors or television screens. Many blind persons can also tell when lights are on or off in a particular room.

Yeshua is the Light of the world.

1 John 1:1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

John 1:4-5, 9-10

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers,

so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ,

who is the image of God?

6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:4, 6

Both Matthew 9 and 2 Corinthians 4 address the need for correct vision.

How we see the problem is often the problem.

Blind men see.

Pharisees with 20/20 vision are blind.

Paul addresses Myopic vision

· Near Sightedness—A condition in which one can see near objects but cannot see far objects clearly.

Unlocking the Tools with the Eye

“…Having Eyes to See, they See Not.”

“Lord, Open His Eyes that he may See’

Romans 11:8

Just as it is written:

“God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day.”

Acts 28:27

27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’

What is “a spirit of stupor”?

· A spirit of slumber

· A dull mind

· In a deep sleep

It is mental lethargy; apathy; numbness. A spirit of stupor happens when people stop leaning into God’s presence – and stop hearing His voice.

It is the opposite of having the joy of The Lord, which is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Holy Spirit.

📷

“Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Kings 6:17

What is this?

· This dynamic of Following Yeshua

· What is this dynamic leading of the Light and the Spirit of God

· The Light of the Gospel of Yeshua is Key to Sight

John 12:20f

Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”

30 Jesus said...32 And I, when I am lifted up[g] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you.

Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.

36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light. ”When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.