Seeing With Spiritual Eyes

Intro: Last Sunday on our way home from church, Tony told me that when I gave the invitation he closed his eyes and prayed. When he opened them, out of his perifiel vision, he saw a large white figure standing to the right of him. He said, when I turned to look at Him, He was gone. I told him it was the Lord. For just a moment, Tony saw with spiritual eyes.

If we saw with spiritual eyes we would see the LORD physically, in front of us, beside us, and behind us! He surrounds us as He daily leads us, protects us, forgives us, and at the end of our days, brings us home!

I. He is Before us (1-3)

If we saw with spiritual eyes we would see that the LORD is in front of us! David uses 2 different verbs to relay this truth, #1 nā·hǎl {knee-hail}(to Lead or to escort) #2 nā·ḥā {nay-ha}(to Guide or conduct). Simply put, if we saw with spiritual eyes we would see that the Lord is before us motioning us to follow Him!

ILL: The motto of the US Army Infantry school is follow me, My DI had a patch on his left sleeve with a bayonet and under it, it read “Follow Me.” They would wave us forward with their hand saying “follow me” and we would say, “lead the way! If we saw with spiritual eyes we would follow Jesus down the right paths in life!

A. For the body

If we could see Him, we would follow Him down the path that is good for our body! He would motion for us to stop and we would knock off from work then eat, drink, and sleep! Yes! The body needs timely rest and refreshment. Before electricity people averaged 2 more hours of sleep each night and their stress levels were less.

ILL: In Malawi Africa less than 10% of the population has electricity, so when the sun goes down everyone goes into their hut. Come Sunday, all the believers rest and go to church.

If we had spiritual eyes our bodies would be in better shape, we would live in rhythm with the LORD. Eat when we are hungry, drink when we thirst, sleep when we are sleepy, and spend one day a week resting in the Lord.

B. For the Soul (3)(Restoration)

If we saw with spiritual eyes, we would see the LORD motion us to return to Him if we got too far away! In Hebrew, that is what restore means.

ILL: As a Shepherd reels in his sheep, he desires to keep us close.

He would hand us this great book and renew our minds then set us on the straight path each day so that we would not fall off the cliff and into the sea of sin that so many of us Christians unfortunately live in. We would openly talk with Him and be sitting on the front row of church each Sunday focusing on Him, praising His name, and honoring Him in all that we did.

Yes, if we could see with Spiritual eyes, we would see Jesus before us, leading us!

II. He is Beside Us (4-5)

If we had Spiritual eyes we would see the LORD right here beside us, like the Angel of the LORD with His Sword in one hand protecting us and with anointing oil in the other comforting us!

A. Protection from fear

Life is full of dark valley’s, but If we could see with spiritual eyes we would laugh in the face of difficult circumstances and death. We would say, “Death, where is your victory, Death, where is your sting.” We would not fear anything in this life or the next!

B. Protection from enemies

If we saw with spiritual eyes we would see Jesus fighting for us when the circumstances of life are troublesome. We would see Him draw all the weapons of heaven against our attackers and we would have no worries. We would see Him motion us to recline at the dinner table and leisurely eat a delightful meal and drink refreshing drinks as the enemy pressed down on us! That is exactly what is meant by “Thou preparest a table in front of me in the presence of mine enemies.”

ILL: While in the Army, I would never break out an MRE as the enemy pressed down on me. But that is exactly what Jesus says we can do when under attack because He fights for us. Ex. 14:14, Ps. 46:1! The Rod and Staff were the only two means of protection a shepherd normally took with them into the hills. David is saying that the LORD will fight for us with all that He has!

C. Protection from illnesses, bumps, and bruises

Even if our attackers were able to put a couple of popknots on us, if we saw with spiritual eyes, we would see the LORD Jesus pull out His anointing oil and gently rub it onto the sores. In ancient Isreal that is what a Good Shepherd did at the end of the day. He cared for the sheep's bumps, bruises, and sores. The oil would sooth and comfort the sheep, likewise we would see Jesus soothing and comforting our hearts! We would be comforted and feel most secure!

If we could see with spiritual eyes, we would see Jesus beside us comforting and protecting us.

III. He is Behind Us (6a)

If we saw with Spiritual eyes we would see the Lord Jesus perusing us in love and forgiveness. Surely (ʾǎḵ) means certainly or indeed. Its the idea of being true! This is a fact Jack! Follow rā·ḏǎp̄ means to pursue or chase.

ILL: Like a loving parent running after a rebellious child, not to punish, but to pick them up and bring them home. If we saw with Spiritual eyes we would see the goodness and mercy of God chasing us down!

A. With Love

We would see the Lord act with love when we acted unloving toward Him. His love is not based on our goodness but on His. Love is His very nature 1 John 4:8b. He loves us unconditionally and demonstrated it on the Cross while we were still sinners!

B. With forgiveness

If we saw with spiritual eyes we would see the LORD act merciful towards us. Mercy (ḥě·sěḏ) means loyal love, unfailing kindness, devotion. Ps. 51:1! He patiently awaits us to repent of our sin or He would have already blotted us out. Their is no sin too small that you do not need forgiveness from and there is no sin too big that you can’t be forgiven of! David wrote Ps. 51 in repentance of his sin with Bathsheba, he took her from his friend, slept with her, killed her husband to cover it up, lied to the nation, then married her as his own. Ps. 53:2-3 he confesses his sin and 1 John 1:9!

If saw with spiritual eyes, we would see the LORD like the hound of heaven, chasing us with love and forgiveness so that we could be in fellowship with Him! Not out of desperation but out of love, grace, and mercy toward us!

IV. He is Beyond Us (6b)

If we saw with Spiritual eyes we would be able to see beyond this life and into the corridors of heaven, and peer into the place which Christ prepared for us, and where He awaits for us. John 14:1-3

ILL: When I traveled, and came home at the end of the week I was so excited to see my house and family. My boys would run to the door shouting daddy! Hope would be smiling! The only scene more beautiful is the one of Christ Jesus waiting for me in my eternal dwelling place, what joy it will be to live there forever!

Application: We can see with Spiritual eyes when we walk not by sight but by faith, then we will know that the unseen is the real thing, that what faith is (Hebrews 11:1) “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” That how David saw knew these things as His faith gave way to experiential knowledge. It is as real as if you could see it!

Con: Are you lonely and sad, are circumstances troublesome, don’t fret… you are not alone. Jesus is before you, beside you, behind you, and beyond you!