WALKING BY FAITH, NOT SIGHT

Two Blind Men See Clearly

The condition of the blind men enabled them to see things clearly.

Matthew 9:12 “But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.”

“I have learned to kiss the wave that throws me against the Rock of Ages.” — Charles Spurgeon

The blind men understood who Christ was.

See 2 Samuel 7:12–13, Luke 1:32-33...

They understood that only Christ could help them.

See Isaiah 35:4-6...

Isaiah 61:1–2 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;”

2 Corinthians 5:7 “for we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Their Faith is Rewarded

The men had a settled conviction and belief that Christ could heal them.

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

In the same way, we must have a settled conviction that Christ will save us.

See Ephesians 2:8–9...

We can never earn Christ’s favor. It must be freely given.

Romans 4:4–5 “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,”

Romans 4:21 “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”

They Break a Strange Command

Christ didn’t encourage people to follow Him for the wrong reasons.

John 6:15 “Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.”

Christ performed miracles to prove who He was.

John 10:37–38 “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.””

Many people wanted Christ’s miracles, but didn’t want Him.

See John 6:26–29...

In their great excitement, they disobeyed Christ’s command.

Mark 7:36 “And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it.”