Sermon Tone Analysis

Before the invention of the microscope in the 1590’s, there was a ton of uncertainty about the human body.

Without the microscope, it is impossible for us to see the human body on a cellular level.

However, just because we are unable to see the cells that make up our body, doesn’t mean that cells do not exist.

They are still very much alive.

As we continue talking about the SoulShifts this week, we look to our Bible story.

In the Story, we read of a man, called Bartimaeus who was a blind beggar.

As with many who had disabilities in biblical times, their lives were very difficult.

We don’t know too much about this man, but that he was blind and a beggar.

He didn’t have a job, probably no home or family, and was a beggar.

There probably wasn’t much hope for this man.

Until, he heard that Jesus was walking by.

He calls out to Jesus and says “have mercy on me.”

Jesus asks him:

This morning, I ask you the question: do you want to see?

You see, we like to believe in what we can see, taste, touch, smell, and hear, but what God offers us is much greater than that.

He offers us the ability to see the unseen.

In New Testament times, blindness was often used as a metaphor to mean so much more.

It shows us what is wrong with our natural state.

As shown in

Blindness wasn’t just simply a physical thing, it was a spiritual thing as well.

Earlier in Mark 8, Jesus says

Mark 8:18 (NIV)

18 Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear?

If you were to ask the blind man if the world were real, he would probably say “yes,” but would still be blind.

Likewise, we can saw we believe in Jesus, but still be blind to the things that are eternal.

And, this is why we need to shift from:

Seen to Unseen

Shifting from seen to unseen is like being healed of the blindness of the things that are eternal.

“It goes beyond believing in things you can’t see to seeing things because you believe in them.”

- Steve DeNeff and David Drury

Paul says in:

and in

God gave us 2 sets of eyes, the eyes on our face to be able to see the things in the physical world and the eyes of our heart to see the things that are eternal.

Opening the eyes of our heart doesn’t change the things in the temporal world, but it does help explain and reveal them to us.

There is a story of Elisha that helps demonstrate this in

2 Kings 6:8–17 (NIV)

8 Now the king of Aram was at war with Israel.

After conferring with his officers, he said, “I will set up my camp in such and such a place.”

9 The man of God sent word to the king of Israel: “Beware of passing that place, because the Arameans are going down there.” 10 So the king of Israel checked on the place indicated by the man of God.

Time and again Elisha warned the king, so that he was on his guard in such places.

11 This enraged the king of Aram.

He summoned his officers and demanded of them, “Tell me!

Which of us is on the side of the king of Israel?” 12 “None of us, my lord the king,” said one of his officers, “but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom.” 13 “Go, find out where he is,” the king ordered, “so I can send men and capture him.”

The report came back: “He is in Dothan.”

14 Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there.

They went by night and surrounded the city.

15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city.

“Oh no, my lord!

What shall we do?” the servant asked.

16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered.

“Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”

17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.”

Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

So, we deal with these two eyes…one that sees what is there and one that see what is not.

And so, we shift our focus to being able to see the things that we cannot normally.

How?

1. Faith

Faith allows us to see things that we would normally not see.

“Faith sees the unseen, but the unseen is no less real just because it requires faith to see it.”

- Steve DeNeff and David Drury

It is interesting that in our culture, we treat those that only believe in what is tangible as the smartest people.

The authors of the book quote John Ortberg and tell this story:

There is a plane and in it is the pilot, the world’s smartest man, and a boy scout.

The pilot tells the other two that they plane is going to crash, but there are only two parachutes.

The world’s smartest man says that it is his duty to the planet to use his knowledge and so he must have one of the parachutes.

So he jumps out.

The pilot tells the young boy scout that he has lived a good life and that the boy scout has a life yet to live, so he should use the second parachute.

The boy scout turns to the pilot and says “relax, captain, the world’s smartest man just jumped out of the plan with my backpack on.”

There are plenty of smart and non-smart people who only believe in the seen.

But, there are also plenty of smart and non-smart people who believe in the unseen.

Intelligence isn’t the key to seeing the unseen, faith is!

You all are familiar with the story of Thomas, we call him the “doubting Thomas” as he was the one who said

John 20:25–29 (NIV)

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them.

Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands.

Reach out your hand and put it into my side.

Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Sometimes, it is hard....but Jesus knew it would be..

Sometimes we feel like the man who’s son was demon possessed when we say:

If we want to see what we cannot see, we begin with faith!

We cry out to Jesus, help me overcome my unbelief!

2. Allow Jesus to open our eyes!

After Jesus had risen, He appeared to two people on the road to Emmaus.

As they were walking, Jesus was with them, but they did not know that it was Jesus.

He asks them what they are talking about and they basically tell Him they are talking about the death of Jesus.

Jesus tells them about Himself and....

Once they get to where they were going, Jesus acts like He is going to continue on.

The two men invite Jesus over and they share a meal.

At the meal, Jesus takes the bread, prayed over it, and gave it to them.

They then realized that it was Jesus but He disappeared.

Then they said this:

I really love this concept.

They were in the presence of Jesus as He was sharing scripture with them.

Something special was happening here as their hearts were burning.

When they were in the presence of Jesus and the Word of God, they felt something.

Then, they recognized who He was.

It made sense.