Are You Spiritually Blind?

Scripture: John 9: 39-41

Then Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment [to separate those who believe in Me from those who reject Me—to declare judgment on those who choose to be separated from God], so that the sightless would see, and those who see would become blind.” ⁴⁰Some Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “Are we also blind?” ⁴¹Jesus said to them, “If you were blind [to spiritual things], you would have no sin [and would not be blamed for your unbelief]; but since you claim to have [spiritual] sight, [you have no excuse so] your sin and guilt remain.

Scripture Commentary: Am I blind?

This is a question we can ask ourselves. Blind to what? Are you blind to injustice to your fellow man? Do you turn from the truth?

Are you a follower of Our Lord, Jesus Christ? If so, do you try to live a Christian lifestyle and spread the Gospel?

The person in the Scripture did not know Jesus had given him his sight. But once he knew, he worshiped Him and told people what Christ had done.

Do you tell people what Christ has done for you?

The man was cursed and evicted from the synagogue but that didn’t stop him from telling everyone about Christ. Physical sight is nothing without spiritual sight. When you turn to Jesus, you begin to see and understand.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scriptures Referenced:

John Chapter 9

Matthew Chapter 7

Read Other Commentary on John Chapter 9:

Jesus Heals the Blind

You Can Inherit the Kingdom of God

Scripture: Matthew 25: 34-36

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

³⁵For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

³⁶Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Scripture Commentary:

Through parables, Jesus teaches us, in a language that we can understand, how we can inherit the kingdom of God that has been prepared for us.

Jesus tells us how to live, how to treat people and ourselves. If someone is in need, how can we go about life not helping them? How can we not feel their pain?

People aren’t always in need of money, food, or a place to stay.

They may need someone to talk to, or someone to just listen to them. God placed His Holy Spirit in us but if we don’t call on Him for direction, the door won’t open.

Lord, my God, help me to be the servant to feed the people you place in my life. Help me to listen to them. Help me to clothe the naked with your love and forgiveness. I want to spread your Gospel; I want to be a better helper.

Read the Entire Chapter of the Scripture Referenced:

Matthew Chapter 25

Read Other Commentary on Matthew Chapter 25:

They That Were Ready Went In With Him

The Wise Take Time to Prepare

Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

God Says “Come to Me” If You’re Weary

Scripture: Matthew 11: 28-30

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Scripture Commentary: God invites us when He says, “Come to me.”

“Come to me.” God is inviting us to come to Him. Accept His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as your Lord and Savior. God will free you of the earthly burdens that you carry.

When we put ourselves in Jesus’s care, the problems we thought we had are not as important anymore. The peace we have is so relative that it gives us the answers we need.

What type of person are you?

Jesus mentioned two types of people in prayer: the “wise” who are arrogant in their knowledge, and the “little children” who humbly open themselves to receive the truth of God’s word.

Are you wise in your own eyes or do you seek the truth in childlike faith, realizing that only God holds all the answers? Christ’s death and resurrection gave us direct access to the Father. How fortunate we are that Jesus clearly revealed God to us!

Read the Entire Chapter:

Matthew Chapter 11

Read Other Commentary from the Book of Matthew:

Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

Take My Yoke Upon You

The Great Shepherd Restores the Soul

Part One: Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd

Psalm 23: 1

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

The Lord is my shepherd, maker, Father, protector, the Great Shepherd.

Our needs are taken care of. It’s not what we think we need; what He has for us is all we need.

David is writing out of his own experience as a shepherd to his father’s sheep as a young boy.

1 Samuel 16: 11

And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance and protection.

As God’s children, we are dependent on Him for His guidance and protection. The New Testament calls Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd.

Psalm 23: 2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

When you drive by or fly over farmland, you’ll see the green pastures. What a peaceful feeling that brings. This is the feeling you have when you truly place yourself in God’s hands.

Isaiah 43: 2

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

God will lead you to the path of rightness. If you go your own way, you are going to walk the path Satan has for you. Don’t think that Satan isn’t waiting to lead you. Check out the following verses below.

Job 2:2

And the Lord said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

Matthew 4: 1

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

Now if the devil thought he could tempt Jesus, what do you think he can do with you? Without Jesus to protect you, you have no chance against Satan.

When you put ourselves in Jesus’s hands, you have contentment. Psalm 23 does not focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow Our Lord and Savior.

However, when you choose to sin, you go your own way. Don’t blame God for the place you find yourself.

Psalm 23: 3

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

God won’t lead you to a wrong path.

He restores you because He loves you. He loved us before we loved Him.

God sent His Son to pay for your sins. And by sending His Son, He made a way for you to go to Him directly without anything or anyone intervening.

He restores your soul out of love, but if you are rebellious and disobedient, you are going against your own best interest.

Read the full chapters of the Scriptures referenced:

Please return later this week for Part Two of Jesus Is Our Great Shepherd.

Jesus Spoke Plainly About His Purpose

Part Two: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Son of Man. Jesus spoke plainly about His purpose.

Scripture: Mark 8: 32

He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Note: Peter was not considering God’s purpose but only his own natural human desires and feelings when he rebuked Jesus. Peter wanted Christ to be king, not the suffering servant prophesied in Isaiah 53.

Peter saw only part of the picture.

Like the other disciples, Peter was ready to receive the glory of following the Messiah but not the persecution. He was often the spokesman for all the disciples. In singling Peter out, Jesus may have been addressing all of them indirectly. Unknowingly, the disciples were trying to prevent Jesus from going to the cross and fulfilling His mission on earth.

Satan also tempted Jesus to avoid the way of the cross (see Matthew 4). Whereas Satan’s motives were evil, the disciples were motivated by love and admiration for Jesus. Only after Jesus’s death and resurrection would they fully understand why He had to die.

What does it mean to take up the cross?

The Romans, Mark’s original audience, knew what taking up the cross meant. A prisoner carried His own cross to the place of execution, signifying submission to Rome’s power.

Jesus used the image of carrying a cross to illustrate the ultimate submission required of His followers.

Read the Entire Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:

Mark Chapter 8

Isaiah Chapter 53

Matthew Chapter 4

Jesus, Remember Me

Sermon: What Side of the Cross Are You On? … Jesus, Remember Me

Part One: Luke 23: 37-43

… and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” ³⁸There was also an inscription over him,^[c] “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him,^[d] saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” ⁴²And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” ⁴³And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.” ³Two criminals are to be crucified along with Christ. One is on His left; the other on His right. Each criminal is tied to his cross with ropes. They endure no physical punishment. In contrast, Jesus is nailed to the cross with large nails. But before He is nailed to the cross, He is whipped, beaten, spit upon and a crown of thorns is forced on His head.

Isaiah 53: 3

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

One of the criminals says to Jesus to save Himself and them, too. Similarly, Satan tempts Jesus after He is baptized by John the Baptist.

Matthew Chapter 4 recounts Jesus being led of the spirit into the wilderness. He was there 40 days and nights. When Jesus was weak and hungry Satan came to him.

Matthew 4: 2-3

And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

Jesus’ response is very clear. In Matthew 4:10, Jesus says, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”

Satan tried to tempt Jesus, fully knowing that He is God’s Only Begotten Son. So, if He would approach Jesus to tempt Him, what chance do you have?

I am here to tell you, you have no chance unless you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You must be under the covering of God’s grace.

Read the entire chapters of the Scriptures referenced:

Luke 23

Isaiah 53

Matthew 4

Read Part Two of the Sermon, What Side of the Cross Are You On?

Do You Recognize God’s Voice?

God’s People Are the Salt of the Earth

Scripture: Matthew 5: 13-14

You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Scripture Commentary: Salt brings out the flavor.

When you cook a roast, you season it with salt to bring out the flavor of the meat. Either that or you put it in the oven with no seasoning at all.

Now you pick which roast you’d rather eat. I’m sure you’ll choose the one that has a flavorful taste.

In reading The Word we learn how to live, how to help others, and how much God loves us. If we, as Jesus’ followers, don’t know the way, how can we lead? When Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, we are of little value to God.

We are worthless if we are too much like the world.

Don’t blend in with everyone else. We are to be Christ-like in our living. Be a light that shows the way to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We hide our light when we are quiet when we should speak, when we go along with the crowd, letting sin dim our light, and by ignoring the needs of others.

Study God’s Word so you can be seasoned and bring light into the world for Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:

Matthew Chapter 5

Have your iniquities separated you from God?

Sermon: Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns? (Have your iniquities separated you from God?)

Part Two: Isaiah 59: 2

But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

Matthew 25:10-12

But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’

But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’

How will you R.S.V.P? I will attend or I will not attend.

Read the Complete Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:
Isaiah Chapter 59
Matthew Chapter 25

Read Part One of the Sermon, Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

Sermon: Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

Part One: Matthew 25: 1-4

At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

This is a story for today, with an emphasis on the question, “Are you prepared if Christ was to come here, now?” God tells us throughout the Bible to prepare ourselves for His coming.

I can pray for you but I cannot live for you.

The parable of the 10 virgins illustrates that each of us is responsible for his or her spiritual condition. I can pray for you but I cannot live for you. I can take you to church, and read you the Scriptures. However, if you don’t accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, then you are the one who is lost.

This parable is about you and it’s about me. Some of us are prepared and are waiting. But some of us are waiting for the procession to start before we think about getting prepared.

Everyone is responsible for his own actions.

Now here comes the bridegroom, Jesus, with the bride. They have made many stops along the way. They have seen family, friends, and well wishers along the route. Those of us who have our oil are prepared to join the procession, and we only have enough for the procession. We have none to spare for those who didn’t do what was required. Each person is responsible for him/herself.

Did you prepare yourself?

Are you ready for the good food, music, wine, and the other fine single people who will be in attendance? Or do you need to run off to buy your oil after the procession has begun?

When Jesus comes, you can’t ask Him to wait because you didn’t take the time to get ready. Spiritual preparation can’t be bought or borrowed at the last minute. Our relationship with God must be our own.

God rewards faithfulness.

The parable describes the consequences of two attitudes toward Christ’s return. There are those who diligently prepare for it by investing their time and talent serving God.

Then there are those who take no time and have no heart to work for God. Those who bear no fruit for God cannot expect to be treated the same as those who are faithful.

John 14: 3

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

Jesus told His followers, and He is telling us what we must do to enter the kingdom. First, we are to accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Then we are to love one another, and help each other spread God’s Word wherever we can.

Read the Full Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:
Matthew Chapter 25
John Chapter 14

Return Friday, November 23, for the next installment in the sermon, Will You Be Prepared When Christ Returns?

The Lord Is the Great Shepherd

Sermon: The Lord Is The Great Shepherd

Part One: Psalm 23: 1

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

We are God’s child. He is our Father, Protector, the Great Shepherd. When David describes the Lord as a shepherd, he is writing about of his own experience as a shepherd when he was a young boy.

Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance and protection.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep.

The New Testament calls Jesus the Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd, and the Chief Shepherd. The Lord is the Good Shepherd, and we are His sheep. We are not to be frightened or passive. We are to be obedient followers who place ourselves in His hands. He will lead us in the path of rightness.

If we go our own way then we are going to walk the path satan has for us. Do not think that satan isn’t waiting to lead you.

Job 2: 2

“And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Matthew 4:1

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted^[a]by the devil.”

Now the devil thought he could tempt Jesus. What do you think he can do with us?

When we put ourselves in God’s hands, we have contentment.

Psalm 23 does not focus on the animal-like qualities of sheep but on the discipleship qualities of those who follow Our Lord and Savior. However, when we choose to sin, we go our own way and we can’t blame God for the consequences of that choice.

Read the Full Chapters of the Scriptures Referenced:
Psalm Chapter 23
Job Chapter 2
Matthew Chapter 4

Join us later this week for Part Two of the sermon, The Lord is My Shepherd.