Faith, Persistence, and Spiritual Sight in Healing
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the story of Jesus healing two blind men from Matthew 9:27-31. This passage is rich with questions and insights that challenge our understanding of faith and God's timing. The blind men persistently cried out to Jesus, calling Him "Son of David," a title that acknowledged His messianic identity. Despite their cries, Jesus did not immediately stop but continued walking, which raises questions about His actions and intentions. When He finally addressed them, He asked, "Do you believe that I can do this?" Their affirmative response led to their healing, but Jesus instructed them not to tell anyone, adding another layer of complexity to the story.
We delved into the significance of faith in this narrative. Faith is not just a prerequisite for healing but a means through which God's will is enacted. However, faith does not guarantee immediate answers or healing. The story illustrates that faith often requires persistence and may involve periods of waiting and uncertainty. Jesus' question to the blind men highlights the irony that, although they were physically blind, they had spiritual sight. They believed in Jesus' power and identity without having seen His miracles firsthand.
We also discussed the tension between faith and God's will. While faith is crucial, it does not dictate God's actions. There are instances where people with great faith are not healed, and others with little or no faith are. This tension can lead to feelings of apathy or shame, but it is essential to hold onto faith, even when the outcomes are not as expected. The story of the blind men teaches us that faith brings us into the presence of Jesus, and it is in His presence that we experience His grace and power, even if not in the ways we anticipate.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith and Persistence: The blind men’s persistent cries to Jesus, despite His initial lack of response, teach us the importance of unwavering faith. Their persistence brought them into Jesus' presence, where they ultimately experienced His healing power. This reminds us that faith often requires us to continue seeking God, even when He seems silent. [24:49]
2. Spiritual Sight vs. Physical Sight: The blind men, though physically blind, had spiritual sight. They recognized Jesus as the Messiah and believed in His power to heal. This highlights that true faith is not about what we can see with our eyes but what we believe in our hearts. Spiritual insight often precedes physical manifestations of God's power. [36:35]
3. The Role of Faith in Healing: Jesus' statement, "Let it be done for you according to your faith," underscores the connection between faith and divine intervention. However, faith is not a formula for guaranteed outcomes. It is a means through which God's will is enacted, but it does not control His actions. This teaches us to trust in God's wisdom and timing. [28:49]
4. Living in Tension: The story illustrates the tension between faith and unanswered prayers. While faith is essential, it does not always lead to immediate or expected results. This tension can be challenging, but it calls us to trust in God's higher purposes and to remain faithful, even when we do not understand His ways. [31:44]
5. The Ultimate Hope: The temporary nature of physical healing points to a greater hope in eternal restoration. Jesus' healings were signs of the ultimate redemption He offers. Our faith should not only seek temporary relief but also hold onto the hope of complete restoration in God's presence, where we will see clearly and experience life as He intended. [48:03]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[19:41] - Pack to School Announcement
[20:49] - Introduction to the Sermon
[22:06] - Reading Matthew 9:27-31
[23:23] - Context of the Passage
[24:49] - Questions About the Story
[27:34] - Faith and Healing
[30:16] - The Tension of Faith
[33:23] - Evidence of Faith
[36:35] - Spiritual Sight
[38:07] - The Purpose of Healing
[41:11] - The Challenge of Unanswered Prayers
[44:27] - Testimonies of Faith
[45:34] - The Hope of Eternal Restoration
[48:03] - Seeing Clearly in Eternity
[49:45] - Faith in Action
[50:58] - Persisting in Faith
[52:03] - Moving into Worship
[53:18] - Prayer and Conclusion
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
- Matthew 9:27-31 (NIV): "As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, 'Have mercy on us, Son of David!' 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. Then he touched their eyes and said, 'According to your faith let it be done to you'; and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, 'See that no one knows about this.' But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region."
### Observation Questions
1. What title did the blind men use to address Jesus, and what does this title signify? ([22:06])
2. How did Jesus respond to the blind men’s persistent cries for mercy? ([24:49])
3. What question did Jesus ask the blind men before healing them, and what was their response? ([22:06])
4. What instruction did Jesus give to the blind men after healing them, and did they follow it? ([22:06])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why might Jesus have continued walking initially instead of stopping immediately to address the blind men’s cries? ([24:49])
2. What is the significance of Jesus asking the blind men, "Do you believe that I can do this?" before performing the healing? ([24:49])
3. How does the story of the blind men illustrate the tension between faith and God's will, especially in the context of unanswered prayers? ([31:44])
4. In what ways does the story highlight the difference between spiritual sight and physical sight? ([36:35])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt like God was silent despite your persistent prayers. How did you handle that period of waiting? ([24:49])
2. The blind men recognized Jesus as the "Son of David" and believed in His power to heal. How can you cultivate a deeper spiritual sight in your own life? ([36:35])
3. Jesus asked the blind men if they believed He could heal them. How does this question challenge your own faith in God's power and timing? ([24:49])
4. The blind men were instructed not to tell anyone about their healing, yet they did. How do you balance sharing your faith experiences with respecting God's timing and instructions? ([22:06])
5. The sermon discussed the tension between faith and unanswered prayers. How can you maintain your faith and trust in God even when your prayers seem unanswered? ([31:44])
6. Jesus' healings were temporary signs pointing to ultimate restoration. How does this perspective shape your understanding of physical healing and eternal hope? ([48:03])
7. The blind men’s persistence brought them into Jesus' presence. What practical steps can you take to persist in seeking God, even when He seems silent? ([24:49])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith and Persistence
The story of the two blind men in Matthew 9:27-31 teaches us the importance of unwavering faith and persistence. Despite Jesus not immediately responding to their cries, the blind men continued to call out to Him, demonstrating their deep faith and determination. Their persistence eventually brought them into Jesus' presence, where they experienced His healing power. This narrative reminds us that faith often requires us to continue seeking God, even when He seems silent. It is through persistent faith that we draw closer to Him and open ourselves to His grace and intervention. [24:49]
Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV): "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you feel God has been silent. How can you persist in faith and continue seeking Him in this area today?
Day 2: Spiritual Sight vs. Physical Sight
The blind men in the story, though physically blind, had spiritual sight. They recognized Jesus as the Messiah and believed in His power to heal them. This highlights that true faith is not about what we can see with our eyes but what we believe in our hearts. Spiritual insight often precedes physical manifestations of God's power. The blind men’s ability to see Jesus' true identity without witnessing His miracles firsthand challenges us to develop a deeper spiritual vision that goes beyond our physical circumstances. [36:35]
2 Corinthians 4:18 (ESV): "As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying too much on physical evidence rather than spiritual insight? How can you cultivate a deeper spiritual vision today?
Day 3: The Role of Faith in Healing
Jesus' statement, "Let it be done for you according to your faith," underscores the connection between faith and divine intervention. However, faith is not a formula for guaranteed outcomes. It is a means through which God's will is enacted, but it does not control His actions. This teaches us to trust in God's wisdom and timing, even when our faith does not lead to immediate or expected results. We are called to have faith in God's greater plan and to trust that His ways are higher than ours. [28:49]
James 5:15 (ESV): "And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are struggling to see God's intervention? How can you trust in His wisdom and timing, even when the outcomes are not as you expected?
Day 4: Living in Tension
The story of the blind men illustrates the tension between faith and unanswered prayers. While faith is essential, it does not always lead to immediate or expected results. This tension can be challenging, but it calls us to trust in God's higher purposes and to remain faithful, even when we do not understand His ways. It is in this tension that we learn to rely on God's sovereignty and to find peace in His presence, knowing that He is working all things for our good. [31:44]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: How do you respond when your prayers seem unanswered? What steps can you take to trust in God's higher purposes and remain faithful during these times?
Day 5: The Ultimate Hope
The temporary nature of physical healing points to a greater hope in eternal restoration. Jesus' healings were signs of the ultimate redemption He offers. Our faith should not only seek temporary relief but also hold onto the hope of complete restoration in God's presence, where we will see clearly and experience life as He intended. This ultimate hope encourages us to look beyond our present circumstances and to trust in the eternal promises of God. [48:03]
Revelation 21:4 (ESV): "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Reflection: How does the hope of eternal restoration influence your perspective on current struggles? How can you live today in light of the eternal promises of God?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Faith is something that Jesus responds to. And I love the story, actually, of the bleeding woman. It's not recorded in this way in Matthew, but in other Gospels it is, that he responds to it even when he's not conscious of it. She touched, and he responded to her faith by healing her, even though he wasn't looking, he wasn't touching, he wasn't doing anything like that." [28:49] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So I don't know why these men had to persist in their cries for mercy while others don't. I don't know why they had to follow him for a ways before he turned to them. But what I do know is that their persistence put them into the presence of Jesus. And it was their belief that he was worth following, even when it seemed like they were getting nothing out of it, that it allowed them to experience the power of God in their lives." [48:42] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Without faith, Jairus would have stayed at home and mourned the death of his daughter. Without faith, the bleeding woman would have stayed in the place where the law of Moses told her that she had to remain and where her community demanded. Without faith, the blind men would not have persisted in their cries for mercy, and they would have allowed Jesus to just walk on by, leaving them behind. Without faith, they would have missed out on experiencing God's grace." [50:58] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "But I do believe that there is purpose. That this story wasn't just put into the Bible by mistake. That there's a value in this. That God wants to speak to us through this story. And so, I hope that we can hear the words of God to our hearts today and possibly hold a bit of tension as we think through this story." [26:14] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "And so maybe this image that I had in my head all week of men, blind men, recognizing that Jesus hasn't stopped, now having to stumble their way through the streets of Capernaum. Maybe that picture of Jesus' back turned to them is what you have experienced. Or maybe what, as you've walked with people through difficulties and that's what it feels like is happening. That's hard. And I wish, I wish there was just some simple answer to explain it all." [41:11] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "And so I think there is this unique sharing in the suffering of Christ that we get to experience when we find ourselves in these moments where we're calling out and it feels like Jesus is just continuing to walk away. And then there's these promises of a unique grace and blessing. Because it's for those who are poor in spirit. It's for those who mourn who Jesus calls blessed." [42:46] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "So thank you for those of you who have walked through difficult seasons and you have chosen to not to believe the goodness of God. And I believe that he is, his ways are higher and his thoughts are higher than ours. And then you have chosen to share even in the most difficult times. To share it because it is an encouragement to the rest of us that what we read in scripture is true. You have testified to the truth of what Jesus has said." [44:27] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "What Jesus was doing when he healed was such a small picture of what he said he was ultimately gonna do. This is just a taste. Yes, your faith has saved you for something that is far greater than just, hey, I'm healed. It's a temporary relief or temporary sight. One day, you are going to see things as they truly are in all fullness. Don't just be satisfied with temporary healing, but have the hope of everything being restored, everything being made new." [48:03] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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