Illuminating Faith: Overcoming Fear Through Jesus
Summary
In our journey of faith, we often find ourselves navigating through the darkness, much like walking through a haunted house. The fear we experience is often amplified by the unknown, by what we cannot see. However, when we allow Jesus to illuminate our path, the fear dissipates, and we begin to see the world through the lens of faith. This transformation is akin to the experience of the man born blind in John 9, who, after encountering Jesus, not only gained physical sight but also spiritual insight. This story reminds us that true sight comes from faith, and it is through this faith that we can see the world as it truly is.
Faith is not a passive experience; it requires active engagement and wrestling with the realities of life. It is not merely about attending church or participating in religious activities, but about integrating Jesus into every aspect of our lives. Discipleship is a holistic journey, encompassing our work, relationships, and personal challenges. When we follow Jesus, He doesn't promise to remove all our problems, but He does promise to guide us through them, illuminating just enough for us to take the next step without fear.
The story of the man born blind also highlights the difference between physical and spiritual sight. The Pharisees, despite their physical sight, were spiritually blind, unable to recognize the miracle before them. This serves as a cautionary tale for us to seek spiritual awakening, to see beyond the physical and understand the deeper truths of God's kingdom. This awakening is a process, a journey of trust, following, and seeing, which in turn strengthens our faith and deepens our understanding of who Jesus is.
Moreover, seeing through the eyes of faith reveals not only Jesus's identity but also our own. In a world obsessed with identity, Jesus provides clarity, telling us who we truly are: beloved children of God, called to share His light with the world. This revelation can be uncomfortable at first, as it challenges our preconceived notions and requires us to adjust to a new way of living. However, as we grow accustomed to this new sight, we begin to notice the beauty and purpose in everything around us.
Finally, we are invited to consider two questions: What is God inviting you to next? And who do you need to invite to experience this transformation? As we respond to these invitations, we allow God to turn the lights on in our lives, moving from fear and anxiety to faith and trust.
Key Takeaways
- Fear often stems from the unknown, but when we allow Jesus to illuminate our path, we can live in confidence and trust, free from the limitations of fear. This transformation is essential for becoming the person God created us to be. [02:01]
- Faith requires active engagement and wrestling with life's realities. It is not just about attending church but integrating Jesus into every aspect of our lives. Discipleship is holistic, encompassing our work, relationships, and personal challenges. [04:25]
- Spiritual sight is different from physical sight. The Pharisees, despite their physical sight, were spiritually blind. True understanding comes from spiritual awakening, which allows us to see beyond the physical and grasp the deeper truths of God's kingdom. [11:02]
- Seeing through the eyes of faith reveals both Jesus's identity and our own. In a world obsessed with identity, Jesus provides clarity, telling us who we truly are: beloved children of God, called to share His light with the world. [22:14]
- We are invited to consider what God is inviting us to next and who we need to invite to experience this transformation. Responding to these invitations allows God to turn the lights on in our lives, moving us from fear and anxiety to faith and trust. [24:54]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:16] - Haunted House and Fear
[02:01] - Jesus Flips the Lights On
[03:25] - Wrestling with Faith
[04:25] - Discipleship as a Whole Life
[05:13] - Physical vs. Spiritual Sight
[05:51] - The Pool of Siloam Miracle
[09:07] - The Blind Man's Testimony
[11:02] - Spiritual Awakening
[12:35] - Seeing Through the Spirit
[13:44] - Awakening to Faith
[14:45] - Invitation to See
[17:28] - Trust, Follow, See
[19:03] - Knowing Jesus's True Identity
[22:14] - Discovering Our Identity
[24:07] - Questions for Reflection
[24:54] - Living in Faith and Trust
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. John 9:1-41 - The story of the man born blind and his encounter with Jesus.
2. 1 John 4:18 - "There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear."
3. 1 Corinthians 2:14 - "The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the initial reaction of the Pharisees to the healing of the man born blind, and how did they question him? [09:07]
2. How did the man born blind describe his experience after being healed by Jesus? [09:07]
3. What does the sermon suggest about the difference between physical sight and spiritual sight? [11:02]
4. How does the sermon describe the process of moving from fear to faith when Jesus "flips the lights on"? [02:01]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of the man born blind illustrate the concept of spiritual awakening as described in the sermon? [11:02]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that fear limits us from becoming the person God created us to be? [02:01]
3. How does the sermon explain the role of faith in seeing the world through the eyes of Jesus? [14:45]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of integrating Jesus into every aspect of our lives, beyond just attending church? [04:25]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when fear held you back. How might allowing Jesus to "flip the lights on" change your perspective in similar situations? [02:01]
2. The sermon mentions that faith requires active engagement. What are some practical ways you can actively engage your faith in your daily life? [03:25]
3. Consider the difference between physical and spiritual sight. How can you cultivate spiritual sight in your own life to better understand God's kingdom? [11:02]
4. In what areas of your life do you feel Jesus is inviting you to "come and see"? How can you respond to this invitation? [24:07]
5. The sermon challenges us to integrate Jesus into all aspects of our lives. Identify one area where you struggle to do this and discuss how you might begin to change that. [04:25]
6. Who in your life might need an invitation to experience the transformation that comes from following Jesus? How can you extend that invitation this week? [24:54]
7. Reflect on your identity as a beloved child of God. How does this understanding impact the way you view yourself and your purpose in the world? [22:14]
Devotional
Day 1: Illuminating Fear with Faith
Fear often stems from the unknown, but when we allow Jesus to illuminate our path, we can live in confidence and trust, free from the limitations of fear. This transformation is essential for becoming the person God created us to be. The journey of faith is like navigating through a dark, haunted house where fear is amplified by what we cannot see. However, when Jesus lights our way, the darkness dissipates, and we begin to see the world through the lens of faith. This transformation is similar to the experience of the man born blind in John 9, who, after encountering Jesus, gained both physical sight and spiritual insight. True sight comes from faith, and it is through this faith that we can see the world as it truly is. [02:01]
Isaiah 42:16 (ESV): "And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where fear holds you back? How can you invite Jesus to illuminate this area and guide you through it today?
Day 2: Active Faith in Everyday Life
Faith requires active engagement and wrestling with life's realities. It is not just about attending church but integrating Jesus into every aspect of our lives. Discipleship is holistic, encompassing our work, relationships, and personal challenges. Faith is not a passive experience; it demands that we actively engage with the realities of life. It goes beyond mere attendance at church or participation in religious activities. Instead, it involves integrating Jesus into every aspect of our lives, including our work, relationships, and personal challenges. Discipleship is a holistic journey, and while Jesus does not promise to remove all our problems, He does promise to guide us through them, illuminating just enough for us to take the next step without fear. [04:25]
Colossians 3:17 (ESV): "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Reflection: In what specific ways can you integrate Jesus into your daily routine this week, especially in areas where you feel disconnected from your faith?
Day 3: Spiritual Awakening Beyond Physical Sight
Spiritual sight is different from physical sight. The Pharisees, despite their physical sight, were spiritually blind. True understanding comes from spiritual awakening, which allows us to see beyond the physical and grasp the deeper truths of God's kingdom. The story of the man born blind highlights the difference between physical and spiritual sight. The Pharisees, despite their physical sight, were spiritually blind, unable to recognize the miracle before them. This serves as a cautionary tale for us to seek spiritual awakening, to see beyond the physical and understand the deeper truths of God's kingdom. This awakening is a process, a journey of trust, following, and seeing, which in turn strengthens our faith and deepens our understanding of who Jesus is. [11:02]
Ephesians 1:18 (ESV): "Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent situation where you may have been spiritually blind. How can you ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see His truth more clearly?
Day 4: Discovering Identity Through Faith
Seeing through the eyes of faith reveals both Jesus's identity and our own. In a world obsessed with identity, Jesus provides clarity, telling us who we truly are: beloved children of God, called to share His light with the world. In a world obsessed with identity, Jesus provides clarity, revealing both His identity and ours. He tells us who we truly are: beloved children of God, called to share His light with the world. This revelation can be uncomfortable at first, as it challenges our preconceived notions and requires us to adjust to a new way of living. However, as we grow accustomed to this new sight, we begin to notice the beauty and purpose in everything around us. [22:14]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: How does understanding your identity as a beloved child of God change the way you view yourself and your purpose in the world today?
Day 5: Responding to God's Invitation
We are invited to consider what God is inviting us to next and who we need to invite to experience this transformation. Responding to these invitations allows God to turn the lights on in our lives, moving us from fear and anxiety to faith and trust. As we respond to these invitations, we allow God to turn the lights on in our lives, moving from fear and anxiety to faith and trust. This involves considering what God is inviting us to next and who we need to invite to experience this transformation. By embracing these invitations, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God's light, which dispels fear and anxiety, replacing them with faith and trust. [24:54]
Isaiah 60:1 (ESV): "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."
Reflection: What is one specific step you can take today to respond to God's invitation in your life? Who is someone you can invite to join you on this journey of faith?
Quotes
"We don't have to live in fear of the things around us. We can live in confidence and trust and faith, knowing that he's got us. He's got this. Whatever is in our path, we don't have to live in this fear. In fact, this fear is limiting you. It is holding you back from being the person God called and created you to be. You will never be fully yourself until you allow Jesus to flip the lights on." [00:02:11]
"That's not how it works. You have to wrestle your faith to the ground with the reality of your life. And that's good. That makes it real. But what I'm afraid of is that so many of us, we say we believe here, or we think that turning the lights on means I attend worship once a week and maybe I'll volunteer for something, which is good. I want you to keep showing up. But that's not necessarily the same thing as following Jesus." [00:03:57]
"Discipleship, following Jesus, is the whole pie. And we see how it translates to our work and to our life, to our friends, to our circumstances, to our finances, to our kids, to our grandkids. Whatever that looks like, he's all of it. And when we start doing that, we start to see a lot more light than darkness." [00:04:40]
"He illumines the room just enough for me to get through. And the biggest thing is I'm no longer afraid. Whatever it is. Because I know he's got me. There's a passage we're going to look at today on the difference between physical sight and spiritual sight. That Jesus makes. John chapter 9." [00:05:13]
"But when he was finally healed and this miracle happened guess who came in with all the negative the religious people in fact their response was who gave him the authority to heal what that'd be like somebody comes into a hospital room and heals somebody and the doctor comes in and be like who said they could do that it's ridiculous but the reason it's so ridiculous is because they don't get it they might have physical sight but they don't have spiritual sight here's what I mean so the pharisees invite him in they question this guy who healed you all this they let him go they weren't satisfied so they invite him in again here's what happens verse 34 chapter 9 24 a second time they summoned the man who had been blind give glory to God by telling the truth they said we know this man is a sinner speaking about Jesus we know this man is a sinner he replied whether he is a sinner or not I don't know one thing I do know I was blind but now I see I love this response by the way I don't know what you're questioning here all I know is this I was blind and now I see I feel like so many times in my life I I'm echoing this words to people you can explain a lot about your faith you can explain a lot about how God works and how God works and how God works and how God works but at some point there is something miraculous about it that you just can't explain I don't know I was blind and now I see that's all I got at some point I can't keep answering your questions because I don't know the answers I just know I was blind but now I see and maybe some of you in this room you've been hedging your bets on Jesus or you've been waiting to put your faith in Jesus because you're waiting until all of your answers are satisfied they won't be they won't be because at some point it comes down to it what do you believe is there enough evidence to believe" [00:07:02]
"Jesus explained a lot that this spiritual site was like an awakening. You remember that film, 1990, Awakenings? It was a true story. Robin Williams played the main character, and Robert De Niro was the main patient that they focused on. But this was a true story about a doctor who, in the late 70s, didn't experiment with patients who were catatonic and who couldn't move. And he came up with a therapy, drug therapy for them, that awakened them. And they came out of their kind of comatose state and were kind of back to normal. And I feel like this is us. We have what we see with our eyes, but we need to be awakened to see things through the Spirit." [00:12:35]
"Jesus says, it's kind of like this, John 3 .3, he says it to Nicodemus, Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. You've got to have the right lenses, like those 3D puzzles that you have to look at, and you have to go cross -eyed and somehow see the thing. You know what I'm talking about? Okay, good. I was worried there for a minute." [00:13:22]
"Seeing starts with an invitation. And I have to say, every step of my faith journey has been a response to an invitation. Either an invitation by others to bring me to Jesus, or Jesus himself. Come and see. Here's the second thing. Seeing happens after you follow. Come, he replied, and you will see. Come first, and then you will see." [00:16:57]
"There's kind of a faith flywheel that happens. It starts with trust. You have to trust first. that you're going to do as far as following God, it starts with trust. Because if you don't trust, you're never going to follow. If you don't trust somebody, you're never going to follow. If you don't trust somebody, you're never going to ask them for directions. If you don't trust their ability to give you directions." [00:17:28]
"Seeing reveals Jesus's identity, the Son of Man, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. And then fourth, seeing also reveals my identity. In a culture that's obsessed with identity, and feeling very lost, and trying to figure out, well, who am I? What am I here for? Fundamental questions of human existence. The answer is found in Jesus Christ." [00:21:39]
"I'm a child of God put in this earth to have a loving relationship with him and to share his light with a dark and dying world, share his message, his good news that through Jesus Christ, we can all be children, we can all be saved. This is what happened with Peter, right? I'm going to give you a new name, Simon. I'm going to tell you who you really are." [00:22:14]
"So I want to offer you two questions today. Two questions to consider. The first is, what is God inviting you to next? Where in your life is Jesus extending his hand and saying, come and see? I'd pay attention to that. Because I think that's probably the first place he wants to start. And then if you can't think of anything, or maybe your relationship with Jesus is really strong right now, here's a question for you. Who do you need to invite next?" [00:24:07]
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