Opening Our Eyes to God's Word

In our journey of prayer, we are exploring how to overcome the hindrances that prevent us from truly engaging with God's Word. Today, we focus on the second strategy in the IOUs acronym: "Open my eyes." This plea is about asking God to reveal the wonders within His Word, which often seem hidden or mundane to us. We may approach the Bible with the intention to read, yet find ourselves unmoved, as if reading a barren newspaper. This is not a problem of physical sight but of spiritual perception—the eyes of our hearts are not seeing the wonders of God's law.

The Bible speaks of this spiritual blindness, a condition that affects even God's people. Jeremiah and Ezekiel describe a rebellious people with eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. This blindness is not imposed externally but arises from within due to our sinfulness. Even in Jesus' time, people saw but did not perceive, heard but did not understand, as a form of judgment for their hardness of heart.

However, God, in His sovereignty, can open our eyes. As seen in Deuteronomy, it is His prerogative to give us a heart to understand. This is echoed in the New Testament, where Paul explains that the god of this world, Satan, blinds the minds of unbelievers to prevent them from seeing the light of the gospel. Yet, God, who once said, "Let light shine out of darkness," can shine in our hearts, illuminating the knowledge of His glory in Christ.

For believers, this illumination is not a one-time event. Paul prays for the Ephesians, asking God to give them the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, enlightening the eyes of their hearts. This ongoing process is necessary because our spiritual clarity fluctuates. We must continually pray for God to enlighten our hearts, enabling us to grasp the hope, riches, and power that are ours in Christ.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Spiritual blindness is a condition that affects even believers, arising from our inherent sinfulness. It is not merely a lack of physical sight but a dullness of the heart that prevents us from perceiving the wonders of God's Word. We must recognize this internal rebellion and seek God's intervention to open our eyes. [02:56]
• 2. God's sovereignty is central to overcoming spiritual blindness. He alone can grant us the heart to understand and the eyes to see. This divine prerogative underscores the importance of prayer, as we depend entirely on Him to illuminate our hearts and minds. [05:01]
• 3. The light of the gospel is the remedy for our blindness. Just as God commanded light to shine out of darkness at creation, He can shine in our hearts, revealing the glory of Christ. This transformative light is essential for conversion and ongoing spiritual growth. [07:09]
• 4. For believers, spiritual enlightenment is an ongoing process. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians highlights the need for continual revelation and wisdom. Our spiritual clarity can fluctuate, and we must regularly seek God's help to maintain a vibrant, experiential knowledge of His truth. [09:19]
• 5. Engaging with God's Word requires more than just reading; it demands a heart open to His wonders. We must pray for the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened, allowing us to experience the hope, riches, and power available to us in Christ. This prayerful approach transforms our Bible reading into a dynamic encounter with God. [11:07]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:20] - Introduction to IOUs
• [00:42] - Incline My Heart
• [01:03] - Open My Eyes
• [01:24] - Spiritual Blindness
• [02:20] - Biblical Examples of Blindness
• [03:21] - Rebellion and Blindness
• [04:05] - Jesus and Spiritual Blindness
• [05:01] - God's Sovereignty in Sight
• [05:36] - The Role of Satan
• [06:16] - The Glory of Christ
• [07:09] - Conversion and Enlightenment
• [08:08] - Paul's Prayer for Believers
• [09:19] - Enlightening the Heart
• [10:16] - Experiencing God's Power
• [11:07] - Prayer for Spiritual Sight

1. Psalm 119:18 - "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law."
2. Jeremiah 5:21 - "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not."
3. Ephesians 1:17-18 - "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you."

1. What does the psalmist ask God to do in Psalm 119:18, and why is this significant for our understanding of Scripture?
2. According to Jeremiah 5:21, what is the condition of the people, and how does this relate to spiritual blindness? [02:20]
3. In Ephesians 1:17-18, what does Paul pray for the believers, and what does this reveal about the nature of spiritual enlightenment?

1. How does the concept of spiritual blindness in Jeremiah 5:21 and Ezekiel 12 relate to the idea of rebellion against God? [02:56]
2. What role does God's sovereignty play in overcoming spiritual blindness, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:4 and the sermon? [05:01]
3. How does Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1:17-18 for the Ephesians illustrate the ongoing need for spiritual enlightenment among believers? [09:19]

1. Reflect on a time when reading the Bible felt like reading a "barren newspaper." What steps can you take to pray for spiritual insight before reading Scripture? [01:24]
2. How can you recognize signs of spiritual blindness in your own life, and what practical steps can you take to address them? [02:56]
3. In what ways can you incorporate the prayer "Open my eyes" into your daily routine to enhance your engagement with God's Word? [11:07]
4. Consider the role of prayer in seeking God's intervention for spiritual clarity. How can you make this a regular part of your spiritual practice? [05:01]
5. Identify an area in your life where you feel spiritually blind or dull. What specific prayer or action can you take to seek God's illumination in that area? [09:19]
6. How can you encourage others in your small group or community to seek spiritual enlightenment and engage more deeply with Scripture?
7. Reflect on the hope, riches, and power available to you in Christ. How can you actively seek to experience these more fully in your daily life? [11:07]