Seeing Beyond: Embracing Spiritual Insight and Love
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone! It's a joy to see familiar faces and new ones alike. Today, we are diving into the profound truth that we possess through the Holy Spirit. This isn't just any book; it's the living Word of God, and it reveals truths that other texts cannot. The Holy Spirit is essential for understanding these truths, and today, we are focusing on the concept of sight—both physical and spiritual.
We began by discussing the importance of being in tune with the Holy Spirit. The praise team and I must flow together to deliver God's message effectively. This unity allows us to hear what God is saying prophetically. The theme today is about seeing beyond the natural realm. There is always more than what meets the eye. We often limit ourselves to what we can see physically, but there is a whole spiritual realm that we need to be aware of.
I shared a personal experience where God revealed to me that there is more to life, the universe, and our relationships than we can see. This revelation is crucial for our spiritual growth. We need to understand that our human spectrum of visible light is very small, and we are limited in what we can naturally see. However, with spiritual insight, we can see beyond the veil. This is why it's important to have our spiritual eyes opened.
We delved into the story of Elijah and his servant, who couldn't see the chariots of fire around them until Elijah prayed for his eyes to be opened. This story illustrates that there is always more around us than we can see. The human eye is limited, but with spiritual vision, we can see the help and resources that God has placed around us.
I emphasized the importance of love in our relationships, especially in marriage. Love is not just a feeling but a commitment that requires action. God’s love for us is equal to His love for Jesus, and our response to His love can be measured by our actions. We need to demonstrate our love through service and fellowship. This is especially important for men, as they are called to love their wives as Christ loves the church.
We also touched on the concept of identity, particularly how women derive their identity from their husbands. This is why it's crucial for men to know who they are in Christ. A man who understands his role and identity can provide the right environment for his wife to flourish. This understanding helps in building strong, healthy relationships.
In closing, I reminded everyone that our relationship with God should not be transactional. We should love God for who He is, not just for what He can do for us. This kind of love is mature and selfless. We need to put away childish things and grow in our understanding and application of God's love.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Importance of Spiritual Sight: Our physical eyes are limited in what they can see, but with spiritual insight, we can perceive the unseen realities around us. Just as Elijah prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened, we too need to pray for spiritual vision to see God's provision and protection in our lives. [06:23]
2. Love Requires Action: Love is not just a feeling but a commitment that requires action. God's love for us is demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus, and our love for others should be demonstrated through service and fellowship. This is especially important in marriage, where love must be actively shown and not just professed. [14:21]
3. Identity and Roles in Relationships: Women derive their identity from their husbands, which is why it's crucial for men to know who they are in Christ. A man who understands his role and identity can provide the right environment for his wife to flourish. This understanding helps in building strong, healthy relationships. [44:07]
4. The Reality of the Unseen Realm: There is a spiritual realm that is just as real as the physical one. Our dreams can sometimes give us glimpses into this realm. Understanding that there is more than what we can see with our natural eyes can strengthen our faith and help us trust in God's unseen hand at work in our lives. [23:18]
5. Mature Love is Selfless: Our relationship with God should not be transactional. We should love God for who He is, not just for what He can do for us. This kind of love is mature and selfless, putting away childish things and growing in our understanding and application of God's love. [01:02:41]
### Youtube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[06:23] - The Importance of Spiritual Sight
[14:21] - Love Requires Action
[23:18] - The Reality of the Unseen Realm
[44:07] - Identity and Roles in Relationships
[01:02:41] - Mature Love is Selfless
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 2 Kings 6:15-17 - The story of Elijah and his servant seeing the chariots of fire.
2. Ephesians 1:18 - "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people."
3. 1 John 4:19 - "We love because he first loved us."
#### Observation Questions
1. What did Elijah pray for his servant to see in 2 Kings 6:15-17?
2. According to Ephesians 1:18, what does Paul pray for the eyes of our hearts to be enlightened to?
3. How does 1 John 4:19 describe the origin of our love for others?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that Elijah prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened rather than just telling him about the chariots of fire? ([14:21])
2. How does the concept of spiritual sight in Ephesians 1:18 relate to our understanding of God's provision and protection in our lives? ([20:29])
3. In what ways does understanding that "we love because he first loved us" impact our relationships and actions towards others? ([01:10:16])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt limited by what you could see in your life. How might praying for spiritual sight change your perspective on that situation? ([06:23])
2. How can you actively demonstrate love in your marriage or close relationships this week, beyond just expressing it verbally? ([14:21])
3. Men, how can you better understand and embrace your identity in Christ to create a nurturing environment for your wife or future spouse? ([44:07])
4. Think of a recent challenge you faced. How might recognizing the unseen spiritual realm around you have provided comfort or guidance during that time? ([23:18])
5. Evaluate your relationship with God. Are there areas where it feels transactional? How can you shift towards a more mature, selfless love for God? ([01:02:41])
6. Identify one way you can serve someone in your community this week as a demonstration of God's love. What specific action will you take?
7. How can you ensure that your actions reflect a selfless love, especially in difficult or trying situations? ([01:07:09])
Devotional
Day 1: Seeing Beyond the Natural Realm
Description: Our physical eyes are limited in what they can see, but with spiritual insight, we can perceive the unseen realities around us. Just as Elijah prayed for his servant's eyes to be opened, we too need to pray for spiritual vision to see God's provision and protection in our lives. The human spectrum of visible light is very small, and we are limited in what we can naturally see. However, with spiritual insight, we can see beyond the veil. This is why it's important to have our spiritual eyes opened. [06:23]
2 Kings 6:17 (ESV): "Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.' So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you feel overwhelmed or alone. Can you ask God to open your spiritual eyes to see His provision and protection around you today?
Day 2: Love in Action
Description: Love is not just a feeling but a commitment that requires action. God's love for us is demonstrated through the sacrifice of Jesus, and our love for others should be demonstrated through service and fellowship. This is especially important in marriage, where love must be actively shown and not just professed. Love is a commitment that requires action, and our response to God's love can be measured by our actions. We need to demonstrate our love through service and fellowship. [14:21]
1 John 3:18 (ESV): "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."
Reflection: Identify one person in your life who needs to feel loved today. What specific action can you take to demonstrate your love for them in a tangible way?
Day 3: Identity and Roles in Relationships
Description: Women derive their identity from their husbands, which is why it's crucial for men to know who they are in Christ. A man who understands his role and identity can provide the right environment for his wife to flourish. This understanding helps in building strong, healthy relationships. Men are called to love their wives as Christ loves the church, and this requires a deep understanding of their own identity in Christ. [44:07]
Ephesians 5:25-28 (ESV): "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself."
Reflection: If you are a husband, reflect on how well you understand your identity in Christ. How can you better provide an environment for your wife to flourish? If you are not a husband, think about how you can support the men in your life to understand their identity in Christ.
Day 4: The Reality of the Unseen Realm
Description: There is a spiritual realm that is just as real as the physical one. Our dreams can sometimes give us glimpses into this realm. Understanding that there is more than what we can see with our natural eyes can strengthen our faith and help us trust in God's unseen hand at work in our lives. We often limit ourselves to what we can see physically, but there is a whole spiritual realm that we need to be aware of. [23:18]
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: Reflect on a recent dream or a moment when you felt there was more happening than what you could see. How can this awareness of the unseen realm strengthen your faith and trust in God?
Day 5: Mature Love is Selfless
Description: Our relationship with God should not be transactional. We should love God for who He is, not just for what He can do for us. This kind of love is mature and selfless, putting away childish things and growing in our understanding and application of God's love. Mature love is selfless and requires us to grow beyond a transactional relationship with God. We need to love God for who He is, not just for what He can do for us. [01:02:41]
1 Corinthians 13:11-12 (ESV): "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known."
Reflection: Consider your relationship with God. Are there areas where you treat it as transactional? How can you shift your focus to loving God for who He is rather than what He can do for you?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "No one can make me feel any kind of way. No one can make me jump off the roof of this building. No one can. No one can make me do that. Except I yield my will to your suggestion, to your erroneous thinking. No one can make me do anything I don't want to do. No one can make you feel a kind of way, no matter what somebody else say. No one can do that except you do that. Do Y'all all right? Stop blaming people. And it's just God showing you where you are. You know why? Watch it. Never look directly at people. Look at God. Look at God. Just look at God." [57:03]
2. "There is more, everybody say, there's more, God, see, that's how you should have said it the first time, did y'all want to hear about this ministry, because we're a little rowdy in here, we like to have a good time, we like interaction, so I just want to, okay, put my little disclaimer, just feel free to flow right on in there, if you feel like turning on that chair in front of you, go ahead and do it, it's all right, we won't get mad, it's all good, my God, ha, glory, watch this, there's more, I said to the universe, but you just can't see it, there's more to your life, but you just can't see it, there's more to your marriage, but you just can't see it, there's more in the relationship, but you just can't see it, that's not my message, but I'm giving it a little bit, there's more to every relationship, but you just can't see it, everybody say, there's more, there's in your bank account, but you just can't see it, Jesus, my God, there you go, oh, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, there you go, you go, there you go, that he may see, see, see, y'all missed it, prophetically what was going on, that wasn't minister Al and the praise team, that was yielded minister Al and the praise team to hear what the Lord was saying, y'all understand, see, all God needs, all you need is a word, all you need is a word, that word in the ministry today was see, okay, I'm gonna help you with it, I'm gonna help you with your sight, man of God, read that verse again and let's go, I ain't gonna interrupt you look at that, my prayer today is that God open the eyes of every person, especially the men in this ministry, that their eyes be open today, and when they're open, you're going to follow, and you're going to follow when they're open, and when they're open, you will be able to see, hey, glory to God, just believe the word of God, it is important, it is open, the prophet has just said," [14:21]
3. "We get so used to carrying that mask up that masquerade over us. It become a part of an appendage of you. It becomes a part of you. And it's just very seldom. You very seldom. You very seldom. You take it off. You take it off on a shoe tie. I got this. But we don't take it off. And see, then God can't deal with that. He can deal only with the real you that is not visible to him, that you don't make visible, that you don't want him to see. You won't stay in the infrared. You won't stay in the infrared." [52:15]
4. "Hey James, good to see you man, good to see you, a wife is always this, man it's just so good to see y'all, man, man, man, man, did y'all hear that scripture, do y'all, do y'all understand what we have and what we possess is the truth, this ain't the book of Mormon, this is not the New World Translation by the Jehovah Witness, this is not the Mahabharata from India, we got the real thing, we have the personage of Holy Spirit who reveals the truth, you have to have Holy Spirit, my God, are y'all excited today, I'm excited just to be alive, y'all be excited if I say I ain't got nothing, for you, except love, would you be, would that be sufficient, enough, my goodness, I'm feeling good, that's all I got for you, that's all, come on, cause that's all I am, that's all, that's what I'm saying, it should be, it should be a love talk, it should be, love language, man, you got that right, oh my God, oh my goodness, it's so, it's so much, but so little time, I, uh, you, y'all singing and everything with the sight, with the eyes, this is what God is saying, if you just hear him whisper, it's about your sight today, how you doing, welcome, you've been here before, right, never been here before, it seems familiar to me, what's your name, Glacier, Glacier, did y'all meet Glacier, did y'all, what you doing in the back back there, what you doing in the back back there, all right, I'm gonna let you, let me give you a pass today, you know I got to see you, I am, so hold on, y'all, the minister was singing back here, now, he was talking about sight, I heard him back, I said, oh, Lord, you've been talking to me, you ain't, listen, what date, tell him what date did you see that on, what day is that, April 19th, that was Friday, I couldn't give it on Friday, I had it, it had to be today, come on now, we're talking about, we're flowing, right, all right, glory to God, we're flowing together, right, y'all better understand, the praise team and the pastor got to flow together, if you had any question, it's answered, glory to God, he was talking, did you hear, see, prophetically, you got to be able to hear what the psalmist is saying, at the moment he's, or the team is introducing, announcing, prophetically, what God needs to say, see, this is why the praise team has to be yielded enough, so when he, so when I come up here, it's just a little segment, it was just a little segment, and you were saying, we can't really see him, but we can, and it was just something that I had, that he gave me something on Friday, and I said, well, shoot, man, when you want me to do it, obviously, we couldn't do it on Friday, because we had a praise party up in here, yeah, testimony, man, but I'll just give it to you before I get into where I need to go, can I do that, so, so it was very interesting, I was like, Lord, what are you, you know, I see y'all, you see me, the other day I said, tell the person, there's, there's more, remember I said that, tell them there's more, there's, there's more that you don't see, and because you don't see it, don't mean there's more, it's not more, y'all okay, now, I'm talking spiritually right now, let me see here, this is real quick, and I need you to grasp it before I jump in here, everybody say, there's more, there's see, you got to say it, and I'm going to show you why, this is just a side note, we're still going to get into the bride, and all of that, and we're going to go there, see, teacher, there's more, she about to bust up here, back up, back up here, to everything, we just can't see, we just can't see it, watch this, there's more of the earth, but we just can't see it, all that you see is not all that there is, y'all got to get this, if I can get you to see, just more, there's more of the universe, but you just can't see it, there's more to your life, but you just can't see it," [06:23]
### Quotes for Members
1. "When we're in these things with our marriage or with people, relationship in here, we never do. We really don't do first Corinthians 13. We don't really do first Corinthians 13. When we deal with each other, we really don't know, no, for real, no, for real. We really don't deal with each other in first Corinthians 13. That's why you feel some kind of way. And that way, that's just the squeezing to show you what's in you. Nobody can do anything to me. No one can do any thing to me unless I allow it." [55:49]
2. "Adversity reveals the true you, not the masquerade you that you present to people, but the true you. It'll show you ain't got patience. It'll show you don't have love. It'll show you don't have tolerance. It'll show you are weak. It'll show you you're strong. It'll show you you're faithful. It'll show you that the adversity does that. The adversity, the adversity will show you that, but we don't want it. So we get so used to y'all. Listen to me." [51:30]
3. "So he's doing all he is doing. He's good. He's a man. I don't name all the animals. Gave them their function. I mean, I'm doing, I'm talking to God. It's me and him walking in the cool of the day. It's just me and him. I don't need nobody else. It's just me and him. We good. And God said, listen here, Adam. I'm God. I designed you. And I'm going to tell you it's not good for you to be selfish all to yourself. It's not good. So I'm going to create. I'm going to create you a helper. Because without the helper, you just think you can do it all on yourself. And you did you. Let's talk about human humanity. Watch on. Humanity. If it fits. Okay. Where does she? Watch this. So watch this. I ain't say it to everybody. But watch this. Watch this. So, so, so he, now he, excuse me, before I even go there. God said, okay, not good. Put him to sleep. He couldn't find her nowhere in the garden. Nowhere. Nowhere. He went inward. To him. Let me go. Let me pull out that selfish, that self-reliance part of you. And I'm from that. I'm going to create you a helper. Let me look at that. I'm going to. I ain't looking around nowhere else. I'm going to go and take that part of you. That seemed to be good for you, but it's not. And I'm going to take that. And put. I'm going to pull that out of you. And that's where your helper would be. Now, now, now watch this. So, so he pulls her out. Right. And immediately without anybody telling him. He said, well, that's bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. He said, he was like, wait a minute. So Eve looks at her, looks at him. I'm on the outside now. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. I'm on the outside of Adam. So her identity comes from her relationship. Identity of who Eve is. It comes from the man. What she saw. That is where she gets her identity from. It's from Adam. This is why I said the men have to know who they are." [44:07]
4. "It makes it bigger so I can get out more light to come in. And if it's too much light, they retract, make it smaller. Right? Okay. So, it's invisible to the eye because of the cold. You can't reflect the light so I can see what's there. Y'all got it? Hmm. This is why. Well, it's invisible except to the infrared. Spectrum. There are like three areas of infrared as well. There's like a beginning, a mid, and full blast. So, there's a lot of things that you don't see at those levels that they're there. Y'all all right? Y'all follow me? I'm in the Word. I'm in the Word. I'm in the Word. Faith is the substance of things not seen. The evidence of things not seen. What? Hopeful. Not seen. Right? Didn't say unreal. They're there. Y'all follow me. Listen. Listen closely. Listen. Listen. This is why I said there's always more than you can see. There's always more around you than you can see. So, what are they seeing? They're seeing things that are not visible to the naked eye that have weight and mass. Like planets. Planets that you don't see. Too cold for you to see. Angels that are there. Too cold you can't see. Beings are there, but you can't see them. Oh, my God. As I said in 2 Kings, there's a part of your life that's there that you can't see. Your husband is there. You just can't see him yet. And if he comes, and he will, he was there. You just could not see him. But he was there. There's parts of your life you can't see yet, but they're there. And God requires that which is. Oh, but get this. Y'all all right. How many more years you got before you graduate? Can you see it? Then it's there. It's just not visible at this moment. Correct? But it's going to be there. Because it's always been there. You just can't see it yet. And see that it happened already. Here's one that y'all can really get. See if y'all can put this together. So in the movies y'all watch. When the spirit come in the room. What happens? What they show you in the movies? They show you what? Your breath." [31:55]
5. "The spirit is there, but you can't see it. Because it's too cold. I'm trying to make it plain. Y'all sit here and watch stuff. Don't know how to watch what you're watching. You let people project things into you. And you still don't understand. That's the word of God. He's telling you. Elijah, call them. Open his eyes, Lord. And the Lord said, I'll open his eyes and let him see. What was there. Soon as. And I told you there are things there. But you can't see them because they can't reflect light. It's too cold. So when they come in the room. First thing they know is the atmosphere changes. And you see your breath. You know a spirit is coming. See? You didn't put this together, did you? What was on the mountain they said? Fire, right? Right? So I need to make it hotter. So you can bring it into vision. So you can see. Because other than that. If it's too cold. You can't. So it had to be around them somewhere. It had to be fire. Momentarily. They're more with you. Oh, Jesus. Open her eyes, Lord. See, that should be a prayer. Open my eyes. But we won't do that. Hold on. He'll be. Hold on. I'm almost finished on that one. Here's another one. I'm last. And I'm going to my next thing. So we know the spirit realm. When you can't see. And you can't see the planets. Just imagine. Well, let me ask you a question. Why would the Vatican need a telescope? Who are they looking for? And how come there's never no reports of all these infrared cameras, satellites, and you never get any images? How come? See, you don't believe that there is a spirit realm. And it is. There are things that the human eye cannot see. Yet they're there. How many meteors have come close to this earth and we can't see them? Except you can see the God's grace and hand over the earth. Holding back things. Even you. He's held back people and light. Even when we've been in bad situations. God's hand. That invisible." [35:16]