Seeing Clearly: Jesus' Transformative Touch in Our Lives

Summary

### Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound transformation that Jesus brings into our lives, focusing on the story of the blind man who received a second touch from Jesus to see clearly. This narrative serves as a metaphor for our spiritual journey. Initially, we may come to faith and see Jesus, but our vision of others remains blurred. Jesus' second touch represents a deeper work in our hearts, enabling us to see others as He does—with love, compassion, and value.

We began by acknowledging our brokenness and the miraculous grace of Jesus that heals our relationship with God. This healing is not just about our personal salvation but extends to how we perceive and interact with others. Jesus' love compels us to see every person as a child of God, deeply loved and valued, which transforms our relationships and our community.

The sermon emphasized the importance of allowing Jesus to do this second work in us. Just as the blind man needed a second touch to see people clearly, we need Jesus to remove the scales of selfishness from our eyes. This transformation enables us to be salt and light in the world, bringing hope, healing, and the love of God to those around us.

We were challenged to see people not as obstacles or inconveniences but as eternal souls loved by God. This perspective shift can change our interactions and make us more effective in our mission to spread the love of Jesus. By seeing others through God's eyes, we can bring about significant change in our communities, leading to lives healed, forgiveness flowing, and hope restored.

### Key Takeaways

1. Healing Through Jesus' Grace: The first step in our spiritual journey is recognizing our brokenness and accepting the miraculous grace of Jesus. This grace heals our relationship with God, making us aware of His everlasting love and kindness. This initial healing is crucial for our spiritual growth and sets the foundation for deeper transformation. [59:02]

2. Seeing Others Through Jesus' Eyes: The second touch from Jesus represents a deeper work in our hearts, enabling us to see others as He does. This transformation removes the scales of selfishness from our eyes, allowing us to recognize the value and love God has for every person. This perspective shift is essential for living out our faith authentically. [01:05:12]

3. Being Salt and Light: Jesus calls us to be salt and light in the world, bringing flavor, healing, and illumination to those around us. This mission requires us to see people clearly and love them as Jesus does. By doing so, we can make a significant impact in our communities, leading others to the life-altering love of God. [01:07:06]

4. Strategic Placement by God: We are not where we are by accident. God has strategically placed us in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and social circles to be His ambassadors. Recognizing this divine placement helps us see every interaction as an opportunity to show God's love and bring hope to those around us. [01:11:51]

5. Ongoing Transformation: The work of Jesus in our lives is ongoing. We must continually seek His touch to open our eyes further and deepen our love for others. This ongoing transformation helps us to live out the greatest commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. [01:14:17]

### YouTube Chapters

1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [46:46] - Introduction to Worship
3. [47:46] - Continued Worship
4. [48:15] - Worship and Reflection
5. [48:54] - Worship and Invitation
6. [49:40] - Worship and Praise
7. [50:21] - Worship and Thanksgiving
8. [50:57] - Worship and Adoration
9. [51:31] - Worship and Contemplation
10. [52:20] - Worship and Devotion
11. [52:53] - Worship and Commitment
12. [53:25] - Worship and Surrender
13. [54:09] - Worship and Dedication
14. [55:02] - Worship and Reflection
15. [55:39] - Worship and Prayer
16. [56:16] - Worship and Petition
17. [56:56] - Worship and Intercession
18. [57:33] - Worship and Supplication
19. [58:24] - Worship and Gratitude
20. [59:02] - Healing Through Jesus' Grace
21. [01:00:43] - Seeing Others Through Jesus' Eyes
22. [01:03:30] - Being Salt and Light
23. [01:05:12] - Strategic Placement by God
24. [01:07:06] - Ongoing Transformation
25. [01:10:02] - Closing Prayer and Commitment

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Jeremiah 31:3 - "The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.'"
2. John 8:12 - "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
3. Matthew 5:14 - "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jeremiah 31:3 reveal about God's love for us?
2. How does Jesus describe Himself in John 8:12, and what promise does He give to His followers?
3. According to Matthew 5:14, what role do believers play in the world?
4. In the sermon, what was the significance of Jesus giving the blind man a second touch? ([01:05:12])

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding God's everlasting love in Jeremiah 31:3 impact our view of ourselves and others?
2. What does it mean to walk in the light of life as described in John 8:12, and how does this relate to our daily lives?
3. How can believers practically be the "light of the world" as stated in Matthew 5:14?
4. Why is it important for believers to receive a "second touch" from Jesus to see others clearly, as mentioned in the sermon? ([01:05:12])

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt God's everlasting love and kindness. How did it change your perspective on your relationship with Him and others? ([59:02])
2. Jesus calls us to be the light of the world. Identify one specific way you can bring light to your workplace or neighborhood this week. ([01:07:06])
3. Think of someone you often see as an inconvenience or obstacle. How can you change your perspective to see them as an eternal soul loved by God? ([01:10:02])
4. How can you allow Jesus to do a deeper work in your heart to remove the scales of selfishness? What practical steps can you take to see others through His eyes? ([01:05:12])
5. Consider the places you frequent daily. How can you be more intentional about seeing and loving the people you encounter there? ([01:11:51])
6. What specific actions can you take to be salt and light in your community, bringing hope and healing to those around you? ([01:07:06])
7. How can you continually seek Jesus' touch to deepen your love for others and live out the greatest commandments? ([01:14:17])

Devotional

Day 1: Healing Through Jesus' Grace
Description: The first step in our spiritual journey is recognizing our brokenness and accepting the miraculous grace of Jesus. This grace heals our relationship with God, making us aware of His everlasting love and kindness. This initial healing is crucial for our spiritual growth and sets the foundation for deeper transformation. Jesus' grace is not just a one-time event but an ongoing process that continually renews and restores us. As we embrace this grace, we begin to see the world and ourselves through the lens of God's love and mercy. [59:02]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Reflection: Think about a moment when you felt broken or distant from God. How did His grace bring healing to that situation? How can you remain open to experiencing His grace daily?

Day 2: Seeing Others Through Jesus' Eyes
Description: The second touch from Jesus represents a deeper work in our hearts, enabling us to see others as He does. This transformation removes the scales of selfishness from our eyes, allowing us to recognize the value and love God has for every person. This perspective shift is essential for living out our faith authentically. When we see others through Jesus' eyes, we are moved to act with compassion, kindness, and love, reflecting God's heart to the world around us. [01:05:12]

1 Samuel 16:7 (ESV): "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'"

Reflection: Think of someone you find difficult to love or understand. How can you ask Jesus to help you see this person through His eyes today?

Day 3: Being Salt and Light
Description: Jesus calls us to be salt and light in the world, bringing flavor, healing, and illumination to those around us. This mission requires us to see people clearly and love them as Jesus does. By doing so, we can make a significant impact in our communities, leading others to the life-altering love of God. Being salt and light means living out our faith in practical ways that demonstrate God's love and truth to a world in need. [01:07:06]

Matthew 5:13-14 (ESV): "You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden."

Reflection: Identify one practical way you can be salt and light in your community this week. How can you bring hope, healing, or encouragement to someone in need?

Day 4: Strategic Placement by God
Description: We are not where we are by accident. God has strategically placed us in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and social circles to be His ambassadors. Recognizing this divine placement helps us see every interaction as an opportunity to show God's love and bring hope to those around us. Understanding our strategic placement by God encourages us to be intentional in our relationships and to seek opportunities to share His love and truth. [01:11:51]

Acts 17:26-27 (ESV): "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us."

Reflection: Reflect on your current environment—your home, work, and social circles. How can you be more intentional in showing God's love in these places?

Day 5: Ongoing Transformation
Description: The work of Jesus in our lives is ongoing. We must continually seek His touch to open our eyes further and deepen our love for others. This ongoing transformation helps us to live out the greatest commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus, we become more like Him, reflecting His character and love in all we do. [01:14:17]

2 Corinthians 3:18 (ESV): "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need Jesus' ongoing transformation? How can you invite Him to work in that area today?

Quotes

1. "completely aware of our secrets in our sin and our shame but then also become aware of the incredible grace and love of jesus despite who we are it's miraculous it's beautiful it's powerful it's a this healing takes place within us a healing of our heart a healing of our brokenness a healing of our broken relationship with the father all of a sudden that that becomes we become connected and that brokenness is is dealt with through jesus" [59:02] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "when we first come into a relationship with jesus we discover that we are loved deeply loved and valued by god when we come into this new relationship with god we're adopted into his family now a child of god but it's very likely that our vision is still like this blind man still blurred in how we see others" [01:00:43] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "the proof of complete healing wasn't the question of whether or not he saw Jesus clearly the proof of the miracle came through the second work of how he saw other people I think that's good enough to repeat maybe even to write down the the proof of complete healing wasn't the question of whether or not he saw Jesus or himself clearly the proof of the miracle came through the second work of how he saw other people" [01:03:30] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus leans in with this man and does a deeper work and that deeper work has to do with how he sees others around him and the deeper work that Jesus wants to do in us is to see how he sees others around him and how he sees others around us in you and me has to do with how we see those around us" [01:05:12] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "when Jesus meets with this man a second time and when he does his work in us this second miraculous healing in us when he does his second work in us the scales of selfishness from our eyes are removed every single person we encounter we realize is a lost child deeply loved by the father" [01:07:06] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "what if I saw everyone clearly? What if I saw every person in my extended family, in my neighborhood, the way Jesus does? Well, what if I acted as though the people that I brush past on the way to get my parking spot or, you know, in line at the checkout or to get my coffee at the cafe or groceries? What if I acted as though? What if I acted as though every single person there is deeply loved and valued by God?" [01:09:09] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "what if we as a church all did this together? Well, what if we had this burning desire to see everyone connect with this life-altering love of God that not only transforms our relationship with God, but our relationship with one another? Well, what if we as the church had our eyes fully opened to love other people with the love of God? I think our community would be different, yeah? I think we would see lives healed. We would see forgiveness flow. We would see hope restored." [01:10:02] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "we do that by allowing Jesus to do that second work of healing in us, the same thing that he did with this blind man, to take us by the hand and to lead us quietly and in a dignified way to a place where he restores our sight. And we learn not only just to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, but to love our neighbor as ourself." [01:10:52] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "the lives we intersect with are God-given opportunities to show love. And the people around us, on the bus, on the train, in the shopping center, they're not just blurry trees. We don't need to see them like that. They're eternally created souls made by a loving Heavenly Father who would run out to meet them on the road. And so he sends us to welcome them in." [01:12:54] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "what if we had this burning desire to see everyone connect with this life-altering love of God that not only transforms our relationship with God, but our relationship with one another? Well, what if we as the church had our eyes fully opened to love other people with the love of God? I think our community would be different, yeah? I think we would see lives healed. We would see forgiveness flow. We would see hope restored." [01:10:02] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?