Open Your Hearts Open Your Bibles He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them (John 12:40 KJV) s how without the Holy Spirit of God no one can understand the spiritual Word of God. A prime example of that is Saul the Pharisee, who after his conversion on the road to Damascus became the apostle Paul (see Pauls Ministry). Although Saul was an expert of the Holy Scriptures, without the Holy Spirit he was blind to what they actually said i.e. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you (Romans 8:7-9 KJV). Even the twelve apostles didnt see what Christ was teaching during the years that they were with Him until after He had been crucified and resurrected i.e. Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45 KJV) And their eyes were opened and they knew Him The Holy Bible has numerous other examples of things that were (and are) hidden in plain sight, so to speak. Some were spiritual, others were physical. Adam and Eve were blind to sin - until they became sinners knowing good and evil: Elisha Watching Elijah In A Chariot Of Fire And the serpent said unto the woman [see Why Eve?], Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (Genesis 3:4-7 KJV) Hagar and her son Ishmael were about to die from thirst - until God opened her eyes and she saw a well of water: And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. And she and sat her down over against him a good n. off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer. (Genesis 21:14-20 KJV) Balaam couldnt see the angel of The Lord standing in the way - but the donkey that he was riding could. Then The Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of The Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face. And the angel of The Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me: And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times: unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. (Numbers 22:31-33 KJV) Elisha could see The Lords chariots of fire around him - and so could Elishas servant, after The Lord opened the eyes of the young man: And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And The Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. (2 Kings 6:15-17 KJV) Some saw Jesus Christ after His resurrection (see also The Human Faces of Christ), but didnt see Him until their eyes were opened and they knew him and while He opened to us the Scriptures: And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and He made as though He would have gone further. But they constrained Him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as He sat at meat with them, He took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew Him; and He vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures? (Luke 24:28-32 KJV)
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 16:20:25 +0000