Open Our Eyes

1. We’re not going to see our spiritual needs until we believe in our spiritual needs.

1) We all have a sin problem (1 John 1:8, 10).

2) As a result of this problem, we are all struggling to maintain fellowship with God.

3) It’s our efforts to walk in the light that maintains that fellowship (1 John 1:7).

4) We’ve got to believe we have a problem before we can see that problem.

5) Let us open our eyes to our need for fellowship with God.

2. Our spiritual needs come from our spiritual nature.

1) We’re all made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).

2) We each have a spiritual nature, a soul, and an eternal spirit.

3) We also have physical nature, a body.

4) That part of our nature will grow which we feed.

a. Growth is commanded (2 Peter 3:18).

b. We need to grow in all things (Ephesians 4:15).

c. We need to imbibe spiritual milk (1 Peter 2:2).

5) Let us open our eyes to our need for spiritual growth.

3. The answer to our spiritual needs is in the word.

1) 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – thoroughly furnished to every good work.

2) Acts 2:42 – they continued in the apostles teaching.

3) 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – they received the word of God as the truth.

4) Let us open our eyes to the truth that the solutions to our spiritual problems are found in the word of God.

1. Who do we see when we look on our family and friends?

1) We see the fleshly relationships.

2) We tend to see the good in people’s lives first; that is what we WANT to see.

3) We must understand that the people who stand before us also have a sin problem.

4) That their relationship with God is affected by this problem.

5) That God sees their souls in jeopardy (Isaiah 59:2, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9).

6) We need to open our eyes to the spiritual reality that the souls of our friends and families are in jeopardy.

2. Those souls need God’s message of truth.

1) Because this world cannot save them (Matthew 16:24-26).

2) And we cannot save ourselves; our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).

3) John 8:31-32 – to be disciples indeed and have true freedom.

4) We need to open our eyes to the fact that God’s message will bring them out of darkness and into light.

3. That we have an obligation to teach that message.

1) Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16.

2) Acts 8:4 – everywhere preaching the word.

3) 1 Timothy 3:15 – we are to be the pillar and ground of the truth.

4) We need to open our eyes to performing our role in evangelism.

1. What is our vision of the church?

1) Do we see the church here in Berryville with more members or less?

2) Do we see ourselves involved in that effort?

3) Can we envision a plan to make that happen?

4) We need to open our eyes to a vision for the growth of the church.

2. How do we see the church growing?

1) In the first century, the growth of the church was commanded.

2) Jesus told the apostles to take the message to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the whole world (Acts 1:8).

3) It wasn’t an option for them.

4) They either grew or died.

5) What about us. Can we see the growth of the church in that way?

6) We need to open our eyes to the fact that the growth of the church isn’t optional.

3. Do we see ourselves with a role in that growth?

1) We each need to develop our abilities to teach others (Hebrews 5:12).

2) Disciples are made by teaching (Matthew 28:18-20).

3) We need to teach through our example as well (Philippians 3:17).

4) We need to open our eyes to the fact that God wants us to teach!