OPEN OUR EYES

Series: This Is That | Pastor Donnie Lewis

We were created for Kingdom purpose, restored to it through Jesus, empowered by the Spirit but the greatest danger is drifting back to sleep.

The enemy doesn’t need to destroy you he just needs to “distract” you long enough that you stop seeing clearly.

“The most dangerous place for a believer is not the battlefield it’s the comfort zone.”

Before we talk about what’s happening around us, we need to talk about what was lost and what was restored.

Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

What was Lost

1. Relationship with God

2. Our Nature (Created in His Image)

3. Dominion (Authority over the Earth)

We must learn to think differently

Romans 12:2 “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind”*

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me…

The anointing is the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us. God desires for us to walk in the fullness of that anointing.

Acts 1: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Question today is, “Why are we not walking this thing out”?

Why is it that we are living far less than God intended…

John 9: 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

Matthew 13:15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.

1. THE HEARTS HAVE GROWN DULL

One of the greatest hindrances to Christianity today, is not sin… but dullness!

Signs You Are Growing Cold

– Prayer feels like obligation, not conversation

– The Word is familiar but no longer alive

– You’ve stopped expecting God to move

– You’re living from memory instead of from present encounter

– You’ve replaced “seeking first the Kingdom” with seeking first comfort, security, or approval

We maintain our sharp edge as we recognize our need and passionately pursue God…

– Prayer

– Worship

– Devotion

– Get into the Word

Revelation 2: 1 “To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,… 2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars; 3 and you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for My name’s sake and have not become weary. 4 Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent.

2. WE HAVE A WRONG OR INAPPROPRIATE IMAGE OF OURSELVES

When you say that …. You are saying that God paid for an inferior product! – For damaged goods

God does not make mistakes!

Romans 8: 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Gal. 3:26… You are children of God

John 17: 23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. (NLT)

You are precious in His sight. He loves you. Just as much as He loves His very own Son, Jesus. In fact, He has adopted you so you are His Son/Daughter!

It is not a question of Heaven or Hell… but how much of hells thinking will I allow in my heavenly mind. At some point we have to rise up to the High Call of God and STOP saying things about ourselves that are no longer true!