Blindness on SermonAudio

MAIN POINT: I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance Psalm 2:8

We highly suggest that you READ the TEXT at the link below, as you listen to the audio above. https://gracegems.org/2026/how_blind_must_they_be_who_think.htm Feel free to FORWARD this gem to others!

Anchored in the Word Morning Reflection: Season 5 Episode 201 God's Gracious Design: Blindness 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 #morningreflections #evangelism #discipleship #churchplanting #missions

The sermon recounts a missionary's struggle to communicate the gospel to an unreached tribe, highlighting the progression from linguistic barriers to spiritual opposition and finally to cultural skepticism. The speaker describes how demonic forces blinded the minds of the listeners, preventing them from accepting the truth despite the missionary's fluency in their language. This impasse was broken not by human argument, but by God's intervention through miraculous signs, including a man rising from the dead and visions that confirmed the missionary's testimony. These events served as divine validation, overcoming the tribe's disbelief and leading to genuine conversions that endured for decades. The narrative challenges the theological assumption that such sign gifts are limited to the early church, asserting instead that God uses them in any era when there is a need to establish the truth among unreached people.

We are continuing on in our study of the Practice of Holy Christian Watchfulness in relation to our being ready for Christ's 2nd Coming, whether this is in relation to our own death; that is, that we would be better prepared to meet Christ face to face. And also, that we would be thinking forward to what it will mean when Christ returns, raises all the dead, and judges the world. If we are faithful we will be able to stand with Him on that glorious Day, radiant and unashamed. So concerning the times and the seasons, we do not need to be concerned about them too much, except to say, that we ought to be aware of what the Bible does specifically teach us, not only about the Destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., but also that there are times in this New Testament Age which are mentioned in the Book of Revelation which concern the Church's progress in her witness, in all generations. These things ought to be looked into, and thought about, as far as the Lord will enable us to understand them from reading all of the Bible, so that we will be watching and be sober in regard to the Lord's judgments, whether they are related to any time in the past, or what is yet to come.

Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they arrived in Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant. 6 Now when they had gone through [b]the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, 7 who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) [c]withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him 10 and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? 11 And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time."

This sermon examines 2 Peter 1 as a call to progressive spiritual maturity, emphasizing that God's divine power supplies everything necessary for eternal life and godliness. The central message presents a 'chain' of virtues—faith, moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love—that believers are to cultivate not through self-effort but by relying on God's grace. The preacher clarifies that this list is not legalism but a practical outworking of salvation, where the presence of these qualities confirms genuine faith and provides subjective assurance of election. By contrasting fruitful growth with the spiritual blindness of those who neglect these virtues, the sermon urges believers to diligently confirm their calling and secure their entrance into the eternal kingdom through daily dependence on Christ.

Belshazzar's problem of pride blinded him from learning from (recent) history and exposed him to God's wrath. Sound familiar? God declared Belshazzar "wanting" or "deficient." That, too, should sound familiar. All of us, apart from the grace of God and faith in Jesus Christ are found to be deficient before the holy God!

This sermon explores the promise of the Holy Spirit as the 'Comforter' who abides with believers forever, addressing the disciples' need for aid in the face of Jesus' impending departure. It identifies the Spirit as the Helper and Spirit of Truth, emphasizing His permanence and indwelling presence which contrasts with the temporary physical presence of Christ. The message highlights that the world cannot receive the Spirit because it is spiritually blind, whereas believers know Him through His internal dwelling. It further explains that the Spirit provides assurance of salvation and the power for resurrection, while also enabling a deep fellowship with God through loving obedience and submission to His commands. The sermon concludes by challenging believers to examine their daily submission to the Spirit to experience the fullness of this divine abode.