Clear Eyes, Full Heart, Part 2

Today on centerline pastor Jeannie Greer continues the story like many of you are under the same delusion. The soldiers were under and their blindness is a picture of your blindness. You think that God is your adversary.

You think you will find what you want in life by capturing what God you will only find what you're looking for when you were captured by God's justice. They are for everyday life. If you ever lose or break any time getting a replacement because without our eyes. Most of us are pretty helpless and besides just the practical use of our glasses. We also seen on all the beauty around us today on Summit life pastor Jeannie Greer reveals that it's possible you might be going through life behind even knowing it. We're in a series called something greater you missed any of the previous messages online. Jeannie Greer.com. Now let's dive into part two of our message title clear eyes, full heart chakra six verse eight, the king of your transitional space are seriously placed was at war with Israel after conferring with his officers. She said I will set up my camp in such a place. We will ambush the Israelites burst not been the man of God was sent word to the king of Israel will be where passing up place because the Aramaeans are there. Time and again Elisha won the key so that he was always a step ahead of the Aramaeans wise.

You can imagine this enraged the king of Iran, he summoned his officers in the manner that tell me which of you is the will which of you is the rat who was on the side of the king of Israel.

None of us, my lord the king sent one of his officers. None of us is the rat. There is no mold here it's Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, he tells the king of Israel, the very words you speak in your bedroom. Verse 13 as you go find out where he is the king ordered so I can send Manning capture him. The report came back he is in Dothan. Then he said horses and chariots in a mighty army there. Then they went by night surrounded the city of entire army to capture one man verse 15 when the server the man of God, got up, went out early the next morning along with horses and chariots and surrounded the city hello, my lord, what shall we do, the servant asked. Don't be afraid. The prophet answered those who are with us for more than those who are with them now. Elisha server. This point is are you what you lost your mind. There are two of ice and there are thousands of them, so Elisha prayed Lord opened his eyes, but he may see the Lord opened the eyes of the serving size and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha as the enemy came down toward him, Elisha, and prayed to the Lord strike this army with blindness.

So God struck them with blindness. Just as Elisha had asked Elisha been told them this is not the road and this is not the city, follow me, I will lead you to the man that you are looking for scholars tell us that the way this is written is most likely not total blindness.

It's a blindness where what they think are seeing are not actually seen the mother not see his AccuWeather see and so he leads them to Samaria, Samaria, capital of Israel after the end of the city. Elisha says Lord now, open the eyes of these men so they can see then the Lord opened their eyes and they look in there. They were inside Samaria standing now virtually his captives in front of the army of Israel misses the ball cried moments verse 21 and the king of Israel saw that he asked Elisha so I killed my father. So I tell them not kill them, he answered, would you kill those you capture with your own sword and bow. In other words, is how you treat a prisoner of war you kill them.

Even in those days, the answer is no. And Elisha says he's not even your captives you your sword and bow. These are God captives God's captives just have food and water before them so that they may eat and drink and then go back to their master, so he prepared a great feast for them.

After they finished eating and drinking. He sent them away and they return to their master syllabus. So from then on, the bands from around stop reading Israel's territory. The plot of the story revolves around two sets of blind people. The first set of why people only has one person in it and it's Elisha's servant. He's a religious God-fearing man that he is blind. The other set is going to be be soldiers and there going to represent unbelievers. Both of them need the same thing.

Both of them need to have their eyes open. So let's talk first about number one the blindness of the believer, the blindness of Elisha's servant. Essentially what he doubted it was two things about God. He doubted God's steadfast love toward him and the strength of God's power for him. He thought that God had abandoned them. He looked around and sold his army and he thought were surrounded we been abandoned. There is no hope. We are dunes to what God does in answer to Elisha's prayer as he opens the eyes of the servant to see that the armies of God's love surrounds him, and that the armies of God's love are so much bigger than this huge Aramaean army that is standing before him. When you are afraid. What you need is clearer vision right when you got problems when you feel like armies are arrayed against you. Country music's favorite remedy is turned alcohol right now myself to reality so that I can get through this difficult chapter of my life. You see the Bible actually takes the opposite when the you walk through the valley with the Aramaeans. It doesn't numb your heart to reality. It enlarges your vision of reality, so that yes the Army against you is great, but the Army of God's love is fighting for you is greater now.

No way say is that you like that I can't see those angels. I can't feel their effects on the where they are fully point out one little detail that you may have overlooked went through this, but when the Hebrew person would never have overlooked it in verse 13. Here's a question where watches.

Where did this vision take place in your Bible verse 13. Look at don't think that's right, not Alabama but Dothan Israel person would've recognized as one of the place in the Bible, but Dothan is mentioned just 3770, and it was a place where another man of God, got into deep trouble. His name is Joseph was put into a prison Genesis 3717, and Joseph from that prison watch this prayed for deliverance. Did God answer his prayer yes, but not in the way that Joseph was expecting right. Joseph was not delivered from the prison he was sold into slavery and from slavery. Joseph pray for deliverance and God answered his prayer by letting him be falsely accused and sent from slavery to prison.

In prison, Joseph pray for deliverance. And God answered his prayer by taking a sliver of hope or about the promise to get them out and letting the butler forget it for a few years, but then God through all of these things who was working got Joseph into a place through these events where he could rescue both himself and his family and all the people of God. If God had answered Joseph's prayers for Matt. The way that Joseph wanted him to all of Joseph's family would have perished physically and spiritually. So yes the chariots of fire and the Angels were there and Dothan for Joseph to but they were in stealth mode better silencers on see that's how it also works for you, for you believer, you can be sure that God is always fighting for you even when you cannot track the footprints of the Angels or you can even hear the rumble of his chariots. I will lift up mine eyes to the hills from whence comes my help. My help comes from the Lord. Fear not for I am your God. Do not be dismayed, for I am with you.

I will strengthen you, I will help you I will uphold you to my right hand, and I am always working sometimes yes I reveal the Angels and a lot of times I'm working behind the scenes come in stealth mode like I was with Joseph and I got because I got a greater plan for your life. You've got God did not answer Joseph's prayers from that. The way Joseph wanted because God's plan for Joseph was better the Joseph's plan for Joseph and God's plan for you is better than your plan for you for confirmation of that you need look no farther than the cross itself because the cross is where God shed his blood to purchase you. You really feel like after God put that much investment into your life, but usually the circumstances of your life the chance, why would you make the kind of investment in somebody you are determined to see it all the way through. Now I know what you say that you are why does God do it that way. What is God work in stealth mode. We know what to be fair to me. I'm not God's will generally answer that question, but what I do know is that one of things God is always doing is perfecting our faith is always testing our resolve in his goodness solicit God is not just interested in resolving our situations. He's also interested in restoring our faith. The greatest thing God wants to do in you is get you a place where even if you went to hell itself. You would not be convinced that God was not good and he was not not not committed to you because you would look at everything in your life of the eyes of the cross with her like a child trying to push against the hand of a parent. The parent gives only enough resistance to test the resolve of the child to God.

Resist us in prayer to test our resolving his goodness, which means you don't know where else to look you up to the cross. John Calvin said the cross like the spectacles of faith. We look through the cross and otherwise blurry situations coming to the sharp focus of God's love gospel spectacles give you the ability to see a world that's filled with horses and chariots working all things according to the counsel of his will. See what you most need believer listen to this. What you most need it outside of the Angels. What you need is insight into the heart of God, which is what Paul prayed for Ephesians 3 pray that you would taste and see the height of the depth and the breath of God's love that you would see the setbacks after going through the nonpermanent things like Joseph experienced that broken relationship that you're sure is good to destroy your life, that failure that you think will ruin your career that you're worthless that nothing but failure and pain are in your future are all lies. All of them the angel of the Lord in camps around those who fear him, you taste and see that the Lord is good toward you, and blessed is the man or woman takes refuge in him.

That's the blindness of the believer now very quickly returned to the blindness of the unbelievers, the blindness of the unbelievers. How are the soldiers lined well. First they think God and his people or their enemies and they think they can just capture and eliminate the man of God all their problems are going to be over so Elisha strikes them of the kind of physical blindness which you can see is a picture of spiritual blindness River for the detail that he gave them a delusion. That's were it's important because like someone who is spiritually buying these people think they can see they think they understand what their life needs but there under the delusion so Elisha blinds him and then he confounds them. He tells them they're seeking the wrong person and he walked him into the heart of Israel's capital, which puts them in a completely indefensible state. That's what God does pulse would save her screaming that he confounds wives with their wisdom, he would. For example, God. When the people of the Tower of Babel decide they're going to unite pool their strength and build a mighty kingdom and rebellion against God. God just mixes of the languages is what you trot it off a little while. So when Isaac decides that he is going to give the blessing to his favorite son Esau. Even though Jacobs woman. God chose Bill Isaac who is already mostly blind God blinds and further all the way and then Isaac accidentally blesses Jacob which is the one that God chose the keys blessing. Esau it's God do know him 1 million in humanity zero. That's what God always does in the tragedy is you never know he's doing it missing when you set yourself up as an enemy of God. God then takes calls is your wisdom and he uses it to further blind you and he confounds you, so Elisha confounds them, but then leads them to this position of complete gimbal of vulnerability. But then he does something that nobody is expecting if there is a huge feast of lots and go when their eyes were finally opened.

They expected an onslaught of judgment instead. Elisha gave them a feast of grace. Do not miss the irony here watches they thought the resolution to their problems would come to capturing and destroying God's man. Instead, they found blessing when they were captured by God's man so many overtones of Jesus here.

When Jesus came. Everybody missed it. They were blinded they were seeking the wrong guy the Jews thought they needed a political deliver the Romans thought they needed a mighty ruler.

The Greeks thought they needed a philosopher king would educate everybody and lift them out of darkness so when the son of God showed up as a carpenter who wash feet sided with the oppressed, hung out with prostitutes and sinners. God is a condemned criminal on a garbage heap substitution & they all missed like Elisha Jesus would take his enemies in the heart of the capital into the throne room of God's justice, but instead of judgment.

He gave them grace we could call down the legions of angels, but he didn't. When he finally did speak, he said. Father forgive them.

This was the foolishness of God that confounded the wise, but it was ultimate victory because it turned the enemies and allies and friends. Many of you are under the same delusion. The soldiers were under and their blindness is a picture of your blindness you think God is your adversary. You think that you will find what you want in life by capturing God by capturing the blessing of God. You think that you're going to obtain what you want by looking for it somewhere but you will only find what you're looking for when you were captured by God's Jesus because you know what the happiness that you're searching for is not in the boyfriend. It's out in the pay raise is not in the retirement package is not in the new house is not in the extramarital affair is not in the dictation of fame. It's not in the adoration of your friends is not even the love of your husband, your wife, all those things you were looking for been found in reconciliation with God the arms that you sought in romance were actually his arms, the pleasure, the security Saudi money are actually found in him, you think you're going to be delivered by capturing something from God, you're only going to find that freedom you're looking for your captured by God and the tragedy is that many of you feel like God is your adversary and you are resisting the very one who can bring salvation like your rules or restrictive you're there to hurt me. I got continually prove myself to you so that you don't throw me in the L and you think you see life so clearly but you are blind because the one that you're assisting is the one who gives freedom of salvation. Remind me what Jesus said to the Pharisees after you heal the blind man in John nine if you really were blind, you wouldn't have guilt but because you say, we see your guilt remains.

In other words, if you know you were blind you would seek God for site is because you think you can see that your guilt remains. So how is Jesus lesson. How is he attempted to wake you up more than simply throw a feast and let you go to point out the feast of his flesh and his blood and have brought you into the very palace room, not as an enemy, not as a servant, but as a son and daughter of God. These Aramaean soldiers were changed by the slightest touch of grace, which is your heart be like when God didn't just give your fees and send you away but poured out his flesh and blood for you to feast on the brought you as a son or daughter should honor you two things to you that you change your heart toward God, and it should show you that you can trust them in whatever situation you see all all the previous prophets all had the angels come to their aid when they were in trouble.

Jesus was the only one who, in his great hour of me lifted up his eyes and said, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me, forsaken by both God and the armies of angels and he did it willingly, so that he could save us Muslims of our time at the crucifixion.

If you ever talk to one. You will notice Muslim say they say the right before Jesus.

They believe he was a prophet right before he was crucified that Allah switched Jesus and Judas so that they thought they were crucified Jesus, but they were actually crucified Judas and if you asked them why they would say this, they always say God would never let's one of his servants. One of his men with his prophets die like that weakness and shame it's foolishness to them, but that foolishness is how God saved you.

So the believer looks at that foolishness the believer whose eyes have been open and they say amazing love how can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me to his mystery all the immortal guys who can explore his strange design in vein, the firstborn angel tries to sound the depths of love divine to his mercy all let earth adore let angel minds inquire no more. Amazing love how can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me, the soldiers and second kings were changed from then on, the bands from around separating Israel's territory and the soldier standing beside Jesus's cross.

Saul was happening.

He said surely this man was the son of God. When you behold the wounds of Christ doesn't have the effect of waking you up as it seemed you like foolishness orders become due the savor of life is you want to know will change your heart you know will melt at heart a stone when it will give you the ability to trust God you want to know will give you the ability to see and not your adversary but is your friend to someone who is there to destroy you. Is there someone to take you captive someone to free you know will give you that kind heart is the site of the height and the width of the depth of the breath of God's love. The turns enemies and friends seen Santa Claus, we come to a place where I save the apostle Paul could not reveal that, but how could I possibly reveal that you spiritually given me see that this is nothing that I can say or do, which by the way you insight every single message I preach the goal of it.

The goal that is not to leave you with a page full Bible facts.

There's a discussion preaching all of the most important daily. Should you lead people out of Bible information unit for July getting to sleep for notes and under this Hebrew word is breakdancing.

Then as I got about life change. Not relevant. You tell people how it affect their lives generally like 10 practical steps.

Respectfully, I will tell you I don't follow either of their strategies.

My goal at the end of every message is to leave you now the painful facts about God not a list of things you need to go do forgot my door to leave you and all the wonder of what God has done for you because the I know that when you are left worshiping, I know that when your eyes are filled with wonder what God has done for you.

I know will turn enemies into friends only to tell you what to do. Forgot it will come as naturally as roses on rosebush because when you see the love of God for you, the love of God really does not find you where you are supposed to be to create you and the person you're supposed to be and I know that you will begin to love God because it just comes out your heart you love others and will fulfill all try to leave you would've paid for by the fact that I would disrespect with some of you, but I think your Bible, but desire Nolte's knowledge is wearying to God, tell you there's a page full Bible about 10,000 Bible facts and knowledge of Hebrew birds near as much for you is one site of the cross of Jesus Christ in SF in the spirit of God.

Got a gift to you all can do what I can do it all knew that from experience right because Paul Bible of anybody and he was blind on his way to persecute Jesus. God had to knock him off his horse and give them actual blindness so that he could get one glimpse of Jesus and Paul would say that all his Bible knowledge was as dong compared one sign of the knowledge of God were worse than having message today from Pastor Jamie Greer here on Senate to listening and it's titled clear eyes. Are you want to download the complete message transcript@jdgreer.com. We have a special resource to accompany the study of Elisha in the first part of the study from last week about Elijah, but with the study guide titled like our current teaching series something better something greater into something better part of our study, we will see how Elijah confronted the religious environment theory much like our own.

One characterized by the attitude you have your God and I have mine. Elijah shows that that knowing the one true God is better than every other rival. And this is something greater portion time to examine the light. One of the greatest miracle workers, all of Scripture.

The prophet Elisha, this secret behind Elisha's power hereunder with his fierce devotion to the God of heaven and a part study each part includes a short chapter that aligns with the teaching that you've been hearing will be hearing for the next. It also includes space for notes on the Scripture readings from first and second kings interactive application questions and prayer prompts. We'd love to get you a copy of this new resource will send you a copy today. Our way of saying thanks for your financial gain $25 or more to support this ministry. Your gift opens the door for listeners across the country and around the world helping them dive deeper into the gospel through this free online join that mission today when you give my calling 335-5220 and remember to ask for your copy of something better something greater study of Elijah and Elisha never again 35 5224.

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