2-12-23 AM Service: Scott Sandy (Northeast Baptist Seedline)

Welcome to the Liberty Baptist sermon archives.

The message you're about to hear was preached at Liberty, Baptist

Church in Eastern Massachusetts. You can find out more about us

or contact us at my Liberty, Baptist dot org or just look us

up on Facebook. And now, we hope that this

message from God's word will be a blessing to you.

Pastor appreciate the opportunity to be here and have

enjoyed the weekend tremendously.

We appreciate you guys and your support for us, your prayers for

us, your partnership with us, and I won't give a whole

Ministry run down kind of like I did in Sunday school.

Other than to say it is a blessing to know that over these

last seven projects. These last eight years, that

we've been able to partner together over 75,000 John and

Romans that have gone out all over the world, really several

different places and and we Lee will assemble over half a

million John in Romans every year, as a Ministry, I'm in

churches, all up and down the east coast.

And as far west, as Buffalo New York and as far south as

Maryland, Delaware all through New England and just praise the

Lord for the opportunity that he's given us to be part of this

ministry. I believe you support brother

Dale money as well. Is that right?

Yes. He was the man that God used to

ultimately get us into the seed line Ministry Archer.

Church when we lived in Michigan for, for about a seven year

period, we lived in Michigan and due to my job that I had at the

time and our church, they're got involved with the seed line

Ministry when brother Dale was doing seed line.

They're out of Milford Ohio and he would come up during our

missions conference. And after doing that, about four

years in a row, we went forward surrender to what the Lord would

have us do and less than a year later, he opened the door to

come to Upstate New York, and having been born and raised in

Ohio and my wife from Ohio. As well and then living in

Michigan we've been in the midwest our whole lives and

never would have dreamt that the Lord would have brought us to

the east coast Upstate New York in the Northeast to to work with

seed line. But I'm so glad that the Lord

did that and we just rejoice in the last 16 and a half years now

of all that the Lord has allowed us to do and all the folks that

he's allowed us to meet through all these years at all these

churches. And so appreciate that so much.

All right. First Samuel chapter four. 14

this morning, swear, we're going to be First Samuel 14.

We're going to read some verses here out of our text here this

morning and then we will ask the Lord's blessing upon the

message. But let's start in first Samuel

1 Samuel 14 · chapter mention

chapter 14 and we will begin in verse 1.

The Bible says, now it came to pass upon a day.

That Jonathan, the son of Saul. Suddenly, the young man that

bear his armor come. Let us go over to the

Philistines Garrison that is on the other side, but he told not

his father and Saul tarried in the uttermost part of gibeah

under a pomegranate tree, which is in my grand and the people

that were with him were about 600 men down in verse 6.

It says in Jonathan said to the young man, that bears armor come

and let us go over under the Garrison of these.

Uncircumcised it may be That the Lord will work for us.

For there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.

And his armor Bearer said unto him.

Do all that is in thine heart, turn thee behold.

I am with the according to thy heart, then said, Jonathan

behold. We will pass over unto these men

and we will discover ourselves unto them if they save us to

unto us. Terry until we come to you, then

we will stand still in our place and will not go up under them.

But if they say thus come up, Unto us.

Then we will go up for the Lord. Hath delivered them into our

hand. And this shall be a sign unto us

and both of them discovered themselves under the Garrison of

the Philistines. And the Philistine said, behold

the Hebrews come forth out of the holes, where they had hid

themselves and the men of the Garrison answer, Jonathan and

his armor Bearer and said come up to us and we will show you a

thing and Jonathan said unto his armor Bearer come up after me

for the Lord hath. Delivered them into the hand of

Israel. And Jonathan climbed up upon his

hands and upon his feet and his armor-bearer after him, and they

fell before Jonathan and his armor-bearer slew after him and

that first Slaughter which Jonathan and his armor Bearer

made was about 20 men within as it were and half acre of land,

which a yoke of oxen might plow and there was trembling in the

host in the field in among all the people The Garrison in the

spoilers, they also trembled and the Earth quaked.

So it was a very great trembling and the Watchman of Saul and

give you of Benjamin. Look Behold the multitude melted

away and they went on beating down one another down in verse

20 it says and Saul and all the people that were with him

assemble themselves and they came to the battle and behold

Every Man's sword was against his fellow and there was a very

great discomfiture, moreover, the Hebrews that were with the

Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the

camp from the country round about even.

They also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul

and Jonathan likewise all the men of Israel which had hid

themselves in Ephraim? When they heard that the

Philistines fled even, they also followed hard after them in the

battle. So the Lord saved Israel that

day and the battle passed over unto Bethel.

Even, let's pray. Father, we love you this

morning. We thank you for your word.

I pray now that as we look into your word this morning that

you'd speak to us, I pray that you bless the reading and the

preaching of your word. We thank you for it.

Thank you that we have it. Thank you that we can read it.

Understand it help us to be diligent students of it.

And Lord, we know that without your word, we would be lost

without hope, but because you gave your word and because you

sent your son to die on the cross for us, and because this

word is the testimony in the record of that.

We're just so thankful that we can have a relationship with

you. I pray here this morning that

you just meet here in the midst of us as, as we have gathered

together around your word and we again, just thank you for it.

We thank you for our savior. I pray that Christ would be

magnified and all that said, and done and exalted.

It in all things and and Lord. Again, we love you.

Thank you for this day in Jesus name.

Amen. Here in 1st Samuel. 14.

We have the account of this battle.

That is fought here between the Israelites and the Philistines.

And as we read through those versus the first thing that kind

of jumps out that I want you to notice is, is there's a lot of

Israelites that are gathered together.

There's a lot of Israelites that ultimately join into the battle

and fight, by the time we get down to the end of that passage.

But initially, it was only Jonathan and his armor Bearer

that had. That had begun things that had

And things up. If you will and the picture that

that I see here is this. You can identify kind of if you

will for different groups, if you will, here in this passage

and though, this is the historical account of the this

battle that the children of Israel fought, I think we can

also see types of Christians or Believers represented here.

You'll notice that as we began the passage we have Saul and the

600 with them and it's It says he tarried in the uttermost part

of gibeah. And if you study that word

tarried often times in the scriptures, that's that seen in

a negative light, tarrying. Basically, it's this that Saul

is there. There's an army of Philistines

arrayed against him. There's a battle to be fought

but yet he's just not. He's just there doing nothing.

The Bible says that he tarries there and the uttermost.

So the first group would be those that are just kind of

there and they're doing nothing and that would Representative of

Saul and those 600 that were with him.

As we read on further, we saw a couple more groups.

It says, in verse 21, the Hebrews that were with the

Philistines that they turned about or they in the country

round about, they turn to be with the Israelites, so some of

the Israelites were off living with the Philistines that would

picture. The second group, the first type

of first group of Christians is a type who are just kind of

there doing nothing. But the second group would be

those that are often the world there with the Philistines.

The Are a picture of the world and you have some Christians

that are often the world doing the things of the world living

like the world but yet they turn to join the battle.

The third group there in verse 22, the Bible tells us that the

men of Israel which had hid themselves, they came out and

began to fight. So the third group would be

those, those that are in hiding and that would picture those

today that are that are for whatever reason, just kind of in

hiding. They're not really doing

anything either. But as opposed to gather to get

gather together, And they're safe little Camp.

So to speak, they're often cave somewhere hiding from the enemy.

The Bible tells us that we have an enemy, we have a spiritual

enemy and that the weapons that we fight with are not carnal but

their spiritual. And so we are.

We engage in spiritual warfare, right?

Ephesians 6, the armor of God and all of that.

We are to fight a spiritual battle.

But of course, when you go into battle, it takes courage.

When you go into a physical battle, how many have served in

the armed forces? Anyone here, several?

I don't know if you saw any kind of battle scenario, but

obviously, you know, that to go into battle takes a great deal

of Courage, the opposite of Courage would I suppose be fear.

And some of these Israelites, they were afraid.

They saw the enemy, but they went and hid.

By the way, the enemy knew they were hitting because hiding

because when Saul and sir not Saul Jonathan and his armor

Bearer went up to confront them. What did the Philistines say?

Oh, they've come out of their dens where they've been in

hiding. So these three groups, if you

will, that probably number somewhere in the several

thousand, you have those that are just kind of sitting around

and doing nothing. You have those that are off

living in the world, those that were with the Philistines and

then you have those that are fearful they don't want to get

involved and they're just hiding but then you have a fourth group

and of course that's represented by Jonathan and his armor

Bearer. This would be the Christian or

the believer that wants to get something done for the Lord.

That basically says, look, there is a battle to fight and so

there is an enemy to engage with.

And so we are going to go and we are going to fight for the Lord,

we are going to do this and and and so they do, and the Lord

gives them that sign. This wasn't an unwise decision.

This wasn't Jonathan just blindly charging ahead, but he

says to his armor Bearer will let them know we're coming and,

and if they say, hold on will come down then.

We know that the Lord's not in it, but if they say, come on up,

if they Invite us on up, we know that the Lord is in this, so as

far as Jonathan is concerned, he's heard from the Lord, he

knows that the Lord is in what they're doing.

And so they're going to go and they're going to get something

done for the Lord and so they do they go and they begin the

battle and 20 men. It says that first Slaughter was

about 20 men. And then, of course, there's

trembling, there's the earthquake and they begin to

turn and fight and all these things.

And what's interesting is the other three groups, they all

eventually get involved. Once Jonathan and his armor

Bearer stirred, some things up those that were with Saul

tarrying in the uttermost, they joined the battle.

Those that were off living with the Philistines.

The Bible says, they turned and join the battle, so they turn

from the Philistines and they joined with Saul and the

Israelites and then those that were in hiding came out and

joined as well. And of course, the Lord then in

verse 23 saved Israel that day in the battle passed over unto

Bethel even and it brings up the question.

What made the difference in the life of Jonathan?

I mean, is there anything in this chapter in this account

that sets Jonathan apart from everybody else on that day?

And what's interesting is if you continue to read, you'll see

that and this really is the heart of the message.

What we're going to look at here.

Next starting in verse 24. The Bible says in the men of

Israel were distressed that day for Saul had a jerk to people

saying cursed, be the man that eateth any food until evening

that I may be Avenged on mine enemies.

So none of the people tasted any food and all they of the land

came to a wood and there was honey upon the ground and when

the people were come into the would behold the honey dropped

but no man put his hand to his mouth for the people, feared the

oath but Jonathan heard not when his father charged, the people

with the Yo, wherefore, he put forth the end of the rod that

was in his hand and dipped it in an honeycomb and put his hand to

his mouth and his eyes were enlightened.

Now, I want you to notice that phrase, his eyes were

enlightened Jonathan, tasted of the honey that came from the

honeycomb and the Bible tells us that his eyes were enlightened

on that day as they were fighting that battle.

Hold your finger here and turn over to Psalm 19.

Psalm 19 and I want you to see this picture.

ER, that the Bible gives us Psalm 19 starting in verse 7.

The Bible says, the law of the Lord is perfect.

Converting the soul. The testimony of the Lord is

sure making wise, the simple. The statutes of the Lord are

right rejoicing, the heart, the Commandment of the Lord is pure

enlightening. The eyes notice that phrase

there, enlightening, the eyes, the fear of the Lord is clean

enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are

true and righteous altogether. More to be desired.

Are they than gold? Yay.

Than much fine, gold sweeter also than notice.

This honey and the honeycomb. So here in Psalm 19, what have

we just read about in these four verses?

The word of God, right? The law of the Lord.

The testimony of the Lord, the statutes of the Lord, the

Commandment of the Lord, the fear of the Lord, the judgments

of the Lord. If you ever go to Psalm 119 and

just read through all hundred and seventy six of those verses

174 of them, make a reference to the word of God and you'll find

those words over and over and over law Commandments statutes,

judgments testimonies. And so, on.

All speaking of the word of God, what is the word of God do?

Well, according to verse 7, first of all, it converts the

soul. That's where it starts, right?

When a person gets saved. And they accept Christ as

Savior. The word of God is that

Incorruptible seed by which we are what born again.

So, the word of God, it converts the soul, but it also, it makes

wise the simple. It rejoices the heart, it

enlightens the eyes, it enlightens the eyes.

It is clean enduring forever, and it's true and righteous

altogether, and then it gives a couple more comparisons more to

be desired, are they? And what is the they in verse

10? Well the statutes the laws, the

judgments, the testimonies the Commandments, the words of God,

more to be desired. Are the words of God than gold

yea than much. Fine.

Gold. What's the Bible telling?

Us these words are more valuable than gold than silver than

money. Also sweeter than honey.

And the honeycomb. The Bible is likened to honey

and honeycomb and sweeter than honey, and the honeycomb.

What did Jonathan do in first Samuel 14?

It says he dipped his rod in the honeycomb and he brought out

some honey. And what happened when he did

that, his eyes were enlightened. His eyes were enlightened.

What happens when we as Believers are in the word of God

on a daily basis? What happens when we dip into

that? That is sweeter than honey in

the honeycomb spiritually. Speaking, our eyes are

enlightened, you know, you have these, these four groups, if you

will, you have those sitting around you have those off in the

world. You have those that are afraid

and they're in hiding and and it's interesting not a single

one of Any of those three groups, tasted any honey that

day because of what Saul had said, because of the oath that

he had made. But Jonathan didn't hear when

Saul made the oath. Why?

Well, maybe, because he's already busy trying to get

something done for the Lord but he didn't hear.

He tasted of the honey, his eyes were enlightened.

In other words, he was strengthened, he was refreshed.

He was renewed when he tasted of that honey and none of the other

ones. Did he says, on in verse 98,

then answered one of the people and said, thy father, straitly,

charged the people with an oath saying cursed.

Be the man that eateth any food this day and the people were

faint. Then said Jonathan my father

hath troubled, the land. See I pray you how mine eyes

have been enlightened because I tasted a little of this honey.

How much more if haply the people had eaten freely today of

the spoil of their enemies which they found for had there.

Not been now a much greater Slaughter.

Among the Philistines. Notice that phrase in verse 30,

how much more, how much more could have been accomplished

today? Basically, from Jonathan's

perspective. He goes into the Woody taste,

the honey as eyes are enlightened now, he's been

renewed, he's got some strength. He's just expelled.

A lot of strength and energy. Starting this battle and

beginning this conflict and so he tastes this honey and renews

a strengthened but yet everybody else none of them had taken any

It says in the end of verse 28, the people were faint.

They were faint because they hadn't tasted of the honey.

And Jonathan, basically here says how much more, how much

more could have been accomplished, if y'all would

have just taken a little honey, if you all would have just had

your eyes, enlightened, by the honey, how much more could be

accomplished? Folks, how much more could we

accomplish as a local church as individual Believers?

If we would just be in this book everyday because the parallel is

very simply this as necessary, as our physical food is for our

physical health and well-being, so much more, our spiritual food

for our spiritual health and well-being.

Job. 23:12 job says, I have esteemed the words of his mouth

Job 23:12

more than my necessary food. Jesus said to the devil, in

Matthew chapter 4, quoting from Deuteronomy chapter 8, man shall

Matthew 4 · chapter mention Deuteronomy 8 · chapter mention

not live by bread alone, but by what every word that proceedeth

out of the mouth of God. So we like to eat some of us

really like to eat. We eat several times a day, we

eat a variety of different things and we do it, because if

we don't, we'll get week, we'll get sickly, we'll lose our

health. But yet, we also take pleasure,

normally usually, I suppose in what we eat, we eat to survive,

but it's also enjoyable. And it's necessary.

How much more? You know, how if you, if you, if

you were to be honest, how many of you would say?

I absolutely despise eating anything at any time.

I mean, I know I have to, I know, I know I have to eat but I

absolutely cannot stand it. I mean, I don't know, maybe

there's somebody out there that would have that mindset but I

think it's fair to say that most of us we enjoy a good meal,

right? And yet, do we approach this

book as if I I don't have time for this.

I mean I'll read this morning I guess because I know I have to,

I know, I know spiritually, it's what I need but know that that

ought not be how we approach. We if we enjoy eating our

physical food because it tastes good.

You know this these words are sweeter than honey in the

honeycomb spiritually speaking. This ought to be as sweet if not

sweeter to us than whatever it is.

You're going to have for lunch today.

This is our spiritual food. It's our spiritual nourishment

and the picture here in 1st Samuel. 14 is it's what set

Jonathan apart? It's what made the difference

for him as opposed to everybody else.

He tasted of that honey, his eyes were enlightened and how

much more could have been accomplished.

How much more could we as individual Believers, or as

local New Testament Church has accomplished for the cause of

Christ. If we would just be in this book

on a daily basis all the time. I'm notice I said, at the end of

verse 28, I read there in the people were faint, you know,

they did even those that were doing nothing, those that were

living in the world, those that were Off hiding.

You could say, well, they got right?

And they joined the battle. But yet, they were faint.

And it says, in verse 31 and they smote the Philistines that

day from michmash to Agile on and the people were very faint.

So we're going to see a progression here.

Also that takes place, they join in with the battle.

Jonathan takes the honey as eyes are enlightened, but nobody else

tastes it. They keep fighting the Bible

says, they were faint. Jonathan makes his statement,

how much more could have been accomplished, but they press on

the Bible says, then that they became very faint.

So there's a downward progression, if you will a

downward trajectory, as far as their, their, their energy

there, Sustenance, if you will. Verse 32, then says this and the

people flew upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves

and slew them on the ground and the people did eat them with the

blood. You see what it ultimately

deteriorated all the way to. They went from faint to very

faint to, basically kill and eat and don't even bother to cook

it. In essence is what happens here.

They took sheep oxen, calves, slew them on the ground and the

people did eat them with the In other words, they didn't even

bother to light a fire. They didn't even bother to cook

anything. They just cut them open and they

dug in and I know that's gross and I know that's disgusting.

But you know what? Sin is gross and disgusting, is

it not? And what happens when we

neglect, what is sweeter than honey in the honeycomb.

What happens when we refuse to go to the word of God, on a

regular basis and have our eyes, enlightened by the word of God,

on a regular basis. What happens to us spiritually?

We get faint, do we not? If we continue on, we get very

faint. And then ultimately, if we're

not careful, we're going to find ourselves in something.

That maybe 24 hours, 48 hours prior to that moment, we would

have thought I would never do that.

I mean, do you ever think of those quote-unquote big sins?

And think to yourself? I could never.

I would never do that. I guarantee you, if you ask

these guys, the night before is there sitting there around Camp

there with Saul and the pomegranate tree if you would

have asked them, do you think tomorrow night by this time that

you'll just you know, grab a sheet Cut it open dig in they

would have said no, absolutely not don't you know, that's

forbidden by the law. I mean it's not just forbidden

by the law. This goes all the way back to

Genesis when Noah and his sons and their wives came off the Ark

in Genesis chapter 9, God says to them, Genesis 9, 3 & 4, Every

Genesis 9 · chapter mention

moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you.

Even as the green herb, have I given you all things, but flesh

with the life thereof which is the blood thereof, shall ye not

eat, they were not to eat the blood.

Of course, that's given in the law in.

Leviticus chapter 17 verses 13 and 14, God gives very detailed

Leviticus 17:13

admonitions asked to not to eat the blood.

They are to pour out the blood Mud and they are not to eat it.

Leviticus chapter 17, 13 and 14. Also, Leviticus 19.

Leviticus 17 · chapter mention

Verse 26. You shall not eat anything with

the blood. You'll even remember the

controversy in Acts chapter 15, when after the death burial and

Acts 15 · chapter mention

resurrection of Christ, some were going around and teaching

that you couldn't be saved unless you were circumcised and

this big controversy came up. And so they sent these questions

to the apostles and, and James presiding there in Jerusalem.

And basically they they wrote back and and, and they told they

only listed a couple of things that that the Believers were to

abstain from, they were too. Staying from fornication, they

were to abstain from things that were strangled and basically

don't eat anything with the blood.

Circumcision the outward Act of circumcision had nothing to do

with whether or not a person could be saved or was saved.

There in that new testament time.

And so the point is this, that this isn't just Jewish law.

This goes before the law with Noah.

This is after the law after the death burial and resurrection of

Christ. And the book of Acts, they were

not to eat with the blood and yet they did.

And again, the picture is this, it's gross, its disgusting.

And yet it's something that they engaged in, why?

Because their eyes weren't enlightened, they were starving,

they were famished, they Were they had no energy left.

They they went and all day day, all day long, and they fought

this battle. And they kept going, and they

kept pushing, and they kept exerting.

And yet, they didn't take any nourishment, and they got faint

and then very faint. And ultimately, they ended up in

Sindh that can happen to us if we're not careful.

If we neglect the word of God, So, that's the picture that

scene here in 1st Samuel 14 and and it's just so interesting

because when you compare that with Psalm 19 and just like in

the honey and the enlightening of the eyes to what happens when

we as Believers are in the word of God, how our eyes are

enlightened. I want you to turn to one more

place as as we close this morning.

Ephesians chapter 1 Ephesians chapter 1.

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

As I as I study the word of God, I like to study words I like to

study phrases and then compare scripture with scripture by

using those words and phrases the way they're used in

scripture. And we certainly see that here

in in these passages that we've looked at in first Samuel and

Psalm 19. But I want you to notice here in

Ephesians chapter 1, of course Paul.

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

He is writing to Believers in the church, right?

So that's that's his that's the Instead, that's the recipient of

this particular epistle was sent to the church at Ephesus.

The church comprised of born-again Believers.

He says, in verse 9, having made known unto us, the mystery of

his will according to his good pleasure, which he hath purposed

in himself that in the dispensation of the fullness of

times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ,

both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in him

in whom also, we have obtained, an inheritance Since being

predestinated, according to the purpose of him, who worketh all

things, after the counsel of his own will that we should be to

the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ.

So, I want you to notice that he's writing to Believers.

He's talking about things that have happened past tense.

He's talking about things that are predestined to happen future

tense. But because they are predestined

to happen. It's as if they've already

happened. In other words, those who first

trusted in Christ are predestined to be conformed, to

the the image of his son. If you're saved, you are

predestined to be glorified. And one day receive a body like

his body. I mean, it's a guarantee.

It's going to happen. Verse 13 goes on says in whom

also ye trusted past tense after that ye heard the word of Truth.

The Bible tells us that Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by

the word of God. The word of God is The

Incorruptible seed by which we are born again that liveth and

abideth forever. So again in whom also, you

trusted past tense after that, ye heard the word of Truth, The

Gospel of your salvation. In whom also after that ye

believed past tense Since you were sealed with that, Holy

Spirit of Promise, past tense there not being sealed, they

don't have to go for some special ceiling of the Holy

Spirit. They've already been sealed.

When were they sealed? When they first trusted Christ?

When they believed, after responding to the gospel, verse

14, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the Redemption

of the purchased possession unto the praise of his glory.

So they are in dwelt by the spirit, they are sealed by the

spirit. It's like a down payment.

If you will upon that, which is Promised The Inheritance, the

Redemption. Speaking of the ultimate

Redemption of not, just the spirit being born again, but the

Redemption of the body, when this corruptible body is changed

into Incorruptible, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye.

So he says all of that and he's writing to Believers and much of

what he speaks of in those verses that we just read our

past tense. These are things that have

happened, they've trusted in Christ, they've been sealed.

They've responded to the gospel. Wherefore, I also verse 15 after

I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and love unto all the

saints. Cease not to give.

Thanks for you making mention of you in my prayers that the god

of our Lord Jesus Christ. The father of Heaven, may give

unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Action in the knowledge of him. So this is what Paul is praying

for that, they might receive the spirit of wisdom and the

knowledge, a revelation in the knowledge of him.

And look at Verse 18, the eyes of your understanding being

enlightened that ye may know what is the hope of his calling

and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the

Saints. What is Paul here, praying?

To happen to these. These people is he praying for

their salvation? No, we've already established.

The fact that they're saved, right?

They first trusted in Christ. They're sealed by the Holy

Spirit, but he's praying. That they will be given by the

Lord, the spirit of wisdom, the Revelation in the knowledge of

him that they may know, the hope of his calling the eyes of their

understanding being enlightened. When you compare that to First,

John 5 verse 13, these things have, I written unto you, You

John 5:13

that believe on the name of the son of God again, is he writing

to unbelievers know, he's writing to Believers that, ye

may know that ye have eternal life and that ye may believe on

the name of the son of God. These things are written for

that purpose and they're written for us as Believers.

Right? Why?

So our eyes would be enlightened.

It's very important that I want you to notice in verse 18, he

doesn't say the eyes of your understanding being opened.

Because their eyes have already been opened.

Their eyes were opened the moment that they trusted in

Christ which had happened before for many of them.

For really all of them that he specifically writing to these

are saved individuals. Their eyes have been opened,

they once were blind. But now they see they were

blinded by the God of this world, but now they've received

sight. They were lost in darkness, but

now they are in his light. Now, they can see their eyes

have been opened, but Paul's request is for something to

happen to them for something, to be, given to them present tense

future tense, kind of an ongoing tense if you will, that they

would be given the spirit of wisdom Revelation in the

knowledge of him. So that the eyes of their

understanding being enlightened kind of an ongoing thing.

The picture is this how many times must our eyes be

spiritually? Open.

One time, one time once your eyes are open spiritually, they

are opened. But how often do we need to have

our eyes, enlightened all the time, right every day.

I've said this before, and I'll probably say it again.

I know it sounds cliche, I grew up in a Christian home, went to

a Christian School. I've heard all my life that were

to read our Bible every day and, you know, we can make it sound

almost like a, you know, like a kid Sunday school song or a

Touche, read your Bible every day.

You know, how often we should read our Bible every day, right?

Read your Bible every day. Be in the word of God.

Why? So, our eyes can be opened.

Well, know if you're here this morning and you're saved your

eyes are open, your eyes have been open to the truth of the

word of God. But we need continual

Enlightenment from the word of God.

We need to have our eyes, enlightened by the word of God,

on a regular basis, why? Well as, as we saw in first

Samuel 14, those that did not have their eyes and light and

they got faint and but they pressed on.

Praise the Lord. Let's keep going.

Keep swinging that sword. Keep fighting that battle.

They got very faint now, can't quit.

Now, come too far to turn back. Just keep pressing.

Keep pressing. Keep pressing all the a sudden

now they're starving. They feel like they're going to

fall over dead. You know.

It's like Esau, you know, give me.

Give me a bowl of soup before I literally died.

Of course, he wasn't going to literally die, but you know,

when you're starving boy you just feel like, huh, do anything

for something to eat, whether you feel like you're starving or

literally starving the response, often times is the same, right?

It's the same thing, spiritually, Spiritually.

We get to the point where we're just starving for the word of

God and we have at that point two choices, run to the word of

God or fall into some sin, right?

And may we choose the word of God.

You know, we're going to end it, just a few moments were going to

pray over those scriptures and the John and Romans are

designed. With with an Evangelistic

purpose in mind. So folks could have that booklet

John and Romans in booklet form so that their eyes can be opened

as they read those verses. And as they go through that

marked Edition and read those highlighted verses, and come to

realize that they're a sinner in need of a savior and that Christ

came and, you know, the the gospel in a nutshell 1st

Corinthians 15. That Paul gives to that church

that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures and

that he was buried and that he rose again.

According to the scriptures. I mean that the death burial and

resurrection of the Lord. Jesus Christ is is the gospel.

The message that we give and those John and Romans are given

for that purpose so that their eyes will be opened.

So that they come to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus

Christ. And that's so important, but

bearing precious seed they also print New Testaments and they

also print whole Why? Because when a person gets saved

though, the word of God is that Incorruptible seed by which

they're born again. The word of God is also by what

we grow. It's also, what cleanses us on a

daily basis, you know, again picture the picture of the

Tabernacle in the wilderness and you walk through that gate and

the first thing you come to is the Altar and the altar is given

very with, very specific dimensions.

But after the altar, you come to the Laver.

And it's interesting, if you study all of the furniture of

the Tabernacle, the Laver is the only thing that it doesn't give

us the size of it. Doesn't tell us how big it is.

What's the picture you first approached the Altar and for us

we go to the altar. Once we go to the Cross.

Once for salvation, how often do we though?

Go for cleansing? As often as we need it as often

as we need it. And that's what the word of God

is for us as Believers. If you're here this morning and

you're not saved your greatest need is for your eyes to be

opened. To trust Christ for salvation to

realize that he came. He died.

He was buried. He rose again, he died for our

sins. He died for my sins.

He died for your sins and through faith in the blood of

Christ faith. In the Lord.

Jesus Christ. All who call upon the name of

the Lord shall be saved. Your eyes can be opened and you

can have salvation. You can settle that today.

But if you're here this morning and you are saved and I would

say that's probably many if not most of us.

If you know Christ as Savior your eyes have been opened but

are they enlightened are your eyes and lightened to the truth

of God's word? Because folks, if we're going to

be the type of Christian that God wants us to be, if we're

going to be the type of Christian, if we're going to be

like the picture of Jonathan saying, you know what, there's a

battle to fight. Let's get something done for the

Lord. Are not going to be able to do

it under our own strength and power.

We have to have what is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb, we

have to have our eyes and light and by the word of God, Amen.

Thank you for listening to the sermon from the pulpit of

Liberty Baptist Church. If this message was a blessing

to you or if there's any way we can serve you, please let us

know by contacting us at info, at my Liberty Baptist dot org,

or you can visit us this Sunday at eight hundred Washington

Street in Eastern. Massachusetts, may the Lord

bless you as you grow in his word.