Eye of the Beholder

Let's open up in prayer. Father God, so thankful for all that you've

done for us in us and what you will do for us in the future.

Lord, bless this message today. If there just be one hungering soul

who's lost and can't see you, may you open up their eyes. May

they come to you. May the angels rejoice when one sinner comes to repentance

and pray these things in Jesus name. Amen, Turn if you will to

chapter nine in the Gospel of John. John nine. Now, this is

the story where Jesus heals a man born blind. Now in the Gospel,

Jesus heals many that were blind. Now, what makes this story different?

What's different about this account of this healing. Yes, it's true, this

is the only account where the man was born blind. But there's a major

difference between the other stories. Something else is going on. There are six

total accounts of Jesus healing blind men in the Bible, two in Matthew two

and Mark one in Luke with the quick reference that he gave sight to many.

And this is the sixth one in John chapter nine. What's the difference

between these Number one? All the other accounts are very short synopsises of the

healing. But this account takes the entire chapter forty one verses the longest account

because after and that's what the difference is. It's the length of this and

what happens after the healing, Because what happens after the healing is insightful because

it's how the people respond to the healing. The neighbors respond to the healing,

the pharisees respond to the healing, his parents respond to the healing,

and he himself responds to the healing. That's what makes this story different.

The title the sermon today is I of the Beholder, I of the Beholder.

See what do each of these groups behold after they see this miracle?

How do each of them respond to this miraculous event? More specifically, how

do they respond to the works of God as displayed in this man? You

see the works of God are displayed in this man. And where will their

eyes see the light of the works of God or will they be blind to

it? It depends on the eye of the beholder, because the works of

God, the healing of this blind man, reveals their hearts. Now,

I promise you, in the next thirty minutes you're going to gain a greater

appreciative appreciation of the finer details of this story. And I want you to

take away several insights that will illuminate and strengthen your faith, because God wants

to do essentially the same thing that he did to this blind man. And

that's what we're going to talk about today. Now, before we can discover

the first insight, we need to set the stage. Let's read John nine

one to three. As he passed by, he saw blind a man blind

from birth, and his disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned this man

or his parents that he would be born blind? Jesus answered, it was

neither that this man sinned nor his parents, but it was that so the

works of God might be displayed in him. Now, did disciples have a

somewhat narrow view of why this man is blind? Did he sin or his

parents sin? I mean, this is something the Jews believed. If you

do something bad, bad things are going to happen to you. Now,

in the parents' case, there was a possibility. There has a scriptural basis

for that the iniquity of the fathers will be visiting on the children under the

third and fourth generations, those are consequences of sin. But being born blind,

you mean you could sin before you were born. I mean, that's

a very nuanced theology, but that's what they believed. But Jesus does not

attribute a cause to the blindness. Now, the blind man, as we

know if you've ever met and talked with him, they have very attuned ears.

They have to listen very carefully. They can have sensitivity to distinguish between

voices, distances, different speakers, very keen ears. And I know I

believe at this account that he heard the words of Jesus and his disciples.

Now, for the disciples, their words were maybe a bit discouraging, all

right. He's not highly looked upon. I mean, what did you did

you do this to your suffering? Did your parents do this to you?

Blind man? He begs for a living, not highly respected. He has

to beg to survive. I mean, the disciples are not trying to injure

this man verbally, but he probably feels a little bit more guilt and shame.

But Jesus, on the other hand, has what I consider somewhat encouraging

words. I'm sure his voice is confident, reassuring, appealing with purpose.

The man hears this very clearly that the works of God might be displayed in

him. What could that mean? It certainly sounds hopeful. Might Jesus heal

me? You see, the blind man hears more words from Jesus. Pick

it up in verse four. We must work the works of him who sent

me as long as it is day. Night is coming when no one can

work. While I am in the world. I am the light of the

world, light of the world. He hears that, I suspect this man

is saying. Never has a man spoken the way this man speaks. Jesus

certainly has his attention. Pick up in verse six. When he had said

this, he spat on the ground and made clay of spittle, and applied

the clay to his eyes, and said to him go wash in the pool

of siloam, which is translated scent. So he went away and washed and

came back seeing Now I think about the details of this story. Think about

how Jesus applies this clay to his eyes. I mean, eyes are the

most one of the most sensitive organs of the body. I mean one must

be delicate when you touch the eyes. Now the man doesn't even know that

Jesus is about to reach and touch his eyes. So he doesn't flinch or

anything. But Jesus he allows the man. He allows Jesus to put the

clay on his eyes. Now how Jesus did this exis exactly I don't know,

but I'm certain that the man felt Jesus's hands, and his hands would

have been rugged and rough. Why do I say that? What was the

occupation of Jesus? He was a carpenter, right, Yeah, he had

been working with wood, probably since he was a boy. He was cutting

and shaping and hammering and smoothing wood for his entire life. And these hands

gently touch the man's eyes. Now, how does the man respond to Jesus?

Now, the text doesn't say he said anything. He simply obeys the

command of Jesus. Go and wash. He doesn't question why he obeys.

He listens and obeys, and what has happened He comes back seeing. Now

did you ever think about this? That's actually a double miracle, because if

you're born without sight, you know nothing of what anything looks like. Your

whole world is touching and feeling primarily, and hearing, yes, taste and

smell, But those are your primary Because if you're blind from birth and you

suddenly gain your sight, you would have sensory overload. You would be overwhelmed

with visual images that you would not be able to process immediately. I mean,

this man was not equipped to properly interpret visual information. He would be

confused, he would have problems with depth perception, and he would have probably

a strong emotional response that could have been excitement, fear, and confusion all

at the same time. He would need time to adjust to his new world.

That's why this is a double miracle. Because God rewired his brain.

God made all the necessary adjustments for hurt him to immediately have sight. You

see, it shouldn't really surprise us. The Creator knew exactly how to open

his eyes and rewire his brain without any incident, and he started to experience

the world like any of us would experience it. I mean, this man

is essentially reborn. I mean that's why the same thing would be said to

Nicodemus when you would hear the words from Jesus that one must be born again

to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Now, Christ, Jesus is displaying this

work of God in him, and this man is a walking, living testimony

of that work. And this leads us to insight number one, because the

man's healing is relevant to us today. God wants to display his works in

you. God wants to display his works in you. See, he wants

to open up our spiritual eyes so that we can recognize that we're and in

need of a savior. We cannot know this unless God opens our eyes.

He wants to transform us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his

light, because Jesus is the light of the world, and he wants to

flood our minds with the light of his nature, his character, his love,

his mercy, his grace John one four to five. In him was

life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in

the darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not John one nine. There was

the true light, which coming into the world enlightens every man. You see,

spiritual darkness envelops every soul, men, women, youth, old,

rich, poor, free, slave, intellectual or simple minded. It matters

not what your status is. The whole world has a blind eye to the

truth. That's why the light of Christ is needed evermore today, and the

world is getting darker and darker. John A twelve says this then Jesus again

spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world. He

who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of

life. God wants to impart the light to us of the saving knowledge of

Jesus Christ. See, God wants to display his works in you by opening

your eyes. He wants to touch your eyes with his hands. Figuratively,

he wants to touch your eyes with his hands that we know were stretched out

on a cross and also have nail prints in them. These are the hands

that can touch you if you If you'll allow him into your heart, he

wants to illumine your mind with hope and love and grace, because light that

comes from Christ Christ Colossians two three will say, in whom are hidden all

the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, All wisdom and knowledge come from Christ.

Christ is the source of abundant supply of wisdom and knowledge. The wisdom of

this world is darkness compared to the light of the world. If you will

allow him into your heart, he can display the works of God in you.

Now, do you know what the specifically the works of God in you

is? What does that look like in your life? Colossians one twenty seven.

Christ in you the hope of glory. Christ in you, the hope

of glory is the manifestation of the works of God in you, because Christ

wants to live and move and work in your life to display his light and

his works, and his love and his mercy and his grace and loving kindness

to the world, so that you can be a life to the world.

One Peter two nine says this, But you are a chosen race, a

royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, so

that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness

into his marvelous light. You know the world is fast coming to an end.

As we study the prophecies, we move closer and closer and closer to

the second coming of Jesus Christ. And the world needs the light of Christ

more than ever, and they can have it if it's in you. Notice

what John says at the end of his Gospel in John twenty Verses thirty and

thirty one. Therefore, many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of

his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these have been

written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of

God, and that by believing you may have life life in his name.

In Sight number one, God wants to display his works in you. Now,

let's go back to the man who now has his physical sight. Now

later we're going to see that he's going to gain spiritual sight. But for

now, let's see how his own countrymen respond to the works of God.

In his life, he's a living, walking, and seeing testimony. What

will their eyes behold? Title today's sermon I of the Beholder. Pick it

up in verse eight. Therefore, the neighbors and those who previously saw him

as a beggar were saying, is not this the one who used to sit

and beg? Others were saying this is he still? Others are saying,

no, but it is like him. He kept saying, I am the

one. They were saying to him, how then were your eyes opened?

He answered, the man who has called Jesus made clay anointed my eyes and

said to me go to the siloam and wash. So I went away and

washed, and I received sight. They said to him, where is he?

He said, I don't know. Hold on to that piece of information,

Where is he? I don't know. Hold on to that. We're

going to come back to that. Notice he gets a mystery mixed reaction from

his neighbors, some saying this is he, others saying no, it just

looks like him, almost an indifference to the miracle. But certainly the man

had a changed countenance, right, I mean, if your eyes had been

opened by Jesus, they would have been alert, he would have had a

bright face. Yes, his countenance would have been changed. He would have

given a new lease on life. So certainly there would have been a facial

difference. But some didn't recognize it. But he kept saying, I am

the one. Now he's doing his best to testify to God's work in his

life. But some don't seem to want to recognize this reality. Let's examine

how the Pharisees respond to this particular work of God in this man's life.

Pick it up in verse thirteen. They brought to the Pharisees the man who

was formally blind. Now it was a Sabbath on the day which Jesus made

the clay and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also were asking him again

how he received his sight, and he said to them, he applied clay

to my eyes, and I washed and I see. Therefore, some of

the Pharisees were saying, this man is not from God because he does not

keep the Sabbath. But others were saying, how can a man who is

a sinner perform such signs? And there was division among them. So they

said to the blind man again, what do you say about him? Since

he opened your eyes? And he said, he is a prophet. Hold

on to that piece of information. He is a prophet. Now the Pharisees

also have a mixed reaction. They're confronted with the contradiction in what Jesus does

because he does it on a Sabbath. You know, Jesus does this miracle

on a Sabbath. He could have done it on any other day, but

he shows the sabbath. You see, the sabbath was a barrier for them.

That was a barrier for them to see the light. Did you notice

that sin comes into the conversation with these Pharisees. The last time we heard

about sin was with the disciples. Did this man sin or was it his

parents? Now that now the Pharisees are saying Jesus, this is the one

that's the sinner. Jesus is the one that's the sinner. He doesn't keep

the Sabbath. But again they're divided. Some say, how can this man

do these signs on the Sabbath? How can he perform these signs? You

see some of the Pharisees don't want to see this light, even though they

know better. They know better. How do we know that? Go back

to Jesus and Nicodemus in John three, John three one and two. Now

there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi,

we know that you have come from God as a teacher. For no one

can do these signs that you do unless God is with him. These Pharisees

know Nicodemus knows he comes to him by night. He doesn't want to be

seen talking with Jesus in the nighttime. No one will see me talking with

Jesus. But I'm going to talk to him because I know he's from God.

How do you do this? Know? The Jews. The Pharisees knew

that Jesus was from God. They rejected it. So what did the Pharisees

do. Let's bring in the parents. Let's see how the parents react to

this light. How do the parents react to the works of God? What

will their eyes behold? Pick it up, and I'm not going to read

all this, but pick it up. In verse twenty his parents answered and

said, we know that this is our son, and that he was born

blind. But how he now sees we do not know. Or who opened

his eyes we do not know. Ask him he is of age, he

will speak for himself. Look at verse twenty two. We get to answer

why they said this. His parents said this because they were afraid of the

Jews, for the Jews had already agreed to that if anyone confessed him Jesus

to be the Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.

You see that parents knew better too. Their eyes beheld the works of God,

but they did not confess it the works of God. The light of

these works were clear to them, yet they feared what the Pharisees would do

to them. They valued the approval of men and the status of men over

the truth to what happened to their son. Let's examine the last interaction of

this man with the Pharisees before we discover insight number two. Pick it up

in verse twenty four. So a second time they called the man who had

been blind and said to him, give glory to God. We know that

this man is a sinner. He then answered, whether he is a sinner,

I do not know. One thing. I do know that though I

was blind. Now I see hold on to that thought. Whether he's a

sinner, I do not know. But one thing I do know, I

was blind. Now I see now they're pushing back and forth on him.

Pick it up in verse thirty The man answered and said to them, well,

here is an amazing thing that you do not know where he is from.

And yet he opened my eyes verse thirty two. Since the beginning of

time, it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person

born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.

You know, I read that passage and I just look at this.

This last interaction is a very strong rebuke to the Pharisees. They're checkmated my

words in logic. An uneducated beggar silences them. They have demonstrated that their

eyes are close shut. They cannot see or comprehend the light of God's work

in this man's life. They behold nothing but darkness. And what do they

do? They put him out. You see, all they can do is

revile him. They attack him personally because they can't stand his testimony. Insight

number two. God gives you the strength to faithfully witness His works in you

despite opposition. God faithfully gives you the strength. Gives you the strength to

faithfully witness His works in you despite the opposition. The man was a faithful

witness to his neighbors. I am he, I am he. The man

was a faithful witness to the Pharisees, just as we just learned about.

And he was even a faithful witness to his parents. Notice back in verse

twelve, his neighbors ask him a question, where is he? Then,

where's Jesus? He says, I don't know. In verse seventeen he says,

what do you say about him? He's a prophet, And in verse

twenty five he says, whether he Jesus is a sinner? I don't know.

One thing. I do know. I was blind. Now I see

you see, you do not need to have all the answers. You do

not need to be a theologian. You do not need to know Greek or

Hebrew. You you don't need to feel inadequate. If you're standing in the

presence of an intellectual, you witness to what you know. Just be faithful

to what you know. God will give you the strength to remain steadfast.

Just like this man. He was convicted, he knew what happened in his

life. He was blind, and now he sees. I've told many of

you, you know, we run a public ministry, Angels in the Glen.

I'm trying to be My wife and I are trying to be a faithful

witness to what we know. God has given us new light. Do you

think we receive opposition? Oh? Yeah, If I could show you some

of the emails we get, in fact this morning, very very negative email,

very rude. People are very rude. But I know what I know.

Does it hurt a little bit? Sure? My wife says, don't

worry about it, just let it go, delete those comments, and I

do. And I've learned. I've got thick skin. Now, I've got

thick skin. I know what the Bible says. So don't feel guilty if

you don't have all the answers. Don't be discouraged because someone doesn't want to

hear your testimony. Just remain faithful. God is using you as a light

and as a testimony. Leave the outcome and the results to God. God

wants to display his works in you. God gives you the strength to faithfully

witness His works in you despite the opposition. Let's move to our last insight.

Pick it up in verse thirty five. Jesus heard that the man that

they had put him out, and finding him, he said, do you

believe in the son of Man? He answered, who is he? Lord?

That I may believe in him? Jesus said to him, you have

both seen him, and he is the one who is talking with you.

And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him. And

Jesus said, for judgment, I came into this world so that those who

do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.

You see, now the man has gained spiritual insight. He now knows who

this man is. It's Jesus Christ. He's the savior of the world,

the son of Man, the son of God, same thing deity of Christ.

Jesus gave him his physical sight, but he also grants him spiritual sight

to acknowledge him as the Christ, the Messiah, and Jesus knew that physical

sight was simply the first step that would enable him to walk in the light

of the physical sun, never seen the sun before, and this would lead

to him gaining spiritual eyes to walk in the light of the one who created

the sun. This leads us to insight number three. God wants to continue

to impart new light into your life. God wants to continue to impart new

light into your life. He wants to enlighten our minds with new truth.

Ever, calling us upward and onward. You know, I was curious.

I did a word count how many times the number eyes appear in this passage

of John nine. You know how many times it appears ten times? Ten

times? Isn't ten interesting? What does that remind us of ten commandments?

Yeah? Now, notice how the Bible uses the word's eyes figuratively for mental

and spiritual perception. Look at Psalms one nineteen eighteen. Open my eyes that

I may behold wonderful things from your law. See, we cannot behold deep

things of God without spiritual insights. There are wonders and beauties to behold.

I mean, think about this, most of us, all of us,

at least that I know of in this room. All of us have our

sight. And when we look and behold things in nature, we can say,

wow, look at that beautiful sunrise, are a beautiful sunset? Or

in the fall, we say, look at the kaleidoscope of colors across the

landscape. Or we see a majestic mountain with snow capped hills. Even the

night sky with the moon and the stars. Those are wonders in our eyes,

our physical eyes. It's no different in the spiritual realm. But we

cannot see spiritual things with our physical eyes. That is, the natural man

cannot perceive spiritual things one Corinthians two fourteen. But a natural man does not

accept the things of the Spirit of God for their foolnessness to him, and

he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised. You see, the Holy

Spirit is the agent that enables us to spiritually appraise things, to have spiritual

insights, to perceive spiritual matters. Now we're not going to go there,

but in Psalms nineteen, the sun is described as rising from one end of

the heavens the sky to the other end of the sky, and nothing can

hide from its heat. The sun now in the sun. In this psalm,

the sun figuratively represents the Law of God. Psalms nineteen, verse eight.

The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The commandment

of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes. See, just as the Sun

is ablaze in the day, ever shining from its magnificent and shining forth its

magnificent rays of light, so that we can walk clearly and see clearly the

things around us. So too, the commandments of the Lord will light our

path to behold wonderful truths. So when you read about the sun in the

prophecies, you know it's talking about the Word of God, the Law of

God, the Gospel of God. It's all connected. Can't go into a

full blown study. Just look at Revelation eight, verse twelve. Revelation eight,

verse twelve, the fourth Angel sounded, and a third of the sun

and a third of the moon, and a third of the stars were struck,

so that a third of them would be darkened, and the day would

not shine for a third of it, and the night in the same way

in this verse right here, neither the sun, the moon, or the

stars are operating at their full strength. They're partially obscured to prevent the full

light of God's word in God's Law from penetrating people's hearts and minds from reaching

the world. Satan did this because he does not want the world to behold

the light of the Sun of God. Tewod Corinthians four, verse three.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are

perishing, in whose case the God of this world has blinded the minds of

the unbelieving, so that they might not see the light of the Gospel of

the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. You see,

the Gospel is veiled not because it lacks clarity, but because of the attitude

of the mind and the hearts of the individual. It all depends upon the

eye of the beholder, and Satan has blinded the minds of the unbelieving,

and he's doing everything he can to prevent that light from penetrating and reaching their

eyes. I ask you this question, how important then is our work?

Because the Great Shepherd of our souls will continually guide us to new and ever

increasing light. And it's not just for knowledge alone, but that our lights

would ever shine brighter and brighter in this dark world, because as the world

around us gets darker and darker, God is looking for a people who will

witness and testify to his light. And we should never think that we're sufficient

in our knowledge of God and his ways. There is an infinite store of

wisdom and light for us to grow and walk in. Let's go back to

verse thirty nine, go back to verse thirty nine. Let's read it one

more time of John nine. Of John nine, verse thirty nine, and

Jesus said, for judgment. I came into this world so that those who

do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind see.

Jesus doesn't judge. Jesus doesn't judge men, but men judge themselves.

When the light shines on their hearts, their eyes will either accept or reject

the light of God. The light reveals men's hearts. This was even previously

predicted at Christ's birth. Pick it up in Luke verse chapter two, verse

thirty four, and Simeon blessed them and said to marry his mother. Behold,

this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

and for a sign to be opposed, and a sword will pierce even your

own soul. Here it is to the end that thoughts from many hearts may

be revealed, many hearts may be revealed. Hearts are revealed by and through

the light of Christ and his works and words on this earth. Acceptance or

rejection all depends upon the eye of the beholder. So insight number one,

God wants to display his works in you. He wants his light to shine

in your life as a witness to the world. Insight number two, God

gives you the strength to faithfully witness his works in you despite the opposition.

In Insight number three, God wants to continually impart new light into your life.

And our Church needs our eyes to be open at this time in earth

history and to remain open as we approach these final days. I'd like to

bring this to a close. Think about this, the neighbors, the Pharisees,

the parents. If we want our eyes to continually be open to receive

more light, could we be like the neighbors, indifferent new light is shining

on you, that's not really very important. Or the Pharisees, they might

have a prejudice or a bias, a tradition that they hold on to and

that light, and you're holding onto that and that may be preventing new light

from coming into your life. Or how about the parents. New light's given

to them, but they fear what man may say and think and do to

them. Revelation three describes a church at the very end of time and the

need for healing in their eyes. They have a prophetic message and God has

given them great light, but they've become blind. They've lost their way,

and the blind cannot lead the blind. Take a look at Revelation three.

I'll read verse sixteen. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor

cold, I will spit you out of my mouth, because you say I

am rich and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing, and you

do not know, you do not know that you are wretched and miserable,

and poor, and blind and naked. Says I advise you to buy from

me gold refined by fire, so that you may become rich, and white

garments so that you may close yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness

will not be revealed. Here it is for the eyes, and I salve

to anoint your eyes so that you may see those whom I love. I

reprove and discipline. Therefore be sell us and repent. This is a church

at the very end of time. Now. I don't know about you,

but I don't want to be wretched, poor, blind, naked, and

I certainly don't want to be labeled to lay a deesea in. We're called

to be a great and faithful witness to this great light that we've been given

us. And our church has been given great light, great light that I'm

so grateful that this church shine their light on me, or the light of

Christ on me. Otherwise I wouldn't be standing here today. It's a prophetic

movement. God is calling many out of Babylon. He's preparing a people for

his soon return. The world's coming to a rapid close, a rapid close.

The events today. I don't even need to talk about the events today.

You already know them. It's advancing very rapidly. Time is running out.

I want to go back to one more verse, go back to John

nine, verse four. Notice what Jesus says, We must work the works

of him who sent me as long as it is day, night is coming

when no man can work. You see, that's an imperative and an urgency

to do the works of God, because very soon we'll not be able to

work. That's why I so appreciate the ministry of the personal ministry taking the

great controversy, sharing the knowledge of how close we are to the end time,

sharing the knowledge of Christ and what He's done for us. The world

needs this. The close of history is at hand. You know, Noah

worked, He was a preacher of righteousness. He prepared an arc. There

was a fixed amount of time for the antidiluvian world. Because once that door

was shut, that was it. No more opportunities to witness. And Noah

was a faithful preacher of righteousness. And then the floods came. Once that

door was shut, Noah couldn't work anymore. It was all over. He

had exhausted everything he could do for the antidiluvian world. But once God shut

that door, that was it. We have to seize the opportunity now while

we can work, while we can allow God's light to shine in us and

reach to others. Now I'd like to now the same will be repeated.

Once that door is shut. The flood came seven days later, but the

door was shut. Now the same will be repeated, not by flood,

but by fire. I want to read you and close out with this quote

from my favorite theologian. It's from Marnatha. The Lord is Coming, page

thirty seven. Now she's directing her comments at the youth, but I think

it's really relevant to all of us here. It is the youth should seek

God more earnestly. The tempest is coming, and we must get ready for

its fury by having repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Lord will arise to shake terribly the earth. We shall see troubles

on all sides. Thousands of ships will be hurled into the depths of the

sea. Navies will go down, and human lives will be sacrificed by millions.

Fires will break out unexpectedly, and no human effort will be able to

quench them. The palaces of the earth will be swept away in the fury

of the flames. Disasters by rail will become more and more frequent. Confusion,

collision, and death without without a moment's warning will occur on the great

lines of travel. The end is near. Probation is closing. Oh,

let us seek God while he may be found. Call upon him while he

is near. The prophet says, seek ye the Lord, and all ye

meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment. Seek righteousness, Seek

meekness. It may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's

anger. May we all work while we have opportunity. God wants to do

a work in you. He'll give you the strength to faithfully witness to others

despite the opposition, and he wants to continue to impart new light because He's

coming soon. Amen's close and prayer, Father God, you know our condition.

You know our condition. You know if our eyes are open or shut.

Lord, I pray right now if anyone hasn't accepted you as their Lord

and Savior, that you would open up their eyes right now. I would

also pray for those who have accepted Christ, and maybe they need to be

baptized. In fact, while all heads are bowed and eyes are closed,

if I could just see a hand slip up. If you need Christ in

your life, you want to commit to him, you want to make a

public confession that you need to be baptized, go ahead and slip up that

hand. Maybe you need a recommitment, maybe your eyes have dimmed. I'll

be here afterwards. You want to come and talk to me, the elders

to be refreshed, to to pray with you so that you can make a

full commitment because God wants to do a work in your life. Lord,

I pray that you would do a work in this church, that we would

continue to shine the light the great work that you've begun in us, that

we would complete it. That would be faithful. Many are so hurting and

they don't know it. Help us that you would open up their eyes through

our witness, through our testimony, through our faithful through our steadfastness, that

they would not see us, but they would see you, your love,

your mercy, and your grace. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen,