Eyes to see and Ears to hear ...

[Jesua888]

On many "Christian Forums" it is clear that the teachings of Jesus Christ are long forgotten.
Many have become like any other social media platform, where egos abide and God takes second place.
Could this be a reason why so many "Christians" like to "debate" and will not stop until they have the final say?
Are they even listening? Do they respect their brothers and sisters in Christ, or do they just want be be right all the time?

The Bible teaches that physical sight and hearing are gifts from God, but spiritual perception requires divine intervention to recognize truth.

Proverbs 20:12 states that "the hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both," acknowledging these faculties as Creator-given gifts. However, spiritual blindness is often the result of a calloused heart, as described in Matthew 13:15, where Jesus quotes Isaiah to explain that people’s hearts have grown dull, preventing them from seeing, hearing, and understanding.

To overcome spiritual blindness, believers are encouraged to pray for God to open their understanding. Psalm 119:18 provides the primary model for this: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your law." In the New Testament, Jesus contrasts the spiritually blind masses with His disciples in Matthew 13:16-17, declaring, "Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear," because God had revealed the mysteries of the kingdom to them.

True spiritual insight involves humility and reliance on God rather than human wisdom. According to Deuteronomy 29:4, God has not always given a heart to understand or eyes to see, indicating that spiritual perception is a sovereign act of God. In the Christian tradition, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 explains that God illuminates the hearts of believers to see the light of the knowledge of His glory, often working through the ministry of others to open eyes that were previously closed to the truth.

The Human Condition: Unable to See Without God
The Bible consistently teaches that natural human faculties are insufficient for spiritual truth. Ezekiel 12:2 describes people who have "eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear," highlighting a wilful or divinely permitted stubbornness. This condition is not merely physical but spiritual; Romans 8:7-8 explains that the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God and cannot submit to His law, implying an inherent inability rather than just unwillingness.

God’s Sovereign Action: Giving New Hearts and Eyes
Scripture presents the solution as a unilateral act of God where He replaces the human heart and opens spiritual eyes.

The Promise of a New Heart
The most direct address to the condition in Deuteronomy 29:4 is found in Ezekiel 36:26-27, where God promises: "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." This passage clarifies that the "heart to understand" missing in Deuteronomy is something God must create and implant, enabling obedience that was previously impossible.

The Removal of the Veil
In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 explains that a "veil" lies over the hearts of those who read the Old Covenant, preventing understanding. However, "whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." This mirrors the transition from the blindness of Deuteronomy 29:4 to the sight granted by God’s grace. Similarly, 2 Corinthians 4:6 states that "God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," emphasizing that illumination is a creative act of God comparable to the original creation.

Jesus’ Ministry of Opening Eyes
Jesus’ earthly ministry physically and spiritually enacted this sovereign opening. In Luke 24:31, the disciples’ eyes were "opened" to recognize the resurrected Christ, an act initiated by Jesus rather than their own deduction. Furthermore, in Acts 26:18, Jesus describes His mission as sending Paul "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God." This confirms that turning to God is the result of eyes being opened, not the cause.

The Interplay of Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty
While spiritual sight is a gift, the Bible also records instances where individuals are commanded to open their eyes, suggesting a tension between divine sovereignty and human response. Proverbs 20:13 exhorts, "Open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread," and Matthew 13:16 blesses those whose eyes see. These commands do not negate the need for God’s gift but rather serve as the means through which God often works; the prayer of Psalm 119:18 ("Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your law") models the proper human response: asking God to do what only He can do.

 

[Twistie]

If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?"

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them."

When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."

Its easy to turn a blind eye to the evils that is happening before our eyes especially if one has the means to by the standards of the world..

Seems people comforts and feelings are above the Worshipping of the True Living God..

Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the

Now go, write it before them on a tablet and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever,

that this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord,

who say to the seers, “See not,” and to the prophets, “Prophesy not unto us right things; speak unto us smooth things; prophesy deceits.

Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.”

Therefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel: “Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stand thereon,

therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

ᕙ⁠[⁠･⁠۝･⁠]⁠ᕗ

 

[Twistie]

 

[Gothedral]

On many "Christian Forums" ...

um this IS a Christian forum website... for everyone of any level.

...the prayer of Psalm 119:18 ("Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your law") models the proper human response: asking God to do what only He can do.

Yeah, like Saint James 1:5-6.
ruok tho

 

[Twistie]

Passive-Aggression: Expressing negative feelings indirectly rather than openly addressing them, which can include talking around you while you are in the room.

Could be looked at like a form of slander..

When ones actions dont match the words they loose meaning..

 

[Br. Bear]

When ones actions dont match the words they loose meaning..

Fruit?


Bless you ....><>

 

[Br. Bear]

Greetings @Jesua888 ,

On many "Christian Forums" it is clear that the teachings of Jesus Christ are long forgotten.
Many have become like any other social media platform, where egos abide and God takes second place.
Could this be a reason why so many "Christians" like to "debate" and will not stop until they have the final say?
Are they even listening? Do they respect their brothers and sisters in Christ, or do they just want be be right all the time?

The Bible teaches that physical sight and hearing are gifts from God, but spiritual perception requires divine intervention to recognize truth.

Proverbs 20:12 states that "the hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both," acknowledging these faculties as Creator-given gifts. However, spiritual blindness is often the result of a calloused heart, as described in Matthew 13:15, where Jesus quotes Isaiah to explain that people’s hearts have grown dull, preventing them from seeing, hearing, and understanding.

To overcome spiritual blindness, believers are encouraged to pray for God to open their understanding. Psalm 119:18 provides the primary model for this: "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your law." In the New Testament, Jesus contrasts the spiritually blind masses with His disciples in Matthew 13:16-17, declaring, "Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear," because God had revealed the mysteries of the kingdom to them.

True spiritual insight involves humility and reliance on God rather than human wisdom. According to Deuteronomy 29:4, God has not always given a heart to understand or eyes to see, indicating that spiritual perception is a sovereign act of God. In the Christian tradition, 2 Corinthians 4:4-6 explains that God illuminates the hearts of believers to see the light of the knowledge of His glory, often working through the ministry of others to open eyes that were previously closed to the truth.

The Human Condition: Unable to See Without God
The Bible consistently teaches that natural human faculties are insufficient for spiritual truth. Ezekiel 12:2 describes people who have "eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear," highlighting a wilful or divinely permitted stubbornness. This condition is not merely physical but spiritual; Romans 8:7-8 explains that the mind set on the flesh is hostile to God and cannot submit to His law, implying an inherent inability rather than just unwillingness.

God’s Sovereign Action: Giving New Hearts and Eyes
Scripture presents the solution as a unilateral act of God where He replaces the human heart and opens spiritual eyes.

The Promise of a New Heart
The most direct address to the condition in Deuteronomy 29:4 is found in Ezekiel 36:26-27, where God promises: "I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." This passage clarifies that the "heart to understand" missing in Deuteronomy is something God must create and implant, enabling obedience that was previously impossible.

The Removal of the Veil
In the New Testament, 2 Corinthians 3:14-16 explains that a "veil" lies over the hearts of those who read the Old Covenant, preventing understanding. However, "whenever one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." This mirrors the transition from the blindness of Deuteronomy 29:4 to the sight granted by God’s grace. Similarly, 2 Corinthians 4:6 states that "God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ," emphasizing that illumination is a creative act of God comparable to the original creation.

Jesus’ Ministry of Opening Eyes
Jesus’ earthly ministry physically and spiritually enacted this sovereign opening. In Luke 24:31, the disciples’ eyes were "opened" to recognize the resurrected Christ, an act initiated by Jesus rather than their own deduction. Furthermore, in Acts 26:18, Jesus describes His mission as sending Paul "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God." This confirms that turning to God is the result of eyes being opened, not the cause.

The Interplay of Human Responsibility and Divine Sovereignty
While spiritual sight is a gift, the Bible also records instances where individuals are commanded to open their eyes, suggesting a tension between divine sovereignty and human response. Proverbs 20:13 exhorts, "Open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread," and Matthew 13:16 blesses those whose eyes see. These commands do not negate the need for God’s gift but rather serve as the means through which God often works; the prayer of Psalm 119:18 ("Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from Your law") models the proper human response: asking God to do what only He can do.

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Matthew 16:15-17

Bless you ....><>

 

[Twistie]

Fruit?


Bless you ....><>

Ya Lord said to me we start planting seeds from the time we awake from our slumber..
I ponder that n it became disturbing and sad to me with all the wickedness thats going on..
Seems rotten fruit is producing way more then the good in this evil ran world these days..

Hope alls well!

◉⁠‿⁠◉

 

[bdavidc]

I love listening to Dr. Voddie Baucham. It greatly saddened me when he passed away.

 

[Gerbolski]

I think ultimately one needs to always go back to the foundation.

Of course the word of God is the foundation, and how many are truly seeking and working out to become of the same same mind, same judgment and same sentiment ?

And when I say these things, I mean it in the sense of what the bible says about these things, to being conformed to his image, to his word.

1Co 1:10
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

And is it always easy to get there, no !!! But it is the direction God is pointing the church to go towards.

Also the bible says this:

1Jn 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

That is the basis for fellowship, that is walking in the light.

How many are truly walking in the light ?

How many are truly sensitive to the Holy Spirit ?

God knows, and let us examine our hearts at times, to see if so and so, lines up with God's word.

 

[bdavidc]

I think ultimately one needs to always go back to the foundation.

Of course the word of God is the foundation, and how many are truly seeking and working out to become of the same same mind, same judgment and same sentiment ?

And when I say these things, I mean it in the sense of what the bible says about these things, to being conformed to his image, to his word.

1Co 1:10
10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

And is it always easy to get there, no !!! But it is the direction God is pointing the church to go towards.

Also the bible says this:

1Jn 1:7
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

That is the basis for fellowship, that is walking in the light.

How many are truly walking in the light ?

How many are truly sensitive to the Holy Spirit ?

God knows, and let us examine our hearts at times, to see if so and so, lines up with God's word.

I agree that we have to keep coming back to the foundation, and that foundation is the Word of God. But being “of the same mind” does not mean everybody nods their head just to keep the peace. Biblical unity is not everybody agreeing with everybody. It is everybody submitting to what God has said.

You can have ten people walking together, but if all ten are walking in the wrong direction, agreement has not made them right. That is why Scripture says, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). The Bereans were called noble because they “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11). They did not accept something simply because a religious man said it. They opened the Bible and checked it.

That is also why disagreement is not always the enemy. Sometimes truth has to disturb the peace before error can be exposed. Paul confronted Peter when Peter was “to be blamed” (Galatians 2:11). Jude told believers to “earnestly contend for the faith” (Jude 3). There comes a point when keeping quiet is not humility. It is leaving error unchallenged.

And when someone says the Holy Spirit is leading them, that claim still has to come under the authority of Scripture. The Holy Spirit inspired the Word of God. He is never going to lead someone contrary to what He has already revealed. “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

So whether it is something I believe, something another Christian teaches, or something I think God is showing me, I want it brought into the light of Scripture. If the Bible corrects me, then I need correcting. If it corrects someone else, they need correcting. The question is never who gets the last word. The question is whether God’s Word gets the final word.

 

[Twistie]

I love listening to Dr. Voddie Baucham. It greatly saddened me when he passed away.

Ya i so miss new sermons coming out..He was such a beautiful spirit...

◉⁠‿⁠◉

 

[Gerbolski]

Sometimes truth has to disturb the peace before error can be exposed.

Oh of course it is not agreeing for the sake of agreeing, and what you say here is truthful, that is why I said that "and is it always easy to get there, no !!!"

We have to read things carefully, and yes God wants us all to come to agreement to what the word says, so we are not speaking false doctrine, it is God's will, but is it easy to get there no, but you have to go through it, too many are just concerned about heir own walk, and who cares about the rest, but that is not God's way.

 

[Gerbolski]

And notice Bdavidc I said according to the word, not contrary to it.

And in my observation (just speaking in general) most people are not doing this of seeking to be of one mind, in the word, of one sentiment biblically speaking, of having the same biblical judgment, such as abortion is murder and so forth, but it is God's will that we go there, but the flesh always resists going there, because the flesh resists being uncomfortable.

So none of us should argue about going towards via this part of God's will, and if someone is, why ?

 

[Christ4Ever]

Ya Lord said to me we start planting seeds from the time we awake from our slumber..
I ponder that n it became disturbing and sad to me with all the wickedness thats going on..
Seems rotten fruit is producing way more then the good in this evil ran world these days..

Hope alls well!

◉⁠‿⁠◉

Sometimes sister, two people are trying to catch the same rat or snake, but get into each other's way, because they have their own way of doing things though the purpose is the same. Meanwhile, arguing about it between themselves, the critter gets away free to torment/bother someone else!!!

With the Love in Christ Jesus.
YBIC/Moderator
Nick
\o/

 

[Gerbolski]

So whether it is something I believe, something another Christian teaches, or something I think God is showing me, I want it brought into the light of Scripture. If the Bible corrects me, then I need correcting. If it corrects someone else, they need correcting. The question is never who gets the last word. The question is whether God’s Word gets the final word.

By the way, I really like what you said here.

 

[Twistie]

Sometimes sister, two people are trying to catch the same rat or snake, but get into each other's way, because they have their own way of doing things though the purpose is the same. Meanwhile, arguing about it between themselves, the critter gets away free to torment/bother someone else!!!

With the Love in Christ Jesus.
YBIC/Moderator
Nick
\o/

Ya i dont argue dont understand what is to argue really One Truth One Way His.. so many are so quick to want to try n just meet in the middle so they can say this is how it is.. its not.. ive learned monsters n demons look like me and you n their only focus is to cause harm and twist the Word of the Lord to fit their ways.. its very sad and disturbing..
One Way One Truth there is no grey area what there is is mercy and grace and the ability to Hear..
Lord allowed me to see yesterday just how strong the false preachers curse over many people..it took me back..frfr..


Hope alls well!

◉⁠‿⁠◉

 

[Gerbolski]

God is good, and in order to walk in things via having the same mind, judgment and sentiment, which the bible proclaims, which speaks of the judgments of the word and so on, you need to die daily.

Without dying daily, there will be less of Christ in your life, and with most, you cannot walk in the ways of seeking to be of the same mind, judgment, and sentiments via what the word of God says, for we need not only be concerned of our own walk, but of how God wants the church to be towards him and one another.

Via this issue, it all depends how much of Christ, and his will someone wants, do you seek to go forward with him ,and all his will, or do you seek to draw back, which leads to backsliding, it is up to you, how much of Christ do you really want ? ? ?