Why we do not see God’s Presence in our lives? We do not see or perceive God’s Presence is because we don’t always seek God with our whole heart, we don’t purse God with repentant hearts, we are looking for the wrong kind of God, our God is too small or we are looking in the wrong places. Opening our spiritual eyes depends on Lordship of Jesus Christ, understanding and applying the Bible, prayer and spiritual companions.

1. Giving Sight to the Blind
Eyes that look but do not see
Matt. 20:29-34; Luke 18: 35-42; Luke 19:1-10
Dr Alex Tang

2. Matt. 20: 29-34
MT 20:29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a
large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were sitting by
the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by,
they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" :
31 The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but
they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy
on us!" 32 Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you
want me to do for you?" he asked.33 "Lord," they answered,
"we want our sight." 34 Jesus had compassion on them
and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight
and followed him.

3. Luke 18: 35-42
LK 18:35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was
sitting by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the
crowd going by, he asked what was happening. 37 They
told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." 38 He called out,
"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 Those who
led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he
shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him.
When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 "What do you
want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he
replied.42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your
faith has healed you." 43 Immediately he received his
sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the
people saw it, they also praised God

4. Jesus on his way to Jerusalem…
How many blind men did
Jesus healed?
Matt 20:29 As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho,
a large crowd followed him. 30 Two blind men were ….
Luke 18:35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man
was sitting by the roadside begging.
Mark 10:46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his
disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city,
a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was
sitting by the roadside begging.

5. Jesus on his way to Jerusalem…
How many blind men did
Jesus healed?

6. Jerusalem

7. Ancient Jericho (Tell es Sultan)

8. Jesus in Jericho
Ancient NT Jericho
Jericho
One blind man Two blind men
Luke 18:35; Matt 20:29
Mark 10:46
(Bartimaeus)

9. Luke 19:1-10
LK 19:1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was
there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was
wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he
could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a
sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.5 When
Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come
down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So he came down
at once and welcomed him gladly.7 All the people saw this and began to
mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a `sinner.' "8 But Zacchaeus
stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my
possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I
will pay back four times the amount."9 Jesus said to him, "Today
salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of
Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was
lost."

10. Sycamore Tree in NT Jericho

11. Jesus in Jericho
Ancient NT Jericho
Jericho
One blind man Zacchaeus Two blind men
Luke 18:35; Luke 19:1-10 Matt 20:29
Mark 10:46
(Bartimaeus)
poor rich poor
want to see want to see Jesus want to see
physical sight spiritual sight physical sight
faith repentance faith
follow Jesus receive salvation follow Jesus

12. Ancient Jericho again

13. Mount of Temptation

14. Temptations of Jesus (Matt. 4)
• physical food (fasting- food, disobedience to God)
3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell
these stones to become bread.“ 4 Jesus answered, "It is written: `Man
does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the
mouth of God.' "
• protection and security ( testing God- spiritual pride)
6 "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is
written: " `He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift
you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a
stone.' “ 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do not put the Lord
your God to the test.' "
• power and wealth of the world (idolatry)
8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all
the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 9 "All this I will give you,"
he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."
10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship
the Lord your God, and serve him only.' "

15. Temptations of Jesus (Matt. 4)
How did Jesus
resist Satan’s
temptations?
•Disobedience
•Pride
•Idolatry

16. Jesus in Jericho
Ancient NT Jericho
Jericho
One blind man Zacchaeus Two blind men
Luke 18:35; Luke 19:1-10 Matt 20:29
Mark 10:46
(Bartimaeus)
poor rich poor
Spiritual want to see want to see Jesus want to see
sight of physical sight spiritual sight physical sight
Jesus faith repentance faith
follow Jesus receive salvation follow Jesus

17. Eyes that Look but do not See
How good are our spiritual sight?
Do we need spiritual eye checkup?

18. Eyes that Look but do not See

19. Eyes that Look but do not See
What are some of the causes of spiritual
blindness?

20. Causes of spiritual blindness
A. We don’t seek God with our whole hearts
•Our hearts are divided and fragmented
•Desire for other things –money, power,
prestige.
•No enough trust

21. Causes of spiritual blindness
A. We don’t seek God with our whole hearts
B. We don’t pursue God with repentant hearts
•Refuse to let go of things that keep us in
bondage
•Refuse to let go of anger, hurts
•Lack of humility

22. Causes of spiritual blindness
A. We don’t seek God with our whole hearts
B. We don’t pursue God with repentant hearts
C. We are worshipping the wrong kind of God
•What is our perception of God?
•Hard taskmaster
•Santa Claus
•Big Brother

23. Causes of spiritual blindness
A. We don’t seek God with our whole hearts
B. We don’t pursue God with repentant hearts
C. We are worshipping the wrong kind of God
D. Our God is too small

24. Our God is too small
•We are satisfied with a very small revelation
of God.
•We never expect the impossible
•We are contented with limited knowledge of
the Bible
•Apopathic Christian spirituality
•Kataphatic Christian spirituality

25. Treatment for spiritual blindness
A. Lordship of Christ

26. Treatment for spiritual blindness
A. Lordship of Christ
B. Be saturated with the Word of God

27. Treatment for spiritual blindness
A. Lordship of Christ
B. Be saturated with the Word of God
C. Be prayer-ful

28. Treatment for spiritual blindness
A. Lordship of Christ
B. Be saturated with the Word of God
C. Be prayer-ful
D. Spiritual companionship

29. Questions for Spiritual Sight
1. What spiritual failures have you experienced since our last meeting?
What known sins, if any, have you committed?
2. What temptations have you battled with this week? Where do you feel
the most vulnerable right now?
3. What temptations have you been delivered from this week? Please
share with us how you won the victory.
4. Has the Lord revealed anything to you about your heart and life that
makes you want us to join you in taking a second look at what might
be sinful attitudes, lifestyle, or motivations?
5. Is there any spiritual problem that you have never been able to talk
about-to us or even to God?
(Tracy, Cockerill, Demaray, & Harper, 2000, p. 133).

30. Sermon Statement
Why we do not see God’s Presence in our lives?
We do not see or perceive God’s Presence is
because we don’t always seek God with our
whole heart, we don’t purse God with repentant
hearts, we are looking for the wrong kind of God,
our God is too small or we are looking in the
wrong places. Opening our spiritual eyes depends
on Lordship of Jesus Christ, understanding and
applying the Bible, prayer and spiritual
companions.

31. Transcript of this sermon may be found at
www.kairos2.com/spiritual.blindness.htm