Blind Men Who See

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Matthew 1924-25

• Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go
  through the eye of a needle than for a rich
  person to enter the kingdom of God.  25 When the
  disciples heard this, they were greatly
  astonished, saying, Who then can be saved? 

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1 Corinthians 126

• For consider your calling, brothers not many of
  you were wise according to worldly standards, not
  many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 

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Blind Men Who See

• Studies in Johns Gospel
• Chapter 9

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Indications of Blindness

1. Defend self by accusing others

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Luke 1810-14

• Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a
  Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The
  Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus God,
  I thank you that I am not like other men,
  extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like
  this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week I
  give tithes of all that I get. 13 But the tax
  collector, standing far off, would not even lift
  up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,
  saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner! 14 I
  tell you, this man went down to his house
  justified, rather than the other. For everyone
  who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one
  who humbles himself will be exalted.

Comparing self to others is unwise
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2 Corinthians 1012

•  Not that we dare to classify or compare
  ourselves with some of those who are commending
  themselves. But when they measure themselves by
  one another and compare themselves with one
  another, they are without understanding.

Measuring self by men lacks understanding
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Indications of Blindness

1. Defend self by accusing others
2. Dont have all info? Dont have to believe!

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2 Corinthians 812

• For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable 
  according to what a person has, not
  according to what he does not have.

It is acceptable according to what a man has
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Indications of Blindness

1. Defend self by accusing others
2. Dont have all info? Dont have to believe!
3. Threats and intimidations

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Indications of Blindness

1. Defend self by accusing others
2. Dont have all info? Dont have to believe!
3. Threats and intimidations
4. Labeling and name calling

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Matthew 1224

• But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, It
  is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that
  this man casts out demons.

They did it with Jesus
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Acts 245, 14

• For we have found this man a plague, one who
  stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the
  world and is a ringleader of the sect of the
  Nazarene
•  But this I confess to you, that according to the
  Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of
  our fathers, believing everything laid down by
  the Law and written in the Prophets,  s

They continued it with Paul
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Indications of Blindness

1. Defend self by accusing others
2. Dont have all info? Dont have to believe!
3. Threats and intimidations
4. Labeling and name calling
5. Personal attack

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Signs of Clear Sight

1. Obedience

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Hebrews 58-9

• Although he was a son, he learned obedience
  through what he suffered. 9 And being made
  perfect, he became the source of eternal
  salvation to all who obey him, 

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Matthew 721

• Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord,
  will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one
  who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

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Signs of Clear Sight

1. Obedience
2. Stands on logical conclusions and facts

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Acts 2624-25

•  And as he was saying these things in his
  defense, Festus said with a loud voice,
  Paul, you are out of your mind your great
  learning is driving you out of your mind. 25 But
  Paul said, I am not out of my mind, most
  excellent Festus, but I am speaking true
  and rational words.

True and rational words
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Philippians 45

• Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The
  Lord is at hand

Reasonableness, not blind faith
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2 Timothy 113

• Follow the pattern of the sound words that you
  have heard from me, in the faith and love that
  are in Christ Jesus.

Sound words, solid, true, strong
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Signs of Clear Sight

1. Obedience
2. Stands on logical conclusions and facts
3. Draws attacks from evil

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2 Timothy 312

• Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in
  Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 

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Matthew 511

• Blessed are you when others revile you and
  persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against
  you falsely on my account. 

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Signs of Clear Sight

1. Obedience
2. Stands on logical conclusions and facts
3. Draws attacks from evil
4. Will have open doors

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Signs of Clear Sight

1. Obedience
2. Stands on logical conclusions and facts
3. Draws attacks from evil
4. Will have open doors
5. Rejected by men but found
   by Jesus

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1 Peter 24-5

• As you come to him, a living stone rejected by
  men but in the sight of God chosen and
  precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are
  being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy
  priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptab
  le to God through Jesus Christ.

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Philippians 33

• For we are the circumcision, who worship by the
  Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put
  no confidence in the flesh