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Stand Firm in what you believe.
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The thief came into the world to kill, to steal, and to destroy but Jesus came that we might have life and have life more abundantly.
John 9:4-7
I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
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Just as the old nature of man, encouraged by Satan, surfaced when the man returned from the Pool of Siloam, our life and our beliefs are challenged when people around us listen to the voice of Satan and seek to take from us what God has given.
"How often are the works of God questioned in our lives?"
John 9:8-10
The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged? Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he. Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened? |
If we are to receive anything from God in the Throne Room of Heaven we must defend His Word in the face of men not once but again and again, for we are made over comers by the word of our testimony.
John 9:11-12
He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight. Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not. |
Often, people do not want to hear what we have to say. Anything that challenges authority or threatens the normal way of life results in a challenge to what we think. The very core of what we believe is often put on trial.
John 9:13-15
They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind. And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes. Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. |
Again and again the truth of what God has done for us will stand even in the face of adversity. When we stand upon our belief in God, He comes to our aid in times of trouble.
John 9:16-17
Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.
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Standing firm in what we believe often does not bring victory quickly. In the face of mounting evidence to the works of God in our lives, we and those around us are challenged again and again.
John:9:18-21
But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight. And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he now see? His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind: But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself. |
In fear, either of what may happen or what may be required, our closest friends and allies often disappear leaving us alone in the battle. Thank God that Christ has promised never to leave or forsake us.
John 9:22-23
These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
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Often deserted by those around us we must stand firm in our beliefs even when it seems we are alone. Remember Elijah after the prophets of Bail. God reminded him he was not alone, that there were others who had not given up in the battle.
John 9:24-26
Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes? |
Faith and Knowledge, what will they bring? Knowledge of the Word of God in our heart is a strength that will carry us through the trials of life.
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. |
Our Faith is the Link that connects us with The Father, that connects us with Jesus. Our Faith is the Link that will release the power of God in our life. Each time we stand on our faith and reach out to God the knowledge gained will strengthen us. Each time we exercise our faith our spirit grows stronger.
The Faith that carried the blind man to the pool after Jesus had anointed his eyes restored his sight and linked him to Jesus. Knowledge in the power of God is a strength that will carry us through the storms of life. Knowledge of the Power of God in our lives is a two-edged sword in the hands of those around us.
1Co:1:22
For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: |
Some view the Power of God in our lives through their own bias, seeking to promote their own agenda. The man who had received his sight was prompted to give to praise to God, to change his way of thinking. His view was that he was blind and now he could see. It did not matter if those around him thought Jesus was a sinner, all that mattered was he was blind and now he could see. Jesus had touched him, he had obeyed and received his sight. His faith and the obedience that brought his sight strengthened him. Now that strength would carry him through the trial of his faith as he reminded them once again of the work Jesus had done in his life..
John:9:27-29
He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples? Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is. |
The truth of our relationship with Jesus is a weapon that will stand in the face of adversity. Well meaning people may challenge our faith, they may try to pull us away from Jesus but the truth will force a decision in their life, hence the two edged sword.
John 9:30-33
The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind. If this man were not of God, he could do nothing. |
When we cross the line of our faith, those around us must also face a decision in their life. We are salt in the earth, our life as a Christian will make a difference in the lives of those around us. Some will choose to listen while others will turn against us, seeking to condemn us as a means of justifying themselves and their unwillingness to change their beliefs, refusing to look at the evidence before their eyes.
John 9:34
They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. |
Never fear. When the world turns its back on us, Jesus comes to our aid in times of troubles.
John 9:35-39
Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him? And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee. And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him. And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
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Remember, Jesus will not leave or forsake us. We are the salt of the earth and if we fail to give the Praise to Jesus for what He has done in our life then the salt has lost its savor.
John 9:40 - 10:5
And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also? Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. |
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