Born Blind Series

BORN BLIND

John 9:1-7

Introduction: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" is what Paul the author of Hebrews tells us. But we live in a time that says "show me and I will believe." This has found its way into the realm of the church. A Bible believer’s attitude is tell me and I believe the Bible. This is how we ought to view miracles in the Bible.

Last week I preached a message on a miracle found in the Bible. It was the axe that swam. As I was driving home after church, I turned on the radio and was listening to Dr. Ennis’ message that he preached and was pleasantly surprised that he was preaching about miracles or the "show me and I will believe" attitude. He went to 2 Peter 1:16-21, which says “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake [as they were] moved by the Holy Ghost.”

There are some people who want so much to see miracles in today’s word. I have seen the Lord rise people up from the beds of affliction. But I do not believe that we have to have that to be assured of our God’s power. Why? We have a more sure word of prophecy. Some people are trying to vindicate their ministry with miracles. We are do not need these miracles to vindicate our ministry. We have a more sure word. We have God’s completed word.

I have seen men on television that passes themselves off as men of God who have had "miracles" occur in their ministries. Yet at the same time, they womanizing or cheating people. I have yet found a place in the Bible that says that we must expect a miracle.

I had someone comment about my own physical condition recently. I made this statement several times in the past four years of diagnosed diabetics. I have never asked the Lord to remove the diabetics from my life. I am not trying to be a martyr or place myself on some high spiritual pedestal. I view my physical condition from this point of view. This disease could be the cause of my death. This disease did not catch the Lord off guard. This disease is not beyond the Lord’s power to heal. But for the very first time in my life as a believer, I must totally trust Him daily for the strength to do His work. I must do all the right things. I must eat right. I have to get exercise. (Going door to door has that benefit in it.) I must monitor my blood sugars. But if the Lord so desires that this disease is to work on my body, I can not complain. It is His body to do as He sees fit.

Does it take a lot of faith to believe a miracle? No, if you realize that God did it.

Our account comes on the heels of chapter eight. Jesus has publicly declared that he is the light of the world (John 8:12). Boy, did some of the religious crowd get bent out of shape.

He also declared that if they did not believe that He was the Sent One, they would die in their sins (john 8:24). When folks are confronted with their sins, several reactions are seen every time. They do nothing whatsoever about the situation. They repent and get right with God when confronted. Or they fight against that confrontation. Only the middle option is the one that God will bless. (Proverbs 28:13 ” He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.)

Chapter eight concludes with the Jewish leaders taking up stones and wanting to kill the Lord Jesus. But His time was not yet. Not only was not the time, neither was it the method. Not only was it neither the time, nor the method, in which He was to die, it was not the place.