AND NOT BY SIGHT!

AND NOT BY SIGHT!

Rom 8:24-28

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

2 Cor 5:6-7

6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

          We rip the parenthetical verse 7 from Second Corinthians five but the context of both these portions of Scripture deal with living by faith while we wait for death. Walking by faith refers to believing what God says without any visible evidence or sensory proof. Several things are suggested by our texts this morning. Let me list them.

          First, God has decreed that we trust Him without what we might call sufficient proof. For the pragmatist, this seems unreasonable and he responds with impatience and frustration. He walks by physical sight and misses all the wonder available to the eye of faith. Hope eludes him and he rides a roller-coaster of emotions as he is confronted first with bad circumstances and then good.

          Second, we see that God supplies us with His Holy Spirit to aid our faith. Romans 8:26 specifically says that we are given the Holy Spirit to “aid our infirmities.” God Himself fills in the gaps of our faith. We do not even know how to rightly pray so the Spirit gathers up our emotions and our concerns and translates them into prayers that God understands and answers. He utters the “groaning that cannot be uttered.”

          In Romans 8:27 we see that the Holy Spirit thoroughly investigates our hearts. Knowing our thoughts, He makes requests for us which are compatible with the will of God. I hope you understand that some of the things you want are not what God wants for you! Rather than being disappointed, let us be thankful that someone is watching out for us and filtering even our desires.

          Just because we can’t see it does not mean that things are not happening in the background. Elisha’s servant awoke to find that he and his master had been surrounded by the enemy! He could see no way out of their dilemma. Hope failed! Elisha then prayed that God would open his eyes so that he might see what ordinarily would not be seen. You can read it for yourself in 2 Kings chapter 6.

2 Kings 6:15-17

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord , I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord  opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Dear Lord, sharpen my spiritual eyesight today and let me see a bit of the unseen. Increase my faith. AMEN