Moving Forward By Faith
Pt.1 The Past, The Present, The Promise
Mark 8:22-25 NKJV
Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, ‘I see men like trees, walking.’ Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.”
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Mark 16:14 (NKJV): “Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He unbraided them (rebuked) with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.”
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The Two-Step Healing Process
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THE FIRST TOUCH: PARTIAL VISION (The Past)
Mark 8:23-24 (NKJV)
So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, ‘I see men like trees, walking.’
Signs Your Heart Still Has Unclarity:
• Unclear Goals
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• Shallow Relationships
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• Spiritual Confusion
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• Partial Emotional Healing
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• Decision-making uncertainty
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• Inconsistent Faith
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• Misinterpreted Life Events
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• Limited Self-Perception
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• Moral Ambiguity
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• Unclear Life Purpose
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THE SECOND TOUCH: COMPLETE HEALING (The Present)
Mark 8:25 (NKJV)
Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.
Human Perception of Spiritual Realities
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Deeply subjective experience, influenced by culture, personal beliefs, and individual experiences, often leading to a diverse array of interpretations and understanding.
THREE WAYS TO SEE CLEARLY AND GET TO PAST YOUR TREES (The Promise)
1.) ALIGN WITH GOD’S WILL
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Surrender Your Plans
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Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
2.) ACT IN FAITH
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Take Steps Forward
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Hebrews 11:8 NKJV
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
3.) BE PATIENT AND PERSISTENT
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Wait on God’s Timing
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Isaiah 40:31 NKJV
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
JOURNAL PROMPTS
1. Reflecting on Your Vision: Reflect on a time in your life when you had partial clarity about a situation, goal, or vision. How did it feel to see ‘men like trees, walking’? What steps did you take—or do you need to take—to gain full clarity?
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2. Trusting the Process: In your faith journey, where have you experienced a gradual unfolding of clarity or understanding? How do you trust God during the ‘in-between’ stages when your vision is still forming?
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PRAYER TARGETS
1. Prayer for Clear Vision: Lord, just as You restored the blind man’s sight in stages, I ask for Your touch on my spiritual eyes. Open my eyes to see clearly the path You have set before me. Remove any cloudiness or partial vision, and grant me the clarity to discern Your will in every area of my life.
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2. Prayer for Patience in the Process: Lord, I recognize that Your timing and methods are perfect, even when I can’t see the full picture. Help me to be patient and trust in Your process as You work in my life. Strengthen my faith to hold on when my vision is incomplete, knowing that You will restore it in Your perfect time.
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