Sermon by Bruce McCallum 4 December 2016

2. 1. God shows solutions to problems
Genesis 21:19 (NIV)
Then God opened her eyes and she saw a
well of water. So she went and filled the skin
with water and gave the boy a drink.

3. 2. God shows obstacles to progress
Numbers 22:22 (NIV)
But God was very angry when he went, and
the angel of the LORD stood in the road to
oppose him. Balaam was riding on his
donkey, and his two servants were with him.

4. Numbers 22:24-25 (NIV)
Then the angel of the LORD stood in a
narrow path between two vineyards, with
walls on both sides. 25 When the donkey saw
the angel of the LORD, she pressed close to
the wall, crushing Balaam's foot against it.
So he beat her again.

5. Numbers 22:27 (NIV)
When the donkey saw the angel of the
LORD, she lay down under Balaam, and he
was angry and beat her with his staff.

6. Numbers 22:31-32 (NIV)
Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and
he saw the angel of the LORD standing in
the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed
low and fell facedown. 32 The angel of the
LORD asked him, “Why have you beaten
your donkey these three times? I have come
here to oppose you because your path is a
reckless one before me.”

7. 3. God shows there are more for you
than against you
2 Kings 6:17 (NIV)
And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes
so he may see." Then the LORD opened the
servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the
hills full of horses and chariots of fire all
around Elisha.

8. 4. God shows He is with you TODAY
Luke 24:15-16 (NIV)
As they talked and discussed these things with each
other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with
them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
Luke 24:30-31 (NIV)
When he was at the table with them, he took bread,
gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.
31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized
Him…

9. HOW DOES GOD OPEN OUR EYES?

10. 1. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you
John 14:26 (NIV)
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you
all things and will remind you of everything
I have said to you.

11. John 14:16-17 (NIV)
And I will ask the Father, and He will give
you another Counselor to be with you
forever - 17 the Spirit of truth. The world
cannot accept Him, because it neither sees
Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for
He lives with you and will be in you.

12. John 16:15 (NIV)
… the Spirit will take from what is mine and
make it known to you.

13. Ephesians 1:17-19 (NIV)
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may
know Him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of
your heart may be enlightened in order that you
may know the hope to which He has called you,
the riches of His glorious inheritance in the
saints, 19 and His incomparably great power for
us who believe. That power is like the working of
His mighty strength

14. 2. Cleanse your heart of sin and conflict
Matthew 5:8 (NIV)
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see
God.
1 John 2:11 (NIV)
But whoever hates his brother is in the
darkness and walks around in the darkness; he
does not know where he is going, because the
darkness has blinded him.

15. 3. Come with a humble attitude
Psalms 25:9 (NIV)
He guides the humble in what is right and
teaches them His way.

16. 4. Commit in advance to do what
God says
James 1:22 (NIV)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so
deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

17. 5. Ask God in faith to open your eyes
Psalms 119:18 (NIV)
Open my eyes that I may see wonderful
things in Your law.

18. Acts 16:6-10 (NIV)
Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region
of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy
Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7
When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to
enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow
them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to
Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of
Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to
Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the
vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia,
concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel
to them.

19. What will be the final authority in
YOUR life?

20. Bible in one Year - BioY
https://www.bibleinoneyear.org