Blindness Of The Heart And The Testimony Of Jesus Is The Spirit Of Prophecy.
In 2 Kings 6 we read the story of the war between Syria and Israel, and how the King of Syria went after the prophet Elisha because he was advising the King of Israel by word of knowledge all the plans the King of Syria had against Israel. And Elisha found himself surrounded by an army and chariots of the enemy, when his servant saw the army, he said to Elisha, “Master! What shall we do?” (Verses 16-17) To which Elisha answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” Wow! What an amazing sight for that servant! He was blind to what was happening in the spirit realm, but after the prophet prayed for him, his eyes were opened.
We all have heard or even sang the famous hymn, “amazing grace,” “I was blind but now I see,” says the lyrics and this is true. We were all blind, living our lives but totally blinded by sin and darkness not knowing the purposes and will of God.
Blind people cannot see where they are going, but the blindness I am talking about is not a physical blindness but the blindness of the heart and mind.
Here are some blindness the Bible mentions and the reasons of it:
1- The god of this world is blinding people.
The one that keeps people blinded to the truth of Jesus is the devil, in 2 Corinthians 4:4 NKJV says this, “Whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.” This is why we pray for our relatives, friends and people in general to be set free from the dominion of satan so they can see Jesus Christ the Saviour.
When people are blinded in heart, they give themselves to sin, not realising what they are doing and where they are heading. They can’t see the light of the Gospel and freedom Christ brings.
2- The blindness of Israel
Romans 11:25 NKJV
“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.”
Many Jewish people are blinded to the Messiah Jesus Christ right now because the whole world must hear the Gospel first. Many of them are still waiting for the Messiah and don’t realised He has already come. The religious leaders teach in their Synagogues but they are blinded to the truth. Jesus, in Matthew 23:26 NKJV said to the religious men of that time, “Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” And in Luke 6: 39 NKJV Jesus spoke a parable and said: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” Jesus was very concerned about the blindness of heart of the leaders leading people in their blindness, more than that, He is still concerned for the blindness of people of today.
3 - The blinded Church
We may think that blindness of the heart was only for unsaved or religious people but in Revelation 3:17 NKJV Jesus tells the Church of Laodicean, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.” Jesus was talking to Christians here. Also in the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus and said, (Ephesians 4:17-19 NKJV )“This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
This is very serious! The Church of Laodicean are supposed to be Christians but they were still blinded and the Ephesians Christians were told to not behave like the world, to stop sinning for now they were new people in Christ. So this message of blindness is not just for those who don’t know Christ but for everyone.
In Mark 10 NKJV we read how Jesus Healed a blind man called Bartimaeus and in verses 46-52 says, “As Jesus went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called.
Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.”
In this story we see a man without sight but cried out to Jesus with all his heart and he cried out even more against the discouragement of others, he just kept on calling Jesus because he recognised Him as the only one able to help him see. When this blind man called Jesus “Rabboni,” he was acknowledging and declaring Him Lord and Saviour. Yet It’s interesting that Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” when He could see that Bartimaeus was blind. Jesus wanted him ask for this miracle. Imagine Jesus asking you today, What do you want Me to do for you? Will you say like Bartimaeus, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.?”
In Isaiah 42:7 NKJV was prophesied of Jesus that He was “To open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.” And in John 8:12 NKJV this was fulfilled when Jesus declared “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
Will you come today to Him and receive His light? Will you give Him your life and let Him lead you? Keep in mind that when you do, your life will not be yours anymore but His, and you will walk in the amazing light of God.
Prophecies about the Messiah
From Genesis to Revelation Jesus is revealed as the anointed Messiah (Saviour of the world) and in the Old Testament we find over 300 Messianic prophecies of this future Saviour that will deliver His people from oppression.
Prophecy means, to foretell the future under divine inspiration. As 2 Peter 1:21 NKJV Tells us “For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
Of course in the New Testament, in the Gospels, we see the fulfilment of those prophecies through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth And in John 4:25-26 NKJV Jesus declared Himself that He was this promised Messiah, the verse says, “The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.””
Jesus is the Messiah, the Saviour of the world that has ultimately delivered humanity from the oppression of death through the promise of eternal salvation. He paid the price on the cross for everyone and anyone that comes to Him in faith can receive it this salvation.
Below are a few Old Testament Messianic prophesies fulfilled by Jesus.
1- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Birth
The Old Testament described the awaited Messiah’s birth in detail.
The first prophecy we find in Genesis 3:15, a Saviour would be born of a woman and would defeat Satan to redeem humanity from sin.
The Saviour would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:3; 17:19; Numbers 24:17), and the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10).
The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) to a virgin who would call Him Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14).
The Messiah would be an heir to King David’s throne and would reign for eternity (2 Samuel 7:12-13)
Isaiah declared that the Messiah would be called by many names in addition to Immanuel, such as: “Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
2- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Early Life
The Old Testament revealed that the Messiah would spend time in Egypt during His youth and would then leave Egypt (Hosea 11:1).
The prophecies also foretold of a messenger in the wilderness who’d prepare the way for the Messiah so that the glory of God would be revealed (Isaiah 40:3-5)
3- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Ministry
The messianic prophecies told us that Galilee would be chosen among the nations to see “a great light,” a male child born to remove the darkness (Isaiah 9:1-6).
The Messiah was foretold to preach about repentance (Isaiah 30:15) and be a gentle redeemer who would uphold justice and heal the broken (Isaiah 42:1-4; 61:1-2).
The Saviour would also speak in parables that would fall on deaf ears (Psalm 78:2-4; Isaiah 6:9-10).
The Messiah would perform many miracles (Isaiah 35:5-6).
The prophecies that He will be a faithful priest who would do God’s will (1 Samuel 2:35).
A humble king who would ride atop a donkey toward welcoming crowds (Zechariah 9:9).
He would be rejected by His own people (Psalm 69:8) but embraced by the Gentiles (Isaiah 11:10).
Prophecy warned that rulers would plot to kill the Messiah (Psalm 31:13).
4- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Betrayal
The prophets warned that someone who had broken bread with the Messiah (Psalm 41:9) would betray Him for 30 pieces of silver, which would later be used to buy a potter’s field (Zechariah 11:12-13).
The Messiah’s closest friends would flee from Him (Psalm 31:11).
5- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Death
Isaiah describes how the Messiah would remain silent in the face of false accusations and would be beaten, mocked, and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6; 53:7).
The Saviour would also be “pierced for our transgressions” so that by His wounds we’d be healed (Isaiah 53:5).
The prophet Daniel likewise revealed that the “Anointed One will be put to death and will have nothing” (Daniel 9:26).
The Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced but His bones would not be broken (Psalm 22:16-17; 34:20).
The Saviour would die among criminals (Isaiah 53:9).
People would cast lots for His clothing (Psalm 22:18).
Onlookers would taunt the Anointed One by telling Him to ask the Lord He spoke of so often to rescue Him (Psalm 22:8).
6- Prophecies about the Messiah’s Resurrection
God would not abandon the Messiah to the realm of the dead or let the Messiah’s body see decay (Psalm 16:10).
David also wrote that the Messiah would ascend to Heaven and sit at God’s right hand (Psalm 110:1).
The Messiah’s death would serve as an ultimate offering for sin so that God’s people could be redeemed (Isaiah 53:5-12).
The Messiah’s agony would be rewarded, however, in that He’d conquer death in the end (Isaiah 25:7-8) and “see the light of life and be satisfied” (Isaiah 53:11).
The Old Testament prophets went to great lengths to describe the Messiah’s life, death, and victorious resurrection. Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled these prophecies in such accurate detail a millennium later that there can be no doubt that He was that promised Messiah.
The Testimony of Jesus’ life has fulfilled the prophecy given by the Spirit of God to the prophets of old. Yet, there are still prophesies in the Old and New Testament yet to be fulfil of the second coming of Jesus, but we are beginning to see signs of the things to come as we approach near to the end. Read Matthew 24 where Jesus Himself told us of the things to come.
Also don’t forget the Spirit of prophecy is active today in us as we fulfilled all Jesus promised for us to do as sons and daughters of God.
As we see the Bible is not just another religious book out there, but it’s alive and powerful as Hebrews tells us: “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”(Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) because “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV)
What a mighty God we serve! It’s time to begin to live for Him and give your life entirely to Him.
He promised to take care of you. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
Pastor Steve and Karina Maile