Young People's Group

To Open Their Eyes

by Mitchell Tan
April 17, 2019

THE PROPHECY CONCERNING THE LORD JESUS AS LIGHT

During this Easter time, let’s take time to appreciate what the Lord Jesus came to do on earth. It was prophesied by the prophet Isaiah that He would be a light to the Gentiles.

“I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,
To open blind eyes,
To bring out prisoners from the prison,
Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.”
Isaiah 42:6-7

The Lord God would call the Lord Jesus in righteousness and would hold His hand in life and ministry. He would keep Him and He would be a light that would shine forth to the Gentiles. The Lord Jesus would come to open the eyes of those who are spiritually blind and in darkness. Those who are in darkness are like in a spiritual prison. They sit in darkness and in bondage to their own sins. The Lord Jesus as the Light was meant to shine on them and bring them out of darkness.

THE SPECIAL WORK OF OPENING BLIND EYES ENTRUSTED TO PAUL

“To whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”
Acts 26:17-18

This work of opening the spiritually blind eyes of the Gentiles was originally entrusted to the twelve disciples by the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8). However, they did not go beyond a certain level. This special ministry was then entrusted to Paul. He gave a powerful testimony before King Agrippa of how he was called to be a servant of the Lord and a witness to what he had heard and what He would reveal to him (Acts 26:16). He was specially sent to do this work of opening the eyes of the Gentiles to see that Jesus is the light of the world.

1. TO OPEN BLIND EYES

This work of opening eyes to the light of truth is through the preaching of the gospel. Paul sought to bear witness of the truths in the Old Testament concerning the Lord Jesus and His salvation. Christ painfully suffered, died on the cross and rose from the dead in fulfilment of scripture. He would proclaim light to the Jews and Gentiles (Acts 26:22-23).

A. TO TURN THEM FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

It is the through the opening of spiritual eyes that people can be translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light.

B. TO TURN THEM FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD

The Gentiles can also be released from the power of Satan to wonderfully be under the power of God. It is this power that will keep and watch over His people. This is what salvation in Christ is about. They can repent, turn to God and be transformed.

2. RESULTS

A. RECEIVING FORGIVENESS OF SINS

When people repent and receive forgiveness of sins, there will be changes. There will be works befitting repentance (Acts 26:20).

B. RECEIVING AN INHERITANCE

They would specially receive an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ.

Young people, have your eyes been spiritually opened? If not, do seek to have the understanding and knowledge of Christ that you may have the light and believe in Him. If our eyes have been opened, then let’s rejoice in our salvation and the inheritance that we have received from the Lord. Let’s show works that are befitting of repentance.

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