Spiritual blindness of the heart is not a physical problem, but a spiritual one. Many people see the world clearly yet fail to recognize their deep need for God. In Luke 8:30–35 we encounter a man whose life was completely broken. Forces he could not overcome possessed and isolated him. Luke 8: 30 Jesus demanded, “What …
From the story of Jesus healing the demoniac from the Gadarenes, we can see that society can’t fix brokenness. Oh, they had tried. Luke 8:29This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the …
Jesus’s power to restore is the good news of the Gospel. In Luke 8:28–33, we see Jesus confront the forces that had destroyed a man’s life. He demonstrated that His authority brings freedom and restoration. As Jesus arrived in the region of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee by boat, a demon-possessed man confronted …
Who we think Jesus is matters. The disciples were stunned after Jesus calmed a dangerous storm on the Sea of Galilee. Luke 8:25b The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”[1] The group was crossing the Sea …
God had told Ananias that He had a mission for Saul. This enabled Ananias to see through God’s eyes. Ananias knew of Saul’s reputation for persecuting Christians and was understandably afraid of him. But Ananias’ faith was stronger than his fear, and he obeyed God’s instructions. Acts 9: 17 So Ananias went and found Saul. He …
Being an instrument of God to build His Kingdom is a gift only He can bestow upon us. As the story of Saul—whom we later come to know as the Apostle Paul—unfolds, he believes he is building God’s Kingdom by persecuting believers. Yet on his way to Damascus to continue this mission, the Lord suddenly …
Obeying God can stretch us because it often requires leaving our comfort zones. This fosters spiritual growth by deepening our faith and by trusting His wisdom more than our own. Although challenging, this “holy stretch” encourages us to go beyond self-reliance. It can foster a deep dependence on the Holy Spirit and lead to increased …
The vision of Jesus had left Saul blind, but God works in the dark. Acts 9: 8 Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. 9 He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. …
Saul experienced going from blinded eyes to spiritual sight. Saul, who we know as the Apostle Paul, experienced this when Jesus revealed Himself to him. As a devout Pharisee, Saul was a very religious man, yet he was spiritually blind to who Jesus was, which led to his persecuting believers. Then one day, Jesus met …
Surrendering to God is what we do as we realize we are on the wrong path in life and open our hearts to His guidance. Saul, who we know as the Apostle Paul, experienced this when Jesus broke into his life while he was traveling to Damascus to persecute believers. Acts 9:3 As he was approaching …