You Have Eyes To See, And Ears To Hear?

[Edward]

The only question is DO WE SEE and HEAR as Jesus instructed us to see and hear?

I got the above out of another thread but didn't want to derail the good conversation going on there, and it being such a good question, deserves its own thread...that said:

I've wondered about this before. It almost seems like it was one of Jesus's fav sayings, for it is used very much throughout both the OT & NT.

We have eyes, but can we see? We have ears, but can we hear? What's that mean exactly?

Personally, I think it means of a spiritual nature. Our spiritual senses. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and our flesh eyes and ears, are fleshy and of the world.

What do you think?

If it speaks of spiritual eyes & ears, is there something that we can do to exercise and cultivate them to get better?

 

[dianegcook]

The only question is DO WE SEE and HEAR as Jesus instructed us to see and hear?

I got the above out of another thread but didn't want to derail the good conversation going on there, and it being such a good question, deserves its own thread...that said:

I've wondered about this before. It almost seems like it was one of Jesus's fav sayings, for it is used very much throughout both the OT & NT.

We have eyes, but can we see? We have ears, but can we hear? What's that mean exactly?

Personally, I think it means of a spiritual nature. Our spiritual senses. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and our flesh eyes and ears, are fleshy and of the world.

What do you think?

If it speaks of spiritual eyes & ears, is there something that we can do to exercise and cultivate them to get better?

I agree...
When your spirit clicks it clicks..
When you hear a truth and it lines up with God's word..
Things have to make sense to me..
Like when I hear something that makes sense, it is like someone turned the light on, then a lot of other things make sense..
as if you have read the bible in a different outlook..
Now, I understand why God waged war, against certain people:wink

 

[Christ_empowered]

Odd...I've been praying for a bit of discernment here lately. I've been pulled in different directions by different denominations, so...I figured The Lord could give me what I need to make some progress.

Good post.

 

[Wrg1405]

The only question is DO WE SEE and HEAR as Jesus instructed us to see and hear?

I got the above out of another thread but didn't want to derail the good conversation going on there, and it being such a good question, deserves its own thread...that said:

I've wondered about this before. It almost seems like it was one of Jesus's fav sayings, for it is used very much throughout both the OT & NT.

We have eyes, but can we see? We have ears, but can we hear? What's that mean exactly?

Personally, I think it means of a spiritual nature. Our spiritual senses. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned, and our flesh eyes and ears, are fleshy and of the world.

What do you think?

If it speaks of spiritual eyes & ears, is there something that we can do to exercise and cultivate them to get better?

Yes I think it's of spiritual things. Jesus said and did many things his disciples just didn't get, not just the disciples but the religious leaders of the time. Funny thing is there are a few accounts in the NT where Jesus met with people whose eyes were opened and ears heard and they were not of the religious order or Jewish.

The adulteress woman, the centurion of whom Jesus said "Not even in Israel have I seen such faith"

We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and ears to hear and see who God really is and how much he loves us.

To me the purpose is twofold.

As God opens our eyes and ears to see the real him it draws us closer to him. As we draw closer to him he breaks down barriers and false perceptions about him and ourselves, he starts to heal us emotionally and spritiually, as he draws close to us we draw close to him. He teaches us how to treat and love people.

Such people are fellow beleivers and non believers.

Jesus said to the adultress woman, Does no one condemn you, then neither do I go and sin no more"
Notice he does not say "Go sin no more and I won't condemn you no more" his love and non condemnation came first.

When our eyes can see and ears can hear we can be the same. Love people where they are, not look at their sin and think we are better, be a Good Samaritan.

We have a saying over here "There but for the grace of God go I"

That is true but we need to remember because of the grace God I will go there.

 

[Edward]

Yes I think it's of spiritual things. Jesus said and did many things his disciples just didn't get, not just the disciples but the religious leaders of the time. Funny thing is there are a few accounts in the NT where Jesus met with people whose eyes were opened and ears heard and they were not of the religious order or Jewish.

The adulteress woman, the centurion of whom Jesus said "Not even in Israel have I seen such faith"

We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes and ears to hear and see who God really is and how much he loves us.

To me the purpose is twofold.

As God opens our eyes and ears to see the real him it draws us closer to him. As we draw closer to him he breaks down barriers and false perceptions about him and ourselves, he starts to heal us emotionally and spritiually, as he draws close to us we draw close to him. He teaches us how to treat and love people.

Such people are fellow beleivers and non believers.

Jesus said to the adultress woman, Does no one condemn you, then neither do I go and sin no more"
Notice he does not say "Go sin no more and I won't condemn you no more" his love and non condemnation came first.

When our eyes can see and ears can hear we can be the same. Love people where they are, not look at their sin and think we are better, be a Good Samaritan.

We have a saying over here "There but for the grace of God go I"

That is true but we need to remember because of the grace God I will go there.

(19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.)

Jesus could only do what He saw the Father do...I do think that's literally. Many in those times got to see behind the curtain. Stephen, when he was being stoned for instance saw the curtain drew back and the heavens opened. And all those OT accounts were before Jesus came and the veil was torn in two...

So is the reason that none (few) of us can really see, because of the veil of darkness in our hearts?

 

[Wrg1405]

(19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.)

Jesus could only do what He saw the Father do...I do think that's literally. Many in those times got to see behind the curtain. Stephen, when he was being stoned for instance saw the curtain drew back and the heavens opened. And all those OT accounts were before Jesus came and the veil was torn in two...

So is the reason that none (few) of us can really see, because of the veil of darkness in our hearts?

Yes Jesus did only what the Father would do and the veil was torn in two.

As for the veil of darkness. Jesus said

John 8:12
I Am the Light of the World
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

 

[Edward]

Yes Jesus did only what the Father would do and the veil was torn in two.

As for the veil of darkness. Jesus said

John 8:12
I Am the Light of the World
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Interesting. Rings of truth of course. I've been working through this trying to make some sense of it all, wondering why "I" can't see what the father does. I think I have some of it.

I (we've) never trained my brain (heart) to see with my mind's eye. If I look at you, I don't see you over there, I see you in my imagination (minds eye).
Thinking of (like) a little child, I realize that babies teach themselves to see. Their whole world is 12 to 18 inches. They haven't lived long enough to generate enough memories for their minds eye (imagination) to have a reference point to refer & relate to.

We believe what we can see. It becomes truth to us because we can see it. We can't see what the Father does because we haven't seen it before...no reference point to relate to.

Does that make sense? I think so.

 

[Edward]

We've been trained to not see. To not use our imagination. It's devilish. It's occultist. Ha.

They say we only use a small portion of our brain. I think this may be poppycock. More accurately let's say, we've been trained to only use one third or whatever of our mind.

We need to untrain that.

 

[eddif]

I Corinthians 2:9 KJV
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Natural man does not have the equipment to see into the spiritual. Man can see the creation, but the parable type message zooms past the understanding.

You must be born again.

eddif

 

[Edward]

I Corinthians 2:9 KJV
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Natural man does not have the equipment to see into the spiritual. Man can see the creation, but the parable type message zooms past the understanding.

You must be born again.

eddif

Well, yeah...but after we're born again, we're to have (cultivate within ourselves) the mind of Christ, right? It is written...and Christ could see what the Father was doing, he said so.

Us, having no reference point to relate to, must once again turn your copy of the Word (food for the spirit man), and read. Scripture is ripe with descriptions of heavenly places. The throne room of God even...and we're told to boldly approach the throne of grace.

Perhaps meditating on the Word of God can provide us with a reference point for our minds eye to generate the needed pictures to begin seeing in the spiritual realm?

 

[eddif]

Well, yeah...but after we're born again, we're to have (cultivate within ourselves) the mind of Christ, right? It is written...and Christ could see what the Father was doing, he said so.

Us, having no reference point to relate to, must once again turn your copy of the Word (food for the spirit man), and read. Scripture is ripe with descriptions of heavenly places. The throne room of God even...and we're told to boldly approach the throne of grace.

Perhaps meditating on the Word of God can provide us with a reference point for our minds eye to generate the needed pictures to begin seeing in the spiritual realm?

Lounge talk.
Ok.
My first birth is natural. It carries the sins of Adam. I strive to bring it under subjection. I acknowledge its existance. My striving garners temporal benefits.

My second birth benefits are not by my work. Credit for this existance goes to God totally, and the eternal is the end result of the Godhead. Spirituals are from God / Holy Spirit / Jesus (insert your doctrine here). That is if our doctrine allows us to give credit to someone other than our self. If I want credit for God working in me; am I not a theif?

New birth? Yes.
Flesh? Regretfully yes.

Ability to understand? Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, judgement. The eyes of the spirit are spirit.

One day the flesh will be changed.

eddif

 

[Jethro Bodine]

The only question is DO WE SEE and HEAR as Jesus instructed us to see and hear?

The person who loves is the one who sees and hears as Jesus instructed us to see and hear:

"9The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 10The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes." (1 John 2:9-10 NASB)

When we love our brother/ sister we can see and we do not stumble. When we love we show that we know God and He knows us:

"7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:7-8 NASB)

Love is the guidepost of life for the Christian. It's the compass by which we navigate the restless waves of fallen man. Everything else falls into place when we live the Spirit-filled life of love. Until we do that we are left to stumble around in the darkness.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

What is love?

"10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor...love is the fulfillment of the law." (Romans 13:10 NASB)

 

[JLB]

If it speaks of spiritual eyes & ears, is there something that we can do to exercise and cultivate them to get better?

Great question.

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

• But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20

• I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

The more I pray in the Spirit, the more sensitive I become to the Spirit.

Fasting seems to amplify this.

Stilling my mind and meditating on the word also develops a positive habit for my mind to dwell on godly things.

Worshiping the Lord in my prayer room, and having His presence upon me first, then doing these things seems to be the best way.

Waiting upon the Lord and listening for His voice in quiet stillness, with His presence upon me is a safe way to exercise my sense of hearing.

I have seasons where I'm doing this more, then I seem to be drawn away from this practice by work.

Those who are in the full time ministry should live a lifestyle of these things.


Can we get to the place, where we are able to, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, so that we are transformed into the same image?

• But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

My two cents.



JLB

 

[Edward]

Lounge talk.
Ok.
My first birth is natural. It carries the sins of Adam. I strive to bring it under subjection. I acknowledge its existance. My striving garners temporal benefits.

My second birth benefits are not by my work. Credit for this existance goes to God totally, and the eternal is the end result of the Godhead. Spirituals are from God / Holy Spirit / Jesus (insert your doctrine here). That is if our doctrine allows us to give credit to someone other than our self. If I want credit for God working in me; am I not a theif?

New birth? Yes.
Flesh? Regretfully yes.

Ability to understand? Holy Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, judgement. The eyes of the spirit are spirit.

One day the flesh will be changed.

eddif

Yeah, lounge talk. I don't necessarily know these things, I'm working them out, out loud.

And of course, no man can come to or know the Father, without Jesus's blood and His Holy Spirit to convict us, lead us and guide us. Absolutely all of the credit and glory go to God. We can do nothing of ourselves.

I look forward to the day that we get changed in the twinkling of an eye.

 

[Wrg1405]

I look forward to the day that we get changed in the twinkling of an eye.

Amen to that.

 

[JLB]

I look forward to the day that we get changed in the twinkling of an eye.

Like Enoch did.

Yes.


JLB

 

[Edward]

WRG1405 Said:
When our eyes can see and ears can hear we can be the same. Love people where they are, not look at their sin and think we are better, be a Good Samaritan./

Now that's interesting. Perhaps not walking in love inhibits our ability to see. I remember the early days with my wife (now ex), it was like we had esp or something. I was young and in love, and this clarity seemed to be extended somewhat to others also.

 

[Edward]

Great question.

13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Hebrews 5:13-14

• But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20

• I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19

The more I pray in the Spirit, the more sensitive I become to the Spirit.

Fasting seems to amplify this.

Stilling my mind and meditating on the word also develops a positive habit for my mind to dwell on godly things.

Worshiping the Lord in my prayer room, and having His presence upon me first, then doing these things seems to be the best way.

Waiting upon the Lord and listening for His voice in quiet stillness, with His presence upon me is a safe way to exercise my sense of hearing.

I have seasons where I'm doing this more, then I seem to be drawn away from this practice by work.

Those who are in the full time ministry should live a lifestyle of these things.


Can we get to the place, where we are able to, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, so that we are transformed into the same image?

• But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

My two cents.



JLB

Amen, Brother. All of this all ties together with Scripture as you have so aptly noted.

How you do this seems like a great way to start. We would have to meditate on His Word and exercise our spiritual senses. I hardly do that at all because of my circumstances. (excuse). I'm going to start making time to do just this. I have to.

I should do a fast also. It's been a long time and has been on my heart to do so.

Boy oh boy, we humans sure do learn slow. It would've been nice if they hadn't lied to me my entire life.
I'm gonna pray for a sanctified imagination.

 

[ezrider]

Now that's interesting. Perhaps not walking in love inhibits our ability to see.

Perhaps it is our ability to see that keeps us from walking in love.

The serpent tempted Eve by saying you shall not die, but in the day that you eat there of, your eyes shall be opened, and you shall know good and evil. When Adam ate his eyes were opened, and he knew that he was naked. When we read the scriptures, our eyes are opened to sin and death, as was Adam's.