I have been progressing with the learning and acquiring of Godlike Wisdom and Knowledge of Divine things not of this world or of the worldly kind. And to do this we must have had our spiritual Eyes Opened by GOD through the LORD Christ Jesus within us. As we become part of the active Living Word, law and Will of GOD having been restored to HIM. Now for more on Grace by Pastor Hoekstra. And then with the use of the ESV translation a look into having Eyes Opened by GOD. And when the LORD gives more insight I will add it where and when He does so.
"The Source of Our Sufficiency"
"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God . . . [When we] have no confidence in the flesh . . . I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (2Corinthians 3:5-6; Philippians 3:3; 4:13)
"We have been considering how GOD's Grace develops traits of godliness within us live. Such studies are related to finding the source of our sufficiency. Where are believers in Jesus Christ supposed to find adequate resources for living godly lives? The scriptures answer this question and many others in a two-fold manner. First, GOD wants us to realize that we are not the source of anything that is needed. Second, GOD wants us to understand that He is the source of everything that is needed. For He is both the need and the supply of that need, our one and only resource of Life.
Our inadequacy is the first matter the LORD desires to clarify for us. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves." Our own personal inadequacy is so comprehensive that we cannot expect that anything godly or eternal will source from us. We do not have any resources that can save a soul, transform a life, or cause the LORD's Church to be edified. This is a drastically different perspective on life than what we initially held. And many of the worlds churches teach and instruct us to know and come to depend on, it wants us dependent on it. Man's natural mind assumes that we must be the source of all that is needed for daily living. GOD's word however repeatedly warns us not to adopt this viewpoint. The Psalmists proclaimed such. "Vain is the help of man . . . Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help" (Psalm 108:12; 146:3). Jesus elaborated on this theme. "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). Paul taught the same. " [We] have no confidence in the flesh (that is, in human resources)."
GOD's adequacy is the second matter that He wants to clarify for us. "Our sufficiency is from GOD."
As surely as we are totally inadequate to supply what we need for life, GOD is fully adequate to be our comprehensive source for living. The Psalmist understood this corollary Truth as well. "Through GOD we will do valiantly, For it is He Who shall tread down our enemies . . . Happy is he who has the GOD of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his GOD, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them" (Psalm 108:13; 146:5-6). Jesus offered the same sufficient provisions. "He who abides in Me . . . bears much fruit" (John 15:5). Paul testified of the same reality. "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me." GOD is to be the source of our sufficiency in all that pertains to developing Godly Characteristics."
Eyes Opened:
Genesis 21:15-19 "When the water in the skin was gone, she (Hagar) put the child (Ismael) under one of the bushes. Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about the distance of a bow shot, for she said, "Let me not look on the death of the child." And as she sat opposite him, she lifted up her voice and wept. GOD heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for GOD has heard the voice of the boy where he is. Up! Lift up the boy, and hold him fast with your hand, for I will make him into a great nation." Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink."
Numbers 22:31-35 "The LORD opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel (messenger) of the LORD standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face. And the angel of the LORD said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Behold, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse before Me. The donkey saw Me and turned aside before Me these three times. If she had not turned aside from Me, surely just now I would have killed you and let her live." Then Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, "I have sinned, for I did not know that You stood in the road against me. Now therefore, if it is evil in Your sight, I will turn back." And the angel of the LORD said to Balaam, "Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you." So Balaam went on with the princes of Balak."
2Kings 6:15-19 "When the servant (Elijah) of the man (Elisha) of GOD rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" He said, "Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please open his (Elijah's) eyes that he may see." So 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. And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So He struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria."
Luke 24:28-35 "So they (Jesus, Cleopas and another disciple) drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if He were going farther, but they urged Him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So He went in to stay with them. When He was at table with them, He took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him. And He vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?" And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread."
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