Open Our Eyes

In our children's ministries . . . and in our own lives . . . what causes the "lights go turn on"??? How does God's Word move from the head to the heart??? How does God's Word move from being "words on a page to something which stirs our soul and becomes real to us"??? Take some time to listen to Dr. Jim Samra from Calvary Church, Grand Rapids, MI preach on this . . . he calls us to consider the following from Ephesians 1:15-23 . . . 

• We need to not be interested in simply providing information transfer - instead, we want God's Word to "sink into our souls" for the "light to go on"
• God wants us to "know Him better" so the "eyes of our heart might be enlightened"
• Know . . . the hope to which He has called us - the hope of His calling . . . the hope of God calling us - we have an amazing future awaiting us!
• Know . . . "the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints" - it is God's glorious inheritance! We are God's inheritance! We are God's prized possession - what He most wants in life!
• See . . . "His incomparably great power for us who believe" - God has the incomparably great power to give us life!
• Paul says prayer is the most important thing . . . "I keep asking God to give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so you will know Him better!" 
• II Kings 6:14-17 - "Don't be afraid. those who are with us are more than those who are with them." "Open his eyes so he may see!"  The army is already there!
• Our eyes need to be open so we can know the hope to which God has called us, how much He loves us and how great His power is - if we could just have our eyes opened!
• We need to pray for eyes to be opened . . . this is the most important prayer!
• Simply giving out information is not the point . . . pray, pray, pray for God to open their eyes and let them see!
• Prayer is the most important thing because nothing happens until God opens our eyes so we can see!

So, as you listen to this message and think through these points, ask yourself what you can do to make prayer be the most important thing in your ministry and in your life. Remember, prayer is the most important thing! We need to pray and ask God to "open our eyes" and to "open the eyes" of the children in our ministries!