BooksKeys to Opening Your Spiritual Eyes
How God Opens Our Eyes
God is the One who opens spiritual eyes. The apostles did not create revelation by their own power. Paul saw Jesus in a prophetic encounter (Acts 26:16-18), and Christ was also revealed in him (Galatians 1:16). John saw Jesus prophetically in Revelation 1 and presented a profound revelation of Christ in John 1. In each case, God took the initiative.
How does He open our eyes? The Holy Spirit works with the Word to open both the prophetic eye and the eye of understanding.
Through the person and work of the Holy Spirit
The prophets of the Old Testament saw by the Spirit of God. Joel 2:28 foretold that God would pour out His Spirit and that sons and daughters would prophesy, old men would dream dreams, and young men would see visions.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
The Holy Spirit opens our eyes in two important ways. First, His presence within us enables us to know God and spiritual things. Every Christian has God's Spirit in them, so technically, they have been granted the ability to see, know, or experience God and the realm of the supernatural. This ability must remain centered on Christ and governed by Scripture.
Second, the Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts. Prophecy may bring visions or dreams. Wisdom and understanding may open the meaning of spiritual truths in the Word. The same Spirit works through different gifts and forms of perception according to His will.
Through the Word of God
God's Word is an eye-opener. Scripture is like a mirror through which we see spiritual truth. It makes us know God and understand realities we could never discover through our natural senses alone.
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Word does not operate as dead information. The Holy Spirit brings it to life, illuminates its truth, and opens the eyes of our understanding. The Spirit and the Word therefore work together. We do not choose between spiritual gifts and Scripture, or between revelation and truth. The Spirit who gives revelation is the Spirit who inspired the Word.
This protects us from two errors. We should not pursue spiritual experiences while neglecting Scripture, and we should not read Scripture as though we do not need the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to breathe light upon the Word and make Christ known to you.
How revelation becomes clear
The Spirit and the Word work together
Christian spiritual sight needs both the giver of light and the truth He inspired.
The giver of light
The Holy Spirit
Gives life, wisdom, revelation, and spiritual perception.
The measure of truth
The Word
Provides the truth, language, and Christ-centered measure for what we see.
God opens our eyes by His Spirit and through His Word. Our part is to receive, ask, cultivate fellowship with Him, feed upon the Scriptures, and honor the godly ways He ministers within His Church.