On A Blind Date With God: The Sanctity Of Life

January 19, 1997

Scripture: John 9:1-12 (Lk. 11:33-36)

Prayer:

Introduction:

Has anyone here ever been on a blind date? Some of us might have to think back a-ways. Any marriages happen that way? In a sense, ours did. God knew what He was doing even though I didn’t. We might be blind, but God is not. And everyone who comes to Him through salvation in Christ has a blind date with God. It is there waiting for us to know the One who is able to give peace to our souls. God knows when it will happen, but we do not. The only stipulation is that we must go on that blind date He has called us to. We can never know if we never go.

Here in this true story about a blind man in today’s text, we see a blind man from birth on a blind date with God. It was a divine appointment for which he was called and upon which he was willing to go. The story opens with another routine interruption in the life of Jesus and His disciples as they go along the way. Let us observe the story and see what it has to tell us about the Sanctity of Life.

I. Routine was interrupted. (v. 1)

II. Relevance was requested. (v. 2)

III. Revelation was given. (v. 3)

IV. Re-direction was the result. (v. 4)

V. Re-enactment was the lesson. (vv. 5-6)

VI. Re-creation was the healing. (v. 7)

VII. Response was inevitable. (vv. 8-29)

A. Response from his neighbors. (vv. 8-10)

B. Response to his neighbors. (vv. 11-12)

C. Response from the Pharisees. (vv. 13-16)

D. Response to the Pharisees. (v. 17)

E. Response from his parents. (vv. 18-23)

F. Recalled by the Pharisees. (vv. 24-25)

G. Rebutted by the Pharisees. (vv. 26-27)

H. Rejected by the Pharisees. (vv. 28-29)

VIII. Recantment was impossible. (vv. 30-33)

IX. Relevance revisited. (v. 34)

X. Reunion with Christ. (vv. 35-36)

XI. Revelation revisited. (vv. 37-38)

XII. Reaffirmation and Renouncement by Christ. (vv. 39-41)

To be blind is bad, but worse is it to have eyes and not to see.

Helen Adams Keller (1880–1968)

Conclusion:

Chicago’s temperamental transvestite. Even Rodman might be on a blind date with God. Even pray for him?

Clinic bombed in Atlanta this week.

If you’ve ever had an abortion - there is only one unforgiveable sin.

Lk. 12:10

News paper article: Ps. 16:8; 30:6; 62:2; 112:5-8,10; Is. 32:17

On A Blind Date With God: The Sanctity Of Life

January 19, 1997 John 9:1-41

I. _______ was interrupted. (v. 1)

II. _________ was requested. (v. 2)

III. __________ was given. (v. 3)

IV. ____________ was the result. (v. 4)

V. ____________ was the lesson. (vv. 5-6)

VI. ___________ was the healing. (v. 7)

VII. ________ was inevitable. (vv. 8-29)

A. Response from his _________. (vv. 8-10)

B. Response to his _________. (vv. 11-12)

C. Response from the _________. (vv. 13-16)

D. Response to the _________. (v. 17)

E. Response from his _______. (vv. 18-23)

F. ________ by the Pharisees. (vv. 24-25)

G. ________ by the Pharisees. (vv. 26-27)

H. ________ by the Pharisees. (vv. 28-29)

VIII. __________ was impossible. (vv. 30-33)

IX. _________ revisited. (v. 34)

X. _______ with Christ. (vv. 35-36)

XI. __________ revisited. (vv. 37-38)

XII. _____________ and ____________ by Christ.

(vv. 39-41)