Give Me Your Eyes So I Can See (Part 2)

Give Me Your Eyes Overview

In this powerful second installment of the series Give Me Your Eyes So I Can See, Pastor Paul delivers a foundational yet urgent message calling believers to move beyond mere religious routine into genuine, active faith. Drawing from Romans 10:8-10, James 1:21-26, Psalms 1:1-3, and Philippians 2:12-16, he challenges the congregation to examine whether their Christianity is lived from the inside out or reduced to empty habit. The sermon explores the Greek word pistuo, meaning to fully trust, rely upon, and obey, unpacking what it truly means to believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord. Pastor Paul emphasizes that praying a prayer of salvation opens a door, but becoming a doer of the Word is what produces lasting transformation. Using the mirror analogy from James 1, he illustrates how hearing the Word without applying it leads to self-deception. The message closes with a rich teaching on water baptism drawn from Matthew 3:1-17, presenting baptism as an outward expression of an inward commitment to Christ, and announcing an upcoming baptism service on November 5th.

Give Me Your Eyes Outline

• 0:00:00 – Opening and Context: Pastor Paul opens by referencing Jennifer’s earlier illustration about Jesus healing the blind man, then introduces the sermon title and prays for open hearts and ears.
• 0:08:00 – The Foundation of Belief: Reading Romans 10:8-10, Pastor Paul unpacks what it means to confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, explaining the Greek word pistuo as full reliance and obedience.
• 0:18:00 – Doers of the Word, Not Hearers Only: Turning to James 1:21-26, he uses the mirror analogy to show that hearing without doing leads to self-deception, and that the Word of God is living, active, and meant to be applied daily.
• 0:30:00 – Planted by the River: From Psalms 1:1-3, Pastor Paul paints the picture of the believer as a tree planted by rivers of water, whose roots grow deep through consistent meditation on God’s Word and separation from ungodly influences.
• 0:40:00 – Acting Yourself Into a Feeling: Quoting Dr. Holman, Pastor Paul challenges the congregation to stop waiting to feel right before doing right, illustrating how acts of obedience and kindness produce joy and spiritual momentum.
• 0:49:00 – Working Out Your Salvation: From Philippians 2:12-16, he calls believers to obey not only in the presence of mentors but independently, shining as lights in a crooked generation by holding fast to the Word of life.
• 0:57:00 – Water Baptism and Outward Commitment: Reading Matthew 3:1-17, Pastor Paul teaches on John the Baptist and the baptism of Jesus, presenting water baptism as an outward expression of an inward commitment and announcing the upcoming church baptism on November 5th.
• 1:05:00 – Invitation and Closing: Pastor Paul extends a personal invitation to those who have never confessed Christ as Lord, emphasizing that no amount of church attendance or religious activity replaces a personal relationship with Jesus.

Scripture References

Romans 10:8-10, James 1:21-26, Psalms 1:1-3, Philippians 2:12-16, Philippians 4:13, John 16:33, Matthew 3:1-17

Key Takeaways

• Genuine salvation is not just praying a prayer but building an intimate, ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ through His Word and obedience.
• The Greek word pistuo, translated as believe in Romans 10:9, means to fully trust, rely upon, acknowledge, and obey Christ as Lord.
• Being a hearer of the Word only, without applying it, is a form of self-deception that keeps believers spiritually stagnant and vulnerable.
• It is far easier to act yourself into a feeling than to wait until you feel right before doing right, so obedience must come first.
• Meditating on God’s Word day and night, as described in Psalms 1, causes believers to be like trees with deep roots that cannot be easily shaken by trials.
• Water baptism is not merely a religious ritual but a bold, public declaration of an inward commitment to follow Jesus Christ.
• God’s Word is the believer’s ultimate authority and resource, and consistently applying it produces growth, blessing, and transformation in every area of life.

Give Me Your Eyes Notes

Pistuo: More Than Mental Agreement

Pastor Paul draws the congregation’s attention to the Greek word pistuo, the word translated believe in Romans 10:9. This word carries far more weight than intellectual acknowledgment. It means to trust fully, to rely upon, to be persuaded completely, and to submit in obedience. This distinction is crucial because many people assume that agreeing with the idea of Jesus is enough. But Scripture calls for a reliance that reshapes behavior, speech, and priorities. Faith that does not produce change is not the faith the Bible describes. Understanding pistuo reframes what it means to call Jesus Lord.

The Mirror That Changes Nothing

James 1:23-24 describes a man who looks at his face in a mirror and immediately forgets what he saw after walking away. Pastor Paul applies this vividly to believers who attend church, hear the Word, feel moved, and then return to unchanged lives. The illustration is simple but piercing: the Word of God is meant to function like a mirror that reveals who we truly are in Christ, but only if we linger, absorb, and act on what we see. Going to church once a week without personal daily engagement with Scripture produces exactly this kind of forgetfulness.

Deep Roots Require a Clean Diet

Drawing from Psalms 1:1-3, Pastor Paul describes the blessed believer as a tree planted by rivers of water, yielding fruit in every season. But he adds a practical warning: if a believer spends one hour a day in prayer and the Word but eight hours absorbing negativity, foul language, and ungodly influence, the spiritual diet is dangerously lopsided. Roots grow deep only when nourishment is consistent and the environment is right. This does not mean isolating from the world entirely, but it does mean being intentional about what we allow to saturate our minds and shape our inner life.

Baptism as a Bold Public Declaration

Pastor Paul spends significant time in Matthew 3:1-17 teaching on water baptism. He clarifies that baptism is not a sacrament that earns salvation but an outward expression of an inward commitment. Just as Jesus himself came to John to be baptized at the launch of his public ministry, baptism marks a visible turning point for the believer. It announces to family, friends, coworkers, and even strangers that a real change has taken place. Pastor Paul connects this to boldness, reminding the congregation that the righteous are called to be bold as lions, unashamed of the Gospel before a watching world.

Doing Right Before You Feel Right

One of the most practical and memorable moments in the sermon comes when Pastor Paul quotes Dr. Holman: most people wait until they feel right to do right, but they have it backwards. It is much easier to act yourself into a feeling than to feel yourself into action. This principle cuts across every area of Christian living, from reading the Bible when exhausted, to showing kindness when irritated, to serving others when depleted. Each act of obedience, however small, releases the Holy Spirit to move and builds the internal momentum that eventually produces the feelings of peace, purpose, and joy believers are waiting for.

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