Own up to Your Blessings!
Rev. Enoch Thompson | May 17, 2024 | John 9:8-9
KEY VERSE:
Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him." But he himself insisted, "I am the man.". John 9:9 (NIV)
MESSAGE:
People who have known us seem to have a great ability to remember our lowliness, sickness, backwardness, waywardness, blindness and badness when we have been graced by God and delivered by His might. They can only marvel at the transformation that has occurred and often marvel at what God has done, with a tinge of confusion as to whether we are really the people they knew before. We see that in our text today from the people around the former blind man: Some claimed that he was. Others said, "No, he only looks like him.” John 9:9 (NIV).
Observers may be pardoned for their confusion about us in view of what God has done, but we will remain unpardonable if we fail to own up to our blessing and declare that we are indeed those who have been visited by God. The healed blind man in our text passed the test of blessing-ownership. He saw the debate among the people, but he himself insisted, "I am the man." John 9:9 (NIV).
The ancient people of Israel record a similar experience in Psalms 126:1-3 (NIV);
When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion,
we were like men who dreamed.
² Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
"The Lord has done great things for them."
³ The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:
Are you aware of what God has done for you, which others might well be aware of about you? Are you able to stand up and declare that you have been a beneficiary of God’s grace? You must own your blessings and give God all the praise
PRAYER:
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for coming into my story and changing the narrative about me. I declare before Heaven that I have been blessed by your grace. Help me to declare before people that I am that one that has been touched by the goodness of God. For your dear Name’s sake, Amen.
THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.
SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!
DAILY word study: I AM THE MAN
The Greek phrase "I am the man" (Ἐγώ εἰμι) signifies a straightforward statement of self-awareness and recognition of one's own identity.
In this passage, the man who was formerly blind asserts his identity confidently when questioned by others who knew him. His declaration serves as a testimony to the miraculous work of Jesus in his life. This declaration echoes similar instances in the Bible where individuals express their personal experiences of transformation and encounter with God, such as the man born blind in John 9 and the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4.
The phrase "I am the man" highlights the transformative power of Jesus to change lives and bring about spiritual illumination. It underscores the importance of personal testimony in proclaiming the work of God in individual lives.
Reflections:
How does the declaration "I am the man" resonate with your experience of encountering Jesus and His transformative power in your life?
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