This is “Open My Eyes”
♪ ♪
>> I want to welcome all of
you to an amazing experience.
As you know, every year we
begin a 21-day fast,
and as you join us
for the program today,
we’re asking God to open our
eyes, that He would
show us things we have not seen,
that He would show us
the provision, the direction,
the protection,
the visitation
of His Holy Spirit
in our lives and in our families
like never before.
Let me tell you what I’m
talking about as we fast
and as we pray this year.
You know, there are four times
in the Scripture
that those words, open my eyes
are used or it says
the Lord opens someone’s eyes.
It wasn’t that they were blind,
and they couldn’t see
in these particular texts.
They had physical eyesight,
but we’re talking about
spiritual eyesight
that you see through the lenses
of faith.
You see through the lenses
of Calvary.
You see through the lenses
of God’s word every situation
that you’re facing
and as we fast and as we pray
in a new year,
God is going to open our eyes.
In Genesis 21, the Bible said
that Hagar was in
a desperate situation.
Maybe you are.
And she was in the wilderness,
and she had her child.
His name was Ishmael.
She had been put out
by Abraham and Sarah,
and she was hungry,
she was thirsty,
and she could not bear
what she was going through.
As a matter of fact,
the Bible said that she took
her baby, her young lad,
and she set him under a bush.
And I see bushes all with me.
I’m coming to you from
the Garden of Gethsemane,
and there’s bushes.
And she took a bush out
in the middle of the desert
and laid that child under
and just let that child
whimper and cry,
and the Bible said she walked
a bow’s shot away measuring
the space far enough out
away that she couldn’t hear
the cry of that child.
She put some distance
between it.
She said I just can’t stand
to see my child die.
And I thought about how
the Bible said that as the
child was crying that God
heard the cry of the child.
Not the cry of the mother.
The mother was weeping,
but God heard the cry
of the child in the desert,
and God sent His Spirit
to open her eyes.
The Bible said,
“And God opened her eyes,
and she saw a well of water.”
Now, I believe that there
are people who are listening
to me right now,
and God is listening
to the voice of your children.
They may be in harm’s way.
They may be with
the wrong people.
They may be doing things
that are breaking your heart.
They may be addicted to drugs,
but you’ve put Jesus in them.
You prayed over them.
You dedicated them.
You pleaded the blood.
You’ve witnessed.
You’ve told them about Jesus.
You prayed for them,
and you know what?
God can hear the cry no matter
how desperate the cry is
of our children,
and the Bible said that
when she had her eyes opened,
she saw the water.
Now, I just want to say
that God hears every parent,
and He hears you saying,
God, help my child.
That’s exactly what happened
to this woman named Hagar.
As she prayed and as she
cried out to God,
God opened her eyes,
and the voice of the lad,
God is hearing your children.
Even if they’re bound in drugs,
something in them is crying out.
Something in them is saying,
God, help me, and God knows,
and He has a covenant
with us about our children,
and God hears us,
and He knows where they are.
That’s what touched me
is God found that woman’s child
under a bush in the wilderness,
and God knows
where your children are.
God knows where your family is.
God knows where the people
that you care about are,
and He knows how to reach them.
So, first of all,
God opened her eyes
to provision.
He showed her a well,
and as you’re fasting
and praying, may God open
your eyes to His provision,
spiritual provision
and natural provision,
material provision,
financial provision.
God is going to open your eyes,
and you’re going to see things
you didn’t see before.
The well of water was
in the wilderness,
but she didn’t see it until God
opened her eyes,
and in this year on this fast,
God’s doing to open your eyes
to provision.
My God shall supply all your
needs according to His riches
in glory, and He’s going
to show you where
the provision is
in your wilderness.
The eyes of the Lord,
the Lord wants me to tell you,
are going to be upon your
children in this new year.
He’s going to open the
eyes of your children.
And then I think about
Numbers 22, and it talks about
a man by the man
by the name of Balaam,
and He’s going
in the wrong direction,
and he’s riding a donkey,
and he’s going in the direction
that was not the will of God
to go curse God’s people,
and the Bible said that God
opened the mouth of the donkey,
and the donkey starts talking
to the prophet
and says you’re going
the wrong way,
and he beats that donkey,
and he’s just beating
that poor animal mercilessly,
and the Scripture
said that eventually God opened
the eyes of Balaam,
and he saw an angel standing
with a sword in the path.
In other words,
God said I’m going to open
your eyes, Balaam,
and I’m going to show you you’re
going in the wrong direction,
and I’m going to show you
what the right direction
is for your life.
And I’m telling you
as I stand in
the Garden of Gethsemane today.
I believe God is going
to open your eyes,
number one, to divine provision.
He’s going to bless you,
and He’s going to open
your eyes to God ideas,
to creativity, to the right
provision that He has
for the vision He’s giving you.
He’s opening your eyes to that,
but secondly, He’s going
to open your eyes to the right
direction for you
and for your family.
If God could open the eyes
of Balaam in Numbers 22,
the Bible said and God
opened his eyes, and he saw
that he was going
in the wrong direction,
and I believe many of you have
loved ones who are going
in the wrong direction,
and you’ve tried your best
to talk to them.
You’ve tried, you’ve cried,
you’ve prayed,
but as you’re fasting,
I’m telling you, God can open
their eyes to how foolish
they’re being,
how wrong they are living,
how wrong the direction
of their life is going.
Only God can do that.
God can open their eyes
in one day.
God can open their eyes
and show them who the right
people are and who
the wrong people are,
and as we fast
and as we pray
we decree the right direction.
Your eyes shall be open
to the right direction.
What is God’s will
for your life?
The right direction.
God knows how to open your eyes
to it, and you’ll just know
this is right
and that is wrong.
This is the way I need to go.
The right direction
for your marriage.
The right direction
for your children.
The right direction
for your family.
Just say it right there.
God, open my eyes as I fast
and as I pray.
Then, I found another place
in the Bible where God
opened another man’s eyes.
His name was Elijah,
and the Bible said the Syrian
army had surrounded his house,
and he had a servant,
and the Scripture said
that the servant went out
on the porch and when he saw
the Syrian army at sunrise,
they had completely surrounded
the prophet,
and he ran in and he said,
Prophet, what are going to do?
We’re surrounded by the enemy.
Do you feel that way today?
We’re surrounded by the enemy,
and the Prophet prayed,
God, open my servant’s eyes,
and when he prayed those words,
the Bible said he went out,
and he looked at the same
circumstances that he was
surrounded by,
but then he saw something else.
That’s what fasting does.
It opens your spiritual eyes.
See, as long as you focus
on the physical problem,
the Bible said that
the natural things are temporal,
but the spiritual things
are eternal, and suddenly,
God opened his eyes,
and yes,
they were surrounded by enemy,
but then he saw
with spiritual eyes chariots
and horses of fire
that were descending
from the mountains.
They had come all the way
from heaven.
God had dispatched angels,
and the angels are being
dispatched to deliver
and protect God’s man, Elijah.
And I want to say
that God’s going to open
your eyes to protection.
He’s not only going to open
your eyes to provision
and to direction
but to protection.
The protection of the Lord
on your family,
the protection of the Lord
on your finances, on your life,
on your dreams, on your call.
We need God’s protection.
If ever there was an hour
that we need to learn to pray,
Lord, keep me from evil.
The evil one wants to kill,
steal, and destroy,
but we are going to have
our eyes open to the fact
that we’re overcomers
by the Blood of the Lamb
and the word of our testimony.
You know, when we understand
what Elijah saw,
the Bible said,
He said fear not.
Fear not.
And that’s what God wants
to get in somebody’s heart
who needs the protection
of God in the situation
and season that you’re in.
And the Bible said,
fear not for they that be with
you are more than they be
with them.
Don’t fear their attacks.
Don’t fear the schemes
of the enemy.
Don’t fear the attacks.
The Bible said in Psalms,
He said I will not suffer
your feet to be moved.
I’m not going to let the enemy
uproot you and throw you out
of everything I’ve given you,
but you’re under
divine protection.
Do you want God’s protection
on your life and family
in a new year?
There’s something about fasting
and praying that I believe
not only will open your eyes
to provision,
open your eyes to direction,
but it will open your eyes
to the protection
of the Lord.
I’m so thankful today
for the protection of the Lord.
I went to the Georgia Aquarium
one time with my kids
and was walking through
that one little tunnel.
I’ll never forget it.
They got a little tunnel
or a big tunnel,
and it’s got sharks
and it’s got deadly predators.
It’s got a Great White shark
and different sharks,
and you’re walking through it,
and you’re looking up,
and you can see
all these sharks that could
just really do damage to you,
but it’s like you’re in a tube,
and there’s something between
you and them.
That’s the kind of protection
I’m talking about.
I have to have it.
I know the enemy would kill me.
I know he would love to just
stop and wipe me out
and my family,
but I believe
in divine protection.
And then lastly,
I believe in God’s
divine visitation.
That’s why the Bible said
that they were marching,
and they were walking
with Jesus in Luke 24.
They had assembled themselves
in an Upper Room,
and the doors were shut,
and Jesus shows up,
but they didn’t know who He was.
They didn’t recognize Him,
and then when He broke
the bread, the Bible said,
their eyes were opened,
and they saw Jesus
and then He disappeared.
In other words,
God can open your eyes while you
fast and pray to a fresh
new visitation of Jesus Christ.
Isn’t that why we fast?
When it’s all said and done,
we’re not fasting
for anything but Him.
He is our provision.
He is our direction.
He is our protection,
and what we really are saying
is, God, open my eyes
to a fresh new visitation.
I want you to visit my home.
I want you to visit my life.
I want Jesus in my business.
I want Jesus in my home.
I want Him.
Fresh.
A fresh visitation.
I want the power of God.
So, Hagar had her eyes opened
to the provision of God,
and we know that Balaam
had his eyes opened
to the direction of God.
Elijah and his servant
had their eyes opened
to the protection of God.
The disciples had their eyes
opened to a visitation of God,
and it’s time for you
to have that kind of encounter
with God,
and as you fast and as you pray,
we just decree this a fast
where God opens the eyes
of our understanding to the hope
that is before us,
that we see the future
not in fear,
that we see the future not
in condemnation,
that we see the future
not in worry and stress
and anxiety,
but we see the future in hope,
faith, and love.
And you can see things
when God opens your eyes
that other people can’t see.
I read an article one time
about seeing eye dogs
and how they train them,
and they said the number one
difficulty with a seeing
eye dog, you know the dogs
that blind people use,
they said the number one
challenge is to get the dog
to view life not from down
where he is,
but he’s got to look
further out,
and he’s got to see through
his master’s eyes.
When we fast and pray,
we can start seeing things
through the Master’s eyes.
Hallelujah.
Our Master is Jesus.
And so I want to pray with
you in closing.
Father, in the mighty name
of Jesus, I ask you today
to open the eyes of people
as we fast, as we pray,
as we enter into 21 days
of consecration, fasting,
and praying.
Seeking your will,
you will release provision,
direction, protection,
and a divine, fresh visitation
of the power of the Holy Spirit
in our churches
and in our lives,
in Jesus’s name.
I believe that and if you
don’t know Jesus as your
Lord and Savior,
this is your moment.
This is why He came into
this place and began a cycle
of suffering like we
can’t even imagine that would
ultimately lead to His death
on the cross.
His blood spilled out for you.
So, right where you are at
the beginning of a new year,
just say, Jesus,
come into my life.
Lord, I’m so empty.
Open my eyes.
Maybe you’ve got doubts.
It’s okay.
Maybe you don’t really know
who God is, but you keep hearing
about Jesus.
Ask God to open your eyes.
Ask Him to open your eyes
to who Jesus is.
He is the Son of God.
He is your Redeemer,
your Savior, the one who can
heal your body.
Open my eyes, oh Lord,
to see a future of hope,
of joy, of life,
of faith in Jesus’s name.
Pray this prayer.
Say, Jesus, come into my heart.
Cleanse me, forgive me,
and open my eyes
in Jesus’s name.
He heard you.
Go to the phone.
Dial the number on the screen
or send us a message,
an email,
and we’ll help you
in your new walk.
If you want to join us
on this fast, we have all
the material you can imagine.
I’m going to be your
fasting coach.
You sound scared.
I don’t know what to do.
God’s going to open your eyes.
You just jump in here and do it
and watch what God will do.
You can find out every detail
of different kinds of fasts.
Ask God what kind of fast
you want to do.
But I’m going to tell
you something.
This is the hour to seek
God’s face.
We’re facing so many things
in this Nation,
and we need a move of God.
We need our eyes wide open
in times like these to discern
the will of God for our lives
and for our families.
So, I encourage you to do that.
It’s going to be
a glorious fast,
and you’re going
to be part of it.
Can’t wait to see what
God’s going to do,
and we’re going to see it.
These eyes are going to see
wonderful things
in Jesus’s name.
♪ ♪
>> As many, many churches
across our nation,
thankfully, have begun
a 21-day fast and they’re
all just seeking God,
I believe something
profound can happen,
not only in our nation,
but the nations of the world.
We are so aware that God
has given us a global
opportunity to reach people.
And you can join us
on this fast!
You’ll be able,
if you go online,
we’ve got amazing material
for the 21-day fast,
it’s all free and it’ll
be a tremendous blessing.
Then you can order our books
and material that I believe
will absolutely cause you
to go deeper and more intimate
with God than ever before.
And when you just say,
“I’m gonna remove
the distractions from my life
and focus on you, Jesus,”
look out.
Look out.
He said, if you draw nigh to me,
or draw near to me,
I’ll draw near to you.
Thank you and we look
forward to fasting
and praying with you.
You can do this.
I’ll be your fasting coast.
Somebody said,
if you want something
you’ve never had,
you gotta do something
you’ve never done.
It’s time for you
to get a new habit,
the habit of fasting.
I believe that if you’ll do it,
God will bless you.
Thank you.
Lord, speak to your
people today.
You know the needs
and we praise you.
Bless every one who says yes,
I’ll partner with that
ministry this year.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thank you and God bless you.
[Fire Truck Sirens]
>> Fires caused by rockets
and incendiary balloons
from the Hamas terrorist
group are a constant threat
to the nation of Israel.
In 2021 alone,
over 4,425 rockets have
been fired into Israel.
When these attacks are launched,
they cause massive fires
that threaten lives,
damage homes and businesses,
and also burn through large
areas of crops and farmland.
Remote places, like Eshkol,
the region in Israel closest
to the Gaza Strip,
are often left fighting
these fires on their own.
That is why Jentezen Franklin
Media Ministries has remained
committed to provided comfort
with grace to these
Jewish people in need.
Our latest initiative
is to provide fire stations,
fire trucks, and equipment
for the volunteer fire fighters
to protect their towns
and families.
By building a local fire
station and providing
the proper equipment,
we are easing the fear
and threat of the damage
that these fires cause.
When you give your
best gift today,
there is a blessing
waiting on you found
in Genesis 12:3,
“I will bless those
who bless you,
and I will curse him
who curses you.”
You can be a part
of the blessing today.
Israel is under constant attack
and your support today
matters more than ever.
These desperate Jewish families
urgently need your help.
Call now or go online today.
♪ ♪
>> Our story is a story
of getting knocked down,
trying everything
the world had to offer,
and finally deciding
to put God first.
You know, for me,
it started about 27 years ago.
So I got to high school
and I was still heavily
involved in athletics
and I thought, you know,
that’s who I am – an athlete.
In 10th grade, I didn’t
make the basketball team.
And so I really started
to look for different crowds
or different groups of people
that I could be.
And so, eventually I found
my identity in the party crowd.
You know, drugs and alcohol
take anybody.
So they accepted me as I was.
And so, I really started
to veer off.
I stopped attending church.
>> For me, I grew up
in a home with my grandparents
and my mom,
we were all living
in this apartment,
where I was mentally abused,
physically abused,
sexually abused from
the age of 4 until the age of 8.
From a very young age
I was strung out
and that just — you know,
I truly just felt like I was
dealt a crappy hand and I blamed
God for a long time.
>> So when I was
accepted to college,
I went down there and you know,
I was 18 years old,
so it was freedom.
You know, it was, you know,
drugs and alcohol
began to consume me.
I couldn’t control it on my own.
It got so dark in addiction,
I’ve done around 6 years
in either a prison cell
or a jail cell.
So 6 years of my life,
I’ve been incarcerated.
And little did I know that,
you know, as an addict,
you can’t run from it.
>> I lived a life of partying
and just trying
to find my identity.
I was 18, going on 19,
and I was at my lowest.
I was on probation
and I had failed
my first drug test.
And I was incarcerated for,
I don’t know, maybe 2 weeks
and then Free Chapel,
at the time,
was coming into the jail for,
like, the services,
and there is where I —
I guess I was actually saved
was in that jail cell
and you know, just the leading
of the people from Free Chapel
in the church service.
And from there I went
to New Beginnings
and spent a year there
and God set me free.
>> April 30th of 2013,
I was arrested again
and I wasn’t exactly cooperative
when they arrested me.
So they kept me up front
in a holding cell –
dark, lonely.
And I knew at that point
it was over.
And I didn’t know how to pray,
but I knew I needed help
and I knew that I couldn’t
because I tried myself over
and over and over again.
So I prayed a simple prayer:
“God help me.”
That’s all I knew.
“God help me, I can’t do it.”
That’s all I knew how to pray.
You know, and it started —
I surrendered.
And I knew instantly
when I surrendered,
it wasn’t like a dove came down
and landed on me
in that holding cell.
It wasn’t like flashes
of lightning.
But I knew it was over.
I knew that the urges
and cravings were instantly
delivered the moment
I surrendered it all.
And so, over the course
of those 17 months,
I got a Bible, and I started
reading devotionals.
And so I found out the more
persistent I was in seeking
a relationship with Him,
the easier my life got.
Today, I celebrate 8-1/2 years,
April 30th will be 9 years
of sobriety.
You know, anyone struggling
or experiencing the darkness
that God has delivered us from,
I’d like to encourage you
the breakthroughs and everything
that has happened in our lives
is because we start
each day seeking God.
>> Just seeking God
and putting Him first every day,
like, we have so much more going
on in our lives than
we ever thought was imaginable.
Like, we’re buying a house,
we have three beautiful kids,
we help people in recovery,
we teach recovery here
and volunteer here
at Free Chapel
wherever we can.
You know, it’s just been
a huge blessing for us.
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
♪ ♪
>> We hope you’ve enjoyed
this teaching
by Jentezen Franklin,
and thank you for
your continued support
of this ministry.
Your prayers
and financial support
make these programs possible.
For more information
about this message
and other ministry resources,
visit us online
at JentezenFranklin.tv.
♪ ♪