How to Overcome Spiritual Blindness

Spiritual blindness is a real problem! Do you have friends that are not followers of Jesus? Does it bother you that if they don’t give their lives to God they will be eternally lost? Do they respond positively when you invite them to church or to give their lives to God?

Ryoji Iwata

Family and friends that we love and are lost become a source of sorrow to us. It is heartbreaking to see them continue in the way that leads to death and eternal separation from God. What can we do?

There is a course of action to bring them to the truth. I will share that with you but first we must understand the root of the problem.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:3–6 (ESV)

The Problem – Spiritual Blindness

Paul tells us here the gospel is veiled or hidden.

He describes those who are blinded as the unbelievers – literally faithless. They do not have the faith for salvation. These people are all around us.

They are in our families, at work, at school, in our neighborhoods and even in our churches.

Often they come to church because they like the music, or the sermon, or the feeling they get. Even though they are spiritually blind and are desperate to get out of their circumstances they do not have the faith to be saved!

They cannot perceive the gospel because they have been blinded by the god of this age – Satan. Selfish desires like greed, envy, covetousness, materialism, consumerism and lust have blinded them and they are unable to see the light and truth of the gospel. They are suffering from spiritual blindness.

The Remedy – Prayer and More

Reaching those we love who are lost begins with prayer. When we intercede we begin to change the way things are.
Our prayer must be specific. We must ask God that the spiritual blindness would be healed and that they would see the light. The bonds of this world must be broken. This happens through our prayer.

We must pray for people by name. You will find it natural to pray for those you love but there may also be others God asks you to pray for. So you must ask God who you should pray for. It may be someone at work or even a casual acquaintance that God lays on your heart.

Prayer must continue until we see the person we pray for accepts a life of following Jesus.

God may also call you to fast to strengthen the prayer effort. It may be a single meal, a day each week or a fast that lasts several day. Allow God to lead you! Replace the meals with devoting yourself to spiritual nourishment in prayer and the word. Fasting is also a wonderful antidote to the spirit of consumption in our culture.

Because interceding is demanding spiritual work, you need time in the Word to replenish your soul. This will be a key to being able to pray continually until you see answered prayer.

When you intercede you also need a community for encouragement and edification. The church is God’s plan for his Kingdom. We must gather for worship, prayer, encouragement and mutual support.

Your Challenge

It is time for the church to expend much effort in effecting this remedy (prayer, fasting, the Word and fellowship) for those we love – for those loved by the Lord! Are you willing to devote yourself to this effort for this season of Lent – in order to win the lost and redeem those who have fallen away?