“And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not. Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken” (Luke 24:24).
In our human state, our perception is sometimes dull. We don’t perceive or understand the way we ought to. But the praying in the Holy Ghost causes our perception to be clear.
The disciples had dull perception all the time they were walking with Jesus. All that time they heard what He said and they never figured out in three and a half years who He was. The Holy Spirit had not illuminated Jesus to them, so they where unable to see it even though they were there all the time.
I’m sure you’ve known people of whom you can’t understand why in the world they just don’t get the plan of salvation. You’ve been telling them, “Can’t you see you are going the wrong way? Can’t you see all this stuff that is happening to you?”
They have dullness of perception. They are not able to see. And the only thing that will help some people see is that somebody prays that the scales are lifted from their eyes. If you look at our text you’ll see that some disciples just couldn’t see the resurrection of Jesus.
They had dullness of perception. There was once a time in your life when you couldn’t see that Jesus is Lord, even though somebody told you. Then when the word of God came along nothing happened; but people kept showing you the word for a while, and finally you saw it. Thank God, somebody was praying for you.
And there are many people we must pray for today to see the gospel clearly. Paul tells us specifically how to pray in Ephesians 1:17-19 to remedy that problem.
Now remember what you find in the scripture is Spirit anointed prayer. You can take the prayers that are in the scriptures prayed by Paul and others and you can pray those prayers. The anointing is on their prayer. When you pray those prayers, they still work for you today. That is why they are in the scriptures.
Following is a very important prayer to pray to get rid of dullness of perception.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.
(Eph. 1:17-19)
Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 1:15-23
Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).