July 8 2026, Wednesday Teachings

 

The Blind Man's Testimony – From Receiving Sight to Defending Christ

Text: John 9

Jesus saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked Him,

"Master, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

Jesus answered,

"Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." 

Jesus spat on the ground, made clay with the saliva, anointed the blind man's eyes, and said,

"Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam."

The man obeyed, went, washed, and came back seeing. 

His neighbors, who had known him as the blind beggar, were amazed.

Some said, "This is the man."

Others said, "No, he only looks like him."

But he kept saying,

"I am he."

When they asked how his eyes were opened, he replied,

"A man called Jesus made clay, anointed my eyes, and told me to go to the Pool of Siloam and wash. I went, I washed, and I received my sight."

When they asked him where Jesus was, he answered,

"I do not know." 

The First Stage: A Simple Testimony

Notice something important.

At this point, the man did not know who Jesus was. He had heard His voice, obeyed His instruction, received his miracle, but had never actually met Him personally.

All he knew was:

"A man called Jesus told me what to do. I obeyed Him, and now I can see."

That is the beginning of every believer's testimony.

People around him began asking questions:

• "How did this happen?"
• "What changed?"
• "How did your life become different?"

In the same way, when someone encounters Christ, people who knew their former life begin to ask questions.

"How come you have changed?"

"You used to live differently. What happened?"

The simplest testimony is:

"I heard about Jesus. I believed Him. My eyes have been opened. Now I can see."

That is the basic testimony of salvation.

The Second Stage: Defending Your Faith

The neighbors brought the man to the Pharisees.

The religious leaders questioned him again because Jesus had healed him on the Sabbath. Some said,

"This man is not from God."

Others wondered,

"How can a sinner perform such miracles?"

When they asked the man what he thought of Jesus, he boldly replied,

"He is a prophet." 

Notice his growth.

At first Jesus was simply "a man called Jesus."

Now, under pressure, he declares,

"He is a prophet."

His understanding of Christ was increasing.

The Pharisees tried to intimidate him, questioned his parents, and challenged his testimony, yet he refused to deny what had happened.

He stood his ground.

A Greater Encounter

Later, Jesus found the man again and asked,

"Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

The man answered,

"Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"

Jesus said,

"You have now seen Him; it is He who is speaking with you."

Then the man said,

"Lord, I believe."

And he worshiped Him. 

His faith moved to another level.

He first believed through obedience.

Later, he encountered Jesus personally.

Everything changed.

Jesus' Final Lesson

Jesus declared,

"I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see may see, and those who think they see may become blind."

The Pharisees asked,

"Are we blind also?"

Jesus answered,

"If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains." 

The Lesson for Us

There are two stages in this man's testimony:

1. Receiving salvation and sharing a simple testimony—"I was blind, but now I see."
2. Standing firm in the face of opposition and defending Christ.

Although he was eventually put out of the synagogue, he refused to deny what Jesus had done for him.

That challenges us today.

Many believers can passionately defend their denomination, church, or pastor.

But can we defend Christ with that same passion?

Can we stand for Jesus when questioned?

Can we boldly testify about Him, even when people oppose us?

Like the man born blind, may we not only receive the light of Christ but also stand firmly and faithfully bear witness to Him wherever we go.

Defending Christ: The Evidence of Spiritual Growth

Remember, Jesus is the Light that shines in darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome or comprehend that Light. 

After healing the man born blind, Jesus declared:

"For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who think they see may become blind."

The Pharisees then asked Him,

"Are we blind also?"

Jesus answered,

"If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains." 

This concludes the story of the blind man's testimony, and it reveals two important stages of spiritual growth.

The first stage is receiving the new birth—having your eyes opened by Christ.

The second stage is defending that new birth.

The man who had been healed refused to deny what Jesus had done for him. He was not intimidated by the reputation, titles, or authority of the Pharisees. Even when they cast him out of the synagogue, he remained faithful to Christ. As far as organized religion was concerned, he was rejected, yet he refused to abandon the One who had opened his eyes.

That raises an important question for us.

Many believers can passionately defend their denomination, pastor, or local church. But how passionately can you defend Christ?

Can you stand your ground when people oppose the gospel?

Can you boldly testify about Jesus with the same zeal you use to defend your church or spiritual leader?

Most of the time, our defense is expressed through arguments about who preaches better, whose ministry is greater, or which denomination is right. Yet Christ is not defended through arguments.

Christ is defended through the gospel we preach.

When you lead someone into the presence of the Lord, when you preach the gospel that brings salvation, you are defending Christ by bearing witness to Him.

The Shape of Christ in the Believer

The human spirit is weak when it is immature. That is why it must be taught, trained, and formed into the image of Christ.

The life of Christ has a definite shape, and that shape must become evident in us.

Christ is:

• God-fearing.
• Obedient.
• Patient.
• Long-suffering.
• Enduring.
• Humble.
• Gentle.
• Meek.
• Spiritually alert and active.

Endurance is the shape of Christ in a believer.

Many people rejoice when life is easy, but the moment difficulties arise, their language changes.

Yesterday they were shouting, "Jesus! Jesus!"

Today they are asking,

"Lord, what is happening? I cannot continue anymore."

Christ endured suffering, even to the point of death. Though He was God, He never used His position to exalt Himself or demand recognition. He never said, "Do you know who I am?"

Yet sometimes, while sharing the gospel, if someone speaks harshly to us, pride immediately rises within us. That reaction reveals that Christ is still being formed in us.

Humility and meekness are marks of Christ.

Christ is also active and spiritually sharp. Scripture calls Him the life-giving Spirit. He is never dull, passive, or spiritually asleep. Wherever darkness rises, Christ responds with power.

The same life should be evident in us.

Be bold in spiritual things.

Be bold in speaking the truth.

Be bold in defending the gospel.

If you have not yet spoken up for Christ, let this encourage you. The Lord who lives in you is living, active, and powerful.

The Purpose of the New Man Class

This course is called a foundational course because these are qualities every believer must possess.

We are not merely gathering information.

We are being built.

These qualities form your spiritual stamina. They strengthen your inner man until you become spiritually mature.

The goal is that you will no longer depend entirely on other people for your walk with God.

If one leader is absent, your spiritual life should not collapse.

God desires that every believer knows Him personally—from the least to the greatest.

The Holy Spirit Himself is our Teacher.

Human teachers are only helpers. We are fellow learners being used by God, but Christ remains the true Teacher.

As you continue to grow, the Lord will also use you to teach and strengthen others.

Never imagine that ministry is about a particular person. Ministry belongs to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We are simply vessels through whom He works.

Growing Strong Enough to Defend Your New Birth

The purpose of this foundational training is to build your spirit so that you can defend your faith.

That is why John 9 is such an important illustration.

The man born blind defended what Christ had done in his life.

Likewise, the Samaritan woman in John 4 defended the truth she had received. Jesus corrected her understanding of worship, teaching that true worship is not about a physical location but about worshiping the Father in spirit and in truth. 

Many believers still hold tightly to old patterns, traditions, or personalities instead of Christ Himself.

If you can passionately defend a denomination, a church, or a spiritual leader, but cannot confidently defend Christ and His gospel, then your growth is incomplete.

The Lord is raising believers who are spiritually strong—not spiritually weak.

This course is designed to strengthen your inner man, develop spiritual maturity, and build you into someone who can stand firm, proclaim the gospel boldly, and faithfully defend the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Growth of the New Birth Unto Sonship

Our new birth is the beginning of God's work in us.

As we have said before, New Man Class A1 is a fundamental class of Kingdom Fellowship for the growth of the Word that is born again in us unto our sonship with the Father.

The Word of God that has been deposited in us through the new birth is not meant to remain a seed. It is meant to grow until it produces the full stature of sonship.

This is why the Scriptures declare:

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given..." (Isaiah 9:6). 

Every Christmas we quote this verse, but there is a spiritual lesson in it.

A child is born, but a son is given.

Birth is the beginning; sonship is the goal.

Likewise, every believer is born again, but the purpose of the Christian life is growth into mature sonship. The new birth introduces us into the Kingdom, but growth prepares us to function as sons of the Father.

Kingdom Fellowship Is a Gathering of Growing Believers

New Man Class A1 is a foundational class within Kingdom Fellowship.

Kingdom Fellowship is not merely a meeting of people. It is a spiritual gathering of men and women who are on a journey of growth in Christ.

Earlier, we described the New Man Class as a gateway into this fellowship. It is the entrance through which believers begin the process of sanctification and spiritual formation.

Those who enter this fellowship are being separated unto God and prepared for His purpose.

Growth Is the Theme of the New Man Class

If you observe every level of the New Man series—A1, A2, and beyond—you will notice that growth is always the emphasis.

Previously, we explained that this course is a foundational course for the growth and building of the spirit man.

Now we add another dimension.

It is also a foundational course for the growth of the Word that was born again in us until we attain sonship.

The Word deposited in us at the new birth must continue growing until it matures our lives.

The Spirit Man Grows in Understanding

One of the first evidences of this growth is understanding.

The spirit man grows in the knowledge and understanding of the new man that has been deposited within him.

As understanding increases, spiritual maturity increases.

As maturity increases, we move closer to the Father's purpose for our lives.

This is the journey toward sonship.

Understanding New Man Class A1

New Man Class A1 is the first class in the New Man series.

It is the foundational class upon which every other level is built.

Just as a building requires a strong foundation before additional floors can be added, our spiritual lives require a solid foundation before greater responsibilities can be entrusted to us.

This course lays that foundation.

Its purpose is to establish believers in the reality of the new birth, to strengthen the spirit man, and to nurture the growth of the Word of God within them until they become mature sons of the Father.

Everything that follows in the New Man series builds upon this foundation. Without it, spiritual growth lacks stability; with it, the believer is prepared to grow steadily into the fullness of Christ. 

The Growth of the Word Unto Sonship

When we say "unto my sonship with the Father," we are speaking about the development of the spirit man.

The spirit man grows in the understanding of the Word that has been deposited within him. As this understanding increases, the portion of Christ in him also develops.

The growth of the Word within us is directly proportional to the development of Christ in us.

But how does this growth take place?

The growth of the Word that was deposited at the new birth is built on the principles of the course. That is why you are taught specific principles. As you obey and practice those principles, the Word in you grows, and your spirit man begins to understand the transformation taking place within you.

That inward transformation is your spiritual growth.

As we continue, we will explain two important subjects:

• The growth of the Word that was born again in us.
• Our sonship with the Father.

The spirit man, who is the student in this class, grows in the understanding of the new man that has been deposited within him.

The Formula for Spiritual Growth

How does the Word grow within us?

The foundation is simple:

• Obedience
• Application
• Practice of the principles taught

This is the formula for the growth of the new birth.

We can express it this way:

Spiritual Growth = The Quantity of the Word Applied ÷ The Quantity of the Word Received

In other words, our growth is determined not merely by how much we hear, but by how much we obey.

The growth of the Word in us is proportional to the amount of the Word we put into practice.

That is why we say that growth is built upon obedience through the application of the principles of this course.

Whatever you are taught, if you faithfully apply it, it becomes part of your spiritual growth.

Growth Produces Spiritual Substance

Growth is the formation of spiritual substance within a believer.

Faith begins by hearing the Word, but substance is produced when the Word is consistently obeyed.

The man born blind is an excellent example.

Jesus simply told him,

"Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam." 

He could have questioned the instruction.

He could have asked,

"How will washing solve my blindness?"

Instead, he obeyed.

The miracle became the substance of his faith because he acted upon the instruction he received.

The same principle appears in the story of Naaman, the Syrian commander. When Elisha instructed him to dip seven times in the River Jordan, Naaman initially resisted because the instruction seemed too simple. Yet when he humbled himself and obeyed, he was healed. Obedience produced the manifestation of God's power.

Likewise, the blind man obeyed, and his eyes were opened.

Applying the Principles of the Course

The same principle applies to New Man Class.

Every day you are taught principles to practice.

The principles of this course are clearly laid out:

• Study.
• Pray.
• Speak.

Study the Word consistently.

Maintain a disciplined prayer life.

Share the gospel through evangelism.

These are not merely activities; they are the principles by which the Word grows within you.

For example:

• Study the Scriptures daily.
• Maintain your prayer schedule, including times of corporate or midnight prayer where applicable.
• Speak the gospel to others.

Evangelism is one of the practical expectations of this course. As you grow, you should be leading others toward Christ and helping them begin their own spiritual journey.

Why Believers Grow at Different Rates

Not everyone grows at the same pace.

Suppose you receive three instructions.

If you obey only one, your growth will differ from someone who obeys all three.

We may all attend the same class and hear the same teaching, yet our levels of growth will be different because our levels of obedience are different.

That is why New Man Class A1 is described as:

A foundational class of Kingdom Fellowship for the growth of the Word that was born again in us unto our sonship with the Father.

Growth comes through obedience.

Growth comes through application.

Growth comes through consistently practicing the principles of the course.

Growing Into Sonship

What, then, is sonship?

Sonship is the stage of maturity where we begin to understand the Father's heart and recognize His voice.

A child and a son are not the same.

A child is dependent.

A son is mature.

A son understands his father's desires.

A son supports his father's work.

A son is invested in his father's business.

A child, on the other hand, depends on others for everything. A child must constantly be supervised because he has not yet developed the maturity to act responsibly.

God's desire is not simply that we remain His children by new birth, but that we mature into sons who know Him, understand His purposes, and faithfully represent Him in His Kingdom.

Growing into the Sonship of the Father

A son is different from a child.

A son understands his father. He supports his father. He is committed to his father's business and carries his father's interests as his own.

A child, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with being cared for. A child's life revolves around eating, playing, sleeping, and receiving. Everything is done for the child.

You cannot leave a young child alone at home without supervision. An adult must remain with the child because the child has not yet developed the maturity to carry responsibility.

In the same way, there is a difference between being a child of God and growing into sonship.

When we speak about the sonship of the Father, we are speaking about growth in understanding and growth in responsibility.

A son begins to ask,

"Father, what can I do for You?"

Instead of asking only,

"Father, what can You do for me?"

Many believers remain at the level of spiritual childhood. Their relationship with God revolves around receiving blessings.

Their testimonies are often:

• "The Lord blessed me with a car."
• "The Lord blessed me with a job."
• "The Lord blessed me with a spouse."
• "The Lord blessed me with children."
• "The Lord blessed me financially."

These testimonies are good, but we should also ask ourselves:

What have I done for the Lord?

How am I participating in His work?

That is the heart of sonship.

Jesus demonstrated this perfectly when He said,

"My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work." 

His focus was not on what the Father could give Him but on accomplishing the Father's will.

That is the attitude of a mature son.

A child constantly says,

"Give me."

A son asks,

"How can I serve?"

Many believers are still growing from spiritual childhood into maturity, and that is why this course exists. As we obey and apply the instructions we receive, we gradually develop the heart of a son.

Growth Comes Through Application

Earlier we introduced the formula for spiritual growth:

Growth = Quantity of the Word Heard × Quantity of the Word Applied

The emphasis is not merely on hearing the Word but on applying it.

Whenever we speak about the "quantity of the Word heard," we are referring to every instruction, command, and direction you receive through the teaching of this course.

When you obey those instructions, growth takes place.

This is why New Man Class A1 is described as:

A foundational class of Kingdom Fellowship for the growth of the Word born again in us unto our sonship with the Father.

Growth happens through obedience.

Growth happens through application.

Growth happens by faithfully keeping the principles of the course.

What Is Sonship?

For your notes:

Sonship is growth in understanding:

• The mind of the Father.
• The voice of the Father.
• The works of the Father.
• The ways of the Father.

As this understanding grows, your involvement in the Father's work also grows.

You are no longer merely waiting to receive from God.

Instead, you begin to understand His desires, participate in His work, and carry His burdens.

Jesus expressed this when He said that He did only what He saw His Father doing. His life reflected the Father's heart and works.

This is the goal of spiritual maturity.

Sonship Produces Responsibility

Sonship is responsibility.

Although you are beginning this journey in New Man Class A1, the purpose is to grow into people who understand what the Father is doing on the earth.

One of the Father's greatest works today is reconciling people to Himself through the gospel.

That is why evangelism is a major emphasis of this course.

As you receive the teachings, they become your foundation and your language. They equip you to speak to others, share the gospel, and bring people to Christ.

What Is the "Word Heard"?

Finally, what do we mean by the Word heard?

The Word heard includes everything communicated through the teaching of the course:

• Instructions.
• Commands.
• Directions.

Every lesson contains these three elements.

Your responsibility is to identify them and put them into practice.

The general instruction for this course is found in its core principles:

• Study
• Pray
• Speak

These are the standing instructions for every student.

However, each lesson may also contain specific instructions, commands, or directions that apply to that particular teaching.

As you study, ask the Lord to open your eyes to recognize those instructions, and then faithfully obey them.

That is how spiritual growth takes place.

As we conclude, let us encourage you to remain committed to the principles of the course. Study diligently, maintain your prayer life, and come to each class prepared not only to learn but also to speak, share, and apply what you have received. Growth is not measured by what you hear alone, but by what you faithfully put into practice.