Podcast Summary: Change Church Podcast

Episode: Do You See What I See
Host: Pastor Dharius Daniels
Date: September 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this engaging sermon, Pastor Dharius Daniels unpacks the spiritual principle of "Do You See What I See?" Drawing from Matthew 9:27–31, he challenges listeners to pursue a deeper, transformative relationship with God that goes beyond mere modification—urging them toward spiritual metamorphosis. Pastor Dharius illustrates the difference between knowing about God, getting answers from God, and actually experiencing God’s presence. The journey, he argues, requires worship as an ongoing discipline that shifts the believer’s perspective, leading to clarity, wholeness, and authentic worship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. From Modification to Metamorphosis

• Theme Explanation:
  Pastor Dharius warns against settling for a mediocre faith—a life of spiritual modification when true metamorphosis is available through Christ.
• Illustration:
  The difference between being an improved caterpillar (modification) and becoming a butterfly (metamorphosis).
• Quote:

  "A modification is the equivalent of becoming a faster caterpillar. But a metamorphosis is the process of becoming a butterfly... One makes you better, the other makes you brand new." (02:00)

2. The Transformative Power of the Altar & Worship

• Altar as Metaphor:
  Not just a physical place, but a space of authentic encounter with God’s manifest presence—where true change happens.
• Types of Worship:
  Collective (Sunday gatherings) and personal (every day).
• Corporate Gathering:
  The necessity and value of worshiping together and how digital connection counts too.
• Quote:

  "You cannot find your wings until you find your altar. Because there are some things that are only altered by the altar." (03:52)
  "Scripture gives you information about Him. Prayer gives you answers from Him. Worship gives you Him." (09:16; repeated for emphasis at 11:44)

3. The Cost of Spiritual Dryness

• Fragility Without Presence:
  Life without God’s presence leads to spiritual dryness, which increases vulnerability to adversity.
• Analogy:
  Like a dry leaf that easily crumbles under pressure.
• Quote:

  "It doesn’t take much pressure for a dry leaf to crumble. And when you’re dry spiritually...you fall apart." (10:16)
  "But when you are connected to the soil of God's presence, you might be bit, but you will not break." (10:43)

4. Improving & Scaling Worship Life

• Growth Is Not Optional:
  Just as you try to improve your prayer and study life, you should also scale your worship life.
• Correct Vision Precedes True Worship:
  "You can’t worship God properly if you aren’t seeing God correctly." (15:10)
• Matthew 9 Insights:
  The story of Jairus, the woman with the issue of blood, and two blind men offers diverse models of faith and encounter.

5. Lessons of Faith: The Three Miracles

• Faith Shapes the Method:
  Jesus responded differently in each miracle—by touch, by a word, or through others’ faith—but all hinged on faith.
• Quote:

  "Faith doesn't just determine if God does it. Faith impacts how God does it." (22:37)

6. Blocking Out the Noise

• The Need to Remove Doubt:
  Sometimes Jesus removes people (and their noise) from a situation to create space for a miracle.
• Personal Reflection on Noise:
  Well-intentioned people and negative voices can reinforce what God wants to change.
• Quote:

  "Jesus telling them, 'Go away,' is Jesus saying, 'I’m going to remove the noise that’s confirming a condition I’m getting ready to change.'" (24:05) "Some breakthroughs are on the other side of you learning who to block out." (25:28)

7. Use What You Have

• The Blind Men’s Example:
  Despite lacking sight, they used their other faculties—feet, ears, voice—to pursue Jesus.
• Quote:

  "Don’t let what doesn’t work stop you from using what does work." (28:13) "If you use what does work, it’ll fix what doesn’t work." (28:16)

8. Expectancy through Testimony

• Learning from Others’ Blessings:
  The two blind men became expectant after hearing what Jesus did for someone else—moving from jealousy to anticipation.
• Quote:

  "They heard about what he did for somebody else and didn’t become jealous. They became expectant." (30:22)

9. Seeing Jesus Right: Personal Roadblocks

• Healing Required for Clear Vision:
  Evangelism is an act of worship, naturally stemming from truly “seeing” Jesus.
• Obstacles Identified:
  • Pain: Past experiences can blind us to God’s goodness.
  • Pride: Overestimating self and underestimating God’s grace.
  • Impatience: Frustration with God’s timing can breed offense and hinder worship.
• Quotes:

  "What blindness does Jesus need to heal so we can see him?" (34:02)
  "Don’t allow the bruises from the burden to blind you from the blessing in the middle of it." (35:10)
  "He just assists and will watch you take credit for what he did." (37:00)
  "Impatience breeds offense. And it's hard to worship when you're offended." (38:23)

10. The Principle of Pursuit

• Delay as Curriculum:
  God sometimes allows delays to cultivate persistence, rearranging priorities for deeper growth.
• Quote:

  "He could have healed them immediately, but he made them work more. This isn’t cruelty—it’s curriculum." (39:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "I want my wings." (03:33, Pastor Dharius) – Congregational refrain symbolizing the desire for spiritual transformation.
• "Scripture gives you information about Him. Prayer gives you answers from Him. Worship gives you Him." (09:16, 11:44, & 13:00)
• "You can't worship God properly if you aren't seeing God correctly." (15:10)
• "Some breakthroughs are on the other side of you learning who to block out." (25:28)
• "If you use what does work, it’ll fix what doesn’t work." (28:16)
• "Don’t allow the bruises from the burden to blind you from the blessing in the middle of it." (35:10)
• "Impatience breeds offense. And it’s hard to worship when you’re offended." (38:23)
• "He could have healed them immediately, but he made them work more. This isn’t cruelty—it’s curriculum." (39:22)

Key Timestamps

• 00:03 – Introduction to sermon supplements and Matthew 9
• 02:00 – Modification vs. metamorphosis: the caterpillar/butterfly analogy
• 05:14 – The importance of communal and digital worship
• 09:16 – Distinction: Information, Answers, Presence
• 10:16 – Analogy of spiritual dryness as a dry leaf
• 15:10 – Seeing God correctly as the basis for worship
• 18:06 – Faith lessons from Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood
• 22:37 – Faith’s influence on the method of miracles
• 24:05 – Removing the noise to make room for the miraculous
• 28:13 – The blind men “work what they’ve got”
• 30:22 – From testimony to expectancy
• 34:02–38:23 – Roadblocks to seeing Jesus: pain, pride, impatience
• 39:22 – The role of pursuit and persistence in spiritual growth

Conclusion

Pastor Dharius Daniels delivers a powerful message on the necessity of correct spiritual sight for authentic worship, illustrating how past experiences, pride, and impatience can block our vision of God’s goodness. He exhorts the congregation to expect transformation—metamorphosis, not mere modification—through disciplined, ongoing, and expectant worship. The call is clear: recognize and pursue God’s presence, use whatever faculties you have, learn from the testimony of others, block out discouraging “noise,” and let God heal your spiritual blindness for a worship that is both authentic and life-altering.

For more resources and to connect with Change Church, visit www.lifechange.org.