6 June 10
· Have you ever felt hold back by your past?
· Have you ever felt hold back by your circumstances?
· Have you ever felt hold back by reactions of people?
· This story will inspire you to believe God and Arise up out of limitations
(a) Key passage: Mark 10:46-52
“Blind Bartimaeus son of Timaeus sat by the road begging”
· The Holy Spirit records who he is - draws the attention to his name and his condition
· “Bartimaeus” = The son of Timaeus
· “Blind” = unable to see, No vision, No purpose No direction
= living in a world of darkness and limitations
· The Holy Spirit records where he is from – draws attention to his background
· “Timaeus” = to be defiled, polluted, unclean
= well known person, rejected and despised because of lifestyle
(b) Your past does not determine your future!
Mark 10 :47
“He heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth”
· Heard” = may be blind but other senses sharpened
- Heard how Jesus had healed others
- Heard Jesus never refused any one who came to him
- Heard Jesus was on his way to Passover, coming that way
- Revelation that Jesus was the Son of David, The Messiah, before received unto Jesus
- He had not been told that, no one had ever heard that, he knew it
- Blind, but could see things that others couldn’t see
· ‘He began to cry out” = to yell out in a loud voice
· He believed that Jesus could change him, change his life
· He had a dream, a dream in his heart
(c) You must choose to believe God can Change You
· “Many warned him to be quiet”
· “Warned” = to find fault, tell him to stop, to try and limit or restrict
· “Many” = the crowd of religious people on their way to Jerusalem
· Religion blinds people to the heart of God
- Hatred blinds people
- Pride blinds people
- Prejudice blinds people
- Mindsets blinds people
- Familiarity blinds people
· People don’t like people who are positive, who dare to believe God
· They react to people who say:
- ‘Walked through this valley long enough’
- ‘Tired of being poor, I’m believing to come out’
- ‘I will be healed, my life will change’
(d) Determined Prayer Gets Jesus’ Attention:
Mark 10 :48
“He cried out all the more”
· He refused to be intimidated, refused to be ignored, refused to be discouraged
· He increased his cry- ‘all the more’ – I don’t care what you think
· Jesus loves people who go to the next level, who won’t quit, who cry out more
Verse 48
“Jesus stood still and commanded them”
· Somebody in this crowd is crying out – “I hear him”
· People may push you, talk about you, judge you but ‘cry out!’
· “Find that man who is screaming, find him now!”
· When you cry out He is going to stop and call your name
· “He is calling for you” v49
(e) Living Faith can be seen by what you do:
· Faith is not just talking’ it is acting like you believe
Verse 50
“Throwing aside his Garment he arose and came to Jesus”
· “His Garment” = official hence to beg, colored shawl authorize to beg
1) Beggars Lifestyle:
· Old way of living dependant upon other people
· Fearful of people, doubts, uncertainty, subject to response f people
· Cast off = Expectation of a new life, not going to be a beggar any more
· “I am through with the Beggars Lifestyle!”
2) Limitations on his life:
· Garment identified him as a beggar
· Garment = identity, limitations
· Cast off = break out of old mindsets, limitations, have new goals
· “I am through with limitations”
3) Hurts of the past:
· Garment comfort to wrap around him
· Comfort from hurts of the past, cruel words, abuse, people spitting, tears over lost dreams and hopes
· Wrapped garment around him to protect himself
· Hurts repeated, rehearsed, drawing around self
· “I am through with the hurts of the past”
4) False Security:
· Garment was his license to beg, insurance of income
· Garment was his security – What if nothing happens?
· Garment was his comfort zone – Security
· “I am through with false security”
(f) He knew what he wanted and spoke it:
Mark 10 :50 – 57
“He threw away his garment … he arose … picked himself up and came to Jesus”
“What do you want?”
· He didn’t act like a blind man
- You need to cast off negative attitudes, judgments, hurts and limitations
- You need to pick yourself up and come to Jesus
- ‘I want to see!’
- ‘I want vision!’
- ‘I want purpose!’
- ‘I want freedom!’
Mark 10 :57
“Your faith has made you whole … immediately he saw”
· He followed Jesus on the road – A New Lifestyle