February 16, 2014
Morning Service

Luke 18:35-43.

 

Recently we have been studying chapter 18 of Luke.  Remembering that Luke was a gentile, and a Dr.  Dr. Luke, who also wrote the book of Acts, was a native of Antioch of Syria.  There is no record concerning his conversion to Christianity.  He hooked up with Paul at Troas, according to Acts 16.  He was not eye witness to the Lord’s ministry, but assured us in the opening chapter of Luke, that he understood everything very clearly.

·         Luk 1:1-4  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,  (2)  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;  (3)  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,  (4)  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

Seeing that God has chosen this Gospel as one He wanted us to have, and according as the Apostle Paul who received his knowledge directly from God, and being chosen to write 2/3 of our N.T. Bible, he tells us that all Scripture is given by the inspiration of God.  We accept and believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, and is infallible.  So each and every time we study from our Bible we are hearing directly from God Almighty.

 

***In chapter 18 of Luke we have seen the parable of the woman and the judge.  Persistency in prayer.

***Prayer in the temple by the Pharisee, and the tax collector.  Our attitude in Prayer.

***Jesus’s attitude toward children.  Teaching us what our attitude should be in life.

***Then the parable of the rich ruler.  The difficultly of entering heaven, being rich.

***Jesus will faithfully reward those who sacrifice the things of this world to follow Him.

***Then Jesus tells His disciples again that the Son of Man must go into Jerusalem, and be delivered to the gentiles, and will be mocked, insulted, and spit upon.  They will scourge Him, and put Him to death, and the third day He will rise again.

They never really grasp this until He appeared to them after His resurrection.

 

This morning we look at one of the classic examples of the Lord’s healing power.  Blind Bartimaeus.

 

Luk 18:35-43  And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:  (36)  And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.  (37)  And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.  (38)  And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.  (39)  And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.  (40)  And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,  (41)  Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.  (42)  And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.  (43)  And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

 

This morning I want you to understand that Bartimaeus received his healing from the Lord, and that this lesson this morning is for anyone that needs healing from the Lord.

The Scriptures tell us that “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  This is today, and forever.

·         The story tells us that a certain blind man sat by the wayside begging.  This man had a definite need.  There are many today with definite needs.

·         Have you ever thought about this when you see all the people in our community that needs a touch from God?  I pass by boarding houses where men, and women are sitting on the porches, with no hope, no drive, or understanding on how to make their life better.  Beer cans piling up, poorly dressed, and looking defeated.

·         Little girls pushing strollers with one or two little babies in them.  They don’t have a chance in life without someone stepping in, helping them, and pointing them to Jesus.   

·         I will be the first to admit, I feel guilty for not stopping, and sharing Christ, and a better life to them.  This will certainly be one of my goals for the upcoming year.

This was Bartimaeus.  Blind, and without hope.  He was a beggar.  Not much hope in life.

·         Bartimaeus heard the commotion and ask what was going on.  Inquisitive.

·         I will say that there are some good things being done by different congregations, and to me this is making a noise.  We help when we can, but, something has to be done that will make a lasting impression on lives.  A single congregation can only do so much, but united we should be able to make a lot of noise, so people will notice, and cause them to cry out, “Jesus, have mercy on me.”

·         ***But, I think we have to pray hard, and get involved in a hands on manner to make this work.

·         Pray, that God will place within their hearts a desire for a better life.  That they will cry out for Jesus to come and help them.  He is their only hope.  The Government is not.

·         Hands on, in the respect of visiting, and sharing a risen Lord, Who has all the answers.  Get the Word of God in their hands, and let Him, through the Word bring new life.

Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.”

·         When Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus, the world tried to hush him, but he cried out the more.  Satan will do all he can to stop the church from helping the needy, and bringing glory to God.

Jesus is more than willing to make a difference in someone’s life.  It is up to us to encourage, and pray that they will want what Bartimaeus wanted, healing, and better life.  Jesus will do it, and we got to be the ones who tell them.

 

Just how is this going to happen?  Let’s look at the great commission one more time. 

Mat 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

·         I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.

·         We know our God has all power, and that He has sent us as His disciples to teach all nations, and to baptize them into Christ, and to teach them to observe all things whatsoever He has commanded us, and we understand that He will be with us always, and in all our endeavors.  Even to the end of the world.

His goal has not changed, nor will it ever.  Luk 4:18-19  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,  (19)  To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

We must do this in a manner that will cause all people to seek for the Lord, and be healed to a better life, to be like Bartimaeus.  He followed the Lord, giving glory to God Almighty.  This will cause all people to know we serve a living God, Who really cares, and will help anyone who calls on Him.  This will cause all people to praise our God.   GOD IS LOVE!

Lord, our prayer would be that all these things we have discussed this morning will stay on our hearts, and You will help us to accomplish wonderful things for you in the coming year.  Amen.