Text: Mark 10:46-52

46 “And as he was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside.

47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”

50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus.

51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.”

52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.”


References:
Mathew 20:29-34

Luke 18:35-43.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed,”

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”


Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

References:
John 10:36

John 20:16

Three KEY Observations from the story of Bartimaeus

#1 Bartimaeus Had Persistence

Bartimaeus displayed persistence even though everyone around him was trying to silence him.

Matthew 7:7-8

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

ASK. SEEK. KNOCK.

If you will do these three things.... You will...
• RECEIVE
• FIND
• The Door Will OPEN

#2 Bartimaeus Had Faith

Bartimaeus was healed... Because of his faith!
Jesus said in verse 52... “Go your way; your faith has made you well.”

We see the exact same thing in Mark 5:34 with the woman with the issue of blood... Jesus said to her... “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease."

Bartimaeus and the Woman with the issue of blood... show us three key things of faith

Their Faith Is In Jesus

1 John 5:14-15

14 “And this is the confidence that we have toward HIM, that if we ask anteing according to his will he hears us.

15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”

Isaiah 40:31 but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Faith is very intentionally taking action by...

• Calling on God

• Waiting on God

• Following God

• Obeying God

• Trusting God

• Believe in ourselves

• Dream big

• You can do it if you put your mind to it


Philippians 3:3 “For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh.”

John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”


2 Their Faith Cried Out
Bartimaeus had the kind of faith that speaks up and acts out.

Luke 11:19 "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

3 Their Faith Took Initiative

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

Gratitude
Bartimaeus followed Jesus and glorified god!