WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.980 If you have Bibles, you can stand Luke chapter number 18, Luke chapter 18, Children's Church, 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.460 Central Baptist Church as well. 00:00:32.159 --> 00:00:36.840 And thankful for this family, thankful for the field that God has burdened on the heart. 00:00:37.500 --> 00:00:42.159 I remember hearing that a long time ago, but the fact we understand with China coming in 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:46.359 in 20 years, the window is short right now, but thankful people are willing to go and 00:00:46.359 --> 00:00:47.060 to share the gospel. 00:00:47.719 --> 00:00:51.840 And we're walking through the Gospel of Luke, and that's what Jesus came to do. 00:00:51.900 --> 00:00:53.539 He came to seek and to save that which is lost. 00:00:53.780 --> 00:00:58.060 And we're seeing that here, and we're coming to the end of chapter number 18, and I think 00:00:58.060 --> 00:00:59.359 it's appropriate kind of for Missions Month. 00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:03.359 We're going to meet a blind man that sees a lot of things, but we see a lot of people 00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:04.560 that see that can't see anything. 00:01:05.260 --> 00:01:07.859 And we live in a world that a lot of people have sight, but they're really missing what's 00:01:07.859 --> 00:01:08.239 important. 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.620 And we're going to see that here in Luke's Gospel, chapter number 18. 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:14.439 We'll pick our reading in verse number 35, where the Bible says this, 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:19.680 And it came to pass that he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man set by the 00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:20.460 wayside begging. 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.439 Now, from Mark's Gospel, we know his name is Bartimaeus. 00:01:23.579 --> 00:01:24.719 This is blind Bartimaeus. 00:01:25.099 --> 00:01:25.840 He's there begging. 00:01:26.260 --> 00:01:27.140 Verse 36, 00:01:27.140 --> 00:01:29.920 And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. 00:01:31.140 --> 00:01:34.120 And they told him, Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. 00:01:34.980 --> 00:01:35.519 Verse 38, 00:01:35.519 --> 00:01:40.239 And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:01:41.019 --> 00:01:44.739 And they that which went before rebuked him that he should hold his peace. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:49.340 But he cried so much the more, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. 00:01:50.239 --> 00:01:53.879 And Jesus stood and commanded that he be brought unto him. 00:01:53.939 --> 00:01:59.359 And when he was come near to him, he asked him, saying, what wilt thou that I shall do 00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:00.420 unto thee? 00:02:00.420 --> 00:02:03.280 And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 00:02:03.840 --> 00:02:06.200 And Jesus said unto him, receive thy sight. 00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:09.180 Thy faith hath saved thee. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:13.259 This morning I want to preach a message entitled this, Blind Sight. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:14.599 Blind Sight. 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:16.400 That's how the Lord wants us to see. 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.420 He has so many things he shows us in the scripture. 00:02:19.819 --> 00:02:21.620 Let's make sure we do not miss it. 00:02:21.920 --> 00:02:22.979 Let's go to him in prayer this morning. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:26.020 Father, thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:28.800 We thank you for the word of God that we can open it here now. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:31.560 Lord, I pray that you would do a work that only you can do. 00:02:32.160 --> 00:02:35.740 Lord, that I would get out of the way and you would speak what you would have said. 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:38.820 Lord, the Holy Spirit would convict us. 00:02:38.880 --> 00:02:39.620 It would challenge us. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:43.260 It would encourage us, Lord, that we would respond however you see fit. 00:02:43.960 --> 00:02:47.320 Lord, I pray that you would just empty me of self, cleanse me of sin, fill me with your spirit. 00:02:47.900 --> 00:02:51.960 Be with the listener this morning, Lord, that we could set aside the things going on in our life 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:53.980 and just focus on you for these few moments. 00:02:54.660 --> 00:02:56.100 There's somebody here that doesn't know you, Lord. 00:02:56.100 --> 00:02:57.020 Today would be that day. 00:02:57.020 --> 00:02:58.260 And we ask it in Christ's name. 00:02:58.880 --> 00:02:59.180 Amen. 00:02:59.380 --> 00:03:00.040 Thank you so much for standing. 00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:00.540 You may be seated. 00:03:02.580 --> 00:03:07.300 Have you ever been looking for something that was right in front of you and you still couldn't see it? 00:03:07.820 --> 00:03:09.480 I think we've all been in that spot. 00:03:09.640 --> 00:03:11.500 I mean, maybe you've walked through the house. 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:16.879 If you're a glasses wearer like myself and you're looking for your glasses and you're looking all over the place. 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:18.520 But you know where they are. 00:03:19.420 --> 00:03:20.580 Right here on top of your head. 00:03:21.140 --> 00:03:23.219 And you're like, I know I set them down somewhere. 00:03:23.300 --> 00:03:24.320 I know you put them on top of your head. 00:03:24.319 --> 00:03:25.919 And some of you may be with your phone. 00:03:26.019 --> 00:03:26.780 You're looking for your phone. 00:03:26.859 --> 00:03:27.560 You're checking the counter. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:29.079 You're checking the couch cushions. 00:03:29.139 --> 00:03:29.879 You're doing all these things. 00:03:30.000 --> 00:03:33.299 The whole while it's in your hand and you're looking and you're checking the pockets. 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:34.599 You don't know where it's gone. 00:03:35.859 --> 00:03:41.199 See, we all know that we can be looking right at something and still not see it. 00:03:41.560 --> 00:03:42.939 We know right where it's at. 00:03:43.099 --> 00:03:44.799 And that's true in more ways than one. 00:03:45.319 --> 00:03:48.519 I mean, sometimes we can be around something for a long time. 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:49.299 We can hear it. 00:03:49.300 --> 00:03:50.020 We can see it. 00:03:50.140 --> 00:03:52.160 And we can still really miss what matters. 00:03:52.780 --> 00:03:54.160 And we see that throughout the Gospels. 00:03:54.260 --> 00:03:57.540 We can see it even in church life that we're just so used to it. 00:03:57.600 --> 00:04:01.219 And we're used to the songs and used to the message and used to the Word of God. 00:04:01.340 --> 00:04:06.380 And sometimes we realize we've been around it our whole life, but we don't really see it how God intends for it to be. 00:04:07.160 --> 00:04:10.960 And as we come to our text, that's exactly what Luke is going to show us. 00:04:10.960 --> 00:04:18.019 As we read in these verses, in verse 35 through 43, that some people in this account have perfectly good eyesight. 00:04:18.840 --> 00:04:21.360 And yet they are completely missing the most important thing. 00:04:22.079 --> 00:04:30.439 And yet we meet a man, Bartimaeus, that is blind, that sees something about Jesus that everybody else around seems to be missing. 00:04:30.439 --> 00:04:41.139 But before we really dive in and get it to know this man and this account a little bit more, I want us to see what happens right before we come into this text. 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:43.079 Look at verse number 31. 00:04:43.339 --> 00:04:44.300 The Bible says this. 00:04:44.300 --> 00:05:12.420 Now we saw in Luke chapter 9, and we moved here, that from that moment on, Jesus has really been making his way towards Jerusalem in his earthly ministry. 00:05:12.420 --> 00:05:15.759 But Jesus has been making his way to Jerusalem long before he came. 00:05:15.879 --> 00:05:19.199 It was before the foundation of the world that there was a lamb that was to be slain. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:21.439 So Jesus knew why he came. 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:25.600 He had an ultimate goal to go to the cross of Calvary for our sins. 00:05:26.520 --> 00:05:31.720 But in the time frame of his ministry, now he is really on Jerusalem. 00:05:32.300 --> 00:05:36.540 And he tells his disciples, he's been telling them over and over again what's going to happen. 00:05:36.980 --> 00:05:40.540 And he reminds them that what's going to be waiting for the Son of Man there. 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:47.319 That everything that was written by the prophets, all of the things concerning him, they're all going to come to fruition. 00:05:47.939 --> 00:05:49.760 This has always been part of the plan. 00:05:50.260 --> 00:05:55.480 And Jesus, I'm not sure he could have been any more clear about his mission and what's going to happen. 00:05:56.900 --> 00:05:58.980 But the disciples are kind of like us sometimes. 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:00.420 They just completely miss things. 00:06:00.759 --> 00:06:01.620 Look at verse number 34. 00:06:02.700 --> 00:06:06.120 And they understood none of these things. 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:09.939 Sometimes I think that when Jesus is talking to the disciples, it's like when you're talking to your kids. 00:06:10.459 --> 00:06:11.699 And they're like, yeah, yeah. 00:06:12.060 --> 00:06:12.819 You understand what I'm saying? 00:06:13.120 --> 00:06:13.480 No. 00:06:14.459 --> 00:06:15.560 I mean, that's kind of the disciples. 00:06:16.100 --> 00:06:17.879 They understood none of these things. 00:06:18.340 --> 00:06:22.379 And this saying was hid from them, neither they knew the things which were spoken. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:25.199 I mean, these are men that can see clearly. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:27.280 These are men that can hear well. 00:06:27.740 --> 00:06:31.060 These are men that walk with Jesus day in and day out. 00:06:31.060 --> 00:06:34.300 And they've been part of ministry and they've seen wonderful things happen. 00:06:34.540 --> 00:06:36.720 And they've been involved in some of the miracles. 00:06:37.139 --> 00:06:41.199 And yet they still couldn't see what Jesus was really coming for. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:43.379 How is that possible? 00:06:44.040 --> 00:06:45.340 Why is that possible? 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:50.079 I think part of their issue is this, is they were not looking for a suffering savior. 00:06:50.860 --> 00:06:52.579 They were looking for a conqueror. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.840 They were looking for somebody to overthrow Rome. 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:58.060 Hey, they thought when they came to Jerusalem, they're going to set up a coronation. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:01.480 And they're going to put a crown on his head and he's going to take over. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:03.120 And everything's going to be great. 00:07:04.259 --> 00:07:06.800 So really, they didn't want to see why Jesus came. 00:07:08.019 --> 00:07:11.319 But Jesus is showing them that these things must happen. 00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:16.660 That Jesus loves us for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:19.860 And he was coming to make that promise a reality. 00:07:20.819 --> 00:07:25.819 And it's what we've really seen here in the chapter number 18 of Luke's gospel. 00:07:25.819 --> 00:07:30.099 See, because last week we met a ruler who was very well off. 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:32.620 A rich young ruler is what the Bible calls him. 00:07:33.639 --> 00:07:35.980 And he came to Jesus and he said, good master. 00:07:36.279 --> 00:07:37.120 He's got a good start. 00:07:37.579 --> 00:07:43.019 But he asked this question, what shall I do that I might inherit eternal life? 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:46.060 I mean, this was a man with position and possessions. 00:07:46.300 --> 00:07:48.500 He was a man of moral character. 00:07:48.740 --> 00:07:51.920 He had accomplishments after accomplishments to his name. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:56.140 If any man could have made it on his own merit, this was a man. 00:07:56.800 --> 00:07:58.220 He could have bought his way in. 00:07:58.259 --> 00:08:00.400 We mentioned last week, I mean, he's willing to write a check. 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:01.720 He was willing to do whatever. 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:08.819 And yet we come to a man in our text this morning that we read that has none of those things. 00:08:09.700 --> 00:08:10.759 I mean, he doesn't have vision. 00:08:11.340 --> 00:08:12.340 He's blind. 00:08:12.480 --> 00:08:13.120 He's poor. 00:08:13.259 --> 00:08:15.319 He's sitting by the roadside begging. 00:08:15.319 --> 00:08:21.360 And we see kind of this contrast of a man that just wanted something that he could do because he had the ability. 00:08:21.740 --> 00:08:25.699 And yet we find a beggar that needed something that only Jesus could do. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:33.080 And that's really the thread that runs throughout Luke 18 and really throughout the entire Bible. 00:08:34.439 --> 00:08:44.659 That real faith, here's the big idea, that real faith recognizes or it sees our need and depends on only what Jesus can do. 00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:48.840 That's really the entire thrust of Luke chapter number 18. 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:53.000 So here's the question I want us to consider this morning as we walk through these verses quickly. 00:08:54.240 --> 00:08:57.760 Is what does faith that sees clearly look like? 00:08:58.560 --> 00:09:01.180 How can we see if it's real in our own life? 00:09:01.600 --> 00:09:04.240 And the first thing we see is found in verses 35 to 39. 00:09:04.660 --> 00:09:08.740 Real faith sees who Jesus is. 00:09:08.740 --> 00:09:11.960 So we met this man on the roadside. 00:09:12.180 --> 00:09:13.100 He's there. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:19.419 His blindness, his disability, so to speak, has left him dependent on the mercy of other people. 00:09:20.500 --> 00:09:24.500 He can't move about life the same way everybody else does. 00:09:25.259 --> 00:09:28.360 He was dependent on everything in his life. 00:09:28.899 --> 00:09:32.940 In those days, we understand, you study the history, there was no government assistance. 00:09:33.620 --> 00:09:34.799 There was no social security. 00:09:34.799 --> 00:09:35.620 There was no welfare. 00:09:35.779 --> 00:09:37.859 There was no opportunity for him. 00:09:38.899 --> 00:09:43.319 If anything was going to happen, it was going to happen just out of the goodness of somebody's heart. 00:09:44.159 --> 00:09:48.479 So what this man would have done, what Bartimaeus did, like many of them, Jericho was on the way to Jerusalem. 00:09:49.099 --> 00:09:55.000 So he would have positioned himself and trying to catch some religious travelers as they're on their way to church, so to speak, 00:09:55.059 --> 00:10:01.639 and try to get in some good graces and maybe just get a little bit of bread and a little bit of money just to survive one day. 00:10:01.639 --> 00:10:03.860 He wasn't out there trying to make money. 00:10:03.939 --> 00:10:05.679 He wasn't out there trying to put money into retirement. 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:07.539 This man's just trying to live. 00:10:08.120 --> 00:10:15.259 He's just trying to survive, and he's there, and he can't see what's going on, but he's very familiar about the surroundings. 00:10:16.199 --> 00:10:17.879 He understands the hustle and bustle. 00:10:18.139 --> 00:10:22.659 He probably understands and realizes certain people when they walk by because they walk funny. 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:24.379 Anybody drag their feet when they walk? 00:10:25.379 --> 00:10:26.779 Sometimes my wife tells me, pick up your feet. 00:10:26.840 --> 00:10:27.480 You're dragging your feet. 00:10:28.439 --> 00:10:28.799 Whatever. 00:10:29.460 --> 00:10:30.279 I'm like, I don't do that. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:35.439 Then I look at my shoes, and my left shoe is like all worn down on the back, so I'm like, I guess I do drag my feet just a little bit. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:38.200 You know, sometimes maybe somebody's a heavy breather. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:39.740 They're like, oh, here comes so-and-so. 00:10:39.799 --> 00:10:40.259 I can hear him. 00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:42.439 He's very aware of the surroundings. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:47.320 Sometimes people with a disability like this, their other senses are heightened. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:50.639 We don't know if that's Bartimaeus, but the idea is this. 00:10:50.639 --> 00:10:52.379 There's a buzz in the air today. 00:10:52.539 --> 00:10:53.639 There's something different. 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:54.360 He can hear it. 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:58.699 He doesn't know exactly what is going on, but he wants to. 00:10:59.159 --> 00:11:04.179 This wasn't a normal Tuesday or a Wednesday or whatever day of the week it was that these travelers were coming through. 00:11:04.419 --> 00:11:07.960 So naturally he asked in verse number 36, hey, excuse me, excuse me. 00:11:08.360 --> 00:11:11.659 Maybe it took him a while to get somebody, but he said, hey, can you tell me what's going on? 00:11:12.199 --> 00:11:13.960 He's like, something's going on in town. 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:16.080 I've never heard it like this before. 00:11:17.179 --> 00:11:19.299 Verse 37, they say, here's what's going on. 00:11:19.299 --> 00:11:21.059 Jesus of Nazareth is here. 00:11:21.959 --> 00:11:23.620 He's coming through the town. 00:11:24.899 --> 00:11:28.120 And what we see in verse number 38 is he didn't have to do some research. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.759 He knew who this man was. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.659 He may have never seen him. 00:11:33.199 --> 00:11:36.139 He may have never been in his town, but he had heard the stories. 00:11:36.679 --> 00:11:40.039 Because when people start feeding people with five loaves and two fish, 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:42.879 when dead people wake up from funerals and walk out, 00:11:43.099 --> 00:11:45.359 when blind people see, when lame people walk, 00:11:45.639 --> 00:11:47.279 word's going to spread pretty quickly. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:51.939 And so he understands who this Jesus of Nazareth is. 00:11:52.679 --> 00:11:54.039 But look how he responds. 00:11:54.679 --> 00:11:55.319 He cried. 00:11:55.459 --> 00:11:56.799 I mean, he didn't say, Jesus. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:59.379 No, this man's trying to get his attention. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:05.100 He said, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. 00:12:06.399 --> 00:12:08.299 Now, don't run past that so quickly. 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:12.439 Because they told him where Jesus, who Jesus was, and where he's from. 00:12:13.459 --> 00:12:14.559 But that's not what he said. 00:12:15.139 --> 00:12:16.659 He didn't say, oh, Jesus of Nazareth. 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:20.299 No, he called out to Jesus, thou son of David. 00:12:21.439 --> 00:12:24.799 Son of David is not just another name for Jesus. 00:12:24.899 --> 00:12:27.319 You go through the Bible, there's tons of names for Jesus. 00:12:27.459 --> 00:12:29.959 But every name for Jesus means something. 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:33.779 And the son of David, it is a messianic title. 00:12:34.740 --> 00:12:37.799 And here's what this man understood about Jesus. 00:12:37.980 --> 00:12:39.059 He didn't understand everything. 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:40.759 He didn't have a theology degree. 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:45.759 But he realized, if Jesus did all these things I've heard about, I don't know. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.019 But he seems like he matches up to what the Messiah is supposed to be doing. 00:12:49.559 --> 00:12:51.899 He realizes this in his own mind. 00:12:51.899 --> 00:12:57.159 That this blind beggar had heard enough about Jesus to recognize, this is the king. 00:12:57.939 --> 00:12:59.079 Hey, he's here. 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.919 He's coming through my city. 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.620 He's coming down my street. 00:13:02.959 --> 00:13:07.340 And he heard the accounts of this teacher, of this rabbi. 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:10.579 And realized, he does things that nobody else can do. 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:14.039 And yeah, he can't see with his physical eyes. 00:13:14.299 --> 00:13:15.059 But he knows this. 00:13:15.240 --> 00:13:19.100 This is the hope I have been waiting for my whole life. 00:13:19.860 --> 00:13:21.319 This is my opportunity. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.600 This is the one chance that I have. 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:31.980 And because he recognizes, because he sees, if we can say it that way, who Jesus is, he knows what to ask for. 00:13:32.020 --> 00:13:32.800 And here's what he asked for. 00:13:33.280 --> 00:13:35.780 Have mercy on me. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:38.420 He didn't ask for a piece of bread. 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:42.080 He didn't say, hey, can you take this bread that I have and make it last for the week? 00:13:42.280 --> 00:13:43.560 Hey, can you give me a little bit more money? 00:13:43.560 --> 00:13:45.020 I mean, I know you have the ability. 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:48.120 Jesus, he said, have mercy on me. 00:13:48.120 --> 00:13:54.679 We see the contrast, as we've seen with the rich young ruler, with the Pharisee earlier in this chapter. 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:57.419 He doesn't say, Jesus, I've done a lot of good things in my life. 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:00.500 He didn't say, Jesus, I deserve this. 00:14:00.700 --> 00:14:02.320 Hey, everybody else has an upper hand. 00:14:02.320 --> 00:14:03.900 I deserve a chance. 00:14:05.340 --> 00:14:06.620 He has no resume. 00:14:07.100 --> 00:14:09.180 He just has his cries. 00:14:10.280 --> 00:14:12.760 He just has his heart laid out before the Lord. 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.540 And that's really the theme. 00:14:15.299 --> 00:14:19.639 The publican prayed earlier in this chapter, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:26.199 Jesus reminded us of the kingdom of heaven, that salvation must be received like a child, 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:28.439 someone that is helpless, independent. 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:30.839 There is nothing we can do to earn it. 00:14:31.099 --> 00:14:32.000 Jesus showed us that. 00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:34.360 The rich young ruler said, what shall I do? 00:14:34.419 --> 00:14:35.599 Jesus, there's nothing you can do. 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.379 There's nothing you can do to earn this. 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:45.179 Jesus, see, this man knows his need, and he knows where to take it. 00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:47.240 That's what faith does. 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:48.720 Real faith. 00:14:49.340 --> 00:14:50.379 Faith that recognizes. 00:14:50.799 --> 00:14:51.720 Faith that sees. 00:14:52.019 --> 00:14:53.879 It understands where we have to take it. 00:14:54.059 --> 00:14:56.240 Listen, faith isn't pretending we don't have needs. 00:14:57.200 --> 00:15:00.360 We like to posture ourselves like we don't have any problems in our life. 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:02.159 We're good at it on Sunday mornings, too. 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:02.980 Don't act like we aren't. 00:15:03.480 --> 00:15:04.379 We come in and somebody's shaking. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:05.080 Hey, how you doing? 00:15:05.100 --> 00:15:05.720 I'm doing great. 00:15:06.419 --> 00:15:07.220 You are not. 00:15:08.379 --> 00:15:09.080 How was your week? 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:09.899 Oh, it was okay. 00:15:10.220 --> 00:15:12.080 And in your mind you're thinking, worst week ever. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:17.700 I mean, sometimes we feel like we have to act like we got it all together and we have all these things. 00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:20.939 Listen, faith's not saying, hey, just pretend like nothing's going on. 00:15:21.159 --> 00:15:24.019 No, faith isn't convincing ourselves that we can handle everything. 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:28.159 No, faith recognizes our need and runs to the one who can meet it. 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:29.899 That's what Jesus is. 00:15:29.939 --> 00:15:30.879 That's who he is. 00:15:31.120 --> 00:15:38.360 And so they're telling this man, and I love it, not everybody's excited when you realize who Jesus is. 00:15:38.379 --> 00:15:43.720 Maybe when you first heard about Christ or you came to salvation, you were pumped up. 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:46.320 And you told everybody at work, guess what? 00:15:46.439 --> 00:15:47.840 They're not as pumped up as you are. 00:15:48.439 --> 00:15:49.879 Maybe not everybody in your family is pumped up. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.899 And that's kind of this guy. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:52.080 He's crying out. 00:15:52.379 --> 00:15:56.159 I mean, in verse number 39, say, hey, be quiet, Bartimaeus. 00:15:56.720 --> 00:15:58.220 Like, nobody wants to hear from you. 00:15:58.720 --> 00:15:59.960 I mean, that's what verse 39 says. 00:16:00.400 --> 00:16:03.460 And they which went before him rebuked him that he should hold his peace. 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:08.379 They're saying, Bartimaeus, like, you're causing a scene, man. 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:10.259 Act like you've been here before. 00:16:10.680 --> 00:16:12.700 Act like we're dignified or whatever it might be. 00:16:13.139 --> 00:16:15.019 They're just trying to get him quiet. 00:16:15.320 --> 00:16:16.879 They're saying, hey, don't bother Jesus. 00:16:16.920 --> 00:16:17.980 Jesus doesn't have time for you. 00:16:18.560 --> 00:16:19.700 He's going to Jerusalem. 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:21.040 Just wave. 00:16:21.160 --> 00:16:21.920 Smile and wave. 00:16:22.040 --> 00:16:23.019 I mean, that's what you got to do here. 00:16:23.019 --> 00:16:26.559 Well, that didn't work real well because the Bible says this. 00:16:26.860 --> 00:16:28.360 But he cried so much the more. 00:16:29.220 --> 00:16:33.360 Thou, son of David, have mercy on me. 00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:36.340 Why was he so adamant? 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:38.980 Why couldn't they keep him quiet? 00:16:39.399 --> 00:16:40.079 Here's why. 00:16:40.279 --> 00:16:45.199 Because he knew he needed Jesus more than he needed the approval of everybody else around him. 00:16:46.419 --> 00:16:50.059 See, and before we move on, I just want to point out that maybe that's where you are today. 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:52.259 You may know you need Christ. 00:16:52.259 --> 00:16:54.039 You can be all around him. 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.779 You can know the songs we sang. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.159 You can know some prayers. 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.279 You can know some of the verses. 00:16:58.779 --> 00:17:00.120 But you need Christ. 00:17:00.259 --> 00:17:01.939 But you have this thought in your mind. 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.319 What will my family think? 00:17:04.980 --> 00:17:06.379 What will my friends think? 00:17:07.339 --> 00:17:13.379 What will people say if they think I've been in this church all this time and I don't know the Lord? 00:17:14.019 --> 00:17:15.579 Listen, it doesn't really matter. 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:18.220 If they know the Lord, they'll be excited, number one. 00:17:18.779 --> 00:17:22.160 But number two, we can't allow the crowd to keep us from Christ. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:26.079 He didn't say, well, I tried, but they told me I've got to be quiet, so I've got to be quiet. 00:17:26.720 --> 00:17:28.420 No, he keeps crying out. 00:17:29.279 --> 00:17:35.720 See, this man decided that his need was greater than the opinion, and he wasn't going to let them silence him. 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:38.380 Because he saw something they didn't see. 00:17:38.819 --> 00:17:41.400 He didn't see just some teacher, some healer. 00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.799 No, he saw the Messiah. 00:17:44.160 --> 00:17:49.620 And while the crowd did not appreciate his cries, there was one person who took notice. 00:17:49.619 --> 00:17:52.039 And it's the only person that matters. 00:17:52.719 --> 00:17:53.279 Jesus. 00:17:54.539 --> 00:17:58.399 And when he does, he gives us an opportunity, number two, to do this. 00:17:58.679 --> 00:18:03.439 That real faith, that faith that sees Jesus admits our need. 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:08.519 I love the very first part of verse number 40. 00:18:09.059 --> 00:18:10.220 It says, and Jesus stood. 00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:12.220 He stopped. 00:18:13.620 --> 00:18:14.720 He understood. 00:18:14.840 --> 00:18:15.960 He heard the cry. 00:18:17.100 --> 00:18:18.380 The crowd wanted him quiet. 00:18:18.620 --> 00:18:19.920 But notice what Jesus wants him. 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.120 He wants him close to him. 00:18:21.340 --> 00:18:24.600 He said, and he commanded to be brought unto him. 00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:29.000 And let me remind you, it's not like Jesus didn't have anything going on. 00:18:30.539 --> 00:18:32.179 Remember, he just told his disciples where he's headed. 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:34.819 He knows what's taking place. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:35.879 We're days out. 00:18:36.099 --> 00:18:38.659 You know, sometimes we read the Bible and we think we're just years and all these things. 00:18:38.899 --> 00:18:41.339 No, Jesus, this is very much on the forefront of his mind. 00:18:42.279 --> 00:18:43.619 He knows what's waiting. 00:18:43.899 --> 00:18:47.019 He knows that Judas standing right there next to him is going to betray him. 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:48.980 He knows he's going to the cross. 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:50.299 They're going to pluck his beard. 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:51.000 They're going to spit on him. 00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.659 They're going to scourge him. 00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:53.159 All of these things are coming. 00:18:53.160 --> 00:18:55.220 He knows the suffering that is ahead. 00:18:56.400 --> 00:19:03.279 And yet he's not too occupied with the road ahead to hear the cry of one blind beggar sitting by the roadside. 00:19:04.460 --> 00:19:05.840 I'm so thankful for that. 00:19:06.420 --> 00:19:08.220 Because sometimes, man, good for Bartimaeus. 00:19:08.420 --> 00:19:10.240 No, I'm glad because it's good for me. 00:19:11.040 --> 00:19:12.340 And it was good for you. 00:19:12.880 --> 00:19:15.779 Because Jesus, I don't know if you know this, he's still in control. 00:19:16.080 --> 00:19:18.800 The Bible says by him all things consist. 00:19:18.800 --> 00:19:21.380 Listen, he's still running this universe. 00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:23.120 And yet he cares about you. 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:24.940 And he hears your cries. 00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:31.480 And so what they do is, the ones that were trying to get him quiet, maybe the disciples are like, Peter's like, come on, he wants to talk to you. 00:19:31.779 --> 00:19:33.140 You know, Peter feels like he's the bodyguard. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:34.320 He's got to keep things moving. 00:19:35.340 --> 00:19:36.580 Jesus wants to see you. 00:19:36.579 --> 00:19:39.819 They bring him to Jesus. 00:19:40.819 --> 00:19:45.240 And then Jesus asks him a question that sounds completely unnecessary. 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:48.720 Bring a blind man to Jesus. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:51.519 And Jesus says, hey, what do you want me to do for you? 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:54.180 Like, hello? 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:56.480 Kind of obvious, isn't it? 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.980 Why did Jesus ask him this question? 00:20:01.339 --> 00:20:02.460 I think it's pretty simple. 00:20:02.460 --> 00:20:03.900 Because he wanted him to say it. 00:20:04.839 --> 00:20:07.299 He wanted him to voice his need. 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:14.359 You realize that every time in the Bible that God asks a question, that Jesus asks a question, he's not seeking information. 00:20:15.319 --> 00:20:17.099 He knew where Adam was. 00:20:18.139 --> 00:20:19.319 Like when he said Adam wore a heart. 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:20.859 He didn't lose him in the garden. 00:20:20.859 --> 00:20:24.279 But he wanted Adam to know where he was. 00:20:25.319 --> 00:20:27.819 He asked questions to get us to think. 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:37.759 And really what he's doing is he's giving this man an opportunity to verbalize the need and place his confidence, to place his trust into Jesus Christ. 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:39.799 That's what he's asking him to do. 00:20:40.399 --> 00:20:43.019 I mean, the Bible reminds us that God already knows what we need. 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:46.079 In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples this truth. 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:49.919 When he's teaching them how to pray in Matthew 6, verse number 8, he says, 00:20:50.059 --> 00:20:55.439 For your Father knoweth what things you have need of before ye ask. 00:20:57.599 --> 00:20:59.059 And sometimes we struggle with that. 00:20:59.699 --> 00:21:00.299 Let me rephrase it. 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:01.339 Sometimes I struggle with that. 00:21:02.339 --> 00:21:04.699 Sometimes I just think, well, the Lord knows, so I don't really need to ask. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:13.419 But there's just something beautiful about coming honestly before the Lord and saying, Lord, I need you. 00:21:13.420 --> 00:21:16.480 Lord, this situation. 00:21:17.340 --> 00:21:18.660 Lord, can you help me here? 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:20.580 Lord, can you give me guidance here? 00:21:20.640 --> 00:21:22.300 Lord, I don't know what to do. 00:21:22.560 --> 00:21:28.519 And when we cry out to him, we can't pretend and we can't hide and we can't act like we have it all together. 00:21:28.820 --> 00:21:29.900 No, here's what prayer does. 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:34.200 It puts our hearts, it puts our life in a posture of dependence. 00:21:35.580 --> 00:21:36.620 That's what prayer really does. 00:21:36.700 --> 00:21:39.500 It reminds us over and over again, we don't have the answers. 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.940 Because sometimes we're going to try to put that facade on. 00:21:41.940 --> 00:21:44.039 We're going to try to walk through life like we got it together. 00:21:44.240 --> 00:21:47.820 But when you cry out to God and you verbalize your need, you realize this. 00:21:47.920 --> 00:21:49.680 There's nothing I can do about this. 00:21:50.320 --> 00:21:52.900 Either God, you're going to have to show up or nothing's going to happen. 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:59.160 And I'm putting my life and I'm putting my trust and I'm putting my faith in you and you alone. 00:22:00.660 --> 00:22:03.100 So when Jesus asked the question, he answered it. 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:08.480 Lord, that I may receive my sight. 00:22:10.279 --> 00:22:11.019 It's simple. 00:22:11.019 --> 00:22:11.160 It's direct. 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:12.940 It's direct. 00:22:13.819 --> 00:22:14.879 He knew his need. 00:22:16.259 --> 00:22:17.920 There was no bargaining. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:22.240 There was no promises from Bartimaeus. 00:22:23.579 --> 00:22:24.779 Sometimes we go to the Lord in prayer. 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:28.379 Lord, and we fluff it up and we make it sound all nice. 00:22:28.500 --> 00:22:31.660 But Lord, you know, if you do this and I'm going to do a couple things right here. 00:22:31.720 --> 00:22:33.440 And if I do these things, then you do these things. 00:22:34.539 --> 00:22:35.379 Don't look at me. 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:37.559 Somebody ought to look at me like, I've never prayed that way. 00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:40.579 I think that's our nature. 00:22:41.679 --> 00:22:45.919 Sometimes we want to hold a little bit of the chips on the table. 00:22:46.539 --> 00:22:47.139 We have nothing. 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:49.740 We have to come dependent. 00:22:50.440 --> 00:22:51.419 We have to come helpless. 00:22:51.859 --> 00:22:53.379 Blessed are the poor in spirit. 00:22:53.679 --> 00:22:55.759 Blessed are the bankrupt that have nothing. 00:22:56.019 --> 00:23:00.319 We come to God and we realize anything that's going to happen is going to happen by your hand. 00:23:01.259 --> 00:23:02.339 And that was this man. 00:23:03.159 --> 00:23:05.679 He didn't come saying, well, here's what I can bring you to the table. 00:23:05.679 --> 00:23:07.619 All he brought to the table was blindness. 00:23:08.599 --> 00:23:09.819 That's all that he has. 00:23:10.599 --> 00:23:11.299 He's a beggar. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:14.679 He doesn't have a resume like this ruler we met last week. 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:16.619 He doesn't have all these things to offer. 00:23:16.980 --> 00:23:22.179 No, and I don't think we can miss that contrast because the man came before and said, what shall I do? 00:23:22.299 --> 00:23:23.000 But I love this. 00:23:23.079 --> 00:23:25.059 Jesus says, what can I do for you? 00:23:26.639 --> 00:23:27.839 That's a wonderful thing. 00:23:28.919 --> 00:23:31.779 That's the one, that's the person that needs to be asking the question. 00:23:32.460 --> 00:23:35.200 See, one man came focused on what he could do. 00:23:35.200 --> 00:23:41.059 The other man, this man, the blind man, came depending on only what Jesus could do. 00:23:42.279 --> 00:23:45.759 And it doesn't matter if you don't know Christ or you've known him forever. 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:50.059 That is the posture of faith that Jesus wants us all to take every single day. 00:23:50.680 --> 00:23:54.519 That's how salvation comes and that's how life for Christ is lived. 00:23:55.420 --> 00:24:00.099 We don't get saved and get saved by grace and faith alone and Christ alone and put all our trust in him. 00:24:00.240 --> 00:24:01.879 And then we just live on our own. 00:24:02.460 --> 00:24:03.700 And then live by works. 00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.299 And then live by our own merit. 00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:07.460 That's not how the gospel works. 00:24:08.980 --> 00:24:11.960 See, we spend so much of our lives asking ourselves, what can I do? 00:24:12.960 --> 00:24:13.960 How can I fix this? 00:24:14.619 --> 00:24:16.059 How can I make myself good enough? 00:24:16.400 --> 00:24:17.720 How can I clean myself up? 00:24:17.859 --> 00:24:19.259 How can I earn God's favor? 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:24.359 But when it comes to our greatest need, none of those answers are good. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.319 Because it's only Christ. 00:24:27.220 --> 00:24:28.619 And here's what he says in verse 42. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:34.220 And Jesus said unto him, receive thy sight. 00:24:35.619 --> 00:24:40.339 Have you noticed, if you've been here with us in Luke 18, we keep seeing this word, receive. 00:24:41.279 --> 00:24:41.799 Receive. 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:42.980 Receive. 00:24:42.980 --> 00:24:45.660 It wasn't, go do this. 00:24:46.160 --> 00:24:46.860 Go do that. 00:24:47.579 --> 00:24:48.360 Give more money. 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.240 Go here. 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.220 Do this. 00:24:50.339 --> 00:24:51.980 No, it's just receive. 00:24:52.579 --> 00:24:57.539 He told us the little children there in verse number 17 of Luke chapter number 18, the Bible says, 00:24:57.880 --> 00:25:04.079 Verily I say unto you, who shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, helpless and dependent, 00:25:04.799 --> 00:25:07.779 shall in no wise enter therein. 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.160 What a miracle. 00:25:11.160 --> 00:25:11.940 A blind man. 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:14.820 I bet he thought today's just going to be like every other day. 00:25:15.660 --> 00:25:16.980 He's hoping for a good day. 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:23.420 He's hoping for some kindness of people walking by and hoping for just a little bit, maybe somebody had some extra leftovers 00:25:23.420 --> 00:25:24.960 and they're going to bring a little more food for him. 00:25:25.580 --> 00:25:31.140 Maybe somebody got a little extra blessing on their paycheck and now they're going to put a little extra in his jar. 00:25:33.279 --> 00:25:35.980 And he went down there blind and now he sees. 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:39.980 But that's not the greatest miracle in this text. 00:25:39.980 --> 00:25:42.360 Because look what the Bible says there. 00:25:42.440 --> 00:25:44.200 Look what S. Jesus said in verse number 42. 00:25:45.259 --> 00:25:48.660 Thy faith hath saved thee. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:51.059 That's what it's about. 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:55.460 Jesus didn't come to make blind men see. 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:58.019 He came to make lost men found. 00:25:58.019 --> 00:26:01.420 This is a Savior who seeks. 00:26:02.059 --> 00:26:06.559 This wasn't some chance encounter, by the way, that he didn't know blind Bartimaeus was going to be there. 00:26:06.759 --> 00:26:08.019 Oh, no, he knew he was going to be there. 00:26:08.859 --> 00:26:10.220 And this is why he came. 00:26:10.740 --> 00:26:13.500 When Jesus found you, sometimes we think, oh, I found God. 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:14.160 No, let me remind you. 00:26:14.299 --> 00:26:15.119 He found you. 00:26:15.119 --> 00:26:16.819 We were in the pit. 00:26:17.039 --> 00:26:18.059 We were in the miry clay. 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.339 And he reached way down. 00:26:19.539 --> 00:26:20.559 And he picked us up. 00:26:20.699 --> 00:26:21.979 And he set our feet on a rock. 00:26:22.139 --> 00:26:23.479 And he put a new song in our heart. 00:26:23.719 --> 00:26:25.319 And hope and praise to God. 00:26:25.379 --> 00:26:26.839 Because he's worthy of that. 00:26:27.639 --> 00:26:31.279 See, Luke didn't write this gospel so we could see a miracle worker. 00:26:31.559 --> 00:26:34.759 No, Luke wrote this gospel so that we could see the Savior. 00:26:35.699 --> 00:26:37.159 That's who he wants us to see. 00:26:37.399 --> 00:26:39.179 That's what Genesis to Revelation is. 00:26:39.299 --> 00:26:40.839 It's not a bunch of stories and a bunch of miracles. 00:26:40.839 --> 00:26:45.659 It is God's redemptive plan to mankind that we need a Savior, that we were blind. 00:26:45.919 --> 00:26:49.179 And the only way we can see is when Jesus shows up and says, receive thy sight. 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:53.339 But the only way that happens is if we put our trust in him. 00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:59.159 And as we close out this text this morning, Jesus didn't just change what this man sees. 00:26:59.959 --> 00:27:02.179 He changes this man's entire life. 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:04.619 Paul tells us this in 2 Corinthians. 00:27:04.699 --> 00:27:07.459 He tells us that if he may be in Christ, he's a new creature. 00:27:08.459 --> 00:27:09.819 That old things are passed away. 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:12.539 And behold, all things are become new. 00:27:12.740 --> 00:27:13.859 So here's what we see number three. 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:17.220 Real faith follows Jesus. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:18.960 Verse 43. 00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:22.019 And immediately. 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:26.000 Listen, salvation is not this long process. 00:27:26.619 --> 00:27:27.500 No, it's instant. 00:27:28.359 --> 00:27:31.679 Now, sanctification, our growth in Christ, is a lifelong process. 00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:34.419 But salvation is a one-time thing. 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:36.419 And we see that here in this picture. 00:27:36.420 --> 00:27:38.779 That at one moment, everything was dark. 00:27:38.900 --> 00:27:40.500 And the very next moment, he can see. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:43.019 Can you imagine that? 00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:45.400 I think it's hard for us to see. 00:27:46.120 --> 00:27:48.660 That feel how he must have felt. 00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:52.880 I think the closest thing is maybe if some of you didn't have glasses for a long time. 00:27:53.220 --> 00:27:54.420 And then you got glasses. 00:27:55.080 --> 00:27:56.680 I remember when I got glasses in fourth grade. 00:27:56.820 --> 00:27:58.180 I kept telling myself, I don't need glasses. 00:27:58.519 --> 00:27:59.320 I can see everything. 00:27:59.319 --> 00:27:59.679 And I'm like. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:04.119 And finally, my teacher just kept calling my mom. 00:28:04.379 --> 00:28:05.839 I just told my mom I wasn't paying attention. 00:28:05.960 --> 00:28:06.759 And she believed that. 00:28:07.119 --> 00:28:08.679 I was like, I'm just not really paying attention. 00:28:08.799 --> 00:28:09.559 I'll do better. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:13.519 And, you know, that went on for a little while until she realized I couldn't see. 00:28:13.599 --> 00:28:16.700 And I got closer and closer to watch the TV and different things like that. 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:18.119 But I remember going to the eye doctor. 00:28:18.279 --> 00:28:20.119 And I was like, you know, this is not going to be fun. 00:28:20.179 --> 00:28:20.859 I'm in fourth grade. 00:28:20.939 --> 00:28:21.759 I don't want to wear glasses. 00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:23.440 But, man, they put those glasses on. 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:27.059 I probably annoyed my mom so much that first week. 00:28:27.440 --> 00:28:28.879 Like, you know that's green over there? 00:28:29.119 --> 00:28:30.660 Look at that leaf over there. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:33.319 I mean, it was like a whole new world to me. 00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.740 I'd never seen something. 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:36.339 I didn't know there was this many colors. 00:28:36.460 --> 00:28:39.220 I guess it had been that long since I wasn't able to see. 00:28:39.379 --> 00:28:42.039 And it was all the, everything was like brand new to me. 00:28:43.160 --> 00:28:45.019 I mean, I can't imagine Bartimaeus here. 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:48.859 The faces and the colors and the road and the crowd. 00:28:48.859 --> 00:28:50.440 All the things he had heard. 00:28:50.440 --> 00:28:51.900 Now he can actually see. 00:28:52.680 --> 00:28:54.880 And the most wonderful thing, though, is this. 00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:57.940 The very first face he saw was Jesus. 00:28:59.000 --> 00:29:02.680 That he saw him and he couldn't imagine. 00:29:02.840 --> 00:29:04.900 He was like, this is the most amazing thing. 00:29:06.240 --> 00:29:07.160 But notice what happened. 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:08.559 That he didn't just see. 00:29:08.779 --> 00:29:10.100 He didn't just receive his sight. 00:29:10.340 --> 00:29:13.400 The Bible says this, and followed him. 00:29:14.700 --> 00:29:16.259 He didn't just thank Jesus. 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:17.700 Turn around. 00:29:17.880 --> 00:29:19.960 Hey, thanks for my sight, but I got a job here. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:20.420 I'm a beggar. 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:22.519 He's not a beggar anymore. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:24.840 He's got his sight. 00:29:25.700 --> 00:29:26.440 Everything's different. 00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:28.000 He's excited. 00:29:28.259 --> 00:29:29.000 What's he going to do? 00:29:29.160 --> 00:29:29.799 He's going to go get a job. 00:29:29.840 --> 00:29:30.580 No, here's what he's going to do. 00:29:31.000 --> 00:29:32.059 Follow Jesus. 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:37.539 When Jesus Christ shows up, when you were blind, but now you see. 00:29:37.720 --> 00:29:38.840 When you're lost, now you're found. 00:29:38.960 --> 00:29:41.160 It changes what you want to do with your life. 00:29:41.620 --> 00:29:43.720 It changes the direction you want to go. 00:29:43.720 --> 00:29:46.820 And now he says, hey, I'm going to follow you. 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:48.940 He doesn't just want something from Jesus. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.039 He says, here's what he wants. 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:50.860 Jesus. 00:29:51.900 --> 00:29:53.019 That's what mercy produces. 00:29:53.820 --> 00:30:00.400 When you realize that the mercies of the Lord are new every single day, and he's raining them down on your life, here's what it should produce you to want to do. 00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:01.539 Follow him. 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:04.539 I just want to be as close to this man as possible. 00:30:05.019 --> 00:30:06.379 That was Bartimaeus' idea. 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:07.839 That was his thought. 00:30:09.720 --> 00:30:11.799 And when he followed him, the Bible says this. 00:30:12.299 --> 00:30:15.319 He followed him glorifying God. 00:30:15.319 --> 00:30:20.919 When we met this man, he was blind, and he was sitting down, and he was begging. 00:30:22.079 --> 00:30:26.779 But after he met Jesus, he saw him, he followed him, and he glorified God. 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:30.220 He let everybody know how excited he was. 00:30:30.419 --> 00:30:31.919 And we see that very last phrase. 00:30:32.319 --> 00:30:37.960 And all the people, when they saw it, they gave praise unto God. 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:42.059 You see this picture of what the gospel does. 00:30:42.840 --> 00:30:45.500 Well, what missions does is why we bring missionary families in. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:51.140 They're going to take this same gospel to Hong Kong that you're going to take around the corner as the boys say. 00:30:51.579 --> 00:30:54.960 We're to share this gospel because it doesn't just end with one person. 00:30:55.779 --> 00:30:58.960 When Jesus really gets a hold of your life, you should follow him. 00:30:59.220 --> 00:31:00.240 You should glorify God. 00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:02.859 And other people should realize there's something different about them. 00:31:03.779 --> 00:31:05.220 Maybe I want what they have. 00:31:05.960 --> 00:31:07.400 Why are they so happy? 00:31:07.779 --> 00:31:09.720 Why do they seem to have joy in their life? 00:31:10.099 --> 00:31:11.700 These other people praise God. 00:31:12.000 --> 00:31:14.779 A changed life does not end with you. 00:31:15.819 --> 00:31:17.319 God intends for you to be a missionary. 00:31:18.380 --> 00:31:21.620 That little song they sang, Be a Missionary Every Day, that's not for missionaries. 00:31:22.279 --> 00:31:23.759 That's for everybody sitting in this room. 00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.200 God's called us all to do that. 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:28.440 He's called us all to tell the blind, 00:31:28.440 --> 00:31:30.279 Hey, I know somebody that can help you see. 00:31:31.360 --> 00:31:34.940 If we had that ability, if we had this cure, wouldn't we tell people? 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:35.980 We do. 00:31:37.299 --> 00:31:38.340 It's the gospel. 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:40.380 That's why Jesus came. 00:31:43.299 --> 00:31:48.080 See, this man didn't just have a story about what Jesus had done sometime in the past. 00:31:48.480 --> 00:31:51.080 He was following Jesus right now. 00:31:54.299 --> 00:31:55.940 So I just want to ask you this as we close. 00:31:55.940 --> 00:31:58.820 Has Jesus changed your life? 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:01.080 My prayer is that he has. 00:32:01.880 --> 00:32:04.160 Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? 00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:07.940 I mean, that is the most important thing, because without Christ, you're blind. 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:10.500 But he gives sight to the blind. 00:32:11.340 --> 00:32:12.920 He gives hope to the hopeless. 00:32:13.480 --> 00:32:17.100 He finds those that are lost, that he forgives sin. 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:18.799 That's what Jesus Christ does. 00:32:18.799 --> 00:32:25.159 But sometimes we can experience all of those things, but life gets busy. 00:32:26.399 --> 00:32:29.339 And maybe we're not following as excited as we once were. 00:32:30.819 --> 00:32:33.259 Maybe go back in your mind to the day you were saved. 00:32:33.980 --> 00:32:36.319 And how you realize that heaven's your home. 00:32:36.519 --> 00:32:37.940 And you don't have to go to hell. 00:32:38.079 --> 00:32:39.720 And all your sins have been forgiven. 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:41.480 And everything in your life has changed. 00:32:41.480 --> 00:32:44.539 I mean, you were ready to charge hell with a squirt gun. 00:32:45.900 --> 00:32:49.319 Now it's like, ah, it's raining on a Sunday. 00:32:51.120 --> 00:32:52.460 I mean, I know we kind of laugh about it. 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.099 Sometimes that's how we are. 00:32:53.620 --> 00:32:56.880 We're still as much saved today as we were the day that Christ saved us. 00:32:58.220 --> 00:33:02.339 Are we still as excited about following Christ as he's called us to? 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:06.679 Is the mercy that we receive still shaping the way that we live? 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:13.319 Does the way you live point people to the one who changed your life? 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:14.879 Because that's what it should. 00:33:16.500 --> 00:33:23.519 A believer, the Bible tells us that our light shall show shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father which is in heaven. 00:33:23.740 --> 00:33:25.399 Listen, the goal isn't perfection. 00:33:27.139 --> 00:33:30.299 We're not saying here that once Bartimaeus was saved, he was perfect. 00:33:30.299 --> 00:33:33.339 But when you meet Christ, there should be a noticeable difference. 00:33:34.059 --> 00:33:35.779 There should be a change in direction. 00:33:36.079 --> 00:33:37.960 There should be a different heart in your life. 00:33:38.159 --> 00:33:39.879 A different purpose in your life. 00:33:41.940 --> 00:33:47.440 And so when you step back and you look at Luke chapter number 18 as a whole, the message is remarkably consistent. 00:33:49.079 --> 00:33:51.940 There was a widow that had no power to change her situation. 00:33:52.319 --> 00:33:53.500 She had to be completely dependent. 00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:58.559 There was a publican who had no, a sinner who had no righteousness to offer. 00:33:58.559 --> 00:34:00.859 He just simply begged God for mercy. 00:34:01.139 --> 00:34:02.799 He was dependent on God's mercy. 00:34:04.159 --> 00:34:07.679 The little children brought nothing to earn the kingdom. 00:34:08.619 --> 00:34:11.219 And they picture our helplessness that we should have. 00:34:12.400 --> 00:34:14.759 The rich young ruler came asking, what shall I do? 00:34:15.000 --> 00:34:16.639 Still depending on what he could do. 00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:25.139 And as we saw today, the blind beggar sitting beside the road had nothing to offer except a cry for mercy. 00:34:25.139 --> 00:34:29.799 I think you can see the thread running through this whole chapter. 00:34:31.139 --> 00:34:37.099 That the kingdom of God belongs to those who know they need what only God can give. 00:34:38.659 --> 00:34:41.420 We're not going to make it on, there's none righteous, no not one. 00:34:42.359 --> 00:34:44.839 Our righteousness, what we do have is filthy rags. 00:34:44.840 --> 00:34:49.960 The kingdom belongs to those who come with empty hands. 00:34:51.400 --> 00:34:55.740 See, this blind man physically saw what most missed. 00:34:56.440 --> 00:34:58.039 He saw what mattered most. 00:34:58.760 --> 00:34:59.380 Here's what he saw. 00:34:59.800 --> 00:35:02.579 He had a need and Jesus can meet it. 00:35:03.900 --> 00:35:05.300 And maybe that's where you are this morning. 00:35:06.300 --> 00:35:10.060 You have a need and you've tried harder and you're trying to do good things. 00:35:10.140 --> 00:35:12.720 You're trying to be a good mom and a good spouse and a good dad. 00:35:12.980 --> 00:35:14.240 Listen, those are all good things. 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:16.100 But here's the only thing that changes your life. 00:35:16.400 --> 00:35:17.340 Jesus Christ. 00:35:18.120 --> 00:35:19.120 It's the only thing. 00:35:19.940 --> 00:35:21.720 It doesn't matter if you're in Gainesville, Texas or Hong Kong. 00:35:22.900 --> 00:35:24.400 Jesus came to seek and to save. 00:35:25.740 --> 00:35:27.080 Would you bring that need to him? 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:30.340 Maybe you're here and you know Christ is your savior. 00:35:31.280 --> 00:35:32.800 Are you telling the people about it? 00:35:32.800 --> 00:35:37.200 Maybe when you first got saved, you couldn't keep quiet about it. 00:35:37.220 --> 00:35:39.280 But it's been a long time since you just shared the gospel. 00:35:40.120 --> 00:35:41.140 Invited somebody to church. 00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:42.400 Gave them a track. 00:35:45.300 --> 00:35:45.740 Blindsight. 00:35:46.560 --> 00:35:52.140 It sees our need and depends on only what Jesus can do. 00:35:55.280 --> 00:35:57.840 Majority of us have decent eyesight in here. 00:35:58.680 --> 00:36:00.840 But are we missing the things that are actually important? 00:36:00.840 --> 00:36:03.700 The Lord would open our eyes spiritually? 00:36:05.300 --> 00:36:07.900 Do we go back to that moment maybe where he did change our life? 00:36:09.440 --> 00:36:11.940 I don't know where you are this morning, but I'm so thankful for this. 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:16.019 Wherever you are, you cry out to Jesus, he's going to stop. 00:36:17.200 --> 00:36:19.320 And he's going to say, what can I do for you? 00:36:20.360 --> 00:36:21.800 It's not some magic genie. 00:36:22.960 --> 00:36:23.200 No. 00:36:23.440 --> 00:36:24.579 He's the Lord of glory. 00:36:25.200 --> 00:36:26.500 And he cares about you. 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.940 He knows the need you face. 00:36:28.940 --> 00:36:30.920 Here's what you need to do. 00:36:31.159 --> 00:36:31.840 Cry out to him. 00:36:32.340 --> 00:36:32.740 Tell him. 00:36:33.320 --> 00:36:33.740 He'll hear. 00:36:34.400 --> 00:36:36.039 That's what this invitation is going to be here in just a moment. 00:36:36.780 --> 00:36:38.619 You can do it by your bedside. 00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:39.380 You can do it on the way home. 00:36:39.599 --> 00:36:40.420 Listen, he's there. 00:36:40.500 --> 00:36:41.059 He's available. 00:36:42.099 --> 00:36:44.579 But sometimes we're just not willing to actually voice it and admit it. 00:36:44.800 --> 00:36:46.039 Real faith admits our need. 00:36:46.820 --> 00:36:48.559 And it carries it to the one that can change it. 00:36:49.300 --> 00:36:52.200 Would the Lord help us to respond to his word this morning? 00:36:52.199 --> 00:36:52.210 Please may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may may