A Blind 20/20 Visionary

Intro: They say that there is no one so blind as he who will not see. In this story, we are presented with a man who was absolutely blind. Bartimaeus could see nothing with the physical eyes with which he had been born, yet he could see things one a spiritual level that others were blind to. He saw what no one else saw…what no one else, not even the disciples of Jesus Christ could see…we have much to learn from this visionary of Christ. This man was blind physically, but he had 20/20 spiritual vision.

There are many people who have a very pertinent disease. Probably one of the greatest tragedies in modern day faith today is the lack of vision. People don’t see that without vision, there is no hope…see Proverbs 29:18 tells us that where there is no vision, the people perish. Bartimaeus knew nothing else than Jesus Christ. He knew that his life was without vision UNLESS he had Christ…we need to have this same attitude.

I. V. 46 HIS PITIFUL CONDITION

Let’s recognize first that Bartimaeus was a blind man. He couldn’t see anything...he was born this way...see the connection???

Secondly, let’s see that he was dependent upon other people in order to survive...he was pitiful and a wretch...

Thirdly: Spirtually speaking...like Bartimaeus the lost person is spiritually blind...

Apparently, this condition was one with which he had been born. Blindness was a common condition in Bible times, because of various diseases and sanitary conditions.

Because of his Physical condition Bartimaeus was prevented from finding and performing a job in order to earn a living. In that day, there were no welfare programs or charitable institutions who would help him. There was no social security or other government programs to which he could turn. Bartimaeus was totally dependent upon the generosity of others in order to survive. His was a pitiful and wretched condition!

In his condition, Bartimaeus is a good portrait of every person who depends on everything else but God. When Bartimaues had a problem, and in his pitiful condition, he relied on Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can open your eyes! Some of you right now are “sitting by the highway” and waiting for Jesus…but He’s passed by four or five times, and you haven’t been “looking for Him”

See, many of us are in the same condition as Bartimaeus as far as our vision goes. We are blind to it, because we haven’t asked God for the same passion in us, as in other people. You’re a beggar because you’re begging God to do all of the work for you. God’s calling you out tonight, because remember, the harvest is many, but the workers are so few…be a worker…be a visionary…be all that you can be…because that’s what God’s called you to do…

Here’s the key to vision:

HAVE ONE!!!!!!

If you don’t have one:

YOU CANNOT SEE!!!!!!!!!!!

If you don’t have one:

ASK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vision with passion is moot…you have to be passionate about your vision. A vision is only worth something if you’re serious about it. Young, old, anything, a vision is YOUR responsibility, not someone else’s…

See with a vision like Stephen you can accomplish great things…

Don’t make excuses for a powerless vision…Acts 1:8, you shall receive POWER, and THAT’S passion, THAT’S purpose…THAT’S vision!

II. V. 47-49 HIS PERSISTENT CRY

Ill. Even though Bartimaeus was blind, he was able to see things that others all around him, who had their vision, could not see. In these verses, Bartimaeus proved that even though he was blind, he still possessed 20/20 spiritual vision.

A. He Recognized Who Jesus Was - Apparently, Bartimaeus had heard about the miracles preformed by Jesus. He must have heard about the lepers, the lame, the demon possessed, even the dead that Jesus had touched and made whole again. As he sat by the highway, he heard the travelers as they talked one to the other. He had heard about Jesus and he knew that what Jesus had done for others, He could do for Bartimaeus! Some of us have no clue who Jesus is…we may know a lot about Him, but we don’t really, honestly know Him….

The Son of God…remember Luke 4:18-19??

Luke 4

18

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim

that captives will be released,

that the blind will see,

that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors,

19

and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.[1] "

B. He Realized What Jesus Could Do - Bartimaeus exercised faith in Jesus, which is the key ingredient for receiving anything from God, Eph. 2:8-9. Beyond that, this poor, blind man saw things that most of the people who were in that multitude never saw. In fact, He saw some things that many in this building have never seen. Some things that you need to see today. Can Jesus do anything for someone that believes?? The answer is YES!!!!!!