Jesus Stood Still

Jesus Came to Jericho and left Jericho (This is an illustration of what I said this morning, that if we do not prepare ourselves for his presence, He will come and go, and We will not receive anything.

One blind man by the name of bartemaeus was willing to reveal his emptiness, He was willing to endure the persecution for admitting he had a need.

Bartimaeus heard the Crowd. (Thank God. God always gives us something to work with)

He couldn’t see but he could hear, and he used what he had. He couldn’t see but he had good vocal chords, so he used what he had.

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth he began to cry out for mercy

Bartimaeus had been contemplating his condition, and cultivating the spirit of desperation

His plea for mercy was a cry of desperation for deliverance.

And many charged him that he should hold his peace but he cried the more a great deal.

It was this cry that stopped Jesus in his tracks (Jesus stood still)

Those who had told him to shut up, now said : be of good comfort rise he calleth for thee

Isn’t it amazing how fast people can change when it will make them look more spiritual?

If they had cared about bartimaeus they would have took him to Jesus

Mark 10:50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.

This garment was symbolic of his lifestyle, He had lived in this garment the life of a blind beggar. It represented all the restrictions, and limitations and impossibilities of his life.

It symbolizes the mental disposition that held him captive, that defined and determined his actions.

This coat said: I am blind therefore I cannot do for myself and provide for myself. And therefore I am a beggar. ( My life and my existence is determined by the generosity of those who have sight).

I wonder today How many are spiritually blind, to the things of God, and are therefore beggars in the kingdom?

There are many who know nothing of the spirit of revelation, and truth quickened and made alive within their spirits,

There are many who like the Isrealites. (choose to live as blind beggars) who choose to receive everything second hand.

Many in the church today are blind by choice. (because to see carry’s the responsibility to change.

Bartimaeus knew that to receive his sight would end his right to beg, he would now have to labor for himself,. And he publicly made that decision.

What Bartimaeus heard of Jesus called him beyond his condition and convinced him of a fuller life. This faith in his heart created a spiritual sight, and he began to see himself well (with sight) no longer a (beggar)

He casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus

Rose= Stood up.

This means he made a decision to be different, he made a determination to be different. He made a declaration to be different.

In standing up he was leaving the position that defined him as a beggar, in coming to Jesus he was leaving the condition that defined him as blind.

In coming to Jesus: He was stepping into the unknown.

Every phase of growth in the spiritual life requires that you step into the unknown= go where you have not gone before, leave your comfort zone,

When God called Abram He obeyed and went out not knowing whether he went.

As the children of Israel prepared to cross the Jordan into their inheritance, they were told to leave a space between them and the ark so they could see which way to go because they had never passed that way before.

Many of God’s people are missing what God has for them:

(1) Because they are not willing to trust him where they cannot trace him. That is; if they cannot see or make sense of what he is requiring they refuse to follow.

(2)Because they are not willing to cast away the old garment, Jesus said you can’t put new wine into old wineskins, or put a piece of new garment into the old.

That means we have to be willing to turn lose of the old to receive the new

As Elijah’s mantle fell to the ground Elisha took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces. (what was he doing? He was removing the old to make room for the new).

(3)Because they are not willing to admit spiritual poverty

(4)Because they are not willing to change, they would rather be blind than change, and rather beg than change.

Do You want Jesus to stand still where you are? Are You willing to do what it takes to get him to stand still?