I’VE GOT SOME ISSUES by Rev. Jarvis Ellis
Mark 10:46-10:52
I’VE GOT SOME ISSUES
MARK 10:46-52
Young People, If the truth be told all of us in this Room have ISSUES. Oh I know you have on your “I’ve been Holy Ghost saved, fire baptized, blessed and highly favored” look on tonight but all of have some “junk in the trunk”. I DON’T CARE HOW FLY SAY YOU ARE OR HOW MUCH SWAG YOU SAY YOU GOT, ALL OF US HAVE ISSUES!!! The truth of the matter is that you have been dealing with issues and some situations that have plagued and consumed your entire whole lives. These same issues might have started as early as being in 1st grade! Because we now live in a society where young people as well as adults are exposed to things that can literally cause them to say, “where are these thoughts coming from?, and it at times will cause us to feel as if we are an outcast.” We now live in a society that is dominated by MTV, BET, and Comedy Central. You at home trying to figure out why you can look like “Nikki Minaj or dress in tattoos like rapper Lil Wayne. The reason you can do it is because God made you to be YOU!! TELL YOUR NEIGHBOR “JUST DO YOU”. Many times we are so afraid that people’s opinion of us may cause us to be ostracized and put to Shame! We don’t want to wear Reeboks because everybody got brand new Jordans and we don’t want to be labeled as “lame”. We don’t anyone to know that we’re bleeding internally; we don’t want anyone to know that we got handicaps, we don’t want anyone to know the skeletons in our closet and sometimes we feel as if it is beyond our control to stop it. We become so accustom to the pain that we want to get rid of it but we feel trapped in this situation where it seems that HELP IS NOT EVEN AN OPTION! Maybe you’re in a family and there are issues of dealing with an alcoholic Father who gets abusive! Crippled by the fact that you comes from a family full of issues(you hate going home from school, you don’t want anybody to know your parents or kinfolk because it will embarrass you), Granddaddy was an alcoholic, Daddy was an Alcoholic and the curse still has not been broken, If the truth be told, some of us can relate to this because the pressures of life can weigh you so down that you may turn to alcohol and drown their sorrows in Hypnotic, P.Diddy’s Ciroc, Gin & Cranberry Juice, and Mad Dog 20/20! Then you go to sleep drunk as a skunk and wake with a Hangover (I’m not talking about the movie) and your issue has gotten worse & the pain still has not stopped, the handicap is still there. So you try to medicate yourself with Religion. You Go to Church and try to get an answer by hearing the Pastor or your Youth Pastor and they keep telling you that it’s going to get better, they keep telling you to get in the Word, They keep telling you to pray But what they don’t know is that you’re fighting a battle that you can’t even tell your momma, you can’t even tell your dad, your homegirl and homeboy don’t even know what’s been going on with you. You’ve been coming to church and praying and it seems like God has not heard you. It seems as if things are getting worse and not getting better. So what do I do Pastor J? I’m dealing with some real issues that I can’t talk to nobody about and it keeps on making me lose mind at times. Don’t worry, I got your back because tonight we will look at a brother who is just like you and I, he has some issues.
I thought that we’d look at a man who gives us a good example of how to trust God… I believe that many of us can identify with this man in our text… because the truth of the matter is that everybody has some type of obstacle... Some type of disadvantage... Some type of hindrance that stands in their way (Physical & Spiritual)…I got a text message of good and bad news tonight. The bad news is that SOMETIMES God does not always remove the handicap/issue, whether spiritual or physical, but He does however give us the ability to overcome them... He gives us the ability to Overcome Our Handicaps/Issues...!
The text says Jesus went to a city that was cursed... Jesus had a habit of going to places that other people avoid...! He went to the accursed place...! And as He was leaving, he met a man that lived there...!
Can you imagine living in a place that was accursed...? I’m not talking about the hood! Tye Tribett said it best when he said “It’s Some Good In The Hood”. There are people in life who have made it out of the projects, there are people in life who have it out the country, but I believe there are some people right here in this room who will testify that I’m not a product of the suburbs and the silver spoon syndrome but I’m a living testimony of what God can do when you put it in his hands. It’s one thing to just pass through and spend the night, but imagine if you had to live there...! Jesus went to the accursed place...! And as He was leaving, he met a man that lived there (v46) The man that lived in this accursed place was named Bartimaeus... The place that he lived was cursed... In my spiritual imagination, His people(family was all jacked up) were nasty... And he was blind...! His home was cursed... He couldn’t see... And his whole family was messed up...! And to top it all off, the text says that he was begging...! He was a beggar…
He was dependent... Living on the generosity of others...! Tell somebody, “He had a ISSUE...!”
I’m sure some of us can identify with Bartimaeus here, in the fact that we too have some ISSUES… We too have some problems… We too have some ISSUES…
But the real tragedy here is that we also have the tendency to major in our handicaps… To major in our problems... To major in our issues… But I want to serve notice to you today… That you can Overcome Your Handicaps...! You can Defeat Your Difficulties...! You can Master Your Misfortune...! I believe there are three issues in this text that we need to strongly consider… If we are to be successful in DEALING WITH OUR ISSUES...!
I. CONCENTRATE ON YOUR ASSETS (v47)
The reason we can’t overcome our issues and handicaps is because we get so focused in on our deficiencies, that we ignore our assets…! In verse 47 of the text says "And when he heard that it was Jesus…" Tell somebody, "He heard…!"
In other words, He was blind, but he was not deaf…!
Most of us would spend our time complaining about being blind, and ignore the fact that we could hear…!!! So many people want to have a pity party, and moan and groan about what they don’t have, but you better thank God for what you do have…!
Tell somebody, "Concentrate On Your Assets…!"
It’s a scientific fact that when nature takes away one sense, the others will become stronger to maintain the balance… He was blind… But his hearing was quickened and heightened…!
It was impossible for him to see who it was because he was blind but the text says… “He Heard It Was Jesus” (You missed it) Not only did he have the ability to hear, but he also had social skills… He was highly socialized…! He knew how to wheel and deal… He knew how to negotiate… He knew how to be a risk taker… How to step out on faith…! He knew how to get people to do things for him… He knew something was happening because he heard noises, so he had to ask somebody what was going on…! One of our biggest problems today is that we’re not risk takers… We don’t negotiate… We don’t step out…! That’s the reason we always stay defeated… Because we lay down too quickly, but you’ve got to Get Up…! If you can’t see, tell somebody, "Hold my hand, lead me…" But you’ve got to Get Up…! Don’t’ lay down Get Up…! Most folks would rather lay down than try…! But you’ve got to Get Up…! Stop making excuses…Stop blaming others… Just Get Up…! Concentrate On Your Assets…!
Not only could he hear… Not only was he highly socialized… But he could also speak…! After he found out what was going on, the text says he cried out and said, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me...!" The man was saying “Jesus, I can’t see You, but I know that You are around… "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!" He was saying “Jesus I haven’t always done your will but…"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!" My family is all jacked up but… "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!"
And sometimes you have to be personal with it, “Jesus I know I’m not worthy to stand before You” But… "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!" I know I don’t love everybody like I’m suppose to but…"Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!" I know I don’t always treat my neighbor right but… "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!" Some of you need to stop right now and say…Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!
Remember now, he was blind, and that’s why he kept saying it over and over!!! The only way he could get Jesus’ attention was to keep saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!"He has to make enough noise so that wherever Jesus was, He could find him…! He couldn’t find Jesus because he was blind, so Jesus had to find him… And in order for Jesus to find him, he had to continue to cry out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!" What I’m trying to say is that whenever you want something from the Lord, you’ve got to learn how to use what you have…! You’ve got to learn how to be persistent…! If you want to attract the attention of Jesus, you’ve got to have the inclination to admit and confess your shortcomings… "Jesus, I’ve Got Issues, Jesus I’ve Got Problems.…!" The 1st thing that you have to do is Concentrate On Your Assets…!
II. CONQUER PUBLIC OPINION (v 48-49)
Look at verse 48, They told him to shut up…! But how many of you know that if you want to get something from God; you’ve got to learn how to overcome folks…! You’ve got to learn how to turn a deaf ear… How to put on blinders when it comes to public opinion… If you don’t overcome folks, you will never get to your destination… You can’t get stuck at the bar of public opinion. If Bartimaeus had listen to public opinion, he’d still be blind… We’ve got to learn how to Conquer Public Opinion…!
Whenever you are trying to move forward in the things of God, there are always folk (even church folk) trying to shut you up… “It don’t take all of that…” (Your praise, your shout, your prayer…) Why is it that the whole church can end up bound and lose their anointing because of two or three people…? Because we haven’t learned how to conquer public opinion…! We’ve got to learn how to Conquer Public Opinion…!
Think about Noah, Noah knew how to conquer public opinion… Everybody thought he was a fool but he listened to the commandment of the Lord… Proverbs 24:16 says, "The righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked man shall fall once and lay down…" Folks may tell you to shut up…
But because you are righteous just keep on getting up…
When folks tell you to shut up… You’ve got to press forward… Why…? Because you’ve got something to get from God... And in order to get it… Sometimes you’ve got to be persistent…! The only way Bartimaeus could get Jesus’ attention was by crying out…
The other folks could see, they didn’t need anything from God… But if you’ve got a need, you can’t hold your peace…! They told him to shut up… But he cried, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me…!" Beloved, folk may tell you to shut up…But you’ve got to keep on crying… Keep on pressing… Keep on toiling until you get your breakthrough…! You’ve to learn how to persevere and Conquer Public Opinion…! Sometimes you’ve got to kick and swim until your shaky ground becomes solid…! For I heard old folks say, "If you keep on moving, your change will come…!" You’ve got to persevere…
Because if you keep on moving… If you keep on pressing… If you keep on persevering… If you learn to Conquer Public Opinion… You’ll be able to get Jesus’ Attention…!
I mean think about it….Here was a blind man… From a cursed city…With a messed up family… And he was a beggar… But because he Conquered Public Opinion, and was able to stop Jesus…! When we learn to Conquer Public Opinion, we’ll be able to stop Jesus…!
I love what Jesus does in verse 49…. In verse 49, Jesus used to the same people who told him to shut up, to tell him to "Come here…!" The very people who try to shut you up, will suddenly turn in your favor…
The very people who lied on you will have to come back and bless you…The same people who said you were qualified will have to come back and ask for you help!!! If you persist… If you press… If you can Concentrate On Assets… Conquer Public Opinion…
III. CAST OFF YOUR GARMENT (v 50-52)
Finally, if you want to DEAL WITH YOUR ISSUES… You’ve got to Cast Off Your Garment…! In ancient times throughout the Middle East and even today, beggars wore what is called a camel’s-tunic… It was a tunic made of camel’s hair and it was used as protection from the elements… When the beggars would sit by the roadside, they would cover themselves with the tunic to keep them cool in the sun and dry in the rain… (Watch this…)
So when they told Bartimaeus in verse 49, "Be of good cheer. Rise. He is calling you…" The first thing he did in verse 50, was throw off his camel’s-tunic…! (You missed it…!) When you take off your outer garment, the real you is exposed… When you take off your outer garment, you’re exposed to a elements and ailments of this world… When you take off your outer garment, everybody can see everything about you… That may seem like a bad thing to some, but its actually good news… You see when you take off your outer garment, that’s when Jesus can reach you… When you take off your outer garment, that’s when Jesus can heal you infirmities… When you have some issues that you’re tired of, you have to be Desperate! I know my issues will be exposed, I know I may be ostracized, I know I may be out of order, but I don’t have time to be cute, calm and collected, because Desperate times Called for Desperate Measures!
When you take off your outer garment, that’s when Jesus can help you deal with your ISSUES…! You see when most folk have a issues/handicap or an infirmity, the run to the doctor… But if you check the credentials of the doctor… You will discover that he is someone who spent 8 years learning how to PRACTICE medicine…! Just PRACTICE IT….JESUS IS THE OFFICIAL HEALER…HE’S OFTEN IMITATED BUT NEVER DUPLICATED!!!!
But when you take off your outer garment, that’s when Jesus can touch you… And you’ll discover that He’s more than a doctor… You’ll discover that He’s a Healer…! You see the doctor can only treat your handicap… But I come to let you know that Jesus can heal you… Not just physically, but spiritually…! How many of you know that There’s Power in the Name of Jesus…?
And I’m trying to help somebody to understand that no matter how negative the situation is—there’s still something to praise God about. Because you’re alive enough to call on His name/turn to God.
I’VE GOT A REASON to talk to God and praise Him…because the negative has not consumed me….
I’m hurting—but I’m still alive
I can’t get out of it—but I’m not overwhelmed by it!!!
And somebody is in something today that you can’t get out of—but you can praise Him through it.
He’s keeping you
He’s protecting you
He’s sustaining you
He’s covering you
He’s not letting it get the best of you
So even in the middle of it—LIFT HIM UP!!! And invite him to sit down in the middle of your situation.
Because I’m a living witness—that when God shows up—it won’t be long before you get a new situation!!!
Because when the presence of God shows up….
Demons can’t handle
Enemy cannot derail
Haters cannot hinder it
People who deny it can’t do anything about it
And when God is sitting in the middle of the situation and you’re talking to God—and the demons/enemy/haters/people see that you are not by yourself, they’ve got to get to running!!!
LIFT HIM…while they talk about you/in the enemy’s camp/while you’re sick/while you’re crying….
Don’t wait until the battle’s over…but shout about it right now!!!
Why? Well Because Praise is infectious.
That is what we’ve got to do…praise God for what he’s doing for your neighbor—while your neighbor praises God for what he’s doing for you…and he’s going to bless both of you for praising Him together.
“Oh magnify the Lord with me….Let us exalt His name together….”
Everybody on your pew will wake up if you praise Him
Everybody on your job will get delivered if you praise Him
Everybody in your family will get saved if you praise Him
I’m looking for somebody who can praise Him inspite of the negative…
So what you had to wear old clothes—atleast you could put them on by yourself
So what you’ve got to take medicine—atleast you can take it with your own hand
So what you’ve got raggedy shoes—alteast you’ve got feet to put them on
So what you lost your mother or your father—alteast you knew who your mother and father were
So what you’ve been knocked down—you weren’t knocked out!!!
So what you’re driving a car you’ve been driving for 30 years—atleast its still getting you from point A to point B
Somebody ought to lift up your hands and say “God I praise you.”
I know it’s been rough—but I praise you
I know it feels tough—but I praise you
Because I know that when I praise you, you’ll sit down in the middle of my situation/you’ll start looking around and see what’s going on/telling demons to go to hell/restore my joy, my peace, my sanity….when I praise you.
I dare you to lift Him up/open up your mouth/call on his name/tell him he’s holy….LIFT HIM UP!!!!
IT AINT HOW YOU START OUT BUT IT’S HOW YOU END UP!!!!
A DIAMOND DOESN’T START OUT AS A DIAMOND!!!
IT STARTS OUT AS WORTHLESS COAL, AND THE COAL HAS A CHEMICAL CHANGE AND IT ENDS UP A PRICELESS DIAMOND!!!
IT AIN’T HOW YOU START OUT BUT IT’S HOW YOU END UP!!!
A BUTTERFLY DOESN’T START OUT BEING A BUTTERFLY BUT IT STARTS OUT BEING AN UGLY WORM!!!
IT STARTS OUT INSIDE A COCOON, AND ALL WINTER LONG, IT’S AN UGLY WORM BUT WHEN SPRING TIME COMES…IT DON’T COME OUT AN UGLY WORM BUT IT COMES OUT AN BEAUTIFUL BUTTERFLY!!!
IT AINT HOW YOU START OUT BUT IT’S HOW YOU END UP
IF YOU HAVE FINE CHINA AT HOME, THAT CHINA DIDN’T START OUT AS FINE CHINA BUT IT STARTED OUT AS CLAY AND MUD!!!!
CAN I GET A WITNESS???
BUT WHEN THE MUD WAS PUT IN THE MASTER’S HAND AND WHEN THE MASTER GOT A HOLD OF IT, HE SHAPED IT AND AND MOLDED IT AND PULLED THE LUMPS OUT AND THEN HE PUT IT IN THE OVEN…. CAN I GET A WITNESS???
AND IM SURE IF THAT CHINA COULD TALK…
THE CHINA WOULD SAY TO THE MASTER PLEASE GET ME OUT OF THIS HEAT…PLEASE….GET ME OUT OF THE FLAME… BUT I HEAR THE MASTER SAYING DON’T’ WORRY… DON’T WORRY.. I KNOW HOW LONG TO LEAVE YOU IN THE OVEN…. AND DON’T WORRY I WON’T LET YOU BURN BECAUSE I INTEND TO USE YOU…
AND SOMEBODY IS TELLING GOD…PLEASE…GET ME OUT OF THIS FIRE… GET ME OUT OF THIS MARRIAGE…. GET ME OUT OF THIS ISSUE…. GET ME OUT OF THIS HEALING… GET ME OUT OF THIS JOB….BUT I HEAR GOD SAYING I KNOW HOW LONG TO LEAVE YOU IN THE FIRE…I KNOW JUST HOW LONG BECAUSE I KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN BEAR….GOOD EVENING CHURCH, MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU REAL NICE….
CAN I GET A WITNESS….
I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE PAIN IN MY LIFE…
CAN I GET A WITNESS
I’VE HAD MANY TEARS AND SORROW…
I’VE HAD QUESTION FOR TOMMORROW
THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I DIDN’T KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG…
BUT IN EVERY SITUATION… GOD GAVE ME CONFIRMATION THAT MY TRIALS COME TO MAKE ME STRONG!!!
SO I THANK GOD… I SAID I THANK GOD…
I THANK GOD FOR MY MOUNTAINS…
I THANK GOD FOR MY VALLEYS…..
I THANK GOD FOR THE STORM HE BROUGHT ME THROUGH…
IF I NEVER HAD ONE PROBLEM? I WOULDN’T KNOW THAT GOD COULD SOLVE THEM!!!
SO THROUGH IT ALL…. I SAID THROUGH IT ALL…
THROUGH IT ALL,
I LEARNED HOW TO LEAN AND DEPEND ON HIM….
SOMEBODY, YOU’VE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE PAIN…
SOMEBODY, YOU’VE BEEN GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES..
SOMEBODY, YOU’VE BEEN FACING ENEMIES ON EVERY HAND….
BUT EVERY NOW AND THEN, GOD USES YOUR ENEMIES AND YOUR PAIN TO MOVE YOU INTO YOUR PURPOSE!!!!
SO YOU OUGHT TO THANK GOD FOR YOUR PAIN…
THANK GOD FOR YOUR ENEMIES…. SO GO HOME, GET A PAPER AND PENCIL AND WRITE YOUR ENEMIES A “THANK YOU NOTE”….
DEAR ENEMY….I THANK YA FOR ALL THE HELL YOU PUT ME THROUGH!!!
DEAR ENEMY, I THANK YA FOR NOT GIVING ME THE LOAN…
DEAR ENEMY…THANK YA FOR DIVORCING ME…
DEAR ENEMY…THANK YA FOR LYING ON ME….
CAN I GET A WITNESS….
I’VE HAD GOOD DAYS AND I’VE HAD HILLS TO CLIMB….
I’VE HAD RAINY DAYS, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS BUT WHEN
I LOOK AROUND ALL OF MY GOOD DAYS OUTWEIGH MY BAD DAYS…. I WON’T COMPLAIN…..IT AINT HOW YOU START OUT BUT IT’S HOW YOU FINISH…..
GIVE GOD SOME PRAISE!!!!!
