The Faith Factor
Part 4: : "Faith Says Never Quit!"
If you were able to pick a story from the Bible that showed you a form of faith that you, personally, could relate to . . . do you know who it is you would pick?
To pick out a particular person, you would have to base it on what you have been through. Then what you did or did not do while needing to use faith.
Faith in GOD is an issue that so many lost people just cannot get a full understanding on. I hear so many excuses . . . but the reality of the fact is that these lost people just simply chose not to believe . . .
And to make matters worse . . . these same people are the ones that will ridicule you and I, as we use our faith, to free us from the bondage we are in.
These same people will make fun of you, and make slide remarks, and tell you things like : "You really ought to quit! God isn’t going to answer that because it is to outlandish!"
How truly little these people really know . . . how unfortunate for them to believe that way, for they will lose out on so much in life by keeping that attitude . . .
This message will be based on the scriptures written in Mark 10: 46 - 52:
46 ΒΆ "And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."
Bartimaeus . . . a man sitting by the road that was totally dusty and really dirty!
Reverend Kenneth Hagin Jr. Said this about Bartimaeus:
"I imagine people kicked up dust in this man’s face as they traveled to Jericho upon their donkeys, horses, camels, and even on foot."
I personally, can see this man, as someone that sat by the road with an old cup, as he begged people for money.
Being blind, Bartimaeus had no hope and had no future for himself, so all he could do was cry out to those that passed by him.
With his ragged clothes, and his unkept hygiene, we look at him and think that matters couldn’t get any worse than what he is going through. If you were in his shoes . . . would you feel as if you had any hope for a future?
In the middle of all his despair, Bartimaeus came aware of a loud and noisy crowd of people approaching him.
In an attempt to find out what was going on, he reached out and grabbed someone’s garment, and asked just what was happening.
Chances are he probably had to ask several times, because the many people more than likely treated him poorly, because of his condition . . . does that sound familiar to anyone?
Finally . . . he got an answer, as someone told him: "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by!"
With the thought of this really kicking in . . . JESUS was coming . . . Bartimaeus jumped to his feet. Although he could not see, he could hear and he could speak . . . more over he could really talk loud!
Let’s look again at what he said in verse 47:
"Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
What really gets me about this is where this is a man calling out to JESUS for help . . . he is calling for HIS mercy . . . and those around him are telling him to be quiet and sit down!
"And many charged him that he should hold his peace:"
(vs. 48)
Whenever your faith is challenged . . . this is where the rubber meets the road! This is where you have to make that choice . . . that great decision of whether or not you are going to believe and trust GOD through faith . . . . or are you going to just give up . . .
Bartimaeus was a man that was not going to be denied! His faith was so strong that not only did he continue to cry out . . . BUT HE GOT LOUDER!
This man knew what he wanted from GOD, and was not going to be quiet until he got it . . . unwavering faith?
Maybe so . . . but Bartimaeus was not going to take "no" for an answer here. So the more the crowds tried to silence him, the louder he got . . . look at vs 48 again:
"but he cried the more a great deal,"
Without a doubt . . . Bartimaeus was going to do whatever it took to get JESUS’S attention focuses strictly on him!
When you think about it . . . faith is the way we voice our desires to GOD. It cannot and should not be considered silent or passive by any means, but it does demand to be heard in the courts of Heaven.
What do you suppose would of happen to Bartimaeus if he had sat down on the road and been quite. What do you suppose would of happen had he listened to the others telling hi to be quiet?
Simply put . . . he would have gotten the same results of his actions . . . NOTHING!
This is why so many Christians today have been unable to collect the promises of GOD. The do not put their faith to action when needed.
To many listen to those around them, and not to GOD. Two scriptures to keep in mind when this occurs . . .
James 2:26:
" . . . faith without works is dead. . ."
And a really key scripture is written in Psalms 118:8 . . . a scripture we are all so familiar with, but seldom take it to heart . . .
"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."
IF YOU ARE A PERSON THAT GRIPES AND COMPLAINS THE MOST ABOUT HOW BAD YOUR LIFE IS . . . THEN YOU NEED TO TAKE A SERIOUS LOOK AT YOUR FAITH LEVEL!
YOU NEED TO RE-EXAMINE JUST WHO OR WHAT YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN!
YOU NEED TO REALLY TAKE A DEEP LOOK WITHIN YOUR OWN HEART AND SEE WHERE THESE PROBLEMS ORIGINATED!
CHANCES ARE THEY ALL STARTED FROM A SITUATION YOU, YOURSELF, CREATED WHEN YOU DID NOT LISTEN TO GOD, AND DID THINGS ON YOUR OWN!
STOP BEING SO BULL HEADED AND START PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN GOD!
Bartimaeus was not being "bullheaded" when he cried out to JESUS . . . he was being faithful in the fact that his faith KNEW that if JESUS would touch him, he would be able to see again!
Something that really gets me, is when I hear some people say something like:
"Well . . . if it’s God’s will . . . Jesus will heal me . . ."
If this is indeed your thinking . . .
THAT IS WHY YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING ANYTHING FROM GOD!
YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING FAITH!
YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING BELIEF IN GOD!
YOU ARE NOT SPEAKING TRUST IN GOD!
BUT YOU ARE SPEAKING DOUBT AND UNBELIEF WITH THOSE KIND OF WORDS!
If you want to receive from GOD . . . you must have a strong faith in HIM! You must refuse to be silent over an issue of faith!
You must have the attitude that:
I WONT BE DENIED BECAUSE I KNOW GOD WILL ANSWER FROM ON HIGH!
(Later on in this series . . . we will take a closer look at this . . .)
I want you all to notice how Bartimaeus faith was strong and consistent! He cried out louder and louder, as his faith told him that JESUS would hear him . . .
"Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me."
Now . . . here is a really good question . . . suppose you were part of the crowd, and you were learning a tremendous bit from JESUS when HE talked. Would you have been just like the others and told Bartimaeus to be quiet?
Nine out of every ten people would do the EXACT SAME THING the crowds did . . . and you know how I know this?
BECAUSE IT STILL HAPPENS TODAY!
There are too many people out in the world that need help with numerous things . . . there are more Christians than needy people . . .
WHY IS THE "NEEDY" POPULATION GROWING?
I’ll tell you why . . . because people have gotten into that stinking frame of mind that says:
"I don’t want to get involved!"
And you know what? It is because of that attitude, this is one of the reasons the churches are suffering today . . . .to few are willing to help out . . . to few just "don’t want to get involved!"
IF THE CHURCHES WILL NOT TAKE AN ACTIVE INTEREST IN THESE HURTING PEOPLE AND FAMILIES . . .JUST WHO WILL?
DON’T COUNT ON THE GOVERNMENT . . . TO THEM, YOU AND I ARE JUST ANOTHER STATISTICAL NUMBER!
Do you ever wonder how you can get the biggest blessing of a lifetime? It’s real easy . . .JUST HELP SOMEONE ELSE OUT . . .
Okay . . . now . . . as we continue to consider Bartimaeus . . .what if you were in JESUS’S shoes . . . what would you do?
The majority of people I polled said a simple and yet truthful answer, when they said:
"I don’t really know what I would do . . ."
Let’s look at what JESUS did do . . .
49 "And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way."
As JESUS walked down that old dirty and dusty road towards Jericho, HE has to stop where HE was when HE had heard that cry of faith coming from Bartimaeus. JESUS heard this cry, as it was . . . a cry of conviction and a cry of faith in GOD’s omnipotent power to heal.
The type of faith that Bartimaeus had was the type that would not be silenced nor denied!
THIS IS THE KIND OF FAITH THAT OPENS THE BLIND EYES!
Too many people wonder so many times just why they did not get healed . . . it’s simple . . . their doubt over ruled their faith!
In this particular instance . . . Bartimaeus KNEW that JESUS would heal him! There was NO DOUBT in his mind about this! He was absolutely sure about it!
Remember what JESUS tells you in Mark 11:23?
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Bartimaeus was convinced without any doubt such so ever that JESUS was going to heal him . . .
THAT IS PURE FAITH!
In this particular instance, Bartimaeus also knew that this was a "now or never", for JESUS may not ever pass this way again . . .
Do you have a faith that will not be denied?
If not . . . you need to start crying out to GOD, and really learn what faith really is . . . a complete and total trust in JESUS CHRIST!
A REAL CRY OF FAITH CAN NEVER BE SILENCED!
A REAL CRY OF FAITH CAN NEVER BE QUENCHED!
A REAL CRY OF FAITH CAN NEVER BE HUSHED!
A REAL CRY OF FAITH NEVER GIVES UP!
A REAL CRY OF FAITH NEVER QUITS!
DON’T LET THE DEVIL STEAL THAT WHAT RIGHTFULLY BELONGS TO YOU, BY TELLING YOU GOD DOES NOT WANT TO HEAR YOUR PRAYER!
The Bible says in Psalms 34:15 that GOD always hears the cry of the righteous!
PUT SATAN WITH ALL HIS THOUGHTS OF DOUBT AND UNBELIEF, AND PUT HIM IN HIS PLACE BY USING THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!
SATAN HATES THAT NAME!
HE HATES IT WHEN WE CALL UPON JESUS!
HE HATES IT WHEN WE PRAY TO JESUS!
HE HATES IT WHEN WE CONFESS OUR SINS TO JESUS!
HE HATES IT WHEN WE HAVE THAT UNDYING FAITH IN JESUS!
HE HATES YOU AND I BECAUSE WE ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST AND HE WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO MAKE YOU FALL DOWN AND STAY DOWN!
AND IF YOU DON’T HAVE A STRONG FAITH IN JESUS . . .
THEN SATAN WILL WIN EVERY TIME AGAINST YOU!
Bartimaeus received from GOD, because his faith would not be compromised. He was not willing to settle for anything less that GOD’S best . . . and through his faith . . . HE GOT IT!
From this day forth . . . I personally challenge all of you to make these professions of faith every day when . . .
you first get up in the morning . . .
and once in the afternoon . . .
and again before you go to bed at night . . .
I WILL NEVER COMPROMISE MY FAITH!
I HAVE VICTORY IN JESUS!
THE WORD OF GOD TELLS ME THAT I HAVE THAT VICTORY!
I WILL GO ON AND CLAIM THAT VICTORY IN EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE OF MY LIFE!
I AM A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN!
AND THESE VICTORIES BELONG TO ME!
I TAKE GOD AT HIS WORD!
HIS WORD NEVER RETURNS VOID!
NEVER . . . NEVER . . . NEVER!
Of course you can change what you want . . . just make sure that when you do change it . . . YOU ARE SPEAKING FAITH AND NOT UNBELIEF!
There is no defeat in faith . . . There are NO attacks of the devil that can defeat your faith, as long as you have committed yourself to GOD!
I promise you . . . if you will live a life pleasing to HIM . . . and reach out and take that which is rightfully yours in GOD’S word . . .
THERE IS NO WAY YOU WILL EVER BE DEFEATED!
I love you guys!
Reverend Sam
