CAST IT AWAY --- WHY NOT SUBMIT TO CHANGE?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I have a fishing pole, I cast a few times.
I discuss the role of THE SINKER? Then I discuss the role the BOBBER?
Are you a sinker or a bobber?
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
I. CAN WE UNDERSTAND HOW LIFE ADAPTS TO BLINDNESS?
THE DARKNESS BECOMES A WAY OF LIFE...
WE ACCEPT OUR LIMITATIONS AND CHANGE OUR LIFE HABITS TO ADJUST TO
THE LIFESTYLE.
My father is a pastor. When I was in the third grade dad was the pastor of a church
in Indiana. We had a powerful guest speaker one Sunday. He was blind from birth.
I remember he had a huge Bible. It was Braille with raised dots and he read by running
the tips of his fingers over the dots. He was an amazing speaker.
I was a small child and I had great compassion for this blind man.
At altar time, someone lead him to the altar for our prayer time. With my child-like
faith I pushing in beside him, I was going to pray for him to receive his sight.
The blind man whispered to me: Please, if you are going to pray for me to receive my
vision, please don't. The he explained why? He had adjusted well to his blindness
and he would lost his pension check for being blind.
I LEARNED A LESSON THAT DAY --- SOMETIMES WE GET COMFORTABLE WHERE
WE ARE AND WE DO NOT DESIRE CHANGE --- JUST LET ME STAY THE WAY THAT
I AM...
THE WINDS OF FATE
by Ellen Wheeler Wilcox
One ship sails east,
One ship sails west,
Regardless of how the winds blow,
IT IS THE SET OF THE SAIL
AND NOT THE GAIL
THAT DETERMINES THE WAY WE GO.
II. WILL YOU STAY THE SAME? OR ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE?
WHAT IS YOUR MINDSET OR ATTITUDES TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES AROUND
YOU? HOW DO LOOK AT CHANGE? ACCOUNTABILITY? AND SELF-EVALUATION?
ARE WE CORRECTABLE?
Often today we recognize a blind person by their service animal or by their white and red
walking stick.
In New Testament times there were no social welfare programs to help those with
disabilities. People with severe handicaps would supplement their family needs by
begging. ONE WAY BLIND PEOPLE WERE IDENTIFIED WOULD BE TO WEAR A
DISTINCTIVE COLORED GARMENT. When the public saw this multi-colored garment
they understood that individual was blind.
WE NEW TESTAMENT SPEAKS OF BLIND BARTIMAEUS, ---
Everyone knew Bartimaeus was blind and he would sit by a busy highway and people
would give him alms to help him.
BLIND BARTIMAEUS HEARD A COMMOTION AND INQUIRED WHAT IS ALL THAT
NOISE? HE HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE SAY: IT IS JESUS --- JESUS IS COMING.
Mark 10:46 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.
HOW CRUEL CAN PEOPLE BE ---BE QUIET! YOU ARE EMBARASSING US!
WE MUST OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES... THEY ARE OPPORTUNITIES...
IV. ARE YOU READY FOR CHANGE? DO YOU WANT TO STAY HEAR...
OFTEN CHANGE AND MIRACLES REQUIRE EFFORT---
JESUS CALLS BARTIMAEUS ---BE OF GOOD COMFORT ---
WE DESIRE PIE FROM THE SKY--- GOD HAS A DIFFERENT SYSTEM ---
CHANGE MAY BIRTH A SIDE EFFECT OF WORRY --- FEAR...
LOOKS LIKE THE EASIEST WAY WOULD BE FOR JESUS TO WALK UP TO THE
BLIND MAN?
BUT JESUS ASKED THE BLIND BARTIMAEUS --- YOU COME TO ME ---
What if Blind Bartimaeus fell in front of all these people?
Which direction will I go?
WORRY AND FEAR WILL ALWAYS HINDER YOUR CHANGE...
V. GOOD CHANGE IS NOT ACCIDENTAL --- IT IS BY PURPOSE AND
INTENTIONAL... JESUS SAID: RISE --- GET UP! DON'T LISTEN TO THE NEGATIVE
CROWD... BARTIMAEUS COULD HAVE OFFERED AND OFFERING OF EXCUSES...
BUT BARTIMEAUS MAKES A DECLARATION OF FAITH ---
ON PURPOSE --- INTENTIAL I AM READY FOR MY CHANGE...
BARTIMAEUS THREW OF HIS COAT WHILE HE WAS STILL BLIND...
Bartimaeus is desires of CHANGE --- HE HAS A HOLY DIS-SATISFACTION OF
HIS LIFE AND He eagerly and EXPECTANTLY APPROACHES GOD'S SON.
CHANGE COMES FROM WITHIN THE BLIND MAN, NOT EXTERNALS...
RATHER INTERNAL DEMANDING CHANGE.
IT IS ABOUT OUR COMFORT ZONE...
Many will throw off THE OLD MAN --- WHEN THE WE SEE WITH OUR EYES...
THE JUST DO NOT LIVE BY FAITH --- WE WALK BY FAITH...
VI. WHILE GETTIN UP, THEN THROWING OFF THE COAT, THERE IS
THE PERSONAL MEETING WITH CHRIST JESUS ---
AND JESUS HAS A CHANGE QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Bartimaeus could have asked for A WINNING LOTTERY TICKET?
He could have sought materialistic goals.
BARTIMEAUS HAD HIS MIND MADE UP --- HE WAS READY FOR CHANGE...
JESUS SAID: OK, I GIVE YOU YOUR SIGHT: GO YOUR WAY...
BARTIMAEUS DID NOT GO HIS WAY ---
HE DECIDED: I AM CHANGED --- I WILL FOLLOW JESUS---
VII. YOU ARE TROUBLED AND WORRIED ABOUT MANY THINGS...
YOU CAN CHANGE IF YOU SO DESIRE? YOU CAN STAY THE SAME...
CHANGE? STAY THE SAME?
LIFE IS 10% WHAT HAPPENS TO YOU ---
90% WHAT HAPPENS IN YOU.
CAUSE AND EFFECT?
IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT YOU ARE GETTING---
CHANGE WHAT YOU ARE GIVING!
IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE END RESULTS
THEN YOU MUST CHANGE YOUR THINKING PATTERNS
YOUR ACTIONS AND REACTIONS WILL
DETERMINE THE FRUIT THAT YOU REAP.
WILL I MAKE THE CHOICE TO WORRY AND BE AFRAID?
WILL I TRUST IN THE LORD?
CHANGE ALWAYS BEGINS INTERNALLY --- DO I REALLY TRUST THE LORD
MARTHA MADE A CHOICE ---
Luke 10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and
troubled about many things:
CURRENT EVENTS WILL ALWAYS BE UPSIDE DOWN...
Bad news sells much better than good news.
You can make the choice to worry over government affairs, criminal behavior,
crowds or other individuals --- you have no control over these issues.
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name
of the LORD our God.
YOU WILL MAKE THE CHOICE TO PANIC AND WORRY ---
OR YOU WILL TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET THE BOUNDARIES OF FEAR/WORRY...
Matthew 24:6 (KJV) And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not
troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
Matthew 24:6 (NLT) And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic.
Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.
THESE DARK DAYS, THESE PROBLEMS AND OBSTRACLES WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES
TO WORRY AND FRET OR TO LAY ASIDE OUR COAT AND TRUST THE UNSEEN HAND.
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth,
give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
JESUS INVITES US TO CAST ALL OF OUR CARES ON HIM---
THEN TRUST HIM.
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding.
CONCLUSION: YOU HAVE A CHOICE TODAY? ALLOW WORRY AND FEAR TO
DICTATE YOUR EMOTIONS, OR TRUST AND REST IN THE PLAN AND PURPOSE OF
GOD. DO YOU DESIRE GOD TO CHANGE THE WHOLE WORLD AND LEAVE YOU
ALONE.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
