Subject: "Overcoming Adversity"
Text: Mark 10:46-52
“Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. 47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him. But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.” So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” 50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. 51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked. “My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”
Introduction: Overcoming Adversity! What kind of adversity are you facing? Adversities can be physical or mental condition that may limit what a person can do or become. It can be a disability, a problem, or situation that hinders our progress. Adversity maybe a drawback, a hindrance, a detriment, or a shortcoming. This pandemic has proven to be quite an adversary. How do we overcome an unfavorable condition, circumstance or characteristic that has the power to cause an individual to come short of their goal, dreams and purpose? What are your adversities, frailties, weaknesses, and faults that hinder you in your quest for the abundant life that our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ promised in his word? I am talking about the thing that is holding you back individually, personally. What's your number one problem? How long have you had it? Well, today I am preaching on the subject, "Overcoming Adversity."
Everyone deals with adversities! Everyone face obstacles in life. Winners and losers are separated by how they choose to respond with the adversities of life. Winners in the Christian race learn how to overcome their adversities by taking full responsibility of their opportunities. To overcome means to gain victory over, to come out as the victor instead of the victim. To overcome means to conquer, to triumph, to beat down and subdue every hindrance that would keep us out of the main stream of life. This message may not be for everyone because some people are satisfied with blaming others, or the weather or the government or the environment. Some are satisfied living beneath their privileges. Others are satisfied living on the sideline of life refusing to take part in their own deliverance. While there are those just receive handouts from those passing by expecting someone else to pay the price for their comfort.
Then there are those who recognize life has more to offer and they refuse to be content with life’s limitations. They are always looking and searching for way out! They can sense that they were born for greatness. They were born to please God at a higher level. They have not lost their dreams; their hope is alive and well. They hunger to move into the mainstream of life. All they need is the right opportunity; the right message, the right inspiration; and the right motivation to push them forward.
Every individual on this earth needs to overcome obstacles at some point in their life. Whether it’s applying for another job after losing the first one or even just getting off the ground after falling, everyone has to learn how to overcome the difficulties that life throws at them even those who are famous! Here are eight famous people who overcame adversity.
1. Albert Einstein - Einstein didn’t speak at all for the first three years of his life. But even though he received good grades throughout primary and elementary school, many of his teachers assumed he was lazy because he was always distracted by abstract concepts. Despite the lack of confidence that many adults showed towards Einstein, he rose above such negativity and developed the theory of relativity.
2. Vincent Van Gogh - Van Gogh only sold one painting during his life. He produced over 900 paintings, yet only “Red Vineyard at Arles” was sold while he was alive. While he may not have physically overcome his challenges, his persistence and dedication to his work despite receiving no monetary compensation or external praise is something to be commended.
3. Jim Carrey - When Jim Carrey was fifteen, he dropped out of school to support his family. Soon after, he and his family were living in a van. Despite these challenges, however, Carrey continued to follow his dream of becoming a comedian. As we all know, he was successful in his endeavors.
4. Thomas Edison - Edison failed 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb. Can you imagine failing at something 10,000 times? Instead of quitting, however, Edison tried and tried again until he achieved success. That kind of dedication is nothing short of extraordinary.
5. Stephen King - King’s first novel, Carrie, was rejected by thirty different publishers. He was so upset that he threw the novel in the trash, until his wife later fished it out and encouraged him to finish it. King’s books have now sold over 350 million copies, and Carrie has become a classic novel with many film and TV adaptations to its name. King’s story shows that sometimes people just need a little bit of encouragement to overcome the obstacles in their lives.
6. Benjamin Franklin - When Franklin was ten-years-old, his parents could no longer afford to send him to school. However, financial concerns couldn’t stop him from pursuing an education. Through reading, he was able to educate himself, and the fruits of his knowledge include the lightning rod and bifocals.
7. Bethany Hamilton - At just thirteen years old, Hamilton had her left arm bitten off by a shark during a surfing accident. Instead of admitting defeat, she went back to her surfboard one month later and continued to practice. Two years later, she was able to win first place in the Explorer Women’s Division of the NSSA National Championships. If that isn’t overcoming a difficult obstacle, I don’t know what is!
8. Walt Disney - Walt Disney was fired from his first job at the Kansas City Star after his newspaper editor told him that he didn’t have enough imagination or creativity. A few years later, he drove Disney’s animation studio, Laugh-O-Gram, into bankruptcy. Only when he moved to California to produce cartoons did his career ultimately take off. Walt Disney’s determination to meet his goals is a great example of overcoming life’s obstacles.
Today, we have an interesting story. This event occurs during the third year of Jesus' earthly ministry; his year of opposition. His first year was a year of obscurity, when no one really knew him. Jesus was just another itinerate preacher under the watchful eyes of the Pharisees and Sadducees. His second year was a year of popularity when everyone knew him. His influence was great and his crowds were massive. Many religious leaders became jealous of him. By the third year, a decision had been made, Jesus must be stopped. This is the last time that Jesus would make this journey from his hometown Nazareth up to Jerusalem. Jericho was a common stop-over between Nazareth and Jerusalem. When Jesus arrived in Jericho, the crowds were massive and Jericho was tingling with excitement.
Jericho was located in the plain of the Jordan River. If you remember, (1) Jericho is known as the oldest city in the world. (2) Jericho was the place Israel selected to enter into the Promised Land after the wilderness journey had transformed a band of wanderers into the Hebrew nation. (3) Jericho is the place we found ZACCHAEUS up a tree and out on a limb. ZACCHAEUS’s life was transformed by an encounter with Jesus. Jericho was the place where Bartimaeus stationed himself to beg. Jericho during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry was a rich and flourishing town, having a considerable trade, and celebrated for the palm trees which adorned the plain around. The word Jericho means fragrant or sweet smell. Jericho was a place where weary travelers could refresh themselves for the journey ahead. Jericho could really be thought of as place of refreshing. Even King Herod owned a summer house at Jericho. Often travelers chose to refresh themselves at Jericho before they journeyed on! My wife and I spent a day at Jericho a few years ago. I rode my first camel at Jericho. This was the last time that Jesus would visit Jericho and if the man of our text is going to overcome his adversity, it must be now or never.
Matthew‘s Gospel records that there were two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. Mark only mentions one. Probably one was more vocal than the other. These men were not sick or dying from their blindness, but they dissatisfied living beneath their privileges. They were hungry for a change! Some maybe content living on the sidelines of life, receiving hand outs from those passing by, Bartimaeus was hungry for more. Are you hungry for more, to be more for God; or to accomplish more for the Kingdom?
The world may not always give you what you ask, but it will give you what your hunger demand. I believe there are people here who realize they were born to live life in the main stream. The seed of greatness has taken root in their spirit and they refuse to stay on the side line. They were born to please God at a higher level. They had not lost their dream; their hope is alive and well. They hunger to move in the main stream of life.
Blind Bartimaeus and his friend positioned themselves right outside the city to earn a living panhandling, begging for handouts. If this blind man is going to gain victory over his handicap, it must be now or never. Bartimeaus may not have been his real name. His name means son of Timeaus. The meaning of Timeaus is unclear; some render it unclean; another meaning is defiled or suppressed and even honorable. Some believe Bartimeaus inherit some degenerate eye disease from his father. He was not born blind, but his condition deteriorated into permanent blindness. It probably took him years to acquire a beggar garment and a suitable place to beg. He stationed himself outside the city of Jericho on the wayside. Bartimeaus had heard of Jesus and the miracles he did. Today, Jesus was to pass this way. Bartimeaus understood Jesus to be the promised Messiah who could do heal any disease. So even though he was handicapped with a limited future, He had hope in the Messiah. In the natural, Bartimaeus' future was set. He would have no educational opportunities, no wife or family, and no lucrative career. He could only be a beggar. Up to this point, his number one concern had been his daily existence. His number problem had been to acquire a beggar's garment and find the ideal spot for begging. But when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he made up his mind, I refuse to stay in this condition.
Bartimaeus was born with a handicap that grew progressively worst until he was completely blind. He grew up but he could not outgrow his handicap. Many of us deal with adversities that we never outgrow! So, there he sits, by the wayside, out of the mainstream, never allowed to fulfill his purpose or his dream. There he is lonely, isolated and limited. But today, he refuses to stay in his place. This is not arrogance, this is hunger, desperation and determination. He cries out to Jesus. Contrary to popular opinion, Jesus is not automatically moved by need. Jesus is moved our hunger, our faith and our heart’s desire. Ps 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Let’s take a look at how Bartimaeus overcame.
1. You must make a demand on the Anointing of God – V. 46, "And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people..." Although Jericho was a place of refreshing, a place to be revive, not a single person in Jericho made a demand on the anointing, so Jesus went into the city full of power and came out full of power because no one made a demand on the anointing. I know blindness is something that you can live with, but to gain victory over your adversity, you must make a demand on the anointing! You must refuse to stay where you are. The scripture teaches that when Jesus went to his home town where he preached his best message, but... "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief..." No one made a demand on the anointing he was carrying. I don’t know what prevented Bartimeaus from crying out as Jesus entered Jericho, maybe it was fear or a lack of support from his companion. Somehow he allowed Jesus to pass by undisturbed. Notice Jesus saw them sitting there but passed them by. They displayed no desire for healing or deliverance, and Jesus just passed them by. If you need Him, make a demand on Him.
2. You Must Use what you have to Get what you want- (Bartimeaus was willing to use what he had to get what he wanted) - "... 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." He cried out to get Jesus' attention. No matter how disadvantaged you are, you have something left. Bartimeaus knew how to cry out. He had stopped Pharisees, Sadducees, Levites, Roman Soldiers and common folk. Bartimeaus made up his mind, "When Jesus comes back by here, I will stop Him too! Jericho has only one road in and out. I got to stop him today! It is my time. I must seize the moment.” Sometimes you can’t wait on the approval of others. No one knows what you need better than you. Cry out! Make a demand on the anointing; use what you have….
3. You Must Cry Out In spite of Opposition – (Bartimeaus was willing to cry out in spite of opposition)-..."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." You must cry out in spite of the opposition. (1) Time was against Bartimeaus. This was the busiest day of Jesus ministry He had a schedule to keep at Jerusalem. (2) The crowd was against him. Many charge him to hold his peace (3) Isolation was against him. He was alone so far as support was concern, his blind friend refuse to cry out with him. Yet he cried the more a great deal! He got the Lord's attention. Jesus stood still and responded to his cry. If you cry out to him, He will stop for you. If He stops for you he will give you his personal attention. Those who would come to Jesus must be willing press through the opposition. How do we overcome our handicap?
(1) We must come out of your comfort zone to get to Jesus. “Bartimeaus be of good cheer, he calleth thee” If are going to overcome our handicaps, we must be willing to come out of our comfort zone. In order to receive what God has, we must be willing to leave behind what we have. There comes a moment of no more excuses, no more delays, and no reservation. You must move! My call to full time ministry…My call to this new phrase in ministry…Bartimeaus He is calling you! Cast away the garments of your own sufficiency, your excuses and your reasons. If it is to be, it is up to me. Free yourself from every weight and the sin that so easily besets you. The present spot maybe comfortable, familiar and feel secure, but He is calling you. Bartimeaus he is calling you out of your comfort zone.
(2) We must put our finger on the problem in the presence of Jesus. V. 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.”
What’s wrong with you, man? What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? Not only must we be willing to come out of our comfort zone, we must be willing to put our finger on our problem. What’s stopping you? What’s holding you back? Bartimeaus probably never expected this question. God knows everything does He not? Why ask such simple question? May be to cause Bartimeaus to take a closer look at himself. Finally, he answers, it’s my eyes! It’s my eyes! What’s wrong with you? You must have the courage to put your finger on your problem. If we are to overcome adversities, we too must come out of our comfort zone, put your finger on your problem. I had to quit blaming God, others, the circumstances, the government and the economy and put mu finger on my problem. What happened to you happens to almost everybody. It rains on the just and the unjust. Seasons comes to all. There is a time for every season. Finally, we must follow Jesus in the way.
(3) We must follow Jesus in the way and Glorify God – V.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.” Bartimeaus desired that his eyes might be opened. His eyes were opened. Jesus said, "Thy faith has made thee whole." He had faith in Christ as the Son of David, the promised Messiah. That same Jesus is passing by today. His mercies are renewed every morning. Faith in Christ will cause us to overcome and gain the victory. Every one of us, sinners, back sliders and saints can look to same Savior as blind Bartimeaus. Wherever this gospel is preached, or the written words of truth circulated, Jesus is passing by, and this is the opportunity. It is not enough to come to Christ for spiritual healing, but, when we are healed, we must continue to follow him; that we may honor him, and receive instruction from him. Those who have spiritual eyesight, see that beauty in Christ which will be drawn to run after him. He is waiting on you today! He has come just for you! He still saves, heals and delivers. Today, we overcome! Come if you have to come alone. Seize the moment! Do it now!
