Speaker 1: The following resource is brought to you by Real Life Community Church in Richmond, Kentucky.
Speaker 1: We hope you're both challenged and encouraged by this message from Pastor Chris May.
Speaker 2: All right, if you have your Bible, go with me to the book of Matthew, chapter 20.
Speaker 2: We're continuing our verse by verse study.
Speaker 2: We're moving right along.
Speaker 2: Finish out chapter 20 today, god willing.
Speaker 2: When you have it, stand with me.
Speaker 2: We like to stand in honor of the reading of God's word.
Speaker 2: And there's my glasses.
Speaker 2: Okay, matthew 20, beginning in verse 29.
Speaker 2: The word of the Lord says this and as they this would be, jesus and his disciples went out of Jericho.
Speaker 2: A great crowd followed him.
Speaker 2: I behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out Lord, have mercy on us, son of David.
Speaker 2: The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all of the more Lord, have mercy on us, son of David.
Speaker 2: And, stopping, jesus called to them and said what do you want me to do for you?
Speaker 2: And they said to him Lord, let our eyes be opened.
Speaker 2: And Jesus, in pity, touched their eyes and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.
Speaker 2: It's the word of the Lord and you may be seated.
Speaker 2: Well, my entire adult life I have tried to avoid two things.
Speaker 2: You know the first one two places.
Speaker 2: What's the first one?
Speaker 2: Walmart.
Speaker 2: Come on somebody.
Speaker 2: You know, your pastor.
Speaker 2: But the second that you may not know is this I tried to avoid yard cells.
Speaker 2: Anybody with me.
Speaker 2: That just might change after reading a story this week about a man who was at the yard cell and he's kind of perusing and he's looking for you know, like you guys do that great deal that treasure.
Speaker 2: And his eye catches this book.
Speaker 2: It's a classic book by Ernest Hemingway, the old man in the sea.
Speaker 2: It's a novella, a short novel, very popular, and he says you know, this would be great to add to my collection.
Speaker 2: He picks up the book and he opens the cover.
Speaker 2: And this is not just any print of this book, it's a first edition and it has a personal inscription from Hemingway himself.
Speaker 2: The seller has no idea what they're getting rid of.
Speaker 2: Listen to this.
Speaker 2: He buys it for two dollars.
Speaker 2: An official appraisal has not been done, but it's estimated to be worth 30,000 dollars.
Speaker 2: That day this man looking for a treasure at a yard cell received more than he could have ever dreamed.
Speaker 2: And I tell you that story because in our text today we find two blind men who encounter Jesus, and their encounter with Jesus Christ proves to be more than they could have ever dreamed.
Speaker 2: And I would just argue that this is true for anyone who encounters the real Jesus.
Speaker 2: I'm not talking about those who just go to church or those who just pray every once in a while.
Speaker 2: I'm saying those who truly encounter, submit with repentant faith to the Lord, jesus Christ.
Speaker 2: We come to Jesus with certain expectations, but when we come to him, I think we find that he is more than we could ever imagine.
Speaker 2: I think this is why one of the many reasons why we want our friends and loved ones who do not know the Lord, we want them to come to Jesus, because we want them to come from darkness into light, from spiritual death into spiritual life, from separation from God to a close relationship with him, from being brought into his family, from the kingdom of this world and to the kingdom of God.
Speaker 2: Jesus, you know, he doesn't just help us, he transforms us, he brings us to God, and encounter with Jesus always gives us more than we could ever dare dream.
Speaker 2: And so in our text today, jesus and his disciples.
Speaker 2: They're making their way to Jerusalem.
Speaker 2: For one reason Jesus has told his disciples now four times I'm going to Jerusalem and I'm giving my life as a ransom for many.
Speaker 2: I'm going to be arrested, I'm going to be whipped, I'm going to be beaten and I'm going to be crucified and I will rise again.
Speaker 2: This is his plan.
Speaker 2: He's going to give his life for us.
Speaker 2: What a great savior.
Speaker 2: And so, as they're on this road to Jericho, this is the final leg of their journey.
Speaker 2: They're getting close and as they're traveling, Jesus has obviously a lot on his mind, knowing what he's ready to face.
Speaker 2: And on this road to Jericho, there is a.
Speaker 2: There are two blind men and they cry out to Jesus and he stops for them and he ministers for them to them.
Speaker 2: So I want to break the passage down very simply this morning into three parts.
Speaker 2: I'm going to talk about these blind men.
Speaker 2: Number one, who they are.
Speaker 2: Number two, what they want.
Speaker 2: And number three, what they receive who they are, what they want and what they receive.
Speaker 2: So, number one, who are these two blind men?
Speaker 2: Matthew does not even give us their names, but interestingly, the other synoptic gospels, namely Mark and Luke both account, you know give this story in their accounts of the gospel, both Matthew or Mark and Luke, they don't talk about two blind men, but they focus on one and they give us his name.
Speaker 2: Anybody know the name of one of the blind men?
Speaker 2: Bartimaeus, you've heard that name right?
Speaker 2: So we have very little like details.
Speaker 2: We don't know where these men came from, we don't know, we don't even know one of their names.
Speaker 2: But I would just argue, today, if we just sit with the little, you know, the small verses, the small texts that we have on them, I think we can learn quite a bit.
Speaker 2: And so who are these men?
Speaker 2: Number one I'll begin with the obvious they are spiritually blind.
Speaker 2: This is not a spiritual metaphor.
Speaker 2: They are blind.
Speaker 2: Now, blindness was very common in the ancient Near East.
Speaker 2: You could be blind for many reasons.
Speaker 2: Many people were born that way.
Speaker 2: Many people were wounded or they had accidents and, as a result, they were blind.
Speaker 2: Infants could be blind very shortly after birth from an infection that was very common, that they would pick up in the birth canal.
Speaker 2: And then there were other infections that you could get throughout your life.
Speaker 2: All that to say blindness.
Speaker 2: All those things cause blindness, and blindness was very, very common.
Speaker 2: And so remember these blind men.
Speaker 2: They're sitting just outside the gates of this ancient city that we read about in the old and new testaments called Jericho, and it was actually very common for blind people to go to Jericho, because there is this special like unique bush shrub there in Jericho, and it's very interesting that bush produced this kind of balm that was used to make medicine and it could treat some forms of blindness and so, consequently, blind people flocked to Jericho hoping to be healed.
Speaker 2: And not only are these men blind, but this is very important I want you to understand they are destitute.
Speaker 2: We think of the disabled, including the blind, in our day, and this is hard for us to grab how destitute they blind people were in the first century.
Speaker 2: Because we know that there are many programs for blind people, there are many people who advocate for them and people with other disabilities, and we know that blind people contribute to society here.
Speaker 2: They work and they're productive and we have blind celebrities, right.
Speaker 2: But in the first century that was not so.
Speaker 2: Some people considered blind people cursed of God, they were outcast, they were marginalized, there was no welfare, there were no programs to help them become functioning members of society.
Speaker 2: No matter fact, many of the blind people, they did not even have family who could take care of them, they could not hold traditional occupations and so they were left.
Speaker 2: In Mark's account of this story in verse chapter 10.
Speaker 2: Verse 46 tells us these men, or at least Bartimaeus, they were begging.
Speaker 2: They were begging because that's all they could do is beg to survive another day.
Speaker 2: So the men are physically blind, their destitute.
Speaker 2: But let me tell you something profound about them.
Speaker 2: They have their physically blind but they have incredible, like amazing, spiritual insight.
Speaker 2: As a matter of fact, they can see spiritually more clearly, I believe, than the disciples that we read about, as we read about in much of the Gospel of Matthew.
Speaker 2: In verse 30 of our text, it says that when Jesus was passing that these men cried out Lord, have mercy on us, son of David.
Speaker 2: Now, that's a short verse, but it's loaded.
Speaker 2: It's loaded.
Speaker 2: These men have great spiritual insight and I would.
Speaker 2: I would break this down into two parts because I think that the men, spiritually speaking, they have an accurate view of themselves and they have an accurate view of Jesus.
Speaker 2: So, to begin with, they have an accurate view of themselves.
Speaker 2: They are, they're not entitled Because you notice, they, they don't come to Jesus acting like he owes them something.
Speaker 2: Now, you might remember, a few weeks ago we were in Matthew 19 and in verse 27, peter asked this question to Jesus see, we have left everything and followed you.
Speaker 2: What then will we have?
Speaker 2: Now?
Speaker 2: Think about this, peter and the rest of the disciples.
Speaker 2: They've given up a lot to physically like, literally follow Jesus wherever he goes.
Speaker 2: They've left family and homes and businesses, their livelihood, and so they start thinking about this and they're like Jesus.
Speaker 2: What are we going to get for all this?
Speaker 2: In other words, I think this is the implication you owe us.
Speaker 2: You owe us If you ever had, if you ever done something or for somebody, or let's say, you've had somebody do something for you and now you're indebted to them.
Speaker 2: They want to hold that over your head.
Speaker 2: And we did for you.
Speaker 2: You owe us right.
Speaker 2: That's how the disciples seem to be at this point, but, in great contrast, the blind men.
Speaker 2: They just ask the Lord for mercy.
Speaker 2: They're not entitled.
Speaker 2: Lord, do this for us.
Speaker 2: Lord, have mercy If they deserved it.
Speaker 2: You understand this.
Speaker 2: It would not be mercy if the Lord acted right.
Speaker 2: They also recognize their own helplessness.
Speaker 2: And I love this because, going again to Matthew 19, you remember the story of the rich young ruler.
Speaker 2: This guy is powerful, he has all the money he could want, he has influence and is even a man of character.
Speaker 2: But his problem is he thinks he knows there's something missing.
Speaker 2: He wants eternal life and he's not quite sure he has it.
Speaker 2: But you know what he wants.
Speaker 2: Nobody thinks he thinks that just by doing perhaps one more thing, then just be a little better than I, can gain eternal life.
Speaker 2: And so he asked Jesus what good deed must I do?
Speaker 2: And it's singular, like Lord, I know I'm close what's one good thing I can do to have eternal life?
Speaker 2: But you know as well as I do what's the scripture say that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
Speaker 2: So the rich young ruler is kind of arrogant, thinks that he can get eternal life by merit.
Speaker 2: But you know these two blind men, they're at rock bottom, they have nothing, they cannot help themselves in any way, and they know it.
Speaker 2: But there's benefit to being there because they know that they cannot help themselves and they are fully dependent on the mercy of Jesus.
Speaker 2: I've told you this before.
Speaker 2: It's one of the reasons that I've loved prison ministry.
Speaker 2: I started prison ministry actually in the juvenile detention center at 16 and then into like real prisons in at the time of when I was 18 years old.
Speaker 2: And I tell you what I love about prison ministry.
Speaker 2: I mean, when I was 18 years old I was a little bit scared the first time I heard that those bars closed behind me and I remember, you know, singing and I was shaking like this.
Speaker 2: But I saw 75 men that night give their hearts to the Lord, cry out.
Speaker 2: We sang this hymn that we rarely sing in church for whatever reason, but do you remember the song Do Not Pass Me by, save your Savior.
Speaker 2: They're Crying Out, don't Pass Me by, cry out for mercy.
Speaker 2: I heard 75 men that when they walked in the chapel.
Speaker 2: I'll never forget this first time.
Speaker 2: I was in West Liberty Penitentiary as a minister.
Speaker 2: When I was there, some of you are like I thought there was something off about this guy, but I'll never forget.
Speaker 2: I was in the front of the chapel and we were ready and set up for worship and these men walked in in a line and they looked scary and they had to look tough and I kind of held out my hand to shake their hands and they just looked at me like who is this?
Speaker 2: Preppy dweeb, you know and they walked by but and I thought to myself at that moment I just I wish the windows didn't have bars because I would like climb out of here.
Speaker 2: But you know, at the end of that service, when I saw 75 men cry out to God for salvation, it was so unbelievable, it was a revival that that was happening there at West Liberty.
Speaker 2: And I just realized that I love prison ministry because and I wanted to keep doing it because I don't have to convince inmates who have done some, some horrible things.
Speaker 2: I don't have to convince them of their, their depravity.
Speaker 2: I don't have to convince them that they cannot earn their way to heaven.
Speaker 2: No, they're right for salvation, they're right to hear the gospel.
Speaker 2: But it's people who've grown up in the, the Bible Belt, who are family people, you know they're.
Speaker 2: They're good citizens, they, they keep a job.
Speaker 2: They've never trust.
Speaker 2: You know they've never touched drugs or alcohol.
Speaker 2: They, they speak in a very pleasant way.
Speaker 2: You know they don't have filthy mouths.
Speaker 2: And it's those people who are actually harder to reach with the gospel because they think, like the rich young ruler, I'm good enough, but no, again, we all fall short of the glory of God.
Speaker 2: We all need a Savior, and so I love these men in that they recognize their own helplessness and so they have an accurate view of themselves, but they have actually have an accurate view of Jesus as well.
Speaker 2: They call him son of David and you might remember this term as we've seen it before in the book of Matthew, but it's a messianic term that the Israelites were waiting on this great Messiah King, that they were looking back to the days of King David.
Speaker 2: It was kind of the glory days for the people of God.
Speaker 2: But since their kingdom had kind of declined, they right now, in the first century, you know, they're under the tyranny of Rome and they're just waiting.
Speaker 2: They've been waiting for centuries for the Messiah in Jesus came.
Speaker 2: He's been revealing this through his miracles, through his perfect life, through the fulfillment of prophecies, through his teaching.
Speaker 2: He is the Messiah and the disciples have been so slow to see this.
Speaker 2: But these blind men this is a messianic title because the the son of David, because the Messiah would come through David and would bring deliverance of salvation to God's people and these blind, they get it right away.
Speaker 2: Have mercy on us.
Speaker 2: Messiah is what they're saying, son of David.
Speaker 2: These men, in these statements, I think they recognize two things about Jesus they recognize his compassion and they recognize his capability.
Speaker 2: They cry out for mercy.
Speaker 2: And they, they, they're persistent in this and I think what we see here is that they really believe Jesus will stop for me.
Speaker 2: He's compassionate.
Speaker 2: We've heard how he's ministered to the leper.
Speaker 2: We've heard how he's healed the sick, how he's cast out demons.
Speaker 2: We've heard all of this.
Speaker 2: We just believe he'll help us.
Speaker 2: So they cry out.
Speaker 2: But not only that.
Speaker 2: I believe they.
Speaker 2: They believe not only is he compassionate, but he's also capable.
Speaker 2: He's powerful and they ask him for healing.
Speaker 2: Now let me give you a quiz.
Speaker 2: How many people were healed from blindness in the Old Testament?
Speaker 2: Anybody want to guess?
Speaker 2: Say it out real loud, it's okay.
Speaker 2: Did you say seven, seven, okay.
Speaker 2: Anybody else want to guess?
Speaker 2: Oh, come on, you're.
Speaker 2: Oh, you got it.
Speaker 2: Zero.
Speaker 2: Gold star for Kailin, yeah, zero.
Speaker 2: There are actually no healings from blindness in the Old Testament.
Speaker 2: This is a massive leap of faith.
Speaker 2: But but the men, these blind men, not only they do.
Speaker 2: They believe that Jesus is compassionate, but they believe he's actually capable of a great miracle.
Speaker 2: And you know, I believe there's people in here today and in in churches throughout our country and probably world who either see Jesus as compassionate but not capable.
Speaker 2: It's like well, I know Jesus probably wants to help me, but I don't know that he can actually take care of this.
Speaker 2: Like this problem is really big.
Speaker 2: It's like, well, he, you know, god, parted their Ed.
Speaker 2: See, I think he can, he can help you right.
Speaker 2: I mean, I've heard people say, you know, I've provided marriage counseling.
Speaker 2: It's like, well, I don't know if I mean there's too much water under the bridge.
Speaker 2: It's like, well, I mean, jesus raised people from the dead.
Speaker 2: I think he can probably handle your marriage right.
Speaker 2: So they think he's compassionate, some people, but not capable, other think.
Speaker 2: People think, oh, he's sure God is capable, you can do anything, he's all powerful, but he's really unconcerned with my problems.
Speaker 2: He's too busy running the world.
Speaker 2: But these men listen.
Speaker 2: They believe Jesus is both compassionate and he's capable.
Speaker 2: They have.
Speaker 2: I love this persistent faith Verse.
Speaker 2: Actually I didn't write down what verse this is.
Speaker 2: I want to say it's 32, but the crowd rebukes them.
Speaker 2: That's what the text is.
Speaker 2: So they've cried out son of David.
Speaker 2: The crowds rebuke these two men.
Speaker 2: Leave the, leave him alone, leave Jesus alone.
Speaker 2: But you know what they do.
Speaker 2: They cry out all the more.
Speaker 2: You know why.
Speaker 2: These men care about transformation way more than they care about reputation.
Speaker 2: There's some folks in here who need to quit worrying about what people think.
Speaker 2: Oh, if I come forward, they're going to wonder if you know what's going on in my life.
Speaker 2: Oh, it worked.
Speaker 2: If they hear me talk about Jesus, somebody's going to get upset.
Speaker 2: Listen, who cares?
Speaker 2: Care more about transformation than you do about reputation.
Speaker 2: You run to Jesus Reminds me of the parable of the persistent widow found in Luke 18.
Speaker 2: You have this widow who approaches an unjust judge asking him for justice against her adversary, and at first the judge is like leave me alone.
Speaker 2: But she keeps knocking at his door, bothering him, and finally he gives in because she's become a pest, she's become persistent.
Speaker 2: And her desire for help, her request for help, and Jesus tells us the point.
Speaker 2: He says you know that's an unjust judge, but what about the just judge, god himself?
Speaker 2: In verse seven of Luke, chapter 18, jesus says will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night?
Speaker 2: Will he delay long over them?
Speaker 2: You know I've had many people in our church have great needs, specific needs, be it healing or of you know, physical healing, emotional healing, maybe healing within a relationship, and they say to me something like this well, I've prayed a few times and God's not answering it.
Speaker 2: I just don't want to bother him anymore.
Speaker 2: Listen, god teaches us be persistent in your prayers.
Speaker 2: You've prayed 20 times and he hasn't answered.
Speaker 2: Keep praying, keep praying.
Speaker 2: It's like a child we were.
Speaker 2: We took Nikki and I took my niece and nephew yesterday to the Children's Museum.
Speaker 2: And very young kids Liam, as a matter of fact, my nephew, he's only five years old, just started kindergarten and when, when he wants something, he doesn't just ask.
Speaker 2: Once you know, they kind of pull at your, your shirt, tell, or coat, tell, and it's like can I have this, this, this, this, this?
Speaker 2: And the family.
Speaker 2: You're like, okay, he wanted this little dinosaur and I said, well, that's a little expensive and he gives me those puppy dog eyes, and so I took out a loan and bought him this dinosaur.
Speaker 2: But he kept asking.
Speaker 2: And then he gets the dinosaur.
Speaker 2: He's holding it, walking up to the counter and his sister has two small little toys and he sees she has two, so he goes and grabs another one.
Speaker 2: I said you have lost your mind, son, and I didn't let him get that second thing.
Speaker 2: But listen, that's how children are, and do you know?
Speaker 2: That's actually how God wants us to be.
Speaker 2: And I'm not saying we treat God like a vending machine.
Speaker 2: Oh Lord, I want a new Mercedes.
Speaker 2: Come on, you know, my old Mercedes is a year old.
Speaker 2: It's getting.
Speaker 2: You know, give me, give me, give me.
Speaker 2: It's not that, but when you have a need and you go to the Lord in prayer, keep on praying.
Speaker 2: Listen, I keep a prayer journal.
Speaker 2: I had a prayer, as a matter of fact, just be answered, let's see, maybe three months ago now I've been praying that prayer for a few years.
Speaker 2: Religion has been in my prayer journal and God finally answered it.
Speaker 2: Somebody that I love very much came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2: You know, I believe that asking the Lord for prayer I persistently.
Speaker 2: I just think it shows faith and shows that we do believe in the compassion of Jesus.
Speaker 2: These men, to wrap this up, they're they're destitute, they're physically blind, but they have great spiritual insight.
Speaker 2: So what is it they want?
Speaker 2: That's my longest point by far.
Speaker 2: So don't, don't freak out.
Speaker 2: I'm not saying that I'm not going to be a Christian.
Speaker 2: Don't, don't freak out.
Speaker 2: But what is it they want?
Speaker 2: Verse 32, it says in stopping, jesus called out to them and says what do you want me to do for you Now?
Speaker 2: Does this strike anyone?
Speaker 2: Is a little bit odd.
Speaker 2: It's like hello, they're blind, they've heard about your miracles, they want, they want to see.
Speaker 2: And Matthew six, eight, you know what it says.
Speaker 2: It says God knows we want what we need before we ask.
Speaker 2: The Lord already knows what we need, he's on mission, he's all knowing.
Speaker 2: So why, then, in Matthew six as well, when it says God knows what we need before we ask, why does it say daily we pray for our daily bread?
Speaker 2: He already knows?
Speaker 2: I think there are at least two reasons why we need to ask the Lord specifically for what we need.
Speaker 2: I think number one asking displays are dependence.
Speaker 2: You know these men, they're helpless and so they ask Jesus.
Speaker 2: And when we go to God in prayer with whatever need, what we're really saying is Lord, I'm not power enough, powerful enough to fix this in my life.
Speaker 2: I need you.
Speaker 2: I mean growing up.
Speaker 2: I know Our children.
Speaker 2: Sometimes, when my kids were growing up, I know our kids sometimes annoy us when they ask something over and over and over.
Speaker 2: But doesn't it make you feel good that they rely on you, that they ask you to cook them a meal, that they ask you to help them when they're sick.
Speaker 2: I kind of miss those days.
Speaker 2: It's rare now that my, my adult children ask me for help, but when they do, man, it makes me feel good.
Speaker 2: God is our father and he wants us to ask him because it shows that we are dependent upon him.
Speaker 2: And I think, secondly, asking displays a great amount of faith.
Speaker 2: And James says we receive not because we ask not.
Speaker 2: And so I would just say this is a question worth asking yourself.
Speaker 2: Some of you haven't even thought about this yourself.
Speaker 2: What is it you want from Jesus?
Speaker 2: And again, I'm not saying it's a vending machine, you know I press this button and I want this, but I'm saying generally, like, what's the vision for your life?
Speaker 2: How do you want the Lord to touch your life?
Speaker 2: I think it's worth articulating because you receive, not because you ask not.
Speaker 2: So this is what they ask for.
Speaker 2: They ask for healing.
Speaker 2: But finally, what is it they receive?
Speaker 2: This is so good.
Speaker 2: Well, obviously they receive healing.
Speaker 2: That's clear in verse 34.
Speaker 2: Says that Jesus took pity on them and he opens their eyes and they can see they're healed.
Speaker 2: How many know God still heals?
Speaker 2: Amen, Matter of fact, joe, correct me if I'm telling this wrong, but your son cult for several days, or even how long.
Speaker 2: He had pressure behind both or one of his eyes both eyes, really bad pressure.
Speaker 2: He went to a revival last year.
Speaker 2: He went to a revival last night and cult is eight years old.
Speaker 2: Eight years old and he goes down to the front for prayer.
Speaker 2: A child in all he knows is that Jesus heals and he just has childlike faith.
Speaker 2: Here's what God says.
Speaker 2: And he goes down and he's prayed for and he looks at his dad, he looks at his mom and says it's better, it's better.
Speaker 2: And that's exactly what happens in the story.
Speaker 2: They receive healing.
Speaker 2: But secondly this is again I want you to see when we encounter Jesus, we get way more than what we ask for.
Speaker 2: How many know he's able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask, think or imagine?
Speaker 2: Not only do they receive healing, but they receive dignity.
Speaker 2: I love that.
Speaker 2: In verse two, 32, I want you to maybe underline this in your Bible or highlight it on your, your phone or iPad.
Speaker 2: Listen, it says Jesus stopped for them.
Speaker 2: Do you remember that the crowds were rebuking them?
Speaker 2: Be quiet, you're an annoyance.
Speaker 2: They're not treated like people.
Speaker 2: No people are stepping over them.
Speaker 2: Kids, let's go to the other side of the road.
Speaker 2: We don't want to be near him.
Speaker 2: Jesus stops for him.
Speaker 2: He's kind of busy.
Speaker 2: I mean he's making his way for his triumphal entry, palm Sunday.
Speaker 2: It's coming up and he's ready to give his life God.
Speaker 2: Jesus has a lot on his mind, but he hears these men, these outcasts, cry out and he stops and in that moment they receive dignity.
Speaker 2: Here's the king, the Messiah, who sees them.
Speaker 2: What I love is that Jesus.
Speaker 2: You know they've been begging for money.
Speaker 2: Jesus does not show them or just throw them just a little bit of change to shut him up.
Speaker 2: He sees him.
Speaker 2: I'll never forget.
Speaker 2: After our homeless ministry had started and we were housing the homeless on Tuesday nights and so many of you served in such great capacities to love on these men and women and to provide them shelter made a huge impact.
Speaker 2: But I'll never forget.
Speaker 2: We had one of the gentlemen come to church a few times and he came this one specific Wednesday night and he went.
Speaker 2: He followed me out to the fellowship hall and his eyes were filled with tears.
Speaker 2: I said what's wrong?
Speaker 2: And he said I've never felt loved like this.
Speaker 2: People had given him money, they'd given him shelter, they'd given him food, but nobody saw him.
Speaker 2: Jesus stops and sees him.
Speaker 2: You know, I believe Jesus can do that for every one of us.
Speaker 2: To these, you think, man, you don't know where I've been, you don't know what I've done.
Speaker 2: I'm not a preacher, I've never been to Bible school.
Speaker 2: Everybody else ignores me, even religious folks.
Speaker 2: But Jesus will see you, king of Kings, lord of Lords, he sees you.
Speaker 2: So they receive healing, they receive dignity and finally they receive the best of all.
Speaker 2: They receive Jesus, because in verse 34 it says yes, jesus healed them.
Speaker 2: He touched their eyes immediately.
Speaker 2: They recovered their sight, and here's what it says.
Speaker 2: And they followed him.
Speaker 2: And and is it marks or Luke's?
Speaker 2: Either marker Luke, I think it's Luke's account tells us that Bartimaeus went away not just following Jesus but glorifying God and praising the Lord.
Speaker 2: There's two men that did not just receive healing, that did not just receive dignity.
Speaker 2: Oh, they wonderfully receive those things, but if that's all they got in the end, what do they have?
Speaker 2: But they receive something much greater Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2: They received life, they followed him.
Speaker 2: That is the greatest treasure of all.
Speaker 2: That's the Hemingway book.
Speaker 2: Healing is the book, dignity is, seeing that it's a first edition and the greatest thing is that personal inscription.
Speaker 2: And so Jesus, jesus gives us temporary blessings, that's picking up the book.
Speaker 2: Jesus gives us dignity, he sees us, that's seeing the first edition.
Speaker 2: But getting Jesus himself, that's what makes that book a goldmine, because he inscribes his name upon us.
Speaker 2: He writes his name upon us.
Speaker 2: It's a beautiful thing.
Speaker 2: And so what do we do with this?
Speaker 2: What do we do with this?
Speaker 2: Number one I've got three points of application very quickly.
Speaker 2: Number one I would just ask you I'm proud of this church in this manner, but I want to ask you individually how do you treat the destitute?
Speaker 2: You know, we have what I was thinking about, these blind men begging for money, and we have people on about every major intersection in Richmond, and it's even more so in Lexington and even more so in Louisville.
Speaker 2: And if we've all heard those stories, haven't we about people who aren't really homeless, that are working?
Speaker 2: You know, they're making bank and the problem is it's made of cynical and we say things like this well, if they can stand on the corner, they can get a job.
Speaker 2: So I'm not just going to give them money, can I tell you, I'd rather err on the side of grace.
Speaker 2: Well, what if I give somebody money who already has it?
Speaker 2: Well, god will deal with them.
Speaker 2: I'd rather err on the side of grace.
Speaker 2: But I'll tell you the other thing that we do.
Speaker 2: You know, we have these blessing bags.
Speaker 2: We need to start those again that we, that we give out to people so that they actually give, you know, items that the people need.
Speaker 2: They hand these bags to people, you know, when they pull up to a corner, but it's so easy just to give a bag to them full of goodies or to give them some change, but not stop for them To not have a conversation.
Speaker 2: I remember a good friend of mine, nick Step, who used to be here in help with music.
Speaker 2: Before he moved, he and his wife had stopped at a gas station to fuel up and while she was in the store he was walking out.
Speaker 2: There's a homeless man and Nick just didn't throw some change his way.
Speaker 2: He got him some food, but he just sat down next to him and started having a conversation.
Speaker 2: Beloved, we need to stop, like Jesus stops, and see people.
Speaker 2: So that's one.
Speaker 2: We need to treat people, especially the marginalized, like Jesus treats them.
Speaker 2: Secondly, I would just ask you today if you have a need healing, deliverance from depression.
Speaker 2: You have a loved one who needs to be saved.
Speaker 2: You have a.
Speaker 2: You need a financial breakthrough.
Speaker 2: You need a job.
Speaker 2: You need maybe some other relationship relationship healed.
Speaker 2: Can I just tell you and remind you that God wants you to articulate that before him.
Speaker 2: We're gonna have a time of prayer as we sing in just a moment, and I would just encourage you to come to the Lord with prayer and articulate what you need.
Speaker 2: And finally, I would ask everyone in here because I don't assume, just because you've come to church, that you've truly received and encounter the Lord, but I would ask you today have you truly followed him like the blind man?
Speaker 2: Have you truly followed Jesus?
Speaker 2: Have you repented?
Speaker 2: Have you believed upon his death bury, on resurrection, have you called upon him as Lord and savior?
Speaker 2: If not, I would just ask you what are you waiting for?
Speaker 2: It's like the man at the yard cell.
Speaker 2: It'd be like him just passing up that Hemingway book and just say well, I'll just see if it's here later.
Speaker 2: Now you see a deal like that, you grab it.
Speaker 2: I'm just telling you Jesus is more than you could ever imagine in.
Speaker 2: He bid you to come.
Speaker 2: So if you don't know him.
Speaker 2: Come this morning.
Speaker 2: We've got some prayer warriors that will be up here today and if you want prayer as we, as we sing in just a moment, you come to this side.
Speaker 2: If you just want to come to the altar and pray and ask God something yourself, whatever it is, you just come to this side and we'll leave you alone.
Speaker 2: But whatever it is, man, let's just seek God together.
Speaker 2: Amen, stand with me, lord.
Speaker 2: We do love you very much and we thank you that we can call upon you in our time of need.
Speaker 2: Lord, there's none like you.
Speaker 2: Thank you that you are compassionate and that you are capable of doing exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever ask, think or imagine.
Speaker 2: If one today has not known you, if they have not truly experienced transformation like these men in our text, may they call upon you in faith today, repenting of them their sin and turning, turning holy and fully to you.
Speaker 2: Yeah, and I just pray.
Speaker 2: Every prayer request today would be articulated out loud before you today.
Speaker 2: May you answer those prayers according to your perfect will.
Speaker 2: And even if some of us have prayed relentlessly, time and time again, for healing, for deliverance, whatever it might be, may we ask again today, like the persistent widow, may we cry out like the blind men, even the more.
Speaker 2: Son of David, have mercy on us.
Speaker 2: We pray this in Jesus Good name Amen.
Speaker 1: Thank you for listening.
Speaker 1: If you'd like to know more about how you can have a relationship with Jesus Christ, or if you have questions about our church, you can email us at info at myrealchurchorg.
Speaker 1: Real life community church is located at 335 Glendon Avenue in Richmond, Kentucky.
Speaker 1: We invite you to join us for worship Sunday at 10 45 am or Wednesday at 7 pm.
Speaker 1: Visit us online at myrealchurchorg.