WEBVTT 00:00:04.607 --> 00:00:09.474 The following resource is brought to you by Real Life Community Church in Richmond, Kentucky. 00:00:09.474 --> 00:00:14.471 We hope you're both challenged and encouraged by this message from Pastor Chris May. 00:00:16.862 --> 00:00:21.411 All right, if you have your Bible, go with me to the book of Matthew, chapter 20. 00:00:21.411 --> 00:00:24.705 We're continuing our verse by verse study. 00:00:24.705 --> 00:00:25.609 We're moving right along. 00:00:25.609 --> 00:00:28.303 Finish out chapter 20 today, god willing. 00:00:28.303 --> 00:00:36.262 When you have it, stand with me. 00:00:36.262 --> 00:00:38.826 We like to stand in honor of the reading of God's word. 00:00:38.826 --> 00:00:47.445 And there's my glasses. 00:00:47.445 --> 00:00:53.490 Okay, matthew 20, beginning in verse 29. 00:00:54.500 --> 00:01:00.890 The word of the Lord says this and as they this would be, jesus and his disciples went out of Jericho. 00:01:00.890 --> 00:01:04.126 A great crowd followed him. 00:01:04.126 --> 00:01:16.153 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. 00:01:16.153 --> 00:01:25.289 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. 00:01:25.289 --> 00:01:31.689 And, stopping, jesus called to them and said what do you want me to do for you? 00:01:31.689 --> 00:01:37.131 And they said to him Lord, let our eyes be opened. 00:01:37.131 --> 00:01:44.593 And Jesus, in pity, touched their eyes and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him. 00:01:44.593 --> 00:01:47.180 It's the word of the Lord and you may be seated. 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:18.733 Well, my entire adult life I have tried to avoid two things. 00:02:18.733 --> 00:02:21.407 You know the first one two places. 00:02:21.407 --> 00:02:22.802 What's the first one? 00:02:22.802 --> 00:02:23.981 Walmart. 00:02:23.981 --> 00:02:24.783 Come on somebody. 00:02:24.783 --> 00:02:25.787 You know, your pastor. 00:02:25.787 --> 00:02:31.786 But the second that you may not know is this I tried to avoid yard cells. 00:02:31.786 --> 00:02:34.122 Anybody with me. 00:02:36.780 --> 00:02:49.610 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. 00:02:49.610 --> 00:02:54.987 And his eye catches this book. 00:02:54.987 --> 00:02:59.830 It's a classic book by Ernest Hemingway, the old man in the sea. 00:02:59.830 --> 00:03:09.569 It's a novella, a short novel, very popular, and he says you know, this would be great to add to my collection. 00:03:09.569 --> 00:03:12.465 He picks up the book and he opens the cover. 00:03:12.465 --> 00:03:22.512 And this is not just any print of this book, it's a first edition and it has a personal inscription from Hemingway himself. 00:03:22.512 --> 00:03:26.688 The seller has no idea what they're getting rid of. 00:03:26.688 --> 00:03:28.051 Listen to this. 00:03:28.051 --> 00:03:30.668 He buys it for two dollars. 00:03:30.668 --> 00:03:39.191 An official appraisal has not been done, but it's estimated to be worth 30,000 dollars. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:51.233 That day this man looking for a treasure at a yard cell received more than he could have ever dreamed. 00:03:51.233 --> 00:04:07.572 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. 00:04:07.572 --> 00:04:14.592 And I would just argue that this is true for anyone who encounters the real Jesus. 00:04:14.592 --> 00:04:19.870 I'm not talking about those who just go to church or those who just pray every once in a while. 00:04:19.870 --> 00:04:25.552 I'm saying those who truly encounter, submit with repentant faith to the Lord, jesus Christ. 00:04:25.552 --> 00:04:35.589 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. 00:04:35.589 --> 00:05:03.490 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. 00:05:03.490 --> 00:05:20.454 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. 00:05:20.454 --> 00:05:24.904 And so in our text today, jesus and his disciples. 00:05:24.904 --> 00:05:27.750 They're making their way to Jerusalem. 00:05:27.750 --> 00:05:40.257 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. 00:05:40.257 --> 00:05:50.711 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. 00:05:50.711 --> 00:05:53.163 This is his plan. 00:05:53.163 --> 00:05:57.807 He's going to give his life for us. 00:05:57.807 --> 00:06:00.805 What a great savior. 00:06:00.805 --> 00:06:08.954 And so, as they're on this road to Jericho, this is the final leg of their journey. 00:06:08.954 --> 00:06:18.182 They're getting close and as they're traveling, Jesus has obviously a lot on his mind, knowing what he's ready to face. 00:06:18.182 --> 00:06:22.742 And on this road to Jericho, there is a. 00:06:22.742 --> 00:06:32.949 There are two blind men and they cry out to Jesus and he stops for them and he ministers for them to them. 00:06:34.180 --> 00:06:38.091 So I want to break the passage down very simply this morning into three parts. 00:06:38.091 --> 00:06:40.684 I'm going to talk about these blind men. 00:06:40.684 --> 00:06:42.928 Number one, who they are. 00:06:42.928 --> 00:06:44.952 Number two, what they want. 00:06:44.952 --> 00:06:52.374 And number three, what they receive who they are, what they want and what they receive. 00:06:52.374 --> 00:06:55.187 So, number one, who are these two blind men? 00:06:55.187 --> 00:07:18.588 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. 00:07:18.588 --> 00:07:20.646 Anybody know the name of one of the blind men? 00:07:20.646 --> 00:07:25.163 Bartimaeus, you've heard that name right? 00:07:25.163 --> 00:07:30.389 So we have very little like details. 00:07:30.389 --> 00:07:35.011 We don't know where these men came from, we don't know, we don't even know one of their names. 00:07:35.011 --> 00:07:45.564 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. 00:07:45.564 --> 00:07:47.584 And so who are these men? 00:07:47.584 --> 00:07:50.862 Number one I'll begin with the obvious they are spiritually blind. 00:07:50.862 --> 00:07:53.665 This is not a spiritual metaphor. 00:07:53.665 --> 00:07:55.343 They are blind. 00:07:56.680 --> 00:08:00.550 Now, blindness was very common in the ancient Near East. 00:08:00.550 --> 00:08:02.065 You could be blind for many reasons. 00:08:02.065 --> 00:08:03.925 Many people were born that way. 00:08:03.925 --> 00:08:09.589 Many people were wounded or they had accidents and, as a result, they were blind. 00:08:09.589 --> 00:08:19.206 Infants could be blind very shortly after birth from an infection that was very common, that they would pick up in the birth canal. 00:08:19.206 --> 00:08:23.449 And then there were other infections that you could get throughout your life. 00:08:23.449 --> 00:08:26.184 All that to say blindness. 00:08:26.184 --> 00:08:30.612 All those things cause blindness, and blindness was very, very common. 00:08:30.612 --> 00:08:33.147 And so remember these blind men. 00:08:33.147 --> 00:09:17.472 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. 00:09:18.659 --> 00:09:23.567 And not only are these men blind, but this is very important I want you to understand they are destitute. 00:09:23.567 --> 00:09:34.179 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. 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:49.091 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. 00:09:49.091 --> 00:09:54.912 They work and they're productive and we have blind celebrities, right. 00:09:54.912 --> 00:09:58.508 But in the first century that was not so. 00:09:58.508 --> 00:10:15.691 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. 00:10:15.691 --> 00:10:30.883 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. 00:10:31.183 --> 00:10:34.716 In Mark's account of this story in verse chapter 10. 00:10:34.716 --> 00:10:41.726 Verse 46 tells us these men, or at least Bartimaeus, they were begging. 00:10:41.726 --> 00:10:49.812 They were begging because that's all they could do is beg to survive another day. 00:10:49.812 --> 00:10:54.350 So the men are physically blind, their destitute. 00:10:54.350 --> 00:10:56.485 But let me tell you something profound about them. 00:10:56.485 --> 00:11:06.633 They have their physically blind but they have incredible, like amazing, spiritual insight. 00:11:06.633 --> 00:11:17.428 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. 00:11:17.428 --> 00:11:31.511 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. 00:11:31.511 --> 00:11:34.828 Now, that's a short verse, but it's loaded. 00:11:34.828 --> 00:11:36.280 It's loaded. 00:11:36.280 --> 00:11:41.385 These men have great spiritual insight and I would. 00:11:41.385 --> 00:11:51.065 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. 00:11:51.065 --> 00:11:56.811 So, to begin with, they have an accurate view of themselves. 00:11:56.811 --> 00:12:06.993 They are, they're not entitled Because you notice, they, they don't come to Jesus acting like he owes them something. 00:12:07.620 --> 00:12:20.253 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. 00:12:20.253 --> 00:12:22.164 What then will we have? 00:12:22.164 --> 00:12:24.225 Now? 00:12:24.225 --> 00:12:26.235 Think about this, peter and the rest of the disciples. 00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:30.710 They've given up a lot to physically like, literally follow Jesus wherever he goes. 00:12:30.710 --> 00:12:39.091 They've left family and homes and businesses, their livelihood, and so they start thinking about this and they're like Jesus. 00:12:39.091 --> 00:12:41.844 What are we going to get for all this? 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:45.782 In other words, I think this is the implication you owe us. 00:12:45.782 --> 00:12:58.015 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. 00:12:58.015 --> 00:12:59.600 They want to hold that over your head. 00:12:59.600 --> 00:13:00.565 And we did for you. 00:13:00.565 --> 00:13:02.163 You owe us right. 00:13:02.163 --> 00:13:10.004 That's how the disciples seem to be at this point, but, in great contrast, the blind men. 00:13:10.004 --> 00:13:13.311 They just ask the Lord for mercy. 00:13:13.311 --> 00:13:15.282 They're not entitled. 00:13:15.282 --> 00:13:16.746 Lord, do this for us. 00:13:16.746 --> 00:13:20.942 Lord, have mercy If they deserved it. 00:13:20.942 --> 00:13:22.806 You understand this. 00:13:22.806 --> 00:13:25.149 It would not be mercy if the Lord acted right. 00:13:25.149 --> 00:13:28.988 They also recognize their own helplessness. 00:13:29.100 --> 00:13:33.928 And I love this because, going again to Matthew 19, you remember the story of the rich young ruler. 00:13:33.928 --> 00:13:41.807 This guy is powerful, he has all the money he could want, he has influence and is even a man of character. 00:13:41.807 --> 00:13:47.571 But his problem is he thinks he knows there's something missing. 00:13:47.571 --> 00:13:50.668 He wants eternal life and he's not quite sure he has it. 00:13:50.668 --> 00:13:53.659 But you know what he wants. 00:13:53.659 --> 00:14:01.567 Nobody thinks he thinks that just by doing perhaps one more thing, then just be a little better than I, can gain eternal life. 00:14:01.567 --> 00:14:05.128 And so he asked Jesus what good deed must I do? 00:14:05.128 --> 00:14:12.706 And it's singular, like Lord, I know I'm close what's one good thing I can do to have eternal life? 00:14:12.706 --> 00:14:19.703 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. 00:14:19.703 --> 00:14:29.231 So the rich young ruler is kind of arrogant, thinks that he can get eternal life by merit. 00:14:29.231 --> 00:14:40.001 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. 00:14:40.001 --> 00:14:50.908 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. 00:14:53.235 --> 00:14:54.220 I've told you this before. 00:14:54.220 --> 00:14:58.073 It's one of the reasons that I've loved prison ministry. 00:14:58.073 --> 00:15:10.148 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. 00:15:10.148 --> 00:15:12.835 And I tell you what I love about prison ministry. 00:15:12.835 --> 00:15:22.404 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. 00:15:22.404 --> 00:15:25.879 But I saw 75 men that night give their hearts to the Lord, cry out. 00:15:25.879 --> 00:15:36.554 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. 00:15:36.554 --> 00:15:42.652 They're Crying Out, don't Pass Me by, cry out for mercy. 00:15:42.652 --> 00:15:45.744 I heard 75 men that when they walked in the chapel. 00:15:45.744 --> 00:15:47.106 I'll never forget this first time. 00:15:47.147 --> 00:15:52.057 I was in West Liberty Penitentiary as a minister. 00:15:52.057 --> 00:16:06.639 When I was there, some of you are like I thought there was something off about this guy, but I'll never forget. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:20.376 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? 00:16:20.376 --> 00:16:29.910 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. 00:16:29.910 --> 00:16:43.778 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. 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:57.967 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. 00:16:57.967 --> 00:17:01.100 I don't have to convince them of their, their depravity. 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:05.212 I don't have to convince them that they cannot earn their way to heaven. 00:17:05.212 --> 00:17:12.718 No, they're right for salvation, they're right to hear the gospel. 00:17:12.718 --> 00:17:20.337 But it's people who've grown up in the, the Bible Belt, who are family people, you know they're. 00:17:20.337 --> 00:17:22.795 They're good citizens, they, they keep a job. 00:17:22.795 --> 00:17:24.000 They've never trust. 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.909 You know they've never touched drugs or alcohol. 00:17:26.909 --> 00:17:29.777 They, they speak in a very pleasant way. 00:17:29.777 --> 00:17:31.669 You know they don't have filthy mouths. 00:17:31.669 --> 00:17:42.974 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. 00:17:42.974 --> 00:17:59.934 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. 00:18:00.142 --> 00:18:18.151 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. 00:18:18.151 --> 00:18:21.487 It was kind of the glory days for the people of God. 00:18:21.487 --> 00:18:32.586 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. 00:18:32.586 --> 00:18:36.644 They've been waiting for centuries for the Messiah in Jesus came. 00:18:36.644 --> 00:18:43.411 He's been revealing this through his miracles, through his perfect life, through the fulfillment of prophecies, through his teaching. 00:18:43.411 --> 00:18:48.931 He is the Messiah and the disciples have been so slow to see this. 00:18:48.931 --> 00:19:06.171 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. 00:19:06.171 --> 00:19:08.377 Have mercy on us. 00:19:08.377 --> 00:19:11.626 Messiah is what they're saying, son of David. 00:19:14.752 --> 00:19:24.387 These men, in these statements, I think they recognize two things about Jesus they recognize his compassion and they recognize his capability. 00:19:24.387 --> 00:19:26.355 They cry out for mercy. 00:19:26.355 --> 00:19:35.778 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. 00:19:35.778 --> 00:19:37.789 He's compassionate. 00:19:37.789 --> 00:19:40.278 We've heard how he's ministered to the leper. 00:19:40.278 --> 00:19:46.355 We've heard how he's healed the sick, how he's cast out demons. 00:19:46.355 --> 00:19:49.003 We've heard all of this. 00:19:49.003 --> 00:19:51.067 We just believe he'll help us. 00:19:51.067 --> 00:19:52.391 So they cry out. 00:19:52.391 --> 00:19:54.474 But not only that. 00:19:54.474 --> 00:19:55.518 I believe they. 00:19:55.518 --> 00:19:59.838 They believe not only is he compassionate, but he's also capable. 00:19:59.838 --> 00:20:03.210 He's powerful and they ask him for healing. 00:20:04.773 --> 00:20:06.157 Now let me give you a quiz. 00:20:06.157 --> 00:20:10.169 How many people were healed from blindness in the Old Testament? 00:20:10.169 --> 00:20:11.432 Anybody want to guess? 00:20:11.432 --> 00:20:14.486 Say it out real loud, it's okay. 00:20:14.486 --> 00:20:19.317 Did you say seven, seven, okay. 00:20:19.317 --> 00:20:20.338 Anybody else want to guess? 00:20:20.338 --> 00:20:23.606 Oh, come on, you're. 00:20:23.606 --> 00:20:25.873 Oh, you got it. 00:20:25.873 --> 00:20:26.555 Zero. 00:20:26.555 --> 00:20:29.522 Gold star for Kailin, yeah, zero. 00:20:29.522 --> 00:20:35.318 There are actually no healings from blindness in the Old Testament. 00:20:35.318 --> 00:20:37.806 This is a massive leap of faith. 00:20:37.806 --> 00:20:41.394 But but the men, these blind men, not only they do. 00:20:41.394 --> 00:20:48.441 They believe that Jesus is compassionate, but they believe he's actually capable of a great miracle. 00:20:48.461 --> 00:21:03.526 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. 00:21:03.526 --> 00:21:08.650 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. 00:21:08.650 --> 00:21:10.655 Like this problem is really big. 00:21:10.655 --> 00:21:13.596 It's like, well, he, you know, god, parted their Ed. 00:21:13.596 --> 00:21:16.467 See, I think he can, he can help you right. 00:21:16.467 --> 00:21:20.638 I mean, I've heard people say, you know, I've provided marriage counseling. 00:21:20.638 --> 00:21:23.984 It's like, well, I don't know if I mean there's too much water under the bridge. 00:21:23.984 --> 00:21:26.874 It's like, well, I mean, jesus raised people from the dead. 00:21:26.874 --> 00:21:30.071 I think he can probably handle your marriage right. 00:21:30.071 --> 00:21:36.113 So they think he's compassionate, some people, but not capable, other think. 00:21:36.113 --> 00:21:43.588 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. 00:21:43.588 --> 00:21:45.255 He's too busy running the world. 00:21:45.255 --> 00:21:47.041 But these men listen. 00:21:47.041 --> 00:21:51.729 They believe Jesus is both compassionate and he's capable. 00:21:51.729 --> 00:21:53.612 They have. 00:21:53.672 --> 00:21:58.058 I love this persistent faith Verse. 00:21:58.058 --> 00:22:01.287 Actually I didn't write down what verse this is. 00:22:01.287 --> 00:22:05.345 I want to say it's 32, but the crowd rebukes them. 00:22:05.345 --> 00:22:06.126 That's what the text is. 00:22:06.126 --> 00:22:07.559 So they've cried out son of David. 00:22:07.559 --> 00:22:11.576 The crowds rebuke these two men. 00:22:11.576 --> 00:22:14.865 Leave the, leave him alone, leave Jesus alone. 00:22:14.865 --> 00:22:16.659 But you know what they do. 00:22:16.659 --> 00:22:19.040 They cry out all the more. 00:22:19.040 --> 00:22:19.824 You know why. 00:22:19.824 --> 00:22:24.906 These men care about transformation way more than they care about reputation. 00:22:24.906 --> 00:22:29.226 There's some folks in here who need to quit worrying about what people think. 00:22:29.226 --> 00:22:32.988 Oh, if I come forward, they're going to wonder if you know what's going on in my life. 00:22:32.988 --> 00:22:34.714 Oh, it worked. 00:22:34.714 --> 00:22:38.625 If they hear me talk about Jesus, somebody's going to get upset. 00:22:38.625 --> 00:22:39.940 Listen, who cares? 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:44.986 Care more about transformation than you do about reputation. 00:22:44.986 --> 00:22:53.968 You run to Jesus Reminds me of the parable of the persistent widow found in Luke 18. 00:22:54.015 --> 00:23:03.760 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. 00:23:03.760 --> 00:23:15.221 But she keeps knocking at his door, bothering him, and finally he gives in because she's become a pest, she's become persistent. 00:23:15.221 --> 00:23:22.561 And her desire for help, her request for help, and Jesus tells us the point. 00:23:22.561 --> 00:23:28.898 He says you know that's an unjust judge, but what about the just judge, god himself? 00:23:28.898 --> 00:23:39.468 In verse seven of Luke, chapter 18, jesus says will not God give justice to his elect who cry to him day and night? 00:23:39.468 --> 00:23:41.374 Will he delay long over them? 00:23:41.374 --> 00:23:58.835 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. 00:23:58.835 --> 00:24:01.626 I just don't want to bother him anymore. 00:24:01.626 --> 00:24:10.810 Listen, god teaches us be persistent in your prayers. 00:24:10.810 --> 00:24:14.752 You've prayed 20 times and he hasn't answered. 00:24:14.752 --> 00:24:16.060 Keep praying, keep praying. 00:24:17.007 --> 00:24:18.476 It's like a child we were. 00:24:18.476 --> 00:24:23.928 We took Nikki and I took my niece and nephew yesterday to the Children's Museum. 00:24:23.928 --> 00:24:37.888 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. 00:24:37.888 --> 00:24:44.679 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? 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:45.201 And the family. 00:24:45.201 --> 00:24:58.023 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. 00:24:58.023 --> 00:24:59.207 But he kept asking. 00:24:59.207 --> 00:25:01.414 And then he gets the dinosaur. 00:25:01.414 --> 00:25:08.721 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. 00:25:09.037 --> 00:25:14.750 I said you have lost your mind, son, and I didn't let him get that second thing. 00:25:14.750 --> 00:25:18.864 But listen, that's how children are, and do you know? 00:25:18.864 --> 00:25:21.151 That's actually how God wants us to be. 00:25:21.151 --> 00:25:23.974 And I'm not saying we treat God like a vending machine. 00:25:23.974 --> 00:25:25.685 Oh Lord, I want a new Mercedes. 00:25:25.685 --> 00:25:28.933 Come on, you know, my old Mercedes is a year old. 00:25:28.933 --> 00:25:29.278 It's getting. 00:25:29.278 --> 00:25:30.574 You know, give me, give me, give me. 00:25:32.579 --> 00:25:37.654 It's not that, but when you have a need and you go to the Lord in prayer, keep on praying. 00:25:37.654 --> 00:25:40.535 Listen, I keep a prayer journal. 00:25:40.535 --> 00:25:52.575 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. 00:25:52.575 --> 00:25:58.214 Religion has been in my prayer journal and God finally answered it. 00:25:58.214 --> 00:26:02.454 Somebody that I love very much came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. 00:26:02.454 --> 00:26:08.413 You know, I believe that asking the Lord for prayer I persistently. 00:26:08.413 --> 00:26:13.595 I just think it shows faith and shows that we do believe in the compassion of Jesus. 00:26:14.675 --> 00:26:21.864 These men, to wrap this up, they're they're destitute, they're physically blind, but they have great spiritual insight. 00:26:21.864 --> 00:26:23.146 So what is it they want? 00:26:23.146 --> 00:26:24.875 That's my longest point by far. 00:26:24.875 --> 00:26:25.842 So don't, don't freak out. 00:26:25.842 --> 00:26:28.815 I'm not saying that I'm not going to be a Christian. 00:26:28.815 --> 00:26:30.855 I'm not saying that I'm not going to be a Christian. 00:26:30.855 --> 00:26:32.422 Don't, don't freak out. 00:26:32.422 --> 00:26:34.603 But what is it they want? 00:26:34.674 --> 00:26:42.576 Verse 32, it says in stopping, jesus called out to them and says what do you want me to do for you Now? 00:26:42.576 --> 00:26:43.839 Does this strike anyone? 00:26:43.839 --> 00:26:44.663 Is a little bit odd. 00:26:44.663 --> 00:26:51.303 It's like hello, they're blind, they've heard about your miracles, they want, they want to see. 00:26:51.303 --> 00:26:55.364 And Matthew six, eight, you know what it says. 00:26:55.364 --> 00:26:59.340 It says God knows we want what we need before we ask. 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:05.950 The Lord already knows what we need, he's on mission, he's all knowing. 00:27:05.950 --> 00:27:15.580 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? 00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:17.566 He already knows? 00:27:21.381 --> 00:27:26.930 I think there are at least two reasons why we need to ask the Lord specifically for what we need. 00:27:26.930 --> 00:27:30.345 I think number one asking displays are dependence. 00:27:30.345 --> 00:27:36.226 You know these men, they're helpless and so they ask Jesus. 00:27:36.226 --> 00:27:44.304 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. 00:27:44.304 --> 00:27:44.744 I need you. 00:27:44.744 --> 00:27:46.699 I mean growing up. 00:27:46.699 --> 00:27:47.978 I know Our children. 00:27:47.978 --> 00:27:53.821 Sometimes, when my kids were growing up, I know our kids sometimes annoy us when they ask something over and over and over. 00:27:53.821 --> 00:28:05.682 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. 00:28:05.682 --> 00:28:09.442 I kind of miss those days. 00:28:09.442 --> 00:28:16.901 It's rare now that my, my adult children ask me for help, but when they do, man, it makes me feel good. 00:28:16.901 --> 00:28:23.607 God is our father and he wants us to ask him because it shows that we are dependent upon him. 00:28:24.096 --> 00:28:28.026 And I think, secondly, asking displays a great amount of faith. 00:28:28.026 --> 00:28:34.445 And James says we receive not because we ask not. 00:28:34.445 --> 00:28:39.306 And so I would just say this is a question worth asking yourself. 00:28:39.306 --> 00:28:41.844 Some of you haven't even thought about this yourself. 00:28:41.844 --> 00:28:43.641 What is it you want from Jesus? 00:28:43.641 --> 00:28:53.193 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? 00:28:53.193 --> 00:28:55.535 How do you want the Lord to touch your life? 00:28:55.535 --> 00:29:00.828 I think it's worth articulating because you receive, not because you ask not. 00:29:00.828 --> 00:29:03.288 So this is what they ask for. 00:29:03.288 --> 00:29:03.855 They ask for healing. 00:29:03.855 --> 00:29:07.391 But finally, what is it they receive? 00:29:07.391 --> 00:29:07.973 This is so good. 00:29:07.973 --> 00:29:10.817 Well, obviously they receive healing. 00:29:10.817 --> 00:29:12.332 That's clear in verse 34. 00:29:12.332 --> 00:29:20.035 Says that Jesus took pity on them and he opens their eyes and they can see they're healed. 00:29:22.788 --> 00:29:23.874 How many know God still heals? 00:29:23.874 --> 00:29:32.874 Amen, Matter of fact, joe, correct me if I'm telling this wrong, but your son cult for several days, or even how long. 00:29:32.874 --> 00:29:38.634 He had pressure behind both or one of his eyes both eyes, really bad pressure. 00:29:38.634 --> 00:29:40.388 He went to a revival last year. 00:29:40.388 --> 00:29:44.463 He went to a revival last night and cult is eight years old. 00:29:44.463 --> 00:29:50.546 Eight years old and he goes down to the front for prayer. 00:29:50.546 --> 00:29:58.222 A child in all he knows is that Jesus heals and he just has childlike faith. 00:29:58.222 --> 00:29:59.637 Here's what God says. 00:29:59.637 --> 00:30:07.425 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. 00:30:07.425 --> 00:30:12.003 And that's exactly what happens in the story. 00:30:12.003 --> 00:30:14.568 They receive healing. 00:30:14.568 --> 00:30:21.640 But secondly this is again I want you to see when we encounter Jesus, we get way more than what we ask for. 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:26.800 How many know he's able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we could ever ask, think or imagine? 00:30:26.800 --> 00:30:31.173 Not only do they receive healing, but they receive dignity. 00:30:31.173 --> 00:30:33.118 I love that. 00:30:33.159 --> 00:30:39.161 In verse two, 32, I want you to maybe underline this in your Bible or highlight it on your, your phone or iPad. 00:30:39.161 --> 00:30:41.948 Listen, it says Jesus stopped for them. 00:30:41.948 --> 00:30:47.165 Do you remember that the crowds were rebuking them? 00:30:47.165 --> 00:30:49.135 Be quiet, you're an annoyance. 00:30:49.135 --> 00:30:55.747 They're not treated like people. 00:30:55.747 --> 00:31:01.384 No people are stepping over them. 00:31:01.384 --> 00:31:04.954 Kids, let's go to the other side of the road. 00:31:04.954 --> 00:31:08.040 We don't want to be near him. 00:31:08.060 --> 00:31:09.242 Jesus stops for him. 00:31:09.242 --> 00:31:11.827 He's kind of busy. 00:31:11.827 --> 00:31:17.006 I mean he's making his way for his triumphal entry, palm Sunday. 00:31:17.006 --> 00:31:22.560 It's coming up and he's ready to give his life God. 00:31:22.560 --> 00:31:32.035 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. 00:31:32.035 --> 00:31:35.663 Here's the king, the Messiah, who sees them. 00:31:35.663 --> 00:31:37.907 What I love is that Jesus. 00:31:37.907 --> 00:31:39.201 You know they've been begging for money. 00:31:39.201 --> 00:31:45.525 Jesus does not show them or just throw them just a little bit of change to shut him up. 00:31:45.525 --> 00:31:47.349 He sees him. 00:31:47.349 --> 00:31:48.874 I'll never forget. 00:31:48.934 --> 00:32:06.029 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. 00:32:06.029 --> 00:32:08.256 But I'll never forget. 00:32:08.256 --> 00:32:15.083 We had one of the gentlemen come to church a few times and he came this one specific Wednesday night and he went. 00:32:15.083 --> 00:32:19.500 He followed me out to the fellowship hall and his eyes were filled with tears. 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:21.989 I said what's wrong? 00:32:21.989 --> 00:32:26.421 And he said I've never felt loved like this. 00:32:26.421 --> 00:32:32.740 People had given him money, they'd given him shelter, they'd given him food, but nobody saw him. 00:32:32.740 --> 00:32:37.230 Jesus stops and sees him. 00:32:37.230 --> 00:32:41.887 You know, I believe Jesus can do that for every one of us. 00:32:41.887 --> 00:32:44.825 To these, you think, man, you don't know where I've been, you don't know what I've done. 00:32:44.825 --> 00:32:48.080 I'm not a preacher, I've never been to Bible school. 00:32:48.080 --> 00:32:52.056 Everybody else ignores me, even religious folks. 00:32:52.056 --> 00:32:58.290 But Jesus will see you, king of Kings, lord of Lords, he sees you. 00:32:59.894 --> 00:33:04.275 So they receive healing, they receive dignity and finally they receive the best of all. 00:33:04.275 --> 00:33:11.574 They receive Jesus, because in verse 34 it says yes, jesus healed them. 00:33:11.574 --> 00:33:13.401 He touched their eyes immediately. 00:33:13.401 --> 00:33:15.912 They recovered their sight, and here's what it says. 00:33:15.912 --> 00:33:18.117 And they followed him. 00:33:18.117 --> 00:33:21.424 And and is it marks or Luke's? 00:33:21.424 --> 00:33:33.003 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. 00:33:35.128 --> 00:33:40.165 There's two men that did not just receive healing, that did not just receive dignity. 00:33:40.165 --> 00:33:47.386 Oh, they wonderfully receive those things, but if that's all they got in the end, what do they have? 00:33:47.386 --> 00:33:53.501 But they receive something much greater Jesus Christ. 00:33:53.501 --> 00:33:56.349 They received life, they followed him. 00:33:56.349 --> 00:34:00.018 That is the greatest treasure of all. 00:34:00.018 --> 00:34:01.641 That's the Hemingway book. 00:34:03.684 --> 00:34:14.918 Healing is the book, dignity is, seeing that it's a first edition and the greatest thing is that personal inscription. 00:34:14.918 --> 00:34:23.389 And so Jesus, jesus gives us temporary blessings, that's picking up the book. 00:34:23.389 --> 00:34:28.302 Jesus gives us dignity, he sees us, that's seeing the first edition. 00:34:28.302 --> 00:34:39.735 But getting Jesus himself, that's what makes that book a goldmine, because he inscribes his name upon us. 00:34:39.735 --> 00:34:41.778 He writes his name upon us. 00:34:41.778 --> 00:34:44.364 It's a beautiful thing. 00:34:45.726 --> 00:34:46.956 And so what do we do with this? 00:34:46.956 --> 00:34:48.840 What do we do with this? 00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:53.559 Number one I've got three points of application very quickly. 00:34:53.559 --> 00:35:02.077 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? 00:35:02.077 --> 00:35:14.686 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. 00:35:14.686 --> 00:35:21.297 And if we've all heard those stories, haven't we about people who aren't really homeless, that are working? 00:35:21.297 --> 00:35:32.378 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. 00:35:32.378 --> 00:35:38.922 So I'm not just going to give them money, can I tell you, I'd rather err on the side of grace. 00:35:38.922 --> 00:35:42.096 Well, what if I give somebody money who already has it? 00:35:42.096 --> 00:35:43.318 Well, god will deal with them. 00:35:43.318 --> 00:35:45.485 I'd rather err on the side of grace. 00:35:46.367 --> 00:35:47.858 But I'll tell you the other thing that we do. 00:35:47.858 --> 00:35:49.724 You know, we have these blessing bags. 00:35:49.724 --> 00:35:59.141 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. 00:35:59.141 --> 00:36:17.840 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. 00:36:17.840 --> 00:36:25.056 I remember a good friend of mine, nick Step, who used to be here in help with music. 00:36:25.056 --> 00:36:34.039 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. 00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:37.378 There's a homeless man and Nick just didn't throw some change his way. 00:36:37.378 --> 00:36:42.202 He got him some food, but he just sat down next to him and started having a conversation. 00:36:42.202 --> 00:36:49.646 Beloved, we need to stop, like Jesus stops, and see people. 00:36:49.646 --> 00:36:52.697 So that's one. 00:36:52.697 --> 00:36:57.795 We need to treat people, especially the marginalized, like Jesus treats them. 00:36:57.856 --> 00:37:05.360 Secondly, I would just ask you today if you have a need healing, deliverance from depression. 00:37:05.360 --> 00:37:08.686 You have a loved one who needs to be saved. 00:37:08.686 --> 00:37:09.695 You have a. 00:37:09.695 --> 00:37:11.240