MEMORISE:
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah. Psalm 3:4
READ: Mark 10: 46-52
46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
MESSAGE
I marvel at the attitude of some people who come to Christian gatherings. When given the opportunity to pray and cry to God concerning the challenges of their lives, they fail to take advantage of this to get their problems solved. Many times, I have had to cajole a lot of people to cry out to God in prayer over the problems that brought them to His presence. I often wonder why people would leave the comfort of their bedrooms to attend a prayer vigil only to doze off when the angels of God come around to distribute the answers to their needs. Such nonchalance was not the attitude of the Psalmist in today’s memory verse. He testified that after he cried unto the Lord with his voice, God heard him. This is a beautiful testimony of the reward of crying to God in prayer. In like manner, today’s Bible reading records the story of blind Bartimaeus who heard the Jesus was passing through Jericho, and he began to cry out saying, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!” Although Bartimaeus was blind, he could hear the sound of Jesus coming and of the crowd following Him. He had no eyes to see Jesus, but he had a mouth with which to cry out to Him. Even when people discouraged him from raising his voice, the Bible testifies that “he cried out more a great deal” (Mark 10:48).
From the story of Bartimaeus, it is amazing that people who cannot help you can decide to discourage you from crying to God for help. In any case, it is left for you to either allow them or refuse to be silenced. Another noteworthy lesson from this story is that when Jesus eventually called Bartimaeus to Himself, He still asked him, “What will thou that I should do unto thee?” One would have assumed that Jesus Christ already knew his deed. Of course Jesus knew, but He was a man walking by principles of the scriptures. He was simply applying the principle He had established in Matthew 7:7, which says:
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
Finally, beloved, learn to cry to god meaningfully! In other words, there meaningless cries to God. Our lord describes these as “vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7). Crying to God in prayer on issues that are against His will, amounts to vain repetition. The result of such prayers is made clear in James 4:3, which says:
“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
A cry to God without substance is also a meaningless cry. Learn from Bartimaeus who was very precise about his request. May the Lord hear your cry today in Jesus’ Name.
ACTION POINT:
Examine the areas of your needs and cry to God to come through for you today. Cry to Him until you have a witness I your spirit that He has approved your request.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: John 16-17
Isaiah 41:14-29
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
HYMN 13: I AM A VICTOR
1. Yes, I know I am a victor
For the Bible tells me so
God made me more than a conqueror
Much stronger than all my foes
CHORUS
Jesus loves me and I love Him
Together we rule the world
Christ with me I will overcome
By His Blood, His Name, His Word
2. Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than demons I am
To Satan I am a terror
I am free, o yes, I am
3. Yes, I know I am a victor
Stronger than lack, poverty
All my needs Jesus provides for
I have life abundantly
4. Yes, I know I am a victor
Barrenness no more indeed
Fruitful is the God I live for
All my dreams shall be fulfilled
5. Yes, I know I am a victor
By His strength I shall succeed
No more loss and no more failure
Glory to glory proceed
6. Yes, I know I am a victor
No more sorrow, no despair
Jesus Christ is my own Succour
Tomorrow is joy and cheer
7. Yes, I know I am a victor
Very soon I’ll reign with Him
His promise is my sure anchor
He’s coming to take me home
8. Jesus loves me and I love Him
We rule this world together
As He is so right now I am
Hear me shout Halleluyah
9. Jesus loves me Halleluyah
Hear me shout Halleluyah
Halleluyah, Halleluyah
Glory be to God on high
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