A Sinner’s Prayer
Opening:
We know of two times in all of history when the sun (Son) stood still: one was for a fight in Joshua 10 and the other is for faith in Mark 10.
Joshua 10 - The young successor to Moses, Joshua, was fighting and prayed “Oh sun stand still.” And the sun stood still for a whole day.
Mark 10 - A blind man named Bartimaeus was yelling out to the Son, Jesus, and Jesus stood still.
Jesus responds to the faith-filled, desperate cry of a sinner.
What is it that gets God’s attention? The faith-filled desperate cry of a sinner.
Sermon Key Points
The story of Bartimeaus is a model cry, a great example of an effective way to get God’s attention.
Jesus is on the move, with a crowd following Him, on His way to Jerusalem when He stands still (makes an unexpected pitstop) because He hears a blind male beggar on the side of the road, Bartimaeus, call out His name.
Amid the crowd noise and others trying to silence Bartimaeus, Jesus makes an unlikely stop and visits the blind beggar in need.
Jesus is moved with compassion to listen to what Bartimaeus had to say.
God’s heart is always tuned with compassion for people who cry out to Him.
Some of us live like we deserve all the good that we enjoy (which is a foolish way to live).
The interesting thing about this text is that Bartimaeus knew he was blind.
Helen Keller stated: “Everybody’s blind. But there is only some that’ll recognize it”
She taught us that not all blindness is physical.
Not all blindness is physical.
You can not come to God like you got it altogether. You have to recognize that you have a need. (You must recongize your desperate condition and then say that you are a sinner, wanting & waiting for the rescue of God)
You too are blind and broke! Blind to the love of God. Blind because you have not been born again to see the kingdom of God; so you think you see but you don’t really see what’s going on.
No matter how much monetary cash you have, you are broke. You are broke when you have spent your life and energy on strange obsessions and cravings.
You are broke if everything you crave does not satisfy you once you get it. You are broke when your selfish desires run you and you don’t run them. You are broke when you realize you are your own problem.
Here is the great news! “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for yours is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 14:16) All you need to do is be like Bartimaeus, and exclaim “I need help!”
Here is how a wanting sinner gets the rescue of God:
Acknowledge (Confess) your real problem - You must confess your own desperate need.
Confess the real Jesus - You better know Jesus for yourself!
The goal is not just for you to join church, but it is also to follow Jesus! (to have your life centered around Him)
