When Jesus Stopped (Mk. 10:46-52) (Part 5)

6. FAITH THAT WILL NOT STOP ASKS FOR THE THING THAT MANY PEOPLE CONSIDER

IMPROBABLE. “ . . . Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!” (Mk. 10:51).

Bartimaeus swung for the grandstands, didn't he? Evidently, there was a time when he could see.

• We're not told how he lost his sight.
• We're not told when he lost his sight.
• We're not told how long he lived with his blindness.
• We're not told how he heard that Jesus can heal.
• We're not told how faith became activated in his spirit.
• We're only told what it is that he wanted Jesus to do more than anything else.

What is it that you want Jesus to do more than anything else? Don't devise an answer that you and Jesus both know isn't true. Be audacious! Think big! We serve a mighty God! Don't settle for less than the best Jesus is capable of and willing to give you.

“Well, Pastor, God is sovereign. What if I ask and that's not what He wants to do?” How is it that you play the “sovereignty of God” card negatively, in order not to be disappointed, but won't play that card positively in order to receive what you need most from Him?

• Jesus is not toying with you! How interested He is in you!
• Jesus is not out to devastate or crush you! How tender He will be with you!

As Pentecostals, we have been around the block a few times when it comes to discussions about divine healing. We would never suggest something inappropriate such as, “That's impossible!” Why? Because we know better! Some of you are rehearsing the verses right now.

• Mt. 17:20 > “ . . .if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
• Mt. 19:26 > “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
• Mk. 10:27 > “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
• Lu. 1:37 > “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
• Lu. 18:27 > “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”
• Mk. 9:23 > “All things are possible to him who believes.”
• Jer. 32:17 > “Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You . . .”
• Jer. 32:27 > “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (obvious answer: no)

The problem isn't that we believe something is impossible; the problem is that we think something is improbable.  We allow that it can happen; we just don't allow that it will happen. We allow that it can happen to someone else, some place else; we just don't allow that it can happen to us, right here, right now. Are we playing the odds instead of standing on the promises? Since when have we become such expert gamblers, placing bets on what God will or will not do?