New Hope Notes
Faith – When You Can’t See A Thing
New Year's Special
Pastor Jack Hayford
January 7, 2007 - W0701
To help start off the New Year, Pastor Jack Hayford, President of our Foursquare Denomination, was our guest speaker this weekend (January 6 & 7, 2007). While our own Pastor Wayne is the author of any impressive eight books, Pastor Jack is the author of fifty-two books and the editor of the Spirit-Filled Life Bible! To ease himself in with the local congregation, Pastor Jack made a special effort to “blend-in” with the local pastoral staff by dressing in an aloha shirt…yet none of the other pastors happened to be wearing an aloha shirt on Sunday! Pastor Jack and his wife Anna are happy to be here in
Faith – When You Can’t See a Thing
The service was prefaced by the testimony of Brian and Mei Hanamura and their son and daughter, Jay and Jaslyn (video shot a year ago). The Hanamura’s have led an active, fulfilling life; however, three years ago Brian was diagnosed with stage 4 (the most advanced) lung cancer. At that time, he was expected to live just 60 days. Through the challenges this illness has brought upon their family, the Hanamura’s have found a way to use this situation for God’s good. Though the Hanamura’s have always been an example of a “good family” to others, it is only because of this situation that they have begun sharing their faith with those around them. When people come to visit Brian to comfort him, oftentimes he finds himself comforting them instead…only through God’s grace and…faith when you can’t see a thing.
FOUR
I am sure that within the past week, each of us has said, “I don’t see…” at some point. It may have been, “I don’t see why I didn’t get that promotion,” or “I don’t see how we’re going to make ends meet this month,” but I invite you to open your heart with me as we look at Luke chapter 18, verses 35-43, at the story commonly referred to as Blind Bartameus. Through this story, we will see observable exercises of faith and learn the four keys to seeing beyond the dark. The story opens:
“As Jesus was approaching
Picture this with me…a blind man, Bartameus, sitting in a logical place at the roadside where he can hear and sense passersby. As someone who has lost one of his senses, his other senses are sharpened and he is accustomed to the sound and feel of people passing. On this particular occasion, because he cannot see, he listens, “hearing a crowd going by…” This scripture points out the first key to seeing beyond the dark:
1. When you can’t see – LISTEN!
“Now hearing the crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of
When the people were passing by and Bartameus, in his blindness/darkness, inquired what was going on, the people responded that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. The lesson here is that in our own times of darkness (e.g., during an emotional or financial crisis), if you listen all around you, you will hear people saying, “Jesus is in this place!” You will hear people talking about Jesus and what He is doing in their lives. The statement, “Jesus is passing by,” is always true. Jesus is wherever this is human need and when we recognize that and say it – “Jesus is up to stuff today!” – we exercise our faith.
Getting back to the story, the story tells us the second key to seeing beyond the dark:
2. When you feel helpless – CALL OUT!
“They told him that Jesus of
Here we see Bartameus expressing his faith again by calling out to Jesus this time, but not only does he call out, he calls out, “Jesus, Son of David”. Notice the difference here between how the people refer to Jesus and how Bartameus refers to Him. The people refer to Him as “Jesus of Nazareth”. In those days, this reference is a typical term of respect used when one was referring to a prophet or some other highly regarded individual but Bartameus calls out “Jesus, Son of David”. This reference as the Son of David indicates that Bartameus has a different understanding of who Jesus is. By referring to Jesus as the Son of David, Bartameus demonstrates an understanding in his heart that is beyond what is common understanding. “Son of David”, in those days, was typically a reference to the Savior, the Son of God, so Bartameus acknowledges Jesus as the Savior while the other people seem to think Jesus is just a prophet.
Imagine that…a crowd is gathering; the Jesus parade is coming. You’re a beggar on the edge of the road calling out to Jesus. You’re disturbing the religious parade. You hear voices approaching you, telling you to, “Be quiet! Don’t bother Jesus of Nazareth!” What do you do? Well, let’s see what Bartameus does – the third key:
3. When doubt shouts back – CALL AGAIN!
“Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’” (Luke 18:39)
Bartameus was blind and helpless, calling out to the Lord, but his cries were challenged by others as a disturbance yet he did not back away. He cried out for Jesus again, even louder this time.
Similarly, sometimes we get ourselves into situations where we become blinded and helpless. We know Jesus is near because we know He is omniscient and He is there whenever and wherever there is human need. We cry out to Him but our cries are met by voices of doubt, whether it’s our own voice of reason or that of the devil. Like Bartameus, call out louder! Because, as illustrated in the story of Bartameus…
“And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And he said, ‘Lord, I want to regain my sight!’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.” (Luke 18:40-43)
God hears the cries of His faithful believers. In spite of what the world around us might be saying, if we call out to Him, He will respond. The scripture says Jesus stopped. The message here: Jesus has time for you.
Jesus commanded that Bartameus be brought to Him. Just imagine what those self-appointed “helpers” who were trying to silence Bartameus and warn him to be quiet must’ve done. They all knew that a miracle was about to happen. They probably scampered over to Bartameus, scooped him up and escorted him to where Jesus was, yet the Bible says, “…and when he came near…” Jesus questioned him. This leads us to the fourth and final key to exercising faith and seeing beyond the dark:
4. When human help ends – REACH OUT!
The passage suggests that although other people assisted Bartameus to some point, he took those last few steps towards Jesus on his own. It says that “he” came near, not “they”. Then, when it seems obvious what is wrong with Bartameus – that he needs his sight – Jesus questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
Why would Jesus ask someone who was obviously blind, what he wanted? Maybe Jesus was suggesting that Bartameus’ physical need was not necessarily the most important one.
When Bartameus told Jesus that he wanted his sight back, Jesus immediately granted Bartameus’ request and said, “…your faith has made you well.”
The story of blind Bartameus (and his healing) is full of lessons in faith – when you can’t see a thing. Bartameus was a blind man who sat by the road begging when Jesus walks by. When he discovers he’s in Jesus’ presence, he exercises his faith in four key ways that we should all follow to see beyond the dark:
· When you can’t see – LISTEN! Jesus is always there, whenever and wherever this is a need.
· When you feel helpless – CALL OUT! Jesus is listening for us as well.
· When doubt shouts back – CALL AGAIN! Despite what discouragers may say (including ourselves and the devil), call again. Then…
· When human help ends – REACH OUT! Sometimes we need to step out alone, beyond where anyone else [human] can help us, but if we do it in faith, moving towards Jesus and humbling ourselves, get ready to receive His miracles.
Thank you to Pastor Jack Hayford, President of our Foursquare Denomination for the service this weekend. It is not so much his denominational affiliation as his walk with the Lord and willingness to share his heart for Jesus that we appreciate. Our prayers also go out to the Hanamura family as they continue their faithful journey with the Lord and redeem it all for good.
DISCUSSION SUGGESTIONS
1. Describe a time in your life when you felt blinded and/or helpless. What made you feel that way? What was your relationship with God?
2. What did you do when you felt that way? Did you turn toward God or away from Him? Why?
3. What was going on around you at that time? What were the people around you saying about your situation? What “advice” did they give?
4. Did you call out to Jesus and did He answer right away? If not, why do you think not? What do you think He was waiting for? Did He need to do more work in you? Was He working to make you a better witness or testimony?
5. What eventually happened in your situation? How did it end or how do you think it will end? What made/will make the difference?
"All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong with our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do.” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NLT)
Sermon Notes Ministry: Debbie Chang, Leighton Loo, Rhonda Pang,
Doreen Rabaino, & Jaylene Tsukayama