By the Roadside
HillsongNYC: Wednesday Feb 22nd, 2012
Pastor Josh Kimes
Title: By the Roadside
Our society is all about the rich and famous…
People lose all self awareness and control when they come across someone famous.
We have a tendency to put someone on a pedestal…it doesn’t have to be a famous person necessary, sometimes it could just be a mentor, a friend, a role model, etc.
James 4:14
Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.
-We don’t have time to dwell on the lives of other people! It’s a scary state to be in when we become so infatuated with someone else’s life that we forget about our own…
(If only we had their opportunity, their looks, personality, job etc. I guess I don’t have what they have…)
-Instead of fighting to become what we should be we are discouraged and lonely, watching life pass us by on the roadside.
We need to live with vision! To become the person God called us to be and enjoy life and make it count because God has a purpose for each and every one of us!
Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
**Key text:**
Mark 10:46-52
Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
-Don’t accept life at face value, just accepting it the way it is and just think things can’t ever change…
-Most people are not really free. They have carved the way their life is going to be forever. They have narrowness in their vision; looking at everybody else’s life wishing they had what someone else has..no vision!
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
**When you lack vision for your life you’ll always live at the expense and disposal of somebody else!**
But then ONE DAY!…curiosity rose up in Bartimaeus.
-He had a vision for something more!
If we are going to live with vision, here are 3 things to understand:
1. Understand that the voice of the crowd will always try to shut u up, try and drown out your vision, try and silence you, limit your position, and keep you by the roadside.
Who/what is the crowd:
-the voice(s) of doubt, and negativity…
(I don’t think this will work out I’ve already tried this before.)
-What’s keeping you by the roadside?
-Please remember that what we listen to shapes our lives! (Music, tv shows, movies etc) If these things don’t line up with the word of God, then they aren’t worth listening to.
-The loudest voice in our life needs to be God’s word!! It’s the only truth!
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.Jesus Waited for Bartimaeus He wanted to see how bad he wanted his vision
2. Understand vision is worth fighting for!
-Protect it, guard it
-Don’t allow negative voices to speak to your vision!
Proverbs 1:32
For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them
-Complacency kills!
-How many beggars could have been healed if they fought harder, like Bartimaeus did?
—>”well if it’s gods will…..” Don’t be this way! If you want it, fight! What are you doing in the meantime? Fight for the future you want!
-Pray, be the best you that you can be!!
-What do you see for your life?
-One encounter with Jesus changed Bartimaeus life forever!
-God has more in store for your life, more than you can see right now.
-*When you pursue what God has in your life, you’ll experience tension between the crowd and your vision, when it is a vision that glorifies Jesus!*
**Keep in mind that delayed obedience isn’t obedience at all!**
Mark 10:49-50
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
3. You’ve gotta throw your cloak aside!!!
-This cloak was Bartimaeus life and security, it was the way he earned money, and how people knew him. His entire life!
-So he threw off the label he was given!
Hebrews 12:1-2
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
-Run the incredible race God has called you to run!
-Don’t wish you were anywhere else doing anything else but what you were called to do now!
*Throw aside fear, doubt, negativity, the opinions of others, and especially your past!*
…..get free!!
Say to God: There’s no plan B. I don’t understand this but I’m doing it anyways and I’m throwing my cloak aside. I’ll say what you want, go where you want me to go, and do what you want me to do.
-God is faithful!! He is painting your life as it should be, but you’ve got to decide that the voice of the crowd isn’t going to cripple you any longer!
Mark 10:51
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
-Jesus wanted Bartimaeuso Speak it out! YOUR WORDS HAVE POWER!
-He wanted Bartimaeusto say it out loud…claim it…make it known!
Bartimaeus could see for the first time! Notice that he doesn’t run home to tell everyone or simply just run away excited. He follows Jesus along the road! Staying right with him. Don’t go anywhere else and don’t become so memorized with your own vision. No matter what successes you encounter along the way, during the good times and the bad times, continue to be memorized by Him!!
**You don’t have to proclaim your vision to everyone! Just keep following Jesus.**
