Sermon Central
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A Lesson From Bartimaeus
Contributed by Keith Maynard on Mar 5, 2016 (message contributor)
Summary: Steps to Change your life.
A Lesson from Bartimaeus
PARABLE OF THE PENCIL---------------
The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.
"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world.
Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."
"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone’s hand."
"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you’ll need it to become a better pencil."
"Three: I will be able to correct mistakes you might make."
"Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s inside."
"Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark.
No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."
The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.
Now remember the pencil is like you.
Always remember it and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be. One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God’s hand.
And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems, but you’ll need it to become a stronger person.
Three: God will be able to forgive mistakes you might make.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what’s on the inside.
And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark.
No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
By understanding and remembering, let us proceed with our life on this earth having a meaningful purpose in our heart.
Bartimaeus a man who took steps to change his life that we can use to change our lives.
In this scripture, we see a demonstration of the steps one man took to change his life. We find here the basic steps we need to change our lives
– 7 basic steps to get out of hopelessness.
Jesus had been preaching and teaching in the area around the Sea of Galilee.
It was on his way to Jerusalem, he passed through Jericho and there he encounters a blind man named Bartimaeus. What steps do we find here to help us?
1 – YOU NEED TO Assume responsibility For Your Life! :
“When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus from Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout out.” One needs to own up to your responsibility.
Many people talk about their problems and they say that it’s always someone else’s fault?
So we have teenagers who place blame on their parents.
We have parents who place the blame on their children.
We have workers who place the blame on their co-workers or their boss.
There are things that will happen to you that you cannot control, but you can be in command of your reaction.
Let’s repeat that.
There are things that will happen to you that you cannot control, but you can be in command of your reaction.
Have you not heard people say “He makes me so mad” or “She makes me so mad”? Who has control over you to make you mad?
The person who can make you mad is the one you see in the mirror.
True people do things that upset you, things you do not like, things that hurt you.
You make the decision how to respond.
Look at what Bartimaeus did.
He didn’t blame someone else.
He didn’t think that God or anyone else owed him something.
He went go to Jesus.
He knew his help was in a power higher than himself.
He cried out to Jesus for help.
He humbled himself and sought help and deliverance.
He was not the one who made himself blind but instead of blaming others he cried out for help from the One who made sight.
2 – YOU NEED TO Believe that You Can CHANGE:
“The blind man said, "Teacher, I want to see again."
He believed that Jesus would do something so he wouldn’t walk away the same.
He believed that he’d be DIFFERENT.
Why is it that some pray, “God, if you’ll just change my employer";
“if you’ll just change my husband or my wife or my children?”
“If you’ll just change my friend, my relative, or where I have to live.”
God does not say that he will change your situation.
What He does promise is that He will change you.
He is able to change your attitude, your viewpoint, your outlook.
Then you can change your attitude toward your situation.
