Moving Beyond the Motions
Mark 10:46-53
September 1, 2002
Morning Service
Introduction
In Japan there was a man in the imperial orchestra couldn’t play a note. Being a person of great influence and wealth, he had demanded that he be given a place in the group because he wanted to "perform" before the emperor. The conductor agreed to let him sit in the second row of the orchestra, even though he couldn’t read music. He was given a flute, and when a concert would begin, he’d raise his instrument, pucker his lips, and move his fingers. He would go through all the motions of playing, but he never made a sound. This deception continued for two years.
Then a new conductor took over. He told the orchestra that he wanted to audition each player personally. One by one they performed in his presence. Then came the flutist’s turn. He was frantic with worry, so he pretended to be sick. However, the doctor who was ordered to examine him declared that he was perfectly well. The conductor insisted that the man appear and demonstrate his skill. Shamefacedly he had to confess that he was a fake.
This story brilliantly illustrates the reality of living a life that just goes through the motions.
We’ve all heard the phrase “going through the motions” but do we know what it really means or how it might apply to our lives. Literally it means to just do the same things over and over again. It is to live out a constant routine. It is to live life in a constant rut. It is to never change for the better. Our church has fallen into a trap of just going through the motions. When we just go through the motions we will never truly experience God or His power.
We have a cookie cutter worship service that makes everyone “comfortable”. We have a ministry that repeats the same programs over and over again. We are stuck going through the motions.
How do we move beyond just going through the motions?
I. Take responsibility for your own life
“When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout.”
A. Bartimaeus had to be responsible for himself
1. No one could do this for Bartimaeus
a.) It was his own choice to seek Jesus that day.
b.) He could not be forced into action and he could not be forced to believe. It was a choice
2. Bartimaeus was just going through the motions
a.) His blindness had forced him into a life of begging
b.) He went to the same place each day to beg for money
3. If Bartimaeus was ever going to move beyond the motions it would be up to him
B. Take responsibility for yourself
1. We get stuck going through the motions
a.) We get stuck in our personal lives
b.) We get stuck in our professional lives
c.) We get stuck in our spiritual lives
d.) We get stuck in our church life
2. The fact of going through the motions is not the problem, staying stuck in that mode of living is your problem
3. You have to make a choice
a.) Stay in your life of going through the motions
b.) Make the effort to move beyond the motions
II. Believe that change is possible for your life
Rabbi, I want to see
A. Bartimaeus believed that there was hope for his life
1. The likelihood for Bartimaeus to remain a beggar all of his life was very high.
2. He believed in Jesus and that he could indeed be healed
B. There is hope for your life
1. The same Jesus that healed Bartimaeus is still working in the lives of those who believe today.
2. Never lose the hope that Christ can work in your life because Christ cannot work where there is no faith
3. If you desire want to move beyond the motions you have to come to Jesus with the desire to change
III. Clarify what you really need
What do you want me to do for you?
A. Jesus asks an important question
1. Jesus posses a serious question
2. Jesus must have an answer. There was no possible way for Him to be ignored
B. You need to clarify the needs that you have with God
1. What is it that you really need from God?
a.) Knowing what it is that you need from God is difficult because you must discover what only He can provide for you
b.) Having a need in your life met by God means that we see it and understand it and then admit it
2. You must know what you truly need in your life
a.) You need the forgiveness and grace that can only be found through Jesus
b.) You need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to give you the strength to live each day for Christ
c.) You need the physical, emotional and spiritual healing that only Jesus can give to you
1.) All of us have pain and hurt in our lives. There are some wounds that only Jesus can heal.
2.) Isn’t it time that you allowed Jesus to work in the deepest recesses of your heart, mind and spirit
IV. Don’t worry about what others might say
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet
A. Bartimaeus did not allow people to sway him
1. People are fickle: The simple fact is that most people don’t really care about what God wants for your life
2. People can never out influence God unless you allow them to
a.) God wants to be the primary influence in your life
b.) The problem is that we fail far too often to listen to His voice and follow His direction
B. You must not allow people to drown out the voice of God
1. Who has the most influence in your life: other people or God?
2. Decide right now whose direction you are willing to follow for your life
V. Stop waiting for the right circumstances
As Jesus and His disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city
A. Bartimaeus did not choose the right circumstances
1. This was not a good time for him to approach Jesus
a.) Jesus was with the disciples and a very large crowd of people
b.) Jesus was leaving Jericho. It would seem that this was not the right time
2. Bartimaeus refused to wait any longer
a.) He seized the moment that he was given and took his opportunity to approach Jesus
b.) Bartimaeus gave all that he had to this moment
B. There is no such thing as a perfect time
1. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to get out of the motions
a.) Life is precious and every moment is important. God wants to use those moments to do something great with your life
b.) Ideal circumstances in life seldom ever exist. You need to take what God has given to you and run with it
2. The key is to take a step of faith
a.) The time to act is now before the prodding of God goes away.
b.) Start moving beyond the motions and stop thinking about it
VI. Do something that is bold
Throwing his cloak aside
A. Bartimaeus responded to Jesus
1. Bartimaeus centered on Jesus
a.) Stepping out gave him new courage
b.) Stepping out gave him new passion
2. Bartimaeus came with reckless abandon
a.) He cared about nothing except getting to Jesus
b.) He cared about nothing but what Jesus had for him
B. You need to get your focus on Jesus
1. The key to personal renewal
a.) When you place your focus on Christ it renews your faith
b.) When you place your focus on Christ it renews your hope
c.) When you place your focus on Christ it renews your enthusiasm
2. Keys to focusing on Christ
a.) Ask for Christ to give you a new direction
b.) Obey when He calls you to act
c.) Give Jesus 110% every day
VII. Do it right now
“…he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus”
A. Bartimaeus got beyond the motions
1. Bartimaeus acted when he needed to
a.) Bartimaeus did not hesitate or wait; he went
b.) He followed when Christ called and found amazing blessings
2. Bartimaeus went to Jesus
B. You need the same attitude
1. You have to move when Jesus calls
a.) Stop waiting for the right moment to do something for God
b.) Don’t lose your chance to follow Christ when he calls
2. You have to go to Christ
a.) Christ is calling you
b.) God wants something great for your life. God wants to give you incredible blessings. All you have to do is step forward and claim them.
Conclusion
What would have happened if Bartimaeus had just kept going through the motions that day so long ago?
Absolutely nothing would have happened. He would have never regained his sight. He would have never gotten away from begging. He would have spent the rest of his days on the side of that road.
The same is true of your life as well. If you do nothing that stretches your faith it will never grow. If you do nothing that forces you out of your comfort zone; you’ll stay comfortable and grow stale. If you never follow the call of Christ; you’ll never find God’s greatest blessings in life. If you never move beyond the motions nothing will happen.
