CENTRAL THOUGHT
God will answer the sincere requests made to Him.
HYMN: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
Text: Mark 10:46-52, Luke 18:35-42
Introduction:
Blindness is a disability which makes an affected person incapacitated and unable to move freely like others.
Bartimaeus found himself in this condition. The reason for which he had the problem was not disclosed. Today, various reasons or causes could be adduced by medical experts to be responsible for such predicaments.
Bartimaeus must have made up his mind to overcome his situation. He must have been unsatisfied with moving with stick or being led by someone’s arm all his life.
He refused however, to give up or resign to such a fate. Rather, he took the challenge and called on the Creator who has the ability to heal all manner of diseases, sicknesses and afflictions. Christ responded to His faith and healed him.
By faith therefore, he lived the rest of his life in joy, testifying of the goodness of the Lord Jesus Christ to all.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this study are:
- To know who Bartimaeus was.
- To learn how we can regain freedom from bondages and afflictions of the devil.
- To learn how to approach God in prayers.
- To appreciate the fact that God still delivers from all kinds of problems today.
Q1. WHO WAS BARTIMAEUS?
Mark 10:46
Bartimaeus was the son to Timaeus. He was blind and sat by the roadside bedding for alms. He heard of the presence of Jesus Christ who was leaving Jericho on his final journey to Jerusalem and cried out for mercy.
Q2A. WHAT PROMPTED BARTIMAEUS’ ACTIONS IN LUKE 18:36-38, ACTS 10:38?
Bartimaeus realized who he was, his pitiable state, his ordeal in the condition, the personality, love and authority of Christ Jesus. Among the things that prompted him were these:
- He believed in Christ’s power to heal.
- He believed that Christ will have compassion on him,
- He trusted that God will honor his faith.
The fact that Bartimaeus called Jesus the son of David showed that he recognized Him as the Messiah. His faith in the Lord Jesus as the Messiah brought about his healing.
Q2B. WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TITLE “SON OF DAVID”?
Luke 18:39, Isa. 11:1-3, 2 Sam. 7:16
Christ being called or acknowledged as the Son of David, is a declaration of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is the true and promised Messiah, whose reign is forever. It implies an acceptance of the Lordship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and a surrender to Him. It means accepting Him as the true and only redeemer of mankind. No wonder Bartimaeus saw Christ as the one that can see him through all problems and any problem he will ever encounter in life.
Q3A. IDENTIFY THE OBSTACLES BARTIMAEUS FACED AND HOW HE HANDLED THEM.
Luke 18:39
Bartimaeus was a blind beggar. In coming to Christ, Bartimaeus met with some obstacles. He had the crowd to content with. The crowd did not only try to stop him from reaching the Lord but also commanded him to keep quiet as he called on the Lord for mercy. His faith in the ability of the Messiah to heal and to deliver overcame these obstacles, because he shouted out the more.
Q3B. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US TODAY?
Similarly, believers today may be faced with issues that may act as obstacles/challenges to their faith. These issues may include provision of physical needs, health related problems, child bearing, delayed marriages etc. In all of these situations, if we can consistently call upon the Lord like Bartimaeus did, we will certainly overcome and obtain a good report to God’s glory.
Q4A. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM CHRIST’S RESPONSE TO BARTIMAEUS’ BOLD CALL?
Mark 10:49
In response to Bartimaeus call the Lord stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. Christ does not turn away anyone who approaches him by faith. God is truly a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. We must make up our minds to carry our problems to God and leave them there. We must cast all our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).
We must use all available biblical instruments (prayer, faith, His word) at our disposal to reach God for help.
Only God has the lasting solution to man’s problems. We must approach God in faith for all our victories.
Q4B. COMMENT ON BARTIMAEUS’ PRAYER REQUEST.
Lk 18:41, Mark 10:51
Bartimaeus like any young man had several needs as it is these days. He was blind, poor, most probably a bachelor and jobless, hence a beggar. He must have been led about by persons. He thus had a bundle of needs. Amongst all these however, he identified the most important which he presented before the Lord in prayer. His prayer was, “Lord that I may receive my sight”. He knew that blindness was a great hindrance to realizing his potentials in life.
Q5A. EXAMINE BARTIMAEUS’ FAITH IN RELATION TO WHAT HE HAD HEARD ABOUT JESUS. Mark 10:50-51
Bartimaeus had heard testimonies of the miracles Christ did for people and believed that he too, would be healed. In addition to his faith which he acted upon, he also took some steps of faith which yielded very positive undeniable results. He got his sight instantly.
Despite detractors who wanted to shut him down he persisted and cried the more until he was heard and given attention by the Master Himself and had his needs satisfied. He believed that Christ would have compassion on him and heal him.
Q5B. WHAT LESSONS CAN WE DRAW FROM BARTIMAEUS FAITH?
He did not allow his negligible state as a beggar to prevent him from approaching the Lord. He was very honest/specific
in his request. He also did not allow detractors to stop him from crying out to the Lord.
Similarly, today, no matter our situations/experiences in life, we can come to the Lord in faith. We should also be honest and specific in bringing our requests to Him. We should not be deterred by any obstacles.
Q5C. WHAT IS THE PLACE OF FAITH IN THIS MIRACLE AND IN HAVING OUR DESIRES MET?
Mark 10:52, 11:22-24
Christ can do all things and is willing to deliver us always. However, we need to apply our faith to receive from Him. God said that whatsoever therefore, we desire, when we pray, we should believe that we have it and it will be ours (Mark 11:24). The just shall live by his faith in the Lord. (Heb. 2:4, Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38).
Without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is and the He is a rewarded of them that diligently seek him (Heb. 11:6). All we receive from God is by our faith as well today. Our brethren of old all achieved by faith as recorded in the book of Hebrews (Heb. 11:1-40).
If therefore, we apply faith as little as a mustard seed, we will equally obtain good reports or results as people mentioned above did (Matt 17:20). We cannot receive anything from God unless we believe.
Daily Living Application
Bartimaeus, once a blind man, understood who Jesus was- the Son of David i.e, the expected Messiah. As he had faith in Christ and was healed, so can anyone who trusts in Him receive solutions/answers from the Lord.
No matter how hopeless our situation is, if we call upon Him in faith, He will change our situation.
Are you weighed down with any need? Are there some issues of life troubling you? Is there trouble anywhere? Please take it to all the Lord in prayer. Let us cast all our cares upon the Lord because He cares for us always. There is no problem He cannot or will not be willing to solve.
Memory Verse:
Mark 10:52a
“And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole”.
Daily Devotional Guide
Monday: Present your case before the Lord
Isaiah 41:21, 45:11
Tuesday: There is no problem God cannot solve for us.
Gen. 18:14
Wednesday: God wants to meet our needs for us to serve Him in complete joy.
John 14:13-14, 15:16
Thursday: Have faith in God, for with Him all things are possible.
Mark 9:23, 11:22-24
Friday: Prayer of faith moves God to positive action.
Mark 10:48-51
Saturday: Overcome the devil and all distracters and receive your miracles.
Mark 10:48