Receiving the miracles from God

Jesus healed blind Barthimaeus

Luke 18:35-39

1) Bartimaeus had great expectation of his future

Qn: Of all people (there were many), why did Jesus pass by Bartimaeus?

If you yearn for great things for God, He'll give it to you

Luke 11:9
"So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."

2) Bartimaeus prayed boldly and persistently until he was answered

In his blind desperation, Barthimaeus prayed boldly for God.

3) Bartimaeus cast away his negative thinking

Doesn't matter that he was blind and outcast in the past.

4) Bartimaeus approached Jesus confidently with faith

When Jesus called out to him, he did not step away and walk boldly towards Him.

Conclusion
When he was healed, he did not turn away but follow Jesus.

How to live fearless

Nothing is impossible with God

- If God is with me, who can be against me?
- Whatever God says, it will be done.

Pray

- Fill your mind with thoughts from the Lord, not thoughts of the world
- Visualize your miracle
- Verbalise your miracle

Self righteousness

1 Cor 10:12
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

Eating, drinking, smoking, clubbing

1 Cor 10:31-33
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Freedom

Contemporary concept of freedom

Free to do and to be whatever we want. Heavily focused on personal rights.

Biblical concept of freedom

Free to serve others. Value of freedom is in servitude of others

1 Cor 10:17
For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.

1 Cor 10:19-23
19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.