Why is God going to answer your prayer this time? Why is it going to be different? I’ve known Jesus a long time, and I know from long experience that He cannot fail. Like the blind man in the Bible who cried out, Jesus will help you, when you call in faith. I urge you to trust Him. ‘And He said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.’ (2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV.)
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. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’
So they called to the blind man, ‘Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.’ Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ Jesus asked him. The blind man said, ‘Rabbi, I want to see.’
‘Go,’ said Jesus, ‘your faith has healed you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. (Mark 10:46-52, NIV)
This man in the Bible really believed. He was saying to Jesus, “I’m blind; help me.” Why did he cry for help? He only cried for help because he believed that Jesus could deliver him, that Jesus could set him free, that Jesus could open his eyes. The people said, “Why are you shouting?” They tried to quiet him and shut him up. In effect they were saying, ‘Jesus isn’t interested in you, go away.’ But the Bible says that they more they tried to quiet him, the more he cried out, “Jesus, I know who You are; You can help me. You are the only One. Help me Jesus. Heal me Jesus. Open my eyes Jesus. I know You have the power. You are the Son of God. You are the Son of David. Deliver me.” Jesus stopped. And the interesting thing is this: Jesus stopped and said, “Bring the man to Me”. I want to tell you: when you are in distress, when you have your problems, when nobody else can help you, when there is nowhere else you can go, if you will cry out to Jesus, if you will call upon the Name of the Lord, Jesus will answer you. He will stop. He will call you. - Jesus is calling you!
For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10: 13, KJV)
What did Jesus say? “Bring the man to Me.” How did the man respond? He didn’t stay where he was in the dirt. - He lived in the dirt; he lived in despair; he wore filthy clothes. He had no money for food. He had no home. He was in despair. When Jesus said “Come”, do you know what the man did? The Bible says something amazing. The blind man got up. He threw away his filthy clothes and ran to Jesus.
If you want to come to Jesus, there is a lot you’ve got to get rid of in your life. If you are going to come to Jesus, you cannot bring the filth and dirt of your sin. You cannot bring your shame. Jesus accepts us as we are, He knows all about us, but in order to receive the new life He offers we must discard the old life of sin. One reason why many people don’t come to Jesus is because they are afraid, ashamed. “I’m not good enough.” I hear people say this all the time. “Why would Jesus bother with me?” I’ll tell you why, Jesus loves you. He loves the sinner. The Bible says God didn’t send Jesus into the world for the religious, righteous people; God sent Jesus for the sinner. Churches are not for saints, but for sinners. Jesus came to seek and save the lost.
Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17, NIV)
God loves the sinner. If you want to come to Jesus, you are going to have to do something, you are going to have to throw away your years of unbelief. You’ve grown up in unbelief. You’ve lived in unbelief. You’ve lived in sin. The Bible says we have all sinned. We were all sinners that God has called. This blind man responded to the call of Jesus, threw off his dirty garment - the crowd were saying, “Rejoice, Jesus is calling you!” If I could tell you one thing today: Rejoice! Rejoice, Jesus is calling you; rejoice, Jesus loves you; rejoice!
This man in the Bible came to Jesus. Jesus asked, “What do you want Me to do?” I believe Jesus is asking you exactly the same thing. Jesus knows who you are. He knows where you live. Jesus knew this man was blind. The man responded, “Lord, I want to see!” If you will call upon Jesus, “Lord, I want to be clean; I want to see You; I want to find You” - you will find Jesus. A miracle will happen. God will forgive your sin. He will work the miracle.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-30)