RISE ABOVE YOUR LIMITATION: (Mark 10:46-52)

Bartimaues, the son of Timaeus (Son of Horror) was born blind. He was not only blind but also a beggar. There is something great inside the beggar, which Jesus saw.

Bartimaues was blind. He was limited so he had to depend upon other people.

Ps 139:14 “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made”. God cannot be limited. He was the last say in our life.

Mark 10:47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

Though Bartimaeus was blind, he used what he had ie his vocal chord. He could shout and scream. He could not see, but he could hear.

Use what you have?

The Lord asked Moses “What is that in your hand?” Moses answered“A rod” (Ex 4:2) Then God said to Moses “You shall take this rod in your hand, with which you will do the sign” (4:17) Great miracles were accomplished with that rod when Moses obeyed the Lord. It was insignificant in itself but it became a power instruments when committed to the Lord.

What is that in your hand?

o Your identity

o Your influence

o Your income.

J.W. Johnson writing on this theme imagined the following conversation “what is that in your hand asked the Lord?’

A sling! said David. The Lord said, “It is enough, go up against the giant, and the giant Goliath fell before the shepherd boy David.

A pen! Said John Bunyan as he spoke from the Arches of Bedford Prison. “It is enough” and he wrote the story “Pilgrim Progress” which will live while the world endures.

What is in your hand?

Don’t keep talking of what you don’t have. Stop complaining of what you don’t have. It does not take great people to do great things but unselfish ones.

Someone has said, “The world is yet to see what one person can do if He is totally committed to His will”

What is in your hand? Don’t sell yourself short. It God has called you to a task. He will equip you for it. Use what He has given you and you’ll see what He can do with little things. Where God guides, He provides.

What am I doing what has been given. God uses ordinary, insignificant tools to perform extraordinary and large tasks

MIRACLES OUT OF YOUR MISTAKES!

Your negative past cannot keep you from your positive future. God is not looking for perfect people but people whose heart is right.

We read about Moses. He is one of the heroes of faith. He made lots of mistakes. It looked Moses messed up God’s plan but it didn’t.

When Moses messed up he was 40 years old and 40 years later God appeared! God always gives the second opportunity i.e. another chance. I still have other dreams to bring the plans into reality (come to pass). God is a God of another chance.

When we miss the way, God use another way to bring your dream to pass.

“God, I blew it”- Lord, full of wisdom- he will help you.

Heb 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Ps 139:16 Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained {for me,} When as yet there was not one of them.

Where you are is not a surprise to God. You have to shake off complacency. Eg, mess by children.

If our heart is right, God cleans up the mess

LUKE 7

Mary poured jar of perfume and put it in Jesus’ feet.

Mary had a wrong past but she had the right heart so she had a bright future. The first person the Angels spoke was Mary.

“Where you have been is not important but where you be”

Zeph 3:19 "Behold, I am going to deal at that time With all your oppressors, I will save the lame And gather the outcast, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown In all the earth.

“God does not look what you are but what you can be”

You need to receive His forgiveness, commit to Him, and receive the mercy of God.

E God can take your mess and make it your message

E Your negative past cannot disqualify your bright future.

John 6:12 When they were filled, He *said to His disciples, "Gather up the leftover fragments so that nothing will be lost."

You can come to God with broken pieces.

Jer 18:4 But the vessel that he was making of clay was spoiled in the hand of the potter; so he remade it into another vessel, as it pleased the potter to make.

Potter represents God. Be stayed filled with hope. Don’t write yourself off. God dreams to take the broken pieces and make it new.

WAYS OF GOD- SUFFERING

1 PETER 4:12-19

1 Pet 4:12 ¶ Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;

1 Pet 4:13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

1 Pet 4:14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

1 Pet 4:15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler;

1 Pet 4:16 but if {anyone suffers} as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

1 Pet 4:17 For {it is} time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if {it} {begins} with us first, what {will be} the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

1 Pet 4:18 AND IF IT IS WITH DIFFICULTY THAT THE RIGHTEOUS IS SAVED, WHAT WILL BECOME OF THE GODLESS MAN AND THE SINNER?

1 Pet 4:19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

Suffering is not new. God uses our suffering

What is suffering? Result of anything that causes us pain; sometimes sin, God’s discipline and persecution.

Suffering is painful and perplexing.

Why God allows us to suffer?

1. To get our attention

Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word.

Ps 119:71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes.

2. To develop maturity and righteousness in our life

3. To prune our life

John 15:1 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

John 15:2 "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every {branch} that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.

~ Righteous and godly in our conduct

~ Righteous and godly in our action.

~ Maximising your potential as a child of God

Purity and power cannot be separated. The pruning process is to remove dead leaves.

4. To teach us obedience

He loves us- Heb 12:5,6

God has a desire for us to be righteous and pure

Obey parental authority

5. To teach us to trust Him 1 Pet 1:7 so that the proof of your faith, {being} more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

6. To bring continounce dependence of His grace & goodness: Paul’s epistles were written when He was suffering. God , what is your purpose> Why are you allowing this in my life?

7. To manifest Christ’s life and character in us. - living example. God does not allow to much. He always have a purpose. Whatever may be the form of suffering God has a purpose and God is up to something.

8. To purify our hearts- (sermon of the mount)” The pruning knife of God goes very deep”

ü A pure heart is a righteous heart, righteous motive.

ü A pure heat desire purity

9. So we can share in the holiness of God.- Heb 12:10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He {disciplines us} for {our} good, so that we may share His holiness.

10. To teach us to give thanks in everything-1 Thess 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

ü Perseverance does not give up.

ü Perseverance builds character in your life.

11. To teach character & perseverance-Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Rom 5:2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 5:3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

Rom 5:4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

Rom 5:5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

12. To enable us to share in suffering of Christ- Phil 3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

Phil 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from {the} Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which {comes} from God on the basis of faith,

Phil 3:10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

Experience something of His suffering. Sensible to others suffering

13. To prevent pride in our lives – eg Paul- Thorns in the flesh

14. To broaden the ministry-Phil 1:12 ¶ Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

Phil 1:13 so that my imprisonment in {the cause of} Christ has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian Guard and to everyone else,

15. Reveal the evil nature of mankind and the Righteous judgment of God

Response: Lord, what are you saying. What are you upto for my life?

All suffering are not the results of sin.

THE CURE FOR CONFLICT IN THE CHURCH

In verses 1-5 you want to go your own way – the Lord said that this type of people are adulterous people

Road sign to cure conflicts

# 1 ~ Submit to God ( To submit is to obey)

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God

Luke 2:51 And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and He continued in subjection to them; and His mother treasured all {these} things in her heart.

Submission is a voluntary act

ü Romans 13:1-7 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for {rulers} are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing.Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax {is due;} custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

ü I Cor 16:16 “that you also be in subjection to such men and to everyone who helps in the work and labors.”

ü I Peter 5:5 “You younger men, likewise, be subject to {your} elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

ü Eph 5:22 “Wives, {be subject} to your own husbands, as to the Lord.”

ü I Peter 2:18 “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.”

When you submit to God , Satan will try to tempt you.

#2 ~ Resist the Devil ( Vs 7)- “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

ü 1 Pet 5:8-9 “Be of sober {spirit,} be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

But resist him, firm in {your} faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”

ü Matt 4: Jesus quoted scripture

# 3~ Draw near to God(v-8)- “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” Come close to God- Satan is not comfortable. You need to struggle with God. The more closer you are to God, the more distance you are from the devil.

#4~ Clean your hands (vs 8) “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

Ex 30 – Getting rid of our sins in our hearts

Psalm 24:3,4 “Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.”

#5 ~ Grieve, mourn & wail (vs 9) “Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.”

Psalm 6:6 “I am weary with my sighing; Every night I make my bed swim, I dissolve my couch with my tears.”

Romans 7:24,25 “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.”

# 6 ~ Humble yourself before the Lord(v.10)-“ Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Be down in your face

ü Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

ü Prov 3:34 Though He scoffs at the scoffers, Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.

ü Matt 23:12 "Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Conclusion:- Seize every opportunity to lift others in the church

flowers of NCF,SHILLONG