Make a Move!

Make a move… don’t just standstill and accept the present situation.

It has been a blessed week for me and my family, and for all who were a part of the 5 Nights of Glory 2017 all over the world. And I use “blessed” in its in-depth meaning of being highly favoured and having been bequeathed unspeakable blessings from heaven above.

I came away with blessings that are innumerable. But the most sterling and remarkable of them all, is the blessing of a “new heart”. God said in Ezekiel 36:26: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you…” (The New King James Version)

He did that for me. It is amazing, and renders you speechless, when you come to a place when you actually realise that “old things pass away”. It is amazing… and it happens and has happened to me.

Today’s Soul Train is not about me though. It is about the man, Bartimaeus.

Many of us (well, not me anymore *wink*)… many folks want change, they want a difference in their lives, they want a new thing, a better situation, a better life… but they don’t want to do anything to make that change happen.

Today’s Word says: MAKE A MOVE.

And to it, I add: Be like Bartimaeus.

I am drawing this lesson from the teachings of Pastor David Ibiyeomie during the 5 Nights of Glory. As we read, and study, may God open our minds and give us a new heart.

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Mark 10: 46-52: “Now they came to Jericho. As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road, begging. And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me!” Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. Then they called the blind man, saying to him, “Be of good cheer. He is calling you.” And throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus. So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” The blind man said to Him, “Rabboni, that I may receive my sight.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. (The New King James Version)

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That is the story of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, who once was a blind beggar by the roadside. A remarkable story of man with courage and who possessed admirable determination.

There are 7 verses in the story: verse 46 – verse 52. There are, at the very least, 7 poignant lessons to be drawn from each verse which will quicken our hearts and Make Us Move.

Lesson 1: Bartimaeus was a roadside blind beggar.

We are all something that we are not meant to be to be until we encounter Jesus. Whatever you are now, if you do not have Jesus living in you and He, the one in charge of your life, you are living less than the person you ought to be.

Know that!

Lesson 2: Bartimaeus heard it was Jesus of Nazareth coming.

It simply means: Bartimaeus was attentive of heart, of mind and of body. He understood his condition: blindness: and he put all other parts of his being to use.

Are you attentive?

Are you mentally, spiritually and physically tuned to hear Jesus coming your way?

Are you tuned to hear of the many opportunities God is opening up for you right before your presently “blind” eyes?

Are you tuned to see that business opportunity, that career chance, that relationship adventure, that healing encounter… are you tuned to any good thing at all?

Are you tuned to hear Jesus passing your way with your chance of a new beginning?

And if you are tuned, then: CRY OUT! Make a Move! MAKE YOUR MOVE!

It was not Jesus who made a move towards blind Bartimaeus; it was Bartimaeus who made a move towards Jesus. He cried out!

Take a chance. Welcome Jesus into your heart and into your life. Invest in a new business. Put that long-buried talent to work. Sow that prophetic offering into someone’s life… Do Something!

Lesson 3: Bartimaeus was warned by “over sabi” people to keep quiet. But he cried out all the more!

No one said: it is going to be easy!

No one said: you won’t encounter oppositions!

No one said: you won’t meet obstacles!

In fact, the guarantee is that you will meet obstacles, encounter oppositions and it definitely is not going to be easy. That is the guarantee, for what good thing is ever easy?

But be like Bartimaeus: CRY OUT even the more! Say no to your oppositions. If it is a new life in Christ Jesus you are after, then you have to say NO to that sin. You might have to give up your “clique of friends”. You might have to stop doing “sharp-sharp deals”. It might be your mind-set that requires changing.

Whatever it is: Stick to your guns and Make that Move!!!

Nothing and no one should keep you where you ought not to be. You deserve better.

Lesson 4: Jesus stopped and commanded him to be called.

Folks, Jesus will definitely, without the merest doubt, hear you. He will hear your cry for change and He will stop right beside you and have your case called up.

When you make your move, and you have your hand tightly gripped in Jesus’, be sure that you will make good success.

Then the people… those “over sabi” people who shouted you down. Those I-too-know people who told you you are not doing it right. Those turn-up-their-noses-and-look-down-on-others people who called you “no-good” will be the ones to say: chai! God don answer this one call oh!

So make your move… towards Jesus; towards a new way of life; towards a new business; towards a new investment; and know that God will hear you and will take up your case and your detractors will “congratulate” you.

Lesson 5: Bartimaeus threw aside his garment and rose.

When God picks your call, (and He will), it is time to throw aside that old, filthy garment!

You cannot want a new life, a better life, a good life, a closer relationship with Jesus, and still keep on your old garment. Uh-uh, that’s not how it works.

Folks, throw that old garment off! You don’t need it anymore.

When the prodigal son realised the errors of his ways and he returned home, the Father ordered that a new garment be put on him. Aha! That is the God you serve, folks. He’s got a new garment for you. You don’t need that old garment.

You don’t need your old heart. You don’t need your old mind. You don’t need your old thinking pattern. You don’t need your old ways of doing things. You don’t need that destructive relationship. You don’t need that “crooked” way of doing business.

Throw it (them) off… and put on the new garment Jesus is offering you.

Lesson 6: Jesus asked Bartimaeus what he wanted Him to do for him. And Bartimaeus very distinctly told Jesus what he wanted.

You have to know what you want… because God’s going to ask you: What do you want me to do for you?

You have to know what you want… because if you don’t know what exactly you want, you can be given just about anything… or even nothing at all.

You have to know what you want… because it is in clearly discerning your needs and your wants that you make right investments.

You have to know what you want… because it is in knowing what you want that you become truly that who you are meant to be.

So, know what you want!

Lesson 7: Bartimaeus’ faith made him whole.

You need to have faith!

Faith is believing… even without YET seeing it.

You need to believe in God. You need to believe in Jesus Christ. You need to believe in the Holy Spirit. Else… God cannot work in you and for you.

You need to believe in you. You need to believe in your abilities and your capabilities.

You need to believe in that talent God placed in you.

You need to believe in that dream secretly dwelling in your heart.

You need to believe in that business idea.

You need to believe in the actions you are taking.

Have Faith… Believe!

Nothing will become that you did not first believe in.

Faith is the key to your success.

When you believe… you will win (so says the lyrics).

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And so, that is our lesson from was-once-blind Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus.

I ask you to take a good few minutes and study today: Mark 10: 46-52 and make up your mind to be like Bartimaeus.

Be like Bartimaeus by:

1. Realising first that you are living beyond your potential when you don’t have Jesus.
2. Being attentive—body, mind and spirit.
3. Saying NO to oppositions and sticking to your guns.
4. Trusting Jesus, Lord and God, to hear you.
5. Letting go of that old life.
6. Knowing exactly what you want.
7. Having faith.

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Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for opening our minds and our hearts with your Word which is life. May our lives be renewed by the Word we have read and understood. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Dear Lord, in Ephesians 4:23, Your Word says: “…and be renewed in the spirit of your mind”: So trusting in Your Word, I pray for all who reads this, may you bless them with a new heart and a new spirit. May You renew their minds. Where they need you most, Lord, touch them there. As by his faith, and Your pronouncement, Bartimaeus was made whole, so too make a pronouncement upon them and strengthen their faith to believe and be made whole. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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Y’all have a blessed week. Cheers.