BARTIMAEUS MIRACLE 12 PRINCIPLES By Pastor Charles Obeng The story of blind Bartimaeus is recorded in MARK 10:46-52. In this passage of Scripture, we discover twelve key principles that are indispensable for receiving miracles, reversal of destiny and supernatural turnaround. Activate these principles consistently with dogged determination, and you will have a garden variety of testimonies. Principle 1: Be Strategically Positioned For Your Miracle As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus - was sitting by the roadside begging. V46 Bartimaeus condition in life as a blind sufferer made him to resort to a life of begging for sustenance. The blind man sat by a roadside, in the full view of the public, begging for bread. He positioned himself at the roadside because he knew he could get help from the passers-by. So by the time Jesus was passing by he was strategically located or positioned at a place where he could solicit help from others. He did not miss his Moment Of Miracle because he was located at the Right Place at the Right Time when it was due. You have to be strategically positioned for any miracle of breakthrough you will ever receive from God. Divine visitations, supernatural turnaround, answers to prayers, fulfilment of promises all answers to the principle of strategic location. You have to be at the right place at the right time to get your blessing. Luke 18:31 Jesus took the twelfth aside and said to them We Are Going Up To Jerusalem, And Everything That Is Written By The Prophets About The Son Of Man Will Be Fulfilled for Jesus to see the fulfilment of what has been written about Him, He had to be at the right place, Jerusalem at the right time. Question: Are You Always At The Right Place At The Right Time? May You Not Miss Your Moment Of Divine Visitation When It Is Due! Principle 2: Have A Burning Desire For A Change --he began to shout, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me -V 47.-( Begging For Bread, Now Gives Way To A SHOUT For Mercy).
The entire story shows convincingly that the blind man was burning with a desire for a change in his circumstance. His obsession for a change is evidenced by his vociferous shout for mercy and his determination not to be discouraged by the problem posed by the un-rushing crowd of people. He got his miracle of healing because he had a definite desire, that desire was a dominating obsession in his life. In consequence, he placed all his energy, will power and efforts into achieving it. Desire is an essential ingredient for change of circumstances, because it is the force behind every great achievement. Your desire must become obsession a persistent or dominating feeling, an infatuation in your life. You cannot accomplish or receive anything meaningful in life without the driving force of desire. Desire is the force that motivates, the drive behind passion. Question: Is Your Desire For A Better Life Forceful, Powerful And War-Like? Is It A Dominating Obsession In Your Life? Are You Willing To Burn All Bridges Behind You And Stake Your Entire Future On Your Ability To Get What You Want? Principle 3: Right Information Is The Key When He Heard The Crowd Going By, He Asked What Was Happening. They Told Him, Jesus Of Nazareth Is Passing By--- (Verse 47, Luke 18:36). Though Bartimaeus had a burning desire for a change, it was When He Heard that Jesus Of Nazareth was passing by which actually set in motion the process of transformation in his circumstance. What he heard ignited faith in him to reach out to Jesus for mercy. He acted on the information he received and got his circumstances completely changed. Information- is a message received and understood knowledge acquired, gained or given. This is so important because God begins the process of change in your life with the impartation of information. The entire Bible is deemed as divine impartation of information for the transformation of those who would receive its message with faith. And How Can They Believe In The One Of Whom They Have Not Heard? And How Can They Hear Without Someone Preaching To Them? Faith Comes By Hearing And Hearing By The Word Of God (Romans 10:14-17). The information must be acted upon in faith to produce transformation. Hebrews 4:2 For We Also Have Had The Gospel Preached To Us, Just As They Did; But The Message They Heard Was Of No Value To Them Because Those Who Heard Did Not Combine It With Faith. Question: Are You Willing To Attune Your Ear To Hear Or Turn Death Ear To What The Spirit Is Saying To You? Can You Hear God Giving You Life Transforming Word Or Speaking To You
Through The Prickling Of Your Conscience Or The Groping Of Your Mind? Can You Hear Him Speak To You Through A Friend, A Preacher, Music Or A Written Word Like This One You Are Reading? He Who Has Ears To Hear, Jesus Says, Let Him Hear. And whatever He tells you do it. Principle 4: Right Perception About Jesus --He Began To Shout, Jesus, Son Of David, ----Jesus, Son Of David have mercy on me --- V 47-48 Perception is the way you think about something or the impression you hold about something. The crowd saw Jesus as Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 18:37). Bartimaeus saw Jesus as He was. He had right perception about who Jesus was THE SON OF DAVID, a title which perfectly corresponds with messianic expectations. How you see JESUS CHRIST determines how He will respond to you. Your wrong perception of Him is the reason behind your inability to receive answers to your prayers. Jesus was not a prophet ; neither was He a god. He is neither great nor the greatest, for He is not to be compared with anyone. He is simply God, the Son, co-equal and co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is the Saviour of mankind and the Lord of creation. He is the Way to the Father, the embodiment of divine truth and the Source of Life, who sustains His creative work with the Word of His Power. He is the only one appointed by the Father to judge the secrets of men at the end of time. See THE EXPLORATION OF THE PROMISED LAND and be advised about the impact of perception. Their wrong perception about God led to their forfeiture of the Promised Land. (Numbers 13:31-33.) Question: What Do Men Say The Son Of Man,? What About You? What Impression Or Opinion Do You Hold About Jesus? If He Is God, Let Him Be Your God! Principle 5: Be Strong In Your Conviction 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! v47-48 The blind man s conviction is reflected in his determination not to allow anything to stand on his way. His conviction, which was his strong belief and which he obediently made a part of his life and practice was about the truth of who Jesus was. He was thoroughly
convinced that Jesus was the expected Messiah that he took a stand for what he believed regardless of the opposition. He grasped the opportunity for a change because he was fully persuaded that he could get his healing from Jesus. It was this conviction and commitment for a change that galvanized him to be fearless in the face of opposition. Knowing your problems or needs is worthless, if you don t have the conviction to motivate you to actually do something about them. Knowing the problem of your life must also be accompanied by a personal conviction that it is God s will for it to change.. You have to be fully persuaded that it is the will of God for you to experience turnaround in your circumstances. Become committed to this belief and promise yourself not to give in to circumstances, obstacles or breakdowns until you have that which you believe God for. Question: Are You A Person Of Conviction? Are You Committed To Your Target? Your Conviction Is Worthless Unless It Is Converted Into Conduct. It's Time To Take A Stand And Live By Your Convictions. Principle 6: Cultivate Persistency Those Who Led The Way Rebuked Him And Told Him To Be Quiet, But He SHOUTED All The MORE, Son Of David, Have Mercy On Me V 48 In pursuing his conviction for a change, the blind man got a shock of his life. His attempt to reach out to Jesus was met by a crowd of discouragers, who did what they could to hinder his effort. But his passion for a change was greater than the opposition he encountered. With raw determination, he persevered and his persistence eventually paid off. Persistency is the capacity to continue on course despite all manner of difficulties, obstacles and discouragement and still not quit. It is this character quality, the determined endeavour, the unconquerable will that breaks down all resistance, and sweeps away all obstacles that can take you to the next level. God always waits to see, will power, stamina and resilience put on display before He answers certain prayers of yours. Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. (Read these scriptures: Hebrews 10:23, 35-37; Luke 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:18). Question: Are You Willing To Pursue Your Passion? And Have You Promised Yourself Never To Give In To Circumstances, Obstacles Or Breakdowns? Are You A Person Of Will Power, Stamina And Resilience With The Capacity To Continue On Course Despite All Manner Of Difficulties, Obstacles And Not Quit?
Principle 7: Activate The Power Of Prayer He Shouted All The More, Son Of David, Have Mercy On Me V 48 The coming of Jesus to the street where he had been sitting for years was the greatest moment of his entire life. Hence the blind man ceased the moment in spite of discouraging atmosphere, took up the mantle of prayer and called upon Jesus for supernatural intervention in his life. He cried consistently, persistently and vociferously for divine mercy and he was heard. You must be consistent and persistent in your attempt to have Jesus hear your pleads. And be strengthened in your confidence that your cries would be answered by God. Question: Are You Fully Persuaded About The Transforming Power Of Prayer? Do You Have The Unconquerable Will To Succeed In Your Prayer Life? And Is This Endeavour A Lifework Or A Pastime In Your Life? Embrace this life- enhancing endeavour. Principle 8: Acknowledge Your Need (s) Before God What Do You Want Me To Do For You. The blind man replied I want to see V 51. Bartimaeus unrelenting conviction and pursuit for a change in his circumstance caught the attention of Jesus who asked that he should be brought to him. Jesus asked him What Do You Want Me To Do For You. The blind man replied I WANT TO SEE. When he met Jesus he acknowledged his need and problem. He was also specific in his pleadings for help. The blind man had many needs in his life but his willingness to have his sight restored was the most pressing. Jesus knew that, yet He wanted him to be definite in his request. You must first engage in self-examination and then acknowledge your need before God. Psalm 69:1-4 is King David s admission of his personal afflictions, persecutions and despondencies. Verses 10-36 are about what he did with his personal struggles. You must thoroughly be convinced in your own mind that you have a problem and are helpless to do anything about it. Until you acknowledge your need before God, you will never find a solution to your problem (See: Matthew 8:1-3; 9:27-29; 15:21-28). Secondly, a vague, general prayer is never as effective as a specific and definite prayer. Specific Requests Obtain Specific Answers from God. This is because God s promises which are raw materials for prayer are always specific and definite. While God s promises are exceedingly great and precious, they are specific, clear and personal. Our prayer must also be the same. (See these
specific prayer promises Luke 11:9, 1 Peter 3:12, 1John 5:14-15, Jeremiah 33:3). Question: Do You Always Hide Your Problem Or Are You Always Forthcoming Before God? Principle 9: Remove Impediments From Your Life Jesus Stopped And Said, Call Him --- Throwing His Cloak Aside, He Jumped To His Feet And Came To Jesus. V49-50 In his attempt to seize the greatest moment in his life, the blind man threw his cloak aside and enthusiastically jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. First, the blind man seized the moment of change in his life by Throwing Away His Cloak, something which could impede his attempt to respond to the invitation come. In the same way you must throw aside your cloak in order to be able to seize the greatest moment of your life. Your cloak is anything in your life that could serve as an obstacle, barrier, hurdle, hindrance, hold-up, delay, stumbling block to your miracle. In short, it is anything in your life that you must throw away in order for God to be able to bless you. Let Us Throw Off Everything That Hinders And The Sin That So Easily Entangles, And Let Us Run With Perseverance The Race Marked Out For Us. (Hebrews 12:1). SIN is the name! He Who Conceals His Sins Does Not Prosper (Proverbs 28:13). Sin is a powerful weapon the enemy uses to hinder us from receiving our blessing. Satan tempts us towards sin because he knows that any participation in sin gives him the permission and opportunity to work against us. When you sin against God or disobey Him, you forfeit God s blessings and power in your life. You cannot persist in sin and keep your verve and desire for God and blessing. For this reason, Paul the Apostle advised: Therefore Do Not Let Sin Reign In Your Mortal Body So That You Obey Its Evil Desires (Romans 6:12). If there is any sin in your life, acknowledge that the sin, which you have committed, is wrong and ask God to forgive you. Paul said: Come Back To Your Senses As You Ought, And Stop Sinning; For There Are Some Who Are Ignorant Of God I Say This To Your Shame (1Corinthians 15:34). To maintain your enthusiasm and desire for God and position yourself for your miracle, you must submit to God s will and avoid compromise with sin. Question: Do You Intentionally Sin And Do You Love It? Do You Know That Any Participation In Sin Gives The Enemy The Permission And Opportunity To Work Against You? Any Compromise with Sin Will Short-Circuit the Flow of God s Power and Blessing in Your Life. Avoid it.
Principle 10: Be Obedient To The Command Of Christ Jesus Stopped And Ordered The Man To Be Brought To Him. Jesus Said, Call Him--- (a Command) Throwing His Cloak Aside, He Jumped To His Feet And Came To Jesus (an act of Obedience). Verse 49 When Jesus heard the persistent cries of the blind man, He issued a command for him to come to Him. The blind man obediently responded to the invitation. If the man had not wholeheartedly acted on the command of Christ, he wouldn t have received his miracle. What ultimately brought the man to Christ to receive his miracle was his faith working through his obedience. It was his submissiveness to the will of Jesus that made him see. This principle of obedience is the master of all the principles. Faith and obedience are the two legs a Christian walks. Obedience is not only a virtue of high importance; it is also the supreme text of our faith. Obedience simply means following God s will for our lives. An important characteristic of true obedience is that it comes from the heart. If there is not a heartfelt desire to become obedient, our outward following of God s commandments becomes nothing more than legalism. (a.) The only true evidence that you know Jesus (that you are born again) is when you obey Him We Know That We Have Come To Know Him If We Obey His Commands The Man Who Says I Know Him, But Does Not Do What He Commands Is A Liar, And The Truth Is Not In Him (1 John 2:3-4). (b.) The only true evidence of our love for God is when we obey Him-(John 14:15, 21, 23-24). If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands. (c.) The only true confidence we can have that our prayers will be answered is when we live the life of obedience-( 1 John 4:21-22) If Our Hearts Do Not Condemn Us, We Have Confidence Before God And Receive From Him Anything We Ask, Because We Obey His Commands And Do What Pleases Him (d.) The only true evidence that we are positioned properly for our miracle is when we live with Him in the relationship of obedience and submission-(isaiah 1:19) If You Are Willing And Obedient, You Will Eat The Best From The Land; But If You Resist And Rebel, You Will Be Devoured By The Sword Question: Do You Know That It Is Impossible To Receive Life Changing Miracles From God Unless You Obey Known Commands From The Scriptures? And Do You Know That You Hold The Key To
Your Blessings? Consistent Discipline Of Obedient Lifestyle Is Your Ultimate Key To Influx Of Miracles Into Your Life. Principle 11: Have Strong Faith Go! Receive Your Sight; Your Faith Has Healed You Verse 52 Jesus commended the blind man for his faith. It was the faith of the man that gave him his miracle of healing. He was a man with extraordinary confidence in Jesus that was unshakable by his situation, pain, apparent failure or ridicule. He cried out to Jesus for mercy in profound faith, without wavering, doubting and losing heart. He had absolute confidence in the ability of Jesus to change his circumstance, hence his unwillingness to give up in the face of opposition. In the same way it is your faith in Jesus Christ that can secure you your blessing. Faith is both conviction and confidence. Faith is active belief combined with expectation and action. Without Faith It Is Impossible To Please God (See Hebrews 6:11, Romans 5:1-2). This is because faith is the foundation of a Christian character and the security of the soul. When faith breaks down, the foundations of spiritual life give way and the entire structure of religious experience falls. Faith which is the basis of our spiritual life is based on the Person and Power and Work of Jesus Christ. It was concerning this very point that Jesus questioned some blind men who came for healing; Do you believe that I am able to do this? Then He touched their eyes, saying, According to your faith and trust and reliance [on the power invested in Me] be it done to you. (Matthew 9:28-29). Question: Do You Know That Faith-Filled Prayers Is Able To Move Mountains In Your Life Figurative Mountains In The Form Of Seeming Obstacles, Difficulties And Dilemmas? God Gives Us The Faith To Pray And He Answers Us By Moving The Mountains And Showing Us That He Is Able To Do All Things. Principle 12: Learn To Give Praise To God Immediately He Received His Sight And Followed Jesus, Praising God. When All The People Saw It, They Also Praised God. (Luke 18:43) The personal blessing he received---- the blessing of healing, liberty and protection --moved his heart to express his heartfelt appreciation to Jesus. He praised and thanked Jesus. Our response to miracles should be praise, thanks and gratitude to God for mercy received. Praise to God is what we offer in acknowledgement of God's excellent being. Our thanks to God is the expression of our inner gratitude to God for mercies received.
Psalm 18:3 says; "I call to the LORD, who is worthy, of praise " All believers are commanded to praise God! In fact, Isaiah 43:21 explains that praise is one reason we were created; "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Praising God is the reason for our salvation. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But You Are A Chosen People, A Royal Priesthood, A Holy Nation, A People Belonging To God, That You May Declare The Praises Of Him Who Called You Out Of Darkness Into His Wonderful Light." Hebrews 13:15 confirms this: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess His name." As prayer brings the answer, so the answer brings forth gratitude and praise and thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the only appropriate response to God when we realise the truth of His promises. If you decide not to praise God today, look at those who are standing by to take your place: All nature praises God (Psalm 148:7-10). The sun, moon, and stars praise Him (Psalm 19:1 and 148:3). The angels praise Him (Psalm 148:2). Even the wrath of men is used by God to praise Him (Psalm 76:10). Our children are to be taught to praise God (Psalm 78:4). Question: Are You Aware That God Inhabits In The Atmosphere Of Praise? And Do You Know That When Praise With All Your Heart, Mind, And Soul Goes Up, God s Blessings And Grace Come Down? May You Become A Praiser. KINGDOM MANDATE MINISTRIES VENUE: CHORAL HALL CENTRE 308 BARKING ROAD CANNING TOWN, LONDON E13 8BJ WORSHIP WITH US SUNDAYS: 1030AM SATURDAYS PRAYER & DELIVERANCE SERVICE 630PM VENUE: THE HARTLEY CENTER (Next To Bingo), 267 BARKING ROAD, EAST HAM, LONDON E6 1LB Email: kingdommandateministries@gmail.com Website: http://kingdommandateministries.org.uk