Spiritual Blindness Revealed and Healed

Q: What does the Bible say about spiritual blindness?

The Bible illustrates spiritual blindness as a state of being dead in sin, unable to perceive the truth without divine intervention, as seen in Mark 10:46-52. In the account of blind Bartimaeus from Mark 10:46-52, we see a powerful depiction of spiritual blindness. The scripture portrays unbelievers as spiritually dead and incapable of seeing or understanding the truth without God's grace. Just as Bartimaeus was physically blind, sinners are blind to their need for the Savior unless God opens their eyes. Isaiah 42:6 and Isaiah 35:5 prophesy about the Messiah opening the eyes of the blind, indicating that spiritual sight is a gift from God. This spiritual blindness illustrates the necessity for the preaching of the gospel, as only through hearing the Word can one truly come to see and understand their condition before a holy God.

Q: How do we know that faith is essential for salvation?

Faith is crucial for salvation, as illustrated by Bartimaeus' cry for mercy in Mark 10:52, showing that God-given faith compels a sinner to seek Christ. The critical role of faith in salvation is vividly demonstrated in the story of Bartimaeus. When Jesus asked him what he wanted, Bartimaeus responded with a request for sight, which was rooted in his faith that Jesus could heal him. Mark 10:52 says, 'Thy faith hath made thee whole,' emphasizing that his faith, which was bestowed upon him by God, was the means by which he sought mercy and healing. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us that it is by grace we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. This underscores that true faith is a divine gift that enables us to recognize our condition and seek redemption in Christ alone.

Q: Why is asking for mercy important in the Christian life?

Asking for mercy is essential in the Christian life, reflecting our dependence on God and acknowledging our constant need for His grace. Bartimaeus's persistent cry for mercy encapsulates the believer's posture before God. This prayer for mercy is not a one-time plea but an ongoing acknowledgment of our need for God's grace throughout our lives. As discussed in the sermon, this petition for mercy is foundational because it recognizes our inability to save ourselves and our full dependence on Christ. James 5:16 highlights the power of sincere prayer, stating that the fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much. Therefore, mercy is not only foundational for initial salvation but is also indicative of a believer's daily walk with God, as it brings us low and positions us to receive His grace anew each day.

Q: What is the significance of the old garment in Bartimaeus’ story?

The old garment in Bartimaeus' story symbolizes his former life of sin, which he cast aside as he came to Jesus in faith. In the account of Bartimaeus, when he casts away his garment, it serves as a powerful symbol of his renunciation of his old life of sin and suffering. This act reflects the transformative power of faith and the desire to be cleansed and made whole. Ephesians 4:22 encourages believers to put off the old self, which is corrupted by deceitful desires. Bartimaeus’ act of removing his garment demonstrates an understanding that he cannot come to Christ while holding onto the filth of his past. By discarding his garment, he signifies his readiness to embrace the new life and identity that Jesus offers. This illustrates the believer's journey of leaving behind the old man and stepping into the new creation they are in Christ.

Q: How is opposition faced by believers when they call out to Jesus?

Believers often face opposition when calling out to Jesus, as seen in Bartimaeus' encounter, where the crowd tried to silence him. Bartimaeus's story illustrates that believers might encounter resistance when they earnestly seek the Lord. In Mark 10:48, the crowd rebuked him, saying he should be quiet. This reflects a common reality that many believers experience today; as they proclaim their faith or seek to live out their calling, they may face mockery or discouragement from those around them. 2 Timothy 3:12 warns that all who live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. Such opposition, however, serves to strengthen a believer's resolve and showcases their dependence on Christ alone for strength and affirmation. Just as Bartimaeus cried out even louder despite the opposition, believers are encouraged to persist in their faith and declaration of Christ, knowing that their Savior hears them.

Take your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Mark, chapter 10. Mark, chapter 10. Mark chapter 10, I want to begin reading at verse 46. And scripture says, verse 46, and they came to Jericho, and as he went out, that's our Lord, went out of Jericho with his disciples, and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace, but he cried the more a great deal. Thou son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. And they called the blind man, saying unto him, be of good comfort, rise, he calleth thee. And he, casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. And Jesus answered and said unto him, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, go thy way. Thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way.

Here we have an account of a man that I would say that unless he was born and on death was just about the worst condition you could be in. Not only was he blind, but he was a beggar. He was poor. He was living off the crumbs of the world. People come by and throw in a few pennies or pence in his pot. Terrible condition.

Now this is not just a story. This is not just a story about a blind man. If I want to know anything about People having problems, I can go down here to the hospital and watch it all day seeing this. This happened two years ago, and you wonder, well, what does this have to do with me? I feel sorry for the man, but this was 2,000 years ago. What does that have to do with me?

Well, you know what the answer is. The Lord is teaching us something here, and it's all spiritual. There's a spiritual meaning here that he is about to teach us. It's a beautiful, a beautiful picture of a person whose heart has been stirred up by the spirit of God. This is not an unbeliever.

Listen, an unbeliever is not blind and he's not a beggar. Why? Because he's dead. An unbeliever is dead. He's not blind. He can't see. And he never will see unless God gives him grace to see. But this beggar here, he comes to see that the only way out of the mess he's in is the Lord Jesus Christ.

In verse 47, it says, and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he heard, it takes the hearing of the gospel for a man to receive salvation. Now, many people hear. The call goes out to everybody. Many are called, the scripture says, but few chosen. Only those that hear with the right heart, a heart given by God the Father, are able to hear. But he heard. This is what it means, he heard. The world's not merely blind and beggarly, they are dead. Let's get that established up front. This man was a believer. So he cries out, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me. Now the word the son of David is mentioned in the Old Testament 26 times.

This man had heard. He was blind. He couldn't read. He didn't have the book of scripture that he could read. but he had heard from his youth that the Messiah was to come and the Messiah was going to be healing the blind. Listen to what it says here. It says in Isaiah 42, verse six, I, the Lord, have called thee in righteousness and will hold thine hand, speaking of our Lord Jesus, and will keep thee and give thee for a covenant of the people for a light of the Gentiles to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the darkness, and then that said in darkness out of the prison house. He had heard about the Lord Jesus. He had heard it from the time he grew up. He knew this was the Lord, and he knew that he had to get to Christ. He understood that this was the only one, the only man that could help him. And spiritually, this is where it is.

We've got all these religions now today, all these churches preaching, all these foolish doctrines of you can do this, you have to do that, and you gotta know this. And I've been reading a little bit, and this is just a side note. I've been reading a little bit on the internet about some things, and the Catholic Church in particular. They believe unless you're Catholic, you can't be saved. You have to be Catholic. Now that's pretty bad, you know.

And they'll talk more about the Catholic Church than they will about the Lord Jesus Christ. But this book is not about the Catholic Church. It doesn't say anything about the Catholic Church. From Genesis to Revelation, it talks about the Lord Jesus Christ. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father but by me.

That's what he says. And then down in Isaiah 35, 5, he also says this. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. This man heard this. He knew this. He thought, if I can get Christ to hear me, I can be healed of my blindness. both spiritual and physical. And what was his prayer?

You know, Marvin talks sometimes about being able to pray, and I agree with him. We're all in that same boat. We go through the same thing. We wonder what we are to pray about. And sometimes I just come to the point, Lord, I don't know how to pray. Only thing I can ask you is, Lord, have mercy on me. And that's what this man said. We often wonder how to pray, well, right here it is.

Remember the story of the publican and the Pharisee? It was in a temple, and the Pharisee said, Lord, I thank you that I'm not like other men are. I do this and this and this, and I'm not like even this publican over here. And what did that publican say? He stood by himself, the scripture says, and said, Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner. And that's our prayer. Sometimes when I'm trying to pray and it's just, finally that's what I just got to come down. Lord, I don't know. I don't understand. I don't see. And I can't in myself. I have no ability. I have no ability in myself to stir up anything. Lord, unless you have mercy on me, unless you have mercy on me, I'm going to be in hell.

And you know something? Here's another point that I've realized as I've gotten older. This asking for mercy is not just a one-time thing. It's just like coming to Christ. Marvin keeps talking about coming to Christ. You keep coming, you keep coming. This have mercy on me is a constant prayer every day.

And how many of us really think about that? We should wake up in the morning, Lord, thank you for your mercy that you've, Lord, you've given me the breath to wake up, that I'll be our first thing in the morning before we do anything else is to thank the Lord for his mercy and for what he's done for us, especially through Christ Jesus, our Lord. And then in verse 48, it says, and many charged him that he should hold his peace.

Be quiet, old man. This is the savior. You're a blind man, just be quiet and go away. But here's something more important, Dad. When a believer starts to see or a believer professes Christ, he's gonna face a lot of opposition. He's gonna face opposition, especially those that know him, that's grown up with him, around him, his family. People are going to tell you you're too straight, you're too narrow. Just be quiet. We don't want to hear that stuff. And that's what they did here. Here's this lowly beggar. Be quiet. Be quiet. He's got more important things to do. He doesn't have time for you.

They'll mock you. Unbelievers will mock you, I guarantee you. They hate, the unbelievers hate God, and they're going to mock you for your religion. For your belief in Christ, for your crying out, have mercy on me, my Lord. They say you're too precise. David, you're too precise in your religion. You're too straight.

2 Timothy 3.12 says this.

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. And I often think, Lord, you've been gracious to me because We live in a day and age that we don't see that persecution. Certainly, there's a lot of countries around the world that do, but here in this country, look at the mercy that God has had on us in this country that we're able to worship without a lot of persecution. It's not like that they went through in the New Testament during the Lord's time.

Acts 26, 24 says this, and as he thus spake of himself, This is Paul. Paul was brought before Festus because of the doctrine he was preaching. And he says, and as he thus spake of himself, that's the Apostle Paul, Festus, the governor, said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself. Much learning doth make thee mad. You're crazy.

And that's what they think of you. That's what the world thinks. They think that the Lord Jesus Christ is just a fable. In John 8, 48, it says this. Then answered the Jews. This is what they said about our Lord. What do you think they're going to say about you if you're truly standing for the gospel? Then answered the Jews and said unto him, say we not well that thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil? They hated him. The Pharisees hated the Lord Jesus Christ as all men born naturally are born hating God. They won't admit it, but that's the truth.

But in verse 48, it goes on and says, but he cried the more a great deal. Thou son of David have mercy on him. He didn't shut up. He cried more. The Lord heard him the first time he He cried. The Lord heard him cry. This was one of his sheep. He heard him cry, but he didn't answer him.

God's going to prove your faith. God's going to prove my faith. He's going to do it. Not for himself. He knows all things, but he's going to teach us the sincerity of our own hearts. He's going to reveal it to us, and he's going to try your faith, and he's going to try my faith. And that's what he was doing here. Let the man holler. Let's see how serious he is. Let's see what his motives are. And that's the way the Lord works. We read that all through the scriptures.

I often think about the scripture, and this is, I always wonder about when Paul was being taken to Rome, and had all the prisoners on there with him, and they were taking him to Rome to Caesar, to stand before Caesar. And God caused a big storm to rock that ship and beat it around, and finally it crashed on the rocks. Now here was God's sheep on that boat. Yet God brought this storm on it and destroyed that boat. Now they all survived, but you know, there's God's working.

How are his ways past finding out? When we try to figure out what God has done in our life and how he's working, it's over my head. It really is. I just don't understand it. But he's not asking us to understand it. He's telling us to believe it. He's telling us to believe it. It says he cried a great deal. And the Lord did hear him the first time. And he's going to prove our faith that we might know the true motivation. Let's be honest, brothers and sisters. We're, as believers, we have a lot of doubts and fears. Why? There's a nature in me that's never gonna change. It hasn't changed. It's not gonna change. We were born into this world not trusting God, and that old nature is still there. We're told that, he says that, I'll never leave you or forsake you. And we think about that scripture when we're going through these trials and tribulation. Does it not cross our mind? Let's be honest. Does it not cross our mind? Lord, where are you at? But he's there. He's listening all the while. He's trying us.

First Peter verse or chapter one verse seven says is that the trial of your faith being much more precious than of gold that perishes. We think a lot of gold, don't we? Though it be tried with fire, and that's what it is, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. Things are tough now, is what it says.

Things have gone through, we're going through hardships now, problems and so forth, but one day, that when the trumpet sounds, it's all going to be glorious. We're going to wear a crown at that time. It's not a crown like we think. We're going to wear a crown of true righteousness.

I'm going to be free from this old dead body, and you will be too. And that is a blessing. That's something that I need to think about. We all need to think more about. This life is just a vapor. It's gonna be here and gone. I'm almost there and most of you are that way too. You're right behind me. You're going through pains and aches and sickness.

But one day, brothers and sisters, it's gonna be glorious. And that's the hope we have, isn't it? That's the hope we have. That's the only hope I have. Sometimes I think about it and I just think, Lord, what else can I say but have mercy on me? And then verse 49, it says that Jesus stood still. What a blessing when the Lord hears our cry.

He's gonna hear it. Psalms 22, 24 says this, for he hath not despised nor abhorred The affliction, your affliction, he's not despised it. He has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted. Neither hath he hid his face from him. But when he cried unto him, he heard. He heard, he heard his poor beggar man. Lord, have mercy on me. Have mercy on me.

James 5.16 says this, the effectual fervent prayer. That means to be mighty and fervent. Be mighty in prayer. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. And we're encouraged. Pray often. Paul teaches us that. Pray. When you can't do anything else, fall down on your knees and pray.

God will hear. He'll hear in his own time. Sometimes we think he doesn't hear. I've heard Marvin say sometimes he'll put you out on a limb and make you think he's gonna leave you there, but God hears the prayer of his saints, and he heard the prayer of this man. He heard the prayer of this man.

And then verse 49, it says, he told his followers to call him. Here's the command of the Lord. Here's the command for the preaching of the gospel. You go call my people. That's what he's saying. He speaks it to the preachers and he speaks it to me and it speaks to each one of you to preach the gospel. Call them in.

Tell, tell people the condition they're in, that they're sinners before a holy God and he has sent his son. And the rejection, that's going to be the greatest damnation in judgment when we stand before God is those that reject God. That's going to be the biggest sin on a man's record is that he rejected the Lord Jesus Christ. In Mark 16, 15, it says this, and he said unto them, go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

There's the call. We are commanded to call. And the Lord says, you go call that man over there. He couldn't get up and come. They probably had to go over and grab him by the arms. He didn't know where he was. He's in a crowd of people, the scripture says here. God sent the preachers to bring that man out of darkness to hear what the Lord had to say. Not of his own free will. He couldn't do anything. He's sitting there by the roadside begging. Dirty.

And verse 50, and I, I thought about this in verse 50, it says, and he, casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. We come into this building in the wintertime and even when it's cool, we wear a coat and we take it off and we hang it up and we think nothing about it. Why did the Holy Spirit see fit to put that little thing of him taking off his coat in this scripture? We know it's inspired. He just didn't put the in here to be filling up space. Why did he take off his coat? Well, I think we know spiritually it's a sign of a desire to put off the old man. That's what it is. That's what it is spiritually. Here this man was sitting in the dirt, probably.

He didn't know what the garment he had on looked like. And we don't. We don't see the depth of sin in us. He couldn't see what that garment looked like. He never saw that garment before. It might have had holes in it and so forth, probably sitting there along the road every day begging. It was probably dirty. So just physically speaking, he felt like he wasn't worthy to come to the Lord with that dirty coat on, but also spiritually. A man's heart that's been renewed by the Lord Jesus Christ has an aversion to sin, not like he wants. There still remains a lot of sin. We're blind. We don't see the depth of sin. I do not see the depth of sin in me. I don't see it. And I don't see the glory of God.

Paul says we see through a dark glass. I can remember my dad in the wintertime, when it'd get cold in the old house we lived in, he'd put plastic up over the windows and stapled, you know, kind of help keep cold out. Well, you look out that window, you couldn't hardly see anything. It's kind of opaque, you know. Well, that's the same thing. We see through a glass darkly, Paul says. I don't see it clearly. I don't see, I don't see this sin. Why do I not see this sin?

Because it lies so close to me. It's ingrained in me. There's an old man that I can't get away with. You know, I can somewhat put off the world. I'm retired. Some of you can't. But I can put off the world. And you can actually resist the devil. The Lord says resist the devil and he'll flee from you.

But when it comes to this old flesh, I'm riding with it 24 hours a day. It's right there. At night when I lay down and sleep, When I try to pray, when I try to read, sin is ever present with me. But he cast away that dirty old garment, and that's a believer's hope. I think of that song, Whiter Than Snow. Lord, I long to be perfectly whole, and that's a believer's hope. I want to be whole. I want to be perfect. I want to live where the Lord Jesus Christ lives, because that's where perfection lives. What a beautiful thought.

Ephesians 4.22 says this, that you put off concerning the former conversation, the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lust. Paul said in me dwelleth no good thing. And that's why Paul said, oh, wretched man that I am. And that's what each one of us say. That's what a believer says. I'm not what I want to be, I'm not going to be until I'm in the grave.

In verse 51, the Lord Jesus answered and said unto him, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee? Lord, what do I need this evening? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. I want to receive my sight. I see now, but again, like I said, we see darkly. I want to see perfectly.

And one day we will. One day we will. One day when we stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, all things are going to be revealed. There'll be no darkness then. What a blessing. What a wonderful thought that is. And then this was his confession. Lord, I'm blind. Lord, when he asked him, what wilt thou that I should do unto thee, the blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive thy sight. That was the confession. That's a confession of a believer. That's the confession for each one of us today.

Lord, that I might see. I don't see as I ought, not as I could wish. Lord, have mercy on me. Don't leave me but unto myself. You who believe, what do you need tonight? What do you need? Really think about it. Ask yourself, what do I need? Do I need more money? Do I need an easy life?

All temporal things gonna be gone. And like I said a little earlier, we're getting close, most of us. We're getting close. There's a depth of sin that we wanna be free of. Oh my, that drags us down. It's ever present with us. pulling at us, tugging at us, constantly in that battle with that new man. And I need, and you need, mercy.

Verse 52, and Jesus said unto him, go thy way. Thy faith, he had faith when he started crying, have mercy on me. This was no worldly man, this was not a saved man. He'd heard about the Lord, he'd heard about, he heard the gospel preached. And it was faith, God-given faith that saves the man. It says immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way. And there's the response of a believer. A believer comes to see through the grace of God that he's a sinner, that God is holy and righteous. He wants to follow the Lord in baptism. He wants to follow the Lord's commandments. He wants to follow the Lord, because he sees that's the only way. Any other way is going to be brought to eternal hell.

And that's something people need to think about. We all need to think about it. You don't hear people preach about that stuff today, not very many. Gospel preachers do, true gospel preachers do. But I don't want to go there forever. And you know why I don't want to go there forever? Because the only good that I know in this life is the Lord Jesus Christ and God who has blessed me. That's the only good I know. Now can you imagine? spending eternity without any of that good. I can't imagine that. That's a terrible thought. I don't want that.

The good I experience in this life is because of God, and the next life will be even better as far as the goodness of God is displayed. So that's not, that's not something I want. To be separated from the Lord, to be separated from the Lord, In my mind, that's the worst thing that can happen. Yes, there's suffering, there'll be suffering, but all the goodness, when you think about all the goodness that's come our way this day, got up this morning, I'm breathing, you're breathing, we went about our business, that was the goodness of God.

And to be separated from that for eternity, is unimaginable. I mean, that just, my mind, I just can't grasp that of how can I live with that? And what's gonna happen in your mind when those are in hell and not experiencing any goodness of God whatsoever? That's just, that's an awful thought.

And it was his faith, this blind man's faith, that caused him to cry out to be made whole. Only genuine God-given faith will call out for mercy. That's a fact. Men by themselves are dead, as I said earlier. We're dead. They're not blind. They're not beggars. They're dead. And lastly, the scripture says, he followed our Lord in the way. There's a way. And it's best expressed in John 10, 27. My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. One way, the only way to salvation is by and through the Lord Jesus Christ. That's it. That's it. And I'll close with that. I pray that would help a little bit.

Spiritual Blindness Revealed and Healed

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about spiritual blindness?

How do we know that faith is essential for salvation?

Why is asking for mercy important in the Christian life?

What is the significance of the old garment in Bartimaeus’ story?

How is opposition faced by believers when they call out to Jesus?

Sermon Transcript

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Spiritual Blindness Revealed and Healed

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about spiritual blindness?

How do we know that faith is essential for salvation?

Why is asking for mercy important in the Christian life?

What is the significance of the old garment in Bartimaeus’ story?

How is opposition faced by believers when they call out to Jesus?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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