Matthew 20:29-34 Dr.
Rickey Honea, Th.D.
My desire is to teach you how to live,
not to just prepare you to die. Many today are living their lives
as if they were simply shopping at Wal-mart. You go in to buy a box of band aids
yet you get closer to the check out counter and with each step your basket
gets fuller and fuller. With out really thinking you load your basket
down with things you don't really need but on the spir of the moment you
think you can not live with out them. When you are ready to check out your
2.00 box of band aids now costs you 49.95 with all the other stuff you
collected in your basket on the way to the check out counter. Once back
home you open the bag of things and wonder, what got into you. Wal-mart
has counters of items with in reaching distance before you get to the
check out stand. That is exactly how most of us live our lives today.
With out thinking we just load our lives down with things that will not
help us but will for the most hinder us from becoming the person God
intended us to be.
Hinder us from enjoying life. Verse 29- tells us that Jesus was
surrounded by a multitude of people. We are all easily influenced by
people
Yet on His journey two blind men cried out to him.
Many today are blind to what they really need in life.
Many think if I could only have more money. Yet, even if they struck it
rich, they would not be happy over time. You have to be happy with
yourself for who you are to ever have the peace in your heart that God
intended you to have. Many are blind to the things that they really
need.
They all think they need more money, more pleasures, etc...
But what they really need is purpose for their lives.
Everyone wants to be loved, accepted, appreciated, healthy, wealthy and
happy. Yet so many Christians today are anything but that. Most are in
debt, they feel like failures, their marriages are no longer adventures
but simply something we learn to tolerate.
Homes have become units.
Things have become castles instead of family and friends.
The majority of people can not even make themselves happy let alone the
responsibility of helping someone else to become happy. Verse 31
Everyone ridiculed the blind for crying out for help.
Today we see the cry for help as a sign of weakness.
When crying out is really a sign of strength. It takes a strong heart to
take a stand and cry out for help. If your marriage has become blind -
dark - empty, hopeless, broken, then be strong and cry out for help before
it is too late.
If your life, friendship, career, has become blind - dark - empty,
hopeless, broken, then be strong and cry out for help before it is too
late. So what is the divine order that Jesus used to take control of his
life even when the pressures of the crowds were on every side. I.
Verse 32 JESUS STOOD STILL (a. Two reasons you must learn to stand
still: You can not take control of your life until you learn to stand
still.
When you stand still you are able to re-focus on who you are on the
inside. The real you.
Standing still - allows you to become aware of the environment in you. To
think. To absorb. To thinks things out. To rationalize. To create.
Etc.....
Standing still - allows you to become aware of the environment around you. When
you get lost in the woods the first thing they teach you is to stop, and
stand still.
No two trees are exactly alike. No two valleys the same. The same is with
life. With kids, marriages, people, friendships, churches etc.... When
you stand still you are able to get a barring on where you are. If you
do not stand still, you could spend your whole life chasing empty dreams,
empty desires etc.... II. Verse 43 ...Jesus called them (
He simply asked them questions ) You can never change anything until
you look for answers and to look for answers you MUST ask questions.
Take the time to ask your self before you buy something, Is this what I
really need. Can I truly afford this. Will this add added pressure to my
monthly bills.
Take time to ask your mate questions about everything?
How can I make our marriage better, How can I make you happier etc..
( Expound on this as God leads)
III. Verse 32 .. and said, What will ye that I shall do unto
you?
Jesus was willing to do what ever it would take to help them.
Ask your mate, what can I do to help our marriage.
Ask your children if you can help them with what ever.
Ask your family, friends, etc....
Be willing to do what ever is necessary to make it work.
(Expound on this as God leads)
IV. Verse 33 ( most people will miss this completely.)
What is this verse really about?
Answer - it is not about the blind men and their request.
The reason for this verse is to show us that JESUS took the time to
hear the needs of others. Because He Stood Still, Asked Questions,
And Listened to the needs of others, He was able to know what they really
needed.
Our whole text is about JESUS and what He did in order to get control of
his life so that He could minister correctly to others.
He stood still, took the time to become aware of what was going on the
inside of him, to focus on what was going on the outside of Him.
He asked questions in order to become aware of the needs of others.
He listened very carefully to THEM.
It is all about LISTENING. I mean really listening. Not with our
ears only but with listening with a desire to hear the needs of others.
We are all so selfish, self-centers, self-righteous, etc
We seldom really listen with the intent to help others. Verse 33
"That our eyes might be opened"
People want to see how to make their lives have meaning and purpose
They want to see how to make their marriages alive again
How to raise happy families.
How to have romance in their lives again
How to KNOW God and to Experience God Etc....
They simply want to see! To perceive, to understand, to have an
answer for their existence.
Many spend their whole life preparing to die when they should have lived.
V. Key verse is verse 34 - Four things Jesus did in a divine
order
(1. So Jesus had compassion
on them...)
Compassion means to care, to be willing to do what ever you have to in
order to make things better for someone else.
He placed himself through His thoughts in their place.
He cared for them, He was willing to spend time with them, to meet their
needs.
When you stop long enough to think about others, and you stand still long
enough in one place with that person, you will begin to see your
mate as just that, YOUR MATE See Your children as YOUR CHILDREN
See Your church as an opportunity to know God better, to serve Him better,
To be a blessing to others. Etc....
(2. Jesus TOUCHED their eyes
He did something -- He touched - He got involved
He did something that help them to see.
He did not touch anything but the need. Today we need to stay out of the
past of others and simply meet their needs.
(Expound as God leads)
(3. immediately their eyes received their sight.
Many times with think we are communicating when really we are only
speaking. Unless the other person can receive with understanding then
there is no real communication. What He did he did for them. His goal
was to simply help them to see again.
My goal is help you to see again your need for God in your life today.
My goal is help you to see what you need to do to have a better life.
A more meaningful life. A life of purpose and happiness.
What we do here is to teach you how to live.
(4. they followed Him. They now had a relationship. They
were on the right path. Walking the right path.
He taught them how to have a relationship with God
Results were clearly seen. Because of their relationship with God you
could see them following Him.
Jesus is always the right path to follow.
His path will always lead you to the Father, to happiness, to fulfillment
, purpose, etc....
Conclusion:
When your world is pressurized with schedules, dissappointments,
heartaches, emptiness, failure, etc. Part 1:
Stand still
Ask Questions
Be willing to do what ever you have to in order to make things right
Listen to others and their needs
Part 2: Results of part 1:
Had Compassion
Touched their eyes, did what he could to make a difference
People could see clearly now
People followed closely behind Jesus allow Him to lead the way Looking
for a way to make your life count?
To feel better about yourself.
To make a difference in this world.
To understand those around you.
Etc...
+++++ Stand still
Ask Questions
Be willing to do what ever you have to in order to make things right
Listen to others and their needs
Have compassion
Get involved and touch others with your life
Help them to see their potential for life
Be encouraged as you watch them gain insight and understanding for their
lives
Have strong relationship with God that you follow Him closely.
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