I Will Not Keep Silent

As you know we are in the midst of black history month and to start my lesson today I want to call your attention to an article I read. The article begins to talk about a black man and from his early childhood he lived his life in fear. Afraid to open his mouth and speak because he was a black man. He was afraid to  speak. Afraid to speak on how he was followed in the grocery store and afraid to speak on why they sat his family in the back of the restaurant and they were the only family there.  Afraid to speak up after the killing of Trayvon martin and Mike brown. Fear had this man muzzled but he finally came to a breaking point to share his opinion and let his voice be heard. Fear is not a muzzle to keep you quiet but we must let fear sometimes be our fuel to speak out so that we can have confidence to be able to keep speaking out and crying out without being fearful. We see this taking place in our text today from what we read. We now see that Jesus and his disciples are leaving town and they are walking along with a crowd following him they encounter a man by the name of Bartimeus. Two things stick out about this man Bartimaeus. He is blind and he is a beggar. Mother Ruby I found something out about a beggar in my short time of living. A true beggar is persistent. They know how to keep begging until you break down and give them something. A true beggar is like a good car salesman they have a million and one reason why they are begging and they won’t stop until they have got something. Is there anyone in the room that has ever had to deal with a beggar before. Just aggravating and agitating you so that they can get something. Ok Let me come down your row that begging man thats always trying to take you out or that begging woman thats always texting you, or that begging boss that seems to only ask to do something and not the other coworkers that has been there the same amount of time and has the same experience as you. We Have all had to deal with a beggar in one way or another.

But church family I found something about about this beggar Bartimeus.

On this specific day his persistence was not in begging for money but his persistence was for healing.

So I just come by to let you know today that there must be a persistence in our cry. The bible says that in Mark 10:47 “When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!””

Notice in the text he Wasn’t calling out about money, he wasn't calling out for a hand out but he called out Son of David Have mercy on him. Not only that if you keep reading the text says in Verse 48 that they tried to quiet him down and tell him to be quiet but he cried and hollered out again and said Son of David Have Mercy on me.

My brothers and sisters this blind man had a persistence in his cry. Pastor Walker back in these times it was quite regular to see a beggar. Often times they were begging because in order to have a job and occupations during those times it required you to do physical labor, and anyone with a disease or disability or infirmity could not work so they would just become a beggar and beg for wages and money.

What stuck out to me brothers and sisters is that the text says there is a crowd following Jesus and his disciples. I’m sure throughout that crowd of people somebody in that crowd had some money somebody in that crowd had some food somebody in that crowd had something that could probably help Bartimeus. But no Bartimaeus didn’t ask for any food or any money he asked For the Lord to have mercy on him to be healed.

That thing began to mess with me Ashley and I began to ponder on the fact that all of these people are passing by but you are only calling for Jesus.

If you remember I told you just a second ago that If you had a disability you were not able to work so by default you became a beggar.

This man Bartimeus had enough sense to Call on Jesus for Healing because he know if the Lord would heal him, His begging days would be over. If I may suggest Bartimeus understood if he could be healed he could go to work and work for himself make his own money and be able to provide.

Too many of us are Persistent in crying out and asking God for a house and for a car and for this blessing but the Lord told me come by 874 E Bay street winter garden florida 34787 to tell you if you get up and work he will bless you. Stop begging and seeking God for his Hand but put in the work and apply his Word and he will Bless you. Bartimeus didn’t ask for another handout but he ask for the Lord To have mercy on him and to heal him so he can work. My brothers and sisters we got to stop seeking God for a Handout, God is not Your Sugar daddy.

My brothers and sisters a persistent cry is important in this day and age. I have learned a persistent cry can change things. As we Look down through history African Americans have had a persistent cry for years. We cried out persistently for Slavery to be ended and we got it. We cried out against segregation and our cry was heard. We cried out about equality and our cry was heard. A persistent and a Consistent Cry can change things. Dr. King was persistent in his cry, Rosa Parks was consistent in her Cry. The Greensboro 4 was consistent in their cry. Ok Maybe the black history facts didn’t do it for you Come here Hezekiah. Hezekiah Cried out to the Lord and ask God to Extend his Life and God Granted Hezekiah 15 more years.

Ok yall didn’t get it come here peter.....

All I want you to understand is that the persistence in your cry can change things.

I Just believe right here we need to take a pause and just Cry-out.

So on the count of three wherever you are i just need you to holler out.

Not only did i love the persistence of the Cry but to tie in with the Persistence of the cry he didn’t allow fear to stop his cry.

Many times we let fear muzzle our cry but this wasn’t the case for bartimeus.

The Text says in Mark That he heard that Jesus was passing by and he cried out son of David Have mercy on me. It goes on to say that the people tried to quiet him down and told him to be quiet but he cried out even louder and said SON OF DAVID HAVE MERCY ON ME!

What I like about this is that Bartimeus had every right to be fearful and afraid to close his mouth. Im sure its many people yelling at him trying to get this man to shut up but Bartimeus disregards what they are saying and still Hollers out Lord have mercy on me.

Brothers and sisters we can learn a lesson here from Bartimeus don’t let fear keep you from crying out and letting your voice be heard.

As black people this is important. They been trying to keep us quiet for years. They have done all they can and are still trying to do more to keep up quiet.

But i Just come to encourage you to don’t be afraid and fearful to speak out because the bible tell me greater is he that is within me than he that is in the World.

Yes i know they persecuting us and still trying to keep us quiet but it won’t work.

Why Wont’t it Work well I’m Glad you asked because If God be For you Than who can be against you.

No Law No Bill No President, No police officer.

With God on Our Side All things are possible. So even if I may be fearful a little i can’t allow it to over take me because I can’t let fear affect me to close my mouth and keep silent. I got to Cry out!!!

Secondly on Why I can’t let fear keep me from crying out is because that is just what the enemy wants me to do.

The people walking with Jesus Were Believers and Disciples and they See this man calling out to Jesus and they are telling him to hush. They see the condition he is in and they are telling his to be-quiet so they can pass him by.

This sounds similar to How it is in church today we hear our fellow brother and sister crying out for help and we will pass them by Instead of lending a helping hand.

Brothers and sisters be careful of who is around you. Are they helping you or are they trying to hush you? Be careful of the ones that say it don’t take all that why she got to do all that praising and hollering.

Listen sometimes it takes all of that and more so excuse me if i holler in church and excuse me if i buck and do a dance excuse me if i Begin to cry. But you don’t know my story so instead of trying to bash me and tell me to be quiet how about you join me and begin to cry and holler out too because If God has been good to me I know he’s been good to you. Well how do you know that, Well lets time i check i’m in a sanctuary and not a mortuary so that reason alone is Good enough for a buck for a holler for a dance. Whatever it is you ought to give God what he is Do.

The bible tell us when I think of the Goodness of Jesus and all he Has done for me My soul cries out Hallelujah I thank God for saving me.

So don’t let fear and other peoples opinion stop you from Giving God what he deserves cause if Bartimaeus would’ve listen to the people he never would have Got what he desired.

The second thing I like about this story and Bartimaeus is that Bartimeaus didn’t let the Nay sayers or His condition stop him from remembering what he heard and believed. In other words don’t allow your condition to hinder your call.

Its right there in the Text Bartimeaus is blind but he hears that Jesus is Passing by. The crowd is trying to tell him to be quiet but he yells out louder and Says Son Of David Have mercy on me.

There is a reason why he yelled out louder. I’m Sure this Blind man had heard many things as he sat by the side of the road day by day. As people passed by I’m sure he had heard about the many Miracles that Jesus did.

He probably heard about Jesus healing a blind man at the pool of Siloam.

How Jesus Healed the Demon Possessed boy and how jesus fed the 5000 not including the woman and children with 2 fish and 5 loaves of Bread, Im Sure he heard how Peter Walked on water and began to sink and Peter Cried out saying Lord Save me and He saved peter

Im sure he Heard How Jesus Healed the Little Girl. I’m Sure he heard about How Jesus healed the woman with the issue of Blood..

Every time he heard a passerby talking about Jesus, his faith grew. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

My brothers and sisters I’m Sure that he heard all these things and believed in him that’s what caused Him to call, not justJesus Have Mercy , but Jesus Son Of David Have Mercy.

See the Difference is When he called Son of David that is Personal. Son Of David Means Bartimaeus recognized him as the Messiah. The one who would save us.

Bartimaeus even though he was blind he still had a personal revelation that I may not have seen this man do all these Miraculous things physically but I do believe what I have heard and that enough for me to realize this isn’t any other regular Person But this the Messiah and I Just believe that if he did it for others I know he can do it for me.

Many times in our life we find ourselves in conditions and we allow our conditions to overtake our belief of Who can heal our condition.

Don’t allow your condition to change your perspective on what you believe.

When we See Bartimaues call him Son Of David this is the first time we see this in the Book of Mark.

All this time has went by, Jesus has done many miraculous things and the people still didn’t believe him to be the Messiah. Prophecy from the Old testament had been fulfilled and they still didn’t believe.

I just want to ask you today what’s causing you not to believe, If a blind man who could not see believed why can’t those of us who can see believe.

I believe why we have a hard time believing is because of Doubt.

But i Just came by to let you know today you can take God at his Word.

The old saints use to sing a song Truly God don’t Lie.

Not only that but my bible teaches me That God is not a Man that He should Lie nor the Son of Man that he shall repent if God said it He’s going to do it.

God’s Going to do it but you got to believe.

So We must not let our Condition & Commentary from other hinder our cry.

So We Can’t Let Fear stop our cry and We can’t let our Condition and Commentary hinder our Cry.

And Lastly and Im Out of here. If we continue our cry and call for him he will call for us.

The text says that they are walking and Jesus Hears him crying out Son Of David Have Mercy on me. Jesus Stopped and said tell him to come here. So now the crowd is encouraging him and telling him to cheer up For Jesus is calling you.

They were just telling you to shut up not they are encouraging you to cheer up.

Brothers and sisters God has a way of making those who were against you to start cheering and encouraging you.

Come here David I’ll Prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. God Told me to tell you that the ones that was dogging you out is getting ready to be your biggest cheer leader. Look at somebody that looks like they came to have church and say neighbor I hope you ready cause this next season of life we are getting ready to have some cheerleaders. All the ones Who scandalized your name they about to cheer for you, The ones who called you everything but a child of God they are about to cheer for you.

Now we are here they are cheering for him and the man gets up and leaves is Coat behind got up and came to Jesus.

Jesus Asked him a question he Said What do you want me to do for you The blind man Answer and said to Him Rabbi meaning my master I want to see. The the Lord told him Go your Faith has made you Whole.

Brothers and sisters as i Leave you today I just want you to understand that your cry is improtant and will get his attention but its ultimately your faith and belief that will get you your healing. Bartimeaus had a cry but it was his Faith that Caused him to cry Out the Messiah.

So I Ask you today Do you have faith, Because if you have the faith Jesus has the power to do it.

I Got to leave you now. In honor of black history month there was a man by the name of James Brown and Brother brown wrote a song back in the day. The name of the song was Say It Loud.

The song would Go on to say, Say It loud and they chorus would say Im Black and i’m Proud.

Yes I am black and proud but if i may i want to give you some lyrics to a song I created

The song I created is also Entitled Say It Loud. But the difference between me and james brown is that when i Get to the chorus and i say say it loud the chorus says im Saved and im Proud.

Brothers and sisters you ought to continue to cry out. Cry out that you are Saved and your are proud to be save. So should be proud to be saved because of the great things he has done. For he picked you up turned you around and placed your feet on higher ground so you ought to continue to shout out I am saved and I’m proud. For when you was sinking deep in sin far from the peaceful shore within sinking to rise no more but the master of the sea heard my cry and lifted me Thats why I cry out I’m saved and i’m proud.