Sermon Part 1: Come..Closet

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52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

SCREEN>>> I’M TIRED OF THE DARK

INTRO:

-Today we start a new series entitled “COME OUT THE CLOSET.”

· The closest can represent a number of things and be used as metaphor to suggest where a person is locked away in, concealed in, hiding in, and to some degree, defined by that be being..

That dark place can represent seclusion, fear of the unknown, embarrassment, lack of boldness to live out what is available to you…Which as a result we have people that will say they have relationship be fearful of living, telling about the one who have SAVED YOUR LIFE.

If we’re not living bold for the gospel, we’re are living in fear. And living in fear is living in bondage

MY GOAL for this series: That you will live boldly, publicly, and contagiously out these four walls, that will influence and encourage others THEY DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN THE CLOEST!

One aspect a closet can represent, is a dark place..

-Dark place

· The darkness is almost a monster waiting to swallow you

· The place a person goes after enduring an enormous disappointment or loss. An emotional funk. Depression of unbearable proportion.

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46 Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road.

-Sitting: Can suggest that this man has found a place he could be comfortable..

-Where this man was located was a common sight near Jericho

· He was unable to work, and blind people usually made their living by begging

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47 When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

SCREEN>>>Shout: to utter or declare in a very loud voice; often indicating harsh sounding utterance..

-He had heard reports that Jesus restored sight

-Bartimaeus’ using that title probably indicated that despite his physical blindness he believed Jesus of Nazareth was Israel’s Messiah, in contrast with the blind unbelief of most Jews.

SCREEN>>> JUST BECAUSE I HAVE LEARNED TO LIVE IN THE DARK, DOESN’T MEAN I WANT TO STAY IN THE DARK

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48 “Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

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49 When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”

So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!”

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50 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.

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51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.

“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”

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52 And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

-GT

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