Sermon Tone Analysis

Today we remember the devastation and catastrophe of 9/11/2001, when 4 coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by the militant islamic extremists network called al-Qaeda took place against the united states of America.

After this attack - churches were filled, prayer was the national cry, and people were coming to God as never before in recent years.

As time passed the desire for God, prayer, unity, and brotherhood/sisterhood diminished.

Our nation has slipped farther and farther into the state we currently observe.

Far from God and for the most part not seeking Him or calling out to Him for change and revival.

Sin is acceptable.

The church stands in fear to rise up and challenge things that are in direct violation of God’s word in the name of “loving all and unification” - the truth is - God loves every person equally - yet He cannot love sin, nor should the follower of Christ accept sin as normal, nor should we find sinful acts acceptable just because they have become normal parts of our life.

I believe with all of my heart that God is merely waiting on a sincere nation, a sincere people to call on Him and be so persistently that we DO NOT GIVE UP no matter who tells us to shut up - we just get louder and louder until we KNOW WE HAVE HIS ATTENTION!

BACKGROUND:

The Prophecy - vv. 32-34

The Savior (v32) calling the disciples together, telling them what would happen to Him.

The Suffering - (v33) how He would be brought into court, be condemned, suffer, and die.

The Separation - (v34) He would suffer and die.

He would be separated from His followers, friends, and would rise again on the third day.

The Pride - vv.35-40

Let me start by saying that not all pride is a bad thing.

We take pride in our kids, our work, and other things.

Pride becomes a bad things when it preoccupies our ability to be humble and serve with humility.

Here we see James and John nearly committing the same sin as Satan - to be like God, to be like Christ.

To sit at his right and left side - to be important.

The Selfishness.

(v35-37) James and John wanted to sit at the right and left hand of God - “Be the favorite”

Our choir, a few years back went to Brooklyn Tabernacle and had a great conference and even sang in the choir with the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

What an experience.

Carol Cymbala - the director of the choir was giving a message in our of the break out sessions, she shared that a broadway vocalist was singing in the choir and wanted a solo, but she would not give her one yet.

She had the skill, the talent, and the voice - but Carol said her heart was not in the right place yet.

Several month later at a choir gather she witnessed the broadway singer on her knees cleaning up after others after a meal they all shared together.

Carol said it was at that moment she knew this broadway singer was ready for a solo in worship.

It wasn’t the skill, the voice, or the talent - it was the heart - void of pride, and emptied before God.

This is how we should seek to be: servants, serving.

hearts full of God and His glory.

Not looking for or leaning towards everything coming back to us.

This broadway vocalist could have easily said - You need to know my resume, every one wants me -If i can’t be the star here, if it can’t revolve around me - I’ll go elsewhere.

Pride often prevents our ability to submit to leadership.

God help us fight that ideology.

2. The Suffering - (v38-39) Could James and John suffer with Christ?

Yes! Just as we do.

But they would never suffer as much as Christ - nor will we.

The Personality - vv. 41-45

Prideful - vv. 41-42 - Pride is not only wrong and sinful, it also influences people in the wrong way.

The other disciples were very disappointed with James and John’s request.

Pride causes people to be bossy and seek self-importance!

FOR MOST men, getting behind the wheel in the car with their wife as the passenger can be a lesson in humility.

You are driving down the highway.

Your wife says, “Honey, do you know where you are going?”

“Yeah, I know exactly where we are.”

Sweat is popping up on your forehead,

because you don’t want to admit that you are lost.

“Well, honey, why don’t you pull over, and ask somebody?”

You don’t understand, ladies.

To ask us to pull over and ask somebody is an attack on our manhood.

What you are telling us in a nice way is, you don’t know what you are doing.

The farther you drive, the harder it is to admit you’re lost.

So now you have to compensate for your losses.

“We are almost there.

Just two more lights and we should be there.”

All the while you are hoping, sweating, and praying that you luck your way onto the right road.

Prayer meetings are going on in the car now as you silently think, “Father, show me which way to go.”

All of this energy is expended to avoid having to ask for help.

A lack of

humility can really get in the way of reaching one’s destination.

2. Practice - vv. 43-44 If you wish to be great and important, then be a servant.

Those who want to be the greatest must be the most humble.

No job should be too small!

3. A Plan - v45 - Christ came to give His life as a ransom for mankind.

Jesus came for you and me, He came not because He had to but because He wanted to.

TO provide a ransom - a payment for our sins.

Romans 6:23

Sin held us captive and separated for Holy God - Jesus gave His life as payment for our sin so that we may come to God through Him and have eternal life.

I owed a debt I could not pay - He paid a debt He did not owe.

This ransom forgiveness is avalible to all who ask - Romans 10:13

NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF.

The Power - vv46-52

A Person v46. - Bartimaeus, who was blind, and begged for a living.

Maybe we have a beggar in here today.

A Plea - v47 : When Christ comes, Bartimaeus cries (yells) out - “Have mercy on me” ::He wanted to be healed from his blindness.

Maybe theres somebody in here today ready to cry out, yell out to God for healing - someone who needs God’s mercy.

3. The Problem - v48: Someone told Bartimaeus to shut up, to be quiet.

But unlike some - Bartimaeus just got louder.

When we get serious about getting to Jesus - NOTHING- will get in our way.

We fall in two categories here - we are either the ones calling out for mercy and healing and will let nothing stand in our way OR we are the ones hushing those crying out to God and hindering the move of the Spirit.

Which are you?

4. Bartimaeus Got the Masters Attention.

- v.49-52

v.49-50 Jesus stands still - He hears Bartimaeus and is interested in His cry for help and mercy ( HE IS INTERESTED IN YOU TOO)

v. 51 Jesus asks “What do you want?”

He is asking the SAME QUESTION OF YOU TODAY.

What do you need?

What do you want?

Bartimaeus yelled out for mercy to Jesus - You and I need to do the same.

v52.

Christ Jesus Responds.

He heals and restores Bartimaeus.

He is no longer blind.

God is still listening - God is still healing - God is still causing blind eyes to see.

We need to cry out - yell out - scream out - We all have a need in this place today.

Rather it is a need for salvation, healing, restoration, forgiveness, no matter what it is - we all have a need and we all need to get to Jesus.

As we remember today 9/11 - if you can’t think of anything that you personally need to call out to God for -please- let’s gather at the altar and pray for our nation.

God is moving by His spirit, wont you all Him to move in you today?

Call out to him.