Now or Never (Part B)

But at some point you going to have to take a step forward. It's not work to earn salvation is the act of receiving salvation, the prosperity heretics will try to tell you that this power in your faith that this resource that you have and it's in you that were sold would be no note that person could rise again. These could raise the dead of sorry does have faith in faith is dead.

Your faith has nothing to do with submission to Christ.

Something to do with it. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Mark, please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching today. Pastor Rick will continue teaching his message called now or never. In Mark chapter 10 how many people in my life. Do I need to tell about Jesus when the opportunity is given to me by God. Other times, again God will tell us know that's not for you. As he did with Paul and Barnabas closing doors for them. I don't want the gospel preached there yet, not by you not right now I've got something else for you that is a prerogative of the Holy Spirit's prerogative of God to lead and guide us. That's why he is Lord. Jesus was not coming this way again. It was now or never. He's heading towards Jerusalem, and there he will be murdered and crucified in public, Bart Emmaus seems to be saying I don't care what's going on. I'm calling out to him. It is now or never. So at this point this blind man had to make two choices within his own heart was Jesus the Messiah.

Indeed, the rabbis didn't think so.

One man is the son of Timaeus, Evelyn Bentley did not care what the rabbis said if it did not match what he believed.

A lot of people will go.

Whatever the windows I've noticed driving for example, here we go. A lot of folks that I want to do their speed limit. They wanted to your speed limit is why you catch up to them and then they won't let you go.

Why can't they keep doing that the 20 miles an hour in the 50 zone that they were doing before I got there. Okay, slow personal answer like I could see it happening and you're not with me because you must be the people I'm catching up to get your own speed limit right back to this since I'm the only one that struggles on the road so no past, we heard about your struggles on the Rotella some other things you struggle with no don't be nosy anyway. The other point that he had to settle in his own heart is the Messiah good.

If he is sovereign and all that the prophets say he is. Is he good does he care about me.

I been blind and poor I don't even have a name.

Why can I approach him. He did not allow all those things to get in his way. He is determined to get in front of Jesus Christ. The lessons that fly off the pay think they would rob those who have excuses for coming to Christ of any seriousness visits are you kidding me again of Rahab. Rahab can understand.

These are the people of God than what was wrong with everybody else in the city Rahab. Rahab had enough heart fortitude to say I don't care what they think I know what I think she acted on that there are those that cast themselves in serving Christ as I mentioned earlier, only to discover faith and devotion to not deliver to them what they had hoped the hope that Christianity would be this miracle drug in life that would just somehow do the things that they listed before God when they find they still have to struggle.

They still have to fight at the deal with fear at the deer would deal with depression at the deal with opposition that the deal with all these other things still instead of clinging to Christ the slide away because they factor out the important things of God's word that face up to these things, God does not shy away from human suffering. Just because he doesn't stop.

It doesn't mean he turns a deaf ear or a blind eye to it. We all know this verse we who believe. I said who said this class though he slay me, I will trust him like that you say Job you know it, though he slay me, I will trust him.

The apostate does not do that apostate may do it early in the walk then fall away. Later in the walk, and Satan is counting on it.

So he placed people owed you do not listen to me today.

I'll be back tomorrow. I'll be back next month I'll leave you for a while, but I'll be back.

We know this.

That's his MO's method of operation Job chapter 19 for I know that my Redeemer lives and he shall stand at last on the earth. This is deep into Job's experience. This is not the first day of the struggle is been deep into this now. Now it's got these four friends in their the entourage with them show up. They don't help them they heard him, but he stands firm. I know my Redeemer lives, and you can't take that away from me.

I know the one this going to rescue me is alive and I don't fault him for allowing this drove struggle. There were those down days that he did down moments that he had to know God is chasing me set me up like an enemy comes at me like a warrior than he get it back together again. He did not even know he did not know that he was God's champion that it was Job and his testimony. A righteous man who turn from evil versus Satan some question again the goodness of God.

Therefore, they going oftentimes to question his existence by staring too long and too hard at the curses in this world and to get their eyes off of God want to mess it have is to get off of God. You could say yeah heart for him. He did not fall for that from hell that he knew that lie. He likely a thought of it time and time again get every reason to be bitter at Christ at religion at people who talked about faith God's mercy. Men have good reason to question God, no reason to deny you can ask all the questions you want. Sometimes you'll get answers my experiences most of the time you won't outside of what's been answered in Scripture. There are exceptions, but I cannot unknow him were also my going to go as Peter said to Jesus, is nowhere else you read you've encapsulated everything that I need to know about God and I'm not going anywhere. Verse 48 then many warned him to be quiet and he cried out all the more, son of David, have mercy on me, people interfering with this man calling on Jesus. They overcame their interference he dialed it up after that I'm going to take from his eyes debated whether to make him a beggar may be to give them some of the benefit. Maybe they thought he was going to ask Jesus for money as a beggar would do that is possible. Anyway, this determined spirit to lay hold of God's blessings is found throughout Scripture. One of the most poignant or outstanding cases of Jake is Jacob wrestling with the angel of the Lord to obtain the blessing he just wouldn't let go. Wouldn't stop.

Granted Jacob's case, the match lasted through the night for us to be a long night.

I can be a lifetime, we will lay hold of the blessings God will not silence a voice that truly calls out for him.

He's not going to silent, that voice. Isaiah said it this way bruised reed he will not break the smoking flax.

He will not quench. It will bring forth justice and truth is what he does, doesn't mean he's on our timetable, but he does do these things.

The truth of God are a must learn. We do not get a pass when it comes to spiritual truth. God never encourages us to be lazy when it comes to our faith but to plow to work hard and long and as I often say I don't like it anymore than you do. I want to go to heaven and be happy. I want to go to heaven. The only place on earth back to the auto thing it's a wonderful thing for me that in my driveway. There is no speed limit. This is the stuff I confess I want. That makes me happy when I get to heaven goes fast as I want right now I can't right now they're just things in the way and I have to face them as my Lord, and Satan will come along and say things like what kind of God is this creates a circumstance where you find yourself or your miserable answer to Satanist you know the answer that shut up in lineal that is a fact. AW Tosi wrote a book entitled that I talk back to the devil.

Well Christ it again this faith that we have. It is unique and it is fiercely contested by my flesh of the world and by this these invisible spiritual forces so Christ have to ask yourself when we consider the Scriptures in the gospel for those of you who have not invited him into your heart yet this story is a vivid picture of salvation. Also, in this sense, Bart Emmaus is not getting a second chance this is it price is not coming this way again and Jesus Christ is not guarantee us. Second chances you can of course drop dead at any moment. Why should anyone hear the gospel twice when there are those that have not even heard it once. What we do with this kind of information. What happens when you hear these things do you recognize that it is God himself revealing this to you God is patient with those who hesitate, but his patients will not help you if you go to your grave, refusing line. Bart Emmaus was taking no chances. It wasn't a let anybody shut him up as we unfortunately see so many of our college students go raising a church go off the universities and pay for their professors to undo their faith for them. Bart Emmaus would have none of that. He says son of David, have mercy on me. We can hear the tone and the sob in this man's voice, but I don't think the apostles ever forgot it. That's why they all carry the story that would one the monthly mortgage Jesus son of David, have mercy on me. Verse 49 so Jesus stood still and commanded him to be call then they called the blind man saying to him, be of good cheer rise.

He is calling you. You know they felt stupid. – Esq. not let them come all you know you want to see you change of gear real quick for those people but I'm always touched by these four words so Jesus stood still whenever I read this that stands out to me. Jesus stood still. All three of the Gospels record those forwards just like that. I think that's a trifle witness from from God. I think it tells us what he wants to do will later read the moment that it was because of compassion that he stood still says here in verse 49, and commanded him to be call. What a thrill must've rushed over this man's heart is body. What a thrill rushed over Bart Emmaus. Nobody called him before. No one had wanted anything to do with him.

Then comes these five words rise he's calling you rest at change of tone. But Jesus is using these people. Nonetheless call was not wasted. If you cannot open your heart to Christ. As you hear me preaching you.

If you don't understand that it is Jesus himself still calling you. You may not get another chance. Maybe it's now or never. You were willing to risk your eternal state on that for all those of us have been Christians a long time. Satan would like to make those words that appeal sound cliché. We've heard it so many times it may seem to lose its punch. It does not tell still quakes when they hear someone invite someone else to come to Jesus.

May we never forget it. Jesus himself is calling as he was calling Bart Emmaus on this day what Bart Emmaus to some Timaeus called him to come to him today says country that you can receive life, but many harden their hearts, not now maybe later one years ago I did a conference and someone came up to me after and said you know reason I don't believe is because you pastor so persuasive us is like the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life.

That's a hardened heart you making it impossible for anybody to reason with you. It's not possible that this allowed any opinion that might move you to the truth and and away from the sway of Satan has now been rejected by you is like a court that says we will not accept proof in the prosecution of this man is a kangaroo court sealed his own fate in that case the court would have a hardened heart which is to this day. Courts do these things deep centers of this way. Verse 50 and throwing aside his garment, he rose up and came to Jesus Martin leave that out.

He felt this covering was hindering him slowed him down from getting to Christ. He was in a hurry to categorize.

You can see this blind man not knowing his following voices you can see where he is going this outer garment of his dizziness gets relevant because what Jesus had was more important than that he could get another garment he could not get another Christ. It was now or never.

Hebrews 12 therefore we also since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, that means since we have all these heroes of the faith in the Bible. It does not mean that those who have died are watching us from the bleachers in heaven that spooky army, can we go to the shower.

Anything that is not what's happening, but we have the witness of those who in Chapter 11 were people of faith. That's the witness and the writer of Hebrews, whom I believe is Paul said because of this witness. This example because if they can do it, let us lay aside every weight, sin which so easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, let us run not crawl not mold you know once the accountant starts to sag his reflecting what's happening in the heart and God. Sometimes we are in a place of grief were not supposed to stay there to endure means to suffer what it means you take the pain is not much you could do about the pain except keep persevering. That means keep moving forward. As you set up a lot of people. Everybody suffers in life. Many of them for nothing.

In the end they get nothing but hell sold again. That's what Satan wants. We are supposed to be looking unto Jesus at this blind man metaphorically is looking unto Jesus, he can't see physically, yet verse 51 so Jesus answered and said to him, what do you want me to do for you blind man said to him rapport and I that I may receive my sight. This exchange is so real.

Jesus asked him straight out what you want. Some come to Christ all sorts of wrong requests wrong reasons. Earlier, James and John and their mom come to Christ for position of prominence make us more important than these guys that didn't go over well. The Christ was so patient with them.

I don't know why, why is he patient with these guys is is opportunity to drill instructor them and he does not do it very gentle and are we happy about that. The blind man here in verse 51 blind man said to him, Rathbone I that I may receive my sight. Soon, within days.

There's going to be a criminal that is going to say this to Jesus Christ as their both dying together, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. You know who the man who really says remember me the most in the Bible is Nehemiah's amended just as a solid leader at just determined and focused on what he had to do one of my favorite lines is that the good hand of God on me and in another few chapters later, he says, shall a man such as I flee. You think I am run from this and of course you read that is Wes going to be me until you start facing things you want to run from, but anyway Liam I would write Road into his journal. Remember me oh God, remember me was important to him that God remember God's as I always remember I never forget my reward is with me.

Do you believe it because only by faith.

You lay hold on these things without faith it all just sort of evaporates. Thus, the apostate once wrote books telling people how to do this for God and how to get to God and the next thing you know they're writing songs about God and then they become apostates. Matthew adds this, which makes the whole story come together. Matthew 20 verse 34 in his account. He says so Jesus had compassion and touched his eyes. What if he didn't have the compassion I would be a little more reluctant to get in front of him, but he does have compassion. Our English word made up of the Latin compassion means to suffer with along with. That's the idea. Here Jesus could feel his pain and say I'm gonna lift the curse from humanity. I hate how the lions take out the wildebeest and other such things because he doesn't like postings. But God is on a mission and he will not be turned from that mission. He will have for himself a race of people who believe him through the fires and through the waters of this life.

Satan can't stop. Verse 52. He continues, and then Jesus said to him, go your way, your faith has made you well and immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road. First thing this man saw was the face again. He would not be quiet. It would not be silenced. He would not be deterred. He was going to get to Jesus. When they told him to be quiet, yelled louder and now he's rewarded for now. Even now, literally, as we speak is reward is in paradise with God first thing he sees is the first face of God.

Faith was the link between him and then cry out for Jesus the son of David to have mercy on him cry. Bart Emmaus was secure of Jesus because he trusted him.

He trusted that Jesus was. He said he was the Scriptures said he was that part of our faith that surrenders to Christ. It leads to other types of faith there is the faith that saves the soul. There is a faith that serves once the soul is say trust God moving forward.

Everything we know in life is made up of parts there's no single thing H2 all water and oxygen him. Everything has parts to it and so does our faith is not singular.

In that sense and this is the beginning of this man. There is the faith that follows, and there is the faith that serves as it follows some just have following faith. They come to Christ and just don't do anything for Christ.

Don't be happy with similar why do you talk to God about it, but at some point you're going to have to take a step forward.

It's not a work to earn salvation is the act of receiving salvation, the prosperity heretics will try to tell you that this power in your faith.

It is a resource that you have and it's in you that resulted there would be no no dead person could rise again with these good rays that are sorry does have faith in faith is dead. Your faith has nothing to do with it. Submission to Christ as something to do with it.

Faith is a surrender of self to God and the God of our Bible as we know it, not some energy that is out there that we control otherwise again. Bart Emmaus would healed himself yet faith in his faith, who needs Jesus, I got faith. The wackiest thing in there. Many people believe it. You want to be rich. Are you going to do is do XYZ and don't forget to put the offering and the plate.

A big one to take her foot area nevermind this move forward who incidentally again, we are in the age of faith based upon the truth of God's word miracle secondary for us. We see no miracles. Our faith is supposed to still stand, but also you gotta do something if I'm going to believe you. He says I've already done it. You gotta believe that I've done, and immediately he received the site. That's what it tells us in verse 54 recognition that Jesus is Messiah prompts Jesus to heal him.

As I said and followed Jesus on the road. A blind beggar no more. Now is a follower of Jesus Christ. John's Gospel Jesus says this all that the father gives me will come to me one who comes to me I will by no means cast out the apostate jumps out. No one snatched amount of God's hand. They jumped on their own. You come to Christ is not going to chase you away. Well, where almost 2 months will be finished with Mark's gospel of things go according to plan. Again, if we get enraptured before unfinished.

I'll meet you in heaven. To conclude the rest of the chapters. I'm sure you'll be there. I don't know where we're going next. I had thought of the book of acts because it's been a while.

The precepts of Paul so important for a church body because coming from the pastor is not enough.

You need to hear it coming from the Bible that some of you do semester things and will maybe be the prophet Hosea move thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of Mark cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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