What Do You Want Me To Do For You? 8-23-26 AM

I.            Comparing the two.

a.      Both came to Jesus because they believed He could do what no one else could (Mark 10:35, 47).

           i.      Whatever else was wrong with James and John’s request, they understood something correctly: Jesus had authority they did not.

1.      They could not appoint themselves to place of honor in His kingdom.

2.      If those positions were to be granted, Jesus was the One to whom they had to come.

           ii.      Bartimaeus understood the same thing but at a much deeper level.

1.      He could not open his own eyes.

2.      So when he heard Jesus was passing by, he cried out to the One he believed could do what he could not do for himself.

           iii.      This is the point where prayer begins isn’t it?

1.      Prayer is an acknowledgement that there are things we can’t do and we need God.

2.      John 15:5; Heb. 4:16.

           iv.      Prayer is much more than giving God information.

           v.      Prayer is admitting our dependence up on God.

b.      Both had definite desires (Mark 10:37, 51).

           i.      Neither said, “Jesus just do something.”

1.      Their desires are expressed plainly.

2.      We need to speak specifically to God in prayer (Matt. 6:11; Php. 4:6).

3.      Specific prayer forces us to identify what is occupying our minds.

           ii.      Sometimes our prayers remain general because general prayers never force us to confront what we really want.

1.      Lord, bless me – how?

2.      Lord, help me – with what?

3.      Lord, make things better – what exactly needs changing?

          iii.      There is great value in saying to God, “Father, this is what I desire,” then laying it all out there.

1.      Not because God doesn’t know.

2.      But because we need to know what we are asking for.

          iv.      Specific prayer brings the desires of our hearts into the light.

c.      Both were invited by Jesus to speak.

          i.      Jesus did not silence either party.

1.      He invited them to answer.

2.      He already knew their hearts, but He still asked, “what do you want me to do for you?”

          ii.      The Lord is not threatened in the least by our requests – He invites us to bring our desires and cares before Him (1 Pe. 5:7).

1.      The invitation to pray does not mean every request is granted.

2.      It does mean every faithful child of God is invited to speak.

II.            Contrasting the two.

a.      The question of Jesus may be the same to both groups, but the hearts answering Him are very different.

b.      One request came from ambition; the other from need.

            i.      *Mark 10:37 – they are asking for status, position, recognition.

1.      They want to be elevated above others.

2.      The other disciples sure understood it this way (Mark 10:41).

3.      Jesus exposes the underlying problem (Mark 10:42-43).

4.      Their request reflected the world’s definition of greatness.

            ii.      Mark 10:51 – the request of Bartimaeus is entirely different.

1.      He is not asking to be greater than anyone else, just for mercy.

2.      James and john are asking to be raised above others.

3.      Bartimaeus is asking for mercy.

4.      What a stark contrast.

           iii.      There is nothing wrong with asking for blessings from God.

1.      We have to ask, “Why do I want what I want.

2.      Remember what we read from James 4:3 earlier?

           iv.      A prayer can sound spiritual while being driven by pride.

1.      Lord, make me successful – why?

2.      Lord, give me more – why?

3.      The request may not be sinful, but the motive may be.

           v.      God is concerned with not only with what I ask, but why I ask.

c.       One wanted Jesus to serve their ambition; the other depended upon His mercy.

           i.      Mark 10:35 – almost sounds like an attempt to secure a blank check before telling Jesus what they want.

1.      Promise you will give us what we are about to ask for.

2.      Discipleship does not mean getting Jesus to do whatever we want.

3.      Discipleship means learning to want what Jesus wants.

           ii.      Mark 10:47 – he does not come as though Jesus owes him something.

1.      He comes as a man utterly dependent on mercy.

2.      This is the posture that prayer requires, like that of the publican in Luke 18:13.

           iii.      There is a big difference between saying, “God use your power to accomplish my will,” and saying, “God I am depending upon you. Do what is right in my life.”

1.      One treats God as the servant of our will or agenda.

2.      The other approaches God as Lord.

           iv.      Faith does not demand Jesus to serve my agenda; it depends upon His mercy.

d.      Jesus’ question exposed something different in each heart.

           i.      Why would an omniscient Jesus ask either group what they wanted?

1.      Jesus already knew.

2.     Jesus was not asking because He lacked information.

          ii.      The question was for them.

          iii.      With James and John, Jesus wanted to them to verbalize the request to expose their misunderstanding of spiritual greatness.

1.      When they gave their response, this opened the door for Jesus.

2.      Mark 10:38 – Jesus basically says, “You know what you want but you don’t understand what you are asking.”

3.      This allowed Jesus to teach them greatness in the kingdom comes from service, not position (Mark 10:43-44).

4.      Then He gives the ultimate model (Mark 10:45).

5.      Jesus got them to expose their ambition so He can reshape it.

          iv.      The answer of Bartimaeus expresses faith and dependence.

1.      He confesses his inability while expressing confidence in Jesus’ ability.

2.      Jesus gives him a wonderful answer (Mark 10:52).

          v.      God already knows what we need (Matt. 6:8), so why pray?

1.      Prayer is not giving God information He lacks.

2.      Prayer changes our posture before God.

3.      In prayer, we confess need, expose our desires, examine our motives, surrender our wills.

          vi.      Prayer does not inform God; it reveals and reshapes the heart of the one praying.

e.      One sought greatness; the other responded by following Jesus.

          i.      There is a beautiful detail at the end of the account of Bartimaeus.

1.      Jesus tells him his faith has made him whole.

2.      But the verse does not stop there (Mark 10:52).

          ii.      Jesus said, “Go your way,” and Bartimaeus basically says, “Your way is my way.”

1.      While James and John wanted glory, Bartimaeus simply wanted to follow Jesus on the road.

2.      James and John wanted seats while Bartemaeus wanted sight.

3.      When he got it, he used it to follow Jesus.

         iii.      What will we do if God gives us what we ask for?

1.      If He gives us health, will we use it to do more for Him?

2.      If He provides for us financially, will we give as we’ve been prospered?

3.      If He opens the door, will we walk through it to glorify Him?

4.      If He answers the prayer, will we allow the answer to lead us closer to Jesus?

         iv.      The blessings of God are not an end; they should move us to greater discipleship.

III.            Concern for today.

a.     What should these two encounters teach us and change in us today?

b.     We should pray with dependence.

          i.      Bartimaeus knew he could not heal himself.

          ii.      We need that same recognition (Ps. 121:1-2; Heb. 4:16).

          iii.      Prayer is an act of faith that says, “God I need you.”

          iv.      Our culture prizes and praises self-sufficiency and prayer destroys the illusion of it – we desperately need God.

c.      Pray honestly and specifically.

          i.      We should be able to answer the question of Jesus honestly before God.

          ii.      When Paul tells us to let our requests be made know unto God, we need to do just that.

          iii.      Tell God what hurts, what we fear, what we desire, what we hope will happen.

          iv.      Nothing good comes from pretending before the God who already knows our hearts.

d.     Examine our motives.

          i.      This is the warning from James and John.

          ii.      We need to first ask, “Why do I want God to give this to me,” before we ask, “Is this something God can give me?”

          iii.      Are we wanting it because it feeds our pride or because it makes us more devoted to Jesus?

          iv.      Are we asking for God to be glorified or just our own comfort?

          v.      Do we want God’s will – or God’s assistance with our will?

          vi.      Ps. 139:23-24.

e.      Submit every request to God’s will.

          i.      Jesus modeled this for us.

1.      If it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

2.      This was honest and specific, but it was not the end.

3.      Nevertheless, not my will but your will be done.

          ii.      This is mature prayer, that shows a surrendered will.

          iii.      We must bring our desires to God and then lay them beneath His wisdom.

          iv.      1 John 5:14.

f.       Let answered prayer produce greater discipleship.

          i.      Once sight was given to Bartimaeus, he began to follow Jesus.

1.      That ought to be our desire – “God, if you give me what I’m asking for, use it to make me more faithful”

2.      God, if I’m healed, let me serve you more.

3.      If You bless me, give me opportunity to bless others.

4.      If you open this door of opportunity, let me glorify you through it.

          ii.      But we also need to be willing to day, “Father, if Your answer is no, may I have the strength and will to follow You anyway.”

          iii.      Sometimes faith is demonstrated when God gives us what we ask.

          iv.      Faith is definitely demonstrated when God does not give us what we ask and we follow Him anyway.

1.      Paul learned that lesson with his thorn in the flesh.

2.      He asked three times for it to be removed and God said… (2 Cor. 12:9).

          v.      The goal of prayer is not just to get an answer but to grow as a disciple no matter what the answer is.