Title: Faith that Changes Destiny
Content Title: Faith that Changes Destiny
Bible: Mark 10:46-52
33-year-old Martin Luther pursued the Reformation with youthful enthusiasm and martyrdom with conviction in the Word of God. Fighting against the Pope, who acts as the authority and authority of God on earth, was not only winter in strength, but also an impossible fight from the beginning. So one day, while sighing in despair, his wife, Catherine, who had been married in 1521, appeared in front of her husband Luther in black mourning. "Honey, what's the matter? Wearing mourning clothes, who the hell is dead?
“My wife answered with her head bowed and a serious expression. “Yes, God has passed away. That God is dead." Luther was even more startled and asked in a tone of excitement. "What is the law that God is going away! How could God die?" Katari
I said with a puzzled look. "If God had not died, how could you be so discouraged and discouraged?" Through this wise lesson of his wife, Luther was able to complete the cause of the Reformation by gaining courage with a sure faith in the living God. Today's Bible text introduces the story of a blind man named Bartimaeus of Jericho who met Jesus and opened his eyes. Jesus' words, "Your faith has saved you," reminds us of the fact that 'it is faith that changes destiny'. I sincerely hope that you will have the great faith to solve your own problems during this time.
First, challenge the problem with faith
Bartimaeus's physical defect of being blind made his fate miserable. There was no other way to carve out his own life, so he fell into a beggar. I don't know exactly when I started begging and how long I've been begging, but the important thing is that I don't think of my misfortune as my fate, but I am challenging the change of my destiny with my faith. If you look at the miracle of feeding 5,000 people with five fish, you can see that Jesus is throwing a huge challenge to his disciples. Bartimaeus challenged his problems with faith. When Jesus came to Jericho and left Jericho, he correctly seized the opportunity. Actually, this trip to Jericho was the last way for Jesus.
Second, not afraid of self-sacrifice
Jesus hears the prayers of faith. When Solomon built the temple and prayed to God, God promised this: "I will lift up my eyes and incline my ears to the prayers of this place, for I have chosen and sanctified this house, that it may be here forever in my name. My eyes and my heart will always be here" (2 Chronicles 7). :15-16).
The psalmist confessed, "O Lord, hearer of prayer, to you all flesh shall come" (Psalm 65:2). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Holy Spirit who is with us groans and helps us in our prayers (Romans 8:26), praying for us at the right hand of God on our behalf (Romans 8:34), and he is the living Lord who hears our prayers and answers our prayers with good things. (Phil 4:6-7).
Followed the Lord with a third bright eye
Bartimaeus, who stood before Jesus, said to him, "Lord, I want to see you," he said to him, "Your faith has saved you." At the same time, he was able to see a new world. This thrill, this joy, the Lord has given you!" But, the most important thing for those who have opened their eyes is the next action. They followed Jesus on the road with bright eyes." This is a natural consequence and one might think it should be taken for granted, but it is not. Martin Luther faced many hardships while feeling threatened with his life while challenging the mighty powers of Catholicism with "faith alone". Nevertheless, he accomplished the great Reformation by living by the truth in the Word, and became the great face of God who begins a new work of God in this world. May this "faith that changes destiny" be yours today. Amen