Apr. 13, 2016 | Getting Past the Obstacles

 

This is one of Dr. Anthony George's Wednesday night Bible study messages. Here's the link to the message on the FBA website. My notes are only meant to be a guide to assist in your Bible study. Enjoy!

A blind man starts to see through faith. Mark 10:46-52

1. We can overcome the obstacle of our personal limitations.
2. We can overcome the obstacle of the limitations that others place on us.
   • Determination: Blindness does not define you. Faith defines you.
     • Society kept him on the side of the road. It was the norm to beg as a blind man. So, Bardameous begged to Jesus to heal him.
     • Luke 18:35
   • : There will be people who will be against you. 
     • It's not up to people to determine your limitations. It's up to God.
     • Not only did Jesus love Bardameous, He loves people.
     • Jesus wanted to prove people wrong; 
3. We can overcome the obstacle of assumption.
   • Jesus required Bardameous to ask for it. And to be specific.
   • Prayer is about speaking. Not assuming. 
   • Don't mistake assumption with asking. 
   • Jerimiah 33:3; Psalm 120:1; Matthew 27:7
   • Here Jesus is teaching us: SAY IT. ASK FOR IT. BE SPECIFIC.
4. We can overcome wrong beliefs.
   • No matter what is happening in our society, as long as we get our theology right, we will be alright. But if we get the theology wrong, we are in danger of 
   • John 9:2-3
   • Psalm (you are fearfully and wonderfully made)
   • All sickness is because of sin. Sickness wasn't part of God's plan. It is the result of sin.
   • Not all sicknesses are because of sin. It is a gift; an opportunity to glorify God and to depend on Him.
   • If it weren't for blindness, Bardameous wouldn't have called out to God. 
   • If it weren't for blindness, we wouldn't know about him today.

We need to have the right perspective on our difficulties. These obstacles we face keep us dependent on God. Don't despise any of your failures, wrong choices, or the bumpy road; each is an important part of your journey with Christ.

Homework for today: write down your obstacles and specifically ask God to overcome them. Lord please, do something about this. Show me what I am blind to and what you want me to see. 

Fanny Crosby: quote on blindness. 

Even though Jesus doesn't choose to heal everyone, He does promise to save everyone.