And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
(Mk. 10:50 KJV)
Blind Bartimaeus had faith to receive his sight. It is time to put forth faith in the word of God the way Blind Bartimaeus did. When he heard that Jesus was passing by, “he began to cry out, and say, ‘Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me'” (Matt. 10:47).
Now, it said a multitude of people was with Jesus. And many charged him, hold your peace. Now, we don’t say “Hold your peace” anymore. We would say, “Shut up!” He cried out and they tried to shut him up.
“Jesus!”
“Shut up!”
“Jesus!”
After Jesus called for him, blind Bartimaeus rose, casting away his garments.
In Biblical times, the dress that a person wore identified their station in life. So if you were a beggar, you were considered the scourge of society and you had to wear garments that identified you as a beggar.
When Jesus called this man, he got up and took off his garments. You know what he was saying? “I was poor and I was blind. But I’m going to Jesus, and I am no longer poor and blind.” Before he even got to Jesus, he arose and threw off his garment.
Perhaps you need to arise and throw off your garments of defeat, and arise and throw off your garments of “I can’t,” and arise and throw off your garment of “there’s no way.” This man had already made a statement of faith before he got to Jesus. And Jesus replied, “…thy faith has made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
Immediately, or suddenly, he received his sight. One second he was blind; the next second he came seeing. But what caused the movement of God was the man’s faith. Jesus said “thy faith has made thee whole.”
Your faith will release the sudden power of God in your life. I mean, you might be this way for this long period of time. But man, if you stay in faith you are going to have a SUDDENLY.
You’re going to have to do what this man did. Throw off your clothes of insufficiency, and go to the throne of Grace expecting to receive from God.
Scripture References: Acts 16:26; Romans 10:13
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).