BREAKING OUT OF A RUT

Mark 10:46-52

 

INTRODUCTION:

A.                 Entering into a new year

B.                 By the end of the year we seem to have fallen into a rut / Going through the motions

C.                 So we make new year resolutions – Work out / Diet / More family time / Study Bible more

D.                 Today I want to add to that list of New Year’s resolutions to help us break out of the rut

 

E.                  A sales woman on a business trip walks into a pet store and realizes it’s very unusual, because they have a large selection of sharks.  As she takes a closer look she realizes that some sharks are small, some medium, some large.  She finds this very interesting.  The sales woman asks the owner, “Where did you find such a variety of sharks?”  The owner replied, “If you notice there are also a number of different size tanks: small, medium, and large.  Most people think small shark, small tank; big shark, big tank.  Actually, I decide the size of the shark by the size of the tank – it won’t grow beyond that.  If I want a big shark, I get a big tank.

 

1.                  Not sure if that is true of sharks, but it is true of people.

2.                  We limit ourselves by the size of the tank we live in

3.                  When we find ourselves in a rut

a.                   We need to change some things about ourselves

b.                  We need to expand our tank

 

Read Mark 10:46-52

 

BODY:

I.                   ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN LIFE

A.                 Mark 10:47 – And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

B.                 We have control of our life

1.                  We choose how things affect us

2.                  We choose how we react to things

a.                   Ignore a problem

b.                  Meet a problem head on

 

C.                 Society today says – It’s always someone else’s fault

1.                  Paducah H.S. – Student shot other students during a prayer group

2.                  Teachers were later sued

a.                   They read his papers

b.                  They should have seen the problem

c.                   Should have acted to correct the problem

 

D.                Society says the surrounding circumstances

1.                  Control us

2.                  Are responsible for how we act

 

 

 

 

 

 

II.                BELIEVE YOU CAN CHANGE

A.                 V. 51 – Rabboni (teacher), that I may receive my sight

 

B.        Many times what holds us back is our

1.                  Fear

2.                  Unbelief

3.                  Doubt

 

4.         Mark 11:22ff – Jesus said “Have faith in God.” “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

 

5.         Fear, Unbelief, and DOUBT holds us back and keeps us from changing ourselves

 

III.             BE SPECIFIC – CLARIFY WHAT WE REALLY NEED

A.                 V. 51 – So Jesus answered and said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?”

 

B.                 We generalize too much – Need to be more specific

1.                  In our prayers

2.                  In what we want to change

a.                   I want to be a better person – HOW?

b.                  Be specific – It helps us to set goals

c.                   Helps us to plan – to see what we really want to accomplish

 

IV.              STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT PEOPLE SAY

A.                 V. 48 – Then many warned him to be quiet; but he cried out all the more.

 

B.        We worry about what others think instead of what God thinks

1.                  Heard of many people who know the truth but won’t obey

a.                   Afraid of what family might say

b.                  Afraid of what co-workers might say / Or community / Or schoolmates

 

2.                  Too caught up in self-image

 

C.        When worried about self-image

1.                  Pride gets in the way

2.                  “I don’t want to admit I was wrong”

3.                  Others might think less of me

4.                  Need to worry if God thinks less of me than man

 

V.                 STOP WAITING FOR THE IDEAL CIRCUMSTANCES

A.                 V.46 – Now they came to Jericho.  As He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the road begging.

 

B.                 Bartimaeus did not wait for a one-on-one time with Jesus

1.                  Jesus had his disciples

2.                  A multitude was following them

3.                  With all that was going on Jesus was not going to take notice of him

4.                  There he was a lonely beggar – And blind at that

 

C.                 We wait for the ideal circumstances

1.                  To Obey God’s word

a.                   Not feeling up to it today

b.                  I’ll have to spend even more time thinking about it

c.                   If my family just wouldn’t be so negative about it

 

2.                  To Teach

a.                   I don’t know as much as so-and-so

b.                  I really need to know a lot more before I can teach

 

3.                  To Repent

a.                   If someone else goes up I’ll go – I don’t want to be the only one

b.                  If someone admits their mistake – I’ll admit mine

 

 

D.                Our ideal circumstance may well not be God’s ideal circumstance

1.                  We want to be in control – God wants to be in control

2.                  We want to maintain our pride – God wants us to be humble

3.                  We want our outside to be right – God wants our inside to be right

 

VI.              WE NEED TO ACT

A.                 V.50 – and throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus

 

B.         Once you’ve reached a decision

1.                  Need to act

2.                  Not enough to just have the knowledge – Though knowledge is necessary

3.                  Not enough to have desire – Though the desire is necessary

4.                  Need to put knowledge and desire into action

 

VII.           ACT NOW

A.                 V.50 – He rose and came to Jesus

 

B.        That opportunity to see Jesus might not have come again

1.                  The longer we wait – The harder to Act

2.                  Do It Now

3.                  Chinese proverb – The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step

4.                  The journey to heaven begins with one step

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.                 Song by MercyMe called IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE

You put me here for a reason / You have a mission for me

You knew my name and You called it / Long before I learned to breathe

Sometimes I feel disappointed / By the way I spend my time

How can I further Your kingdom / When I’m so wrapped up in mine?

 

In a blink of an eye that is when / I’ll be closer to You than I’ve ever been

Time will fly, but until then / I’ll embrace every moment I’m given

There’s a reason I’m alive for a blink of an eye

 

And though I’m living a good life / Can my life be something great?

I have to answer the question / Before it’s too late

If I give the very best of me / That becomes my legacy

So tell me what am I waiting for? / What am I waiting for?

 

In a blink of an eye that is when / I’ll be closer to You than I’ve ever been

Time will fly, but until then / I’ll embrace every moment I’m given

There’s a reason I’m alive for a blink of an eye

 

 

VIII.        IF WE DESIRE TO TAKE THAT STEP TOWARD GOD

A.                 Take Control of our Responsibility

B.                 Believe we can Change

C.                 Be Specific

D.                 Don’t Worry about what Others Think

E.                  Stop Waiting for Ideal Circumstances

F.                  Act Upon Your Decision

G.                 Act Now !