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Sunday December 13, 2020
INTRODUCTION: Friday morning I woke up with this question on my heart. “What Do You Want?” Around my house during the Christmas season that’s a question that is asked A LOT! “What do you want for Christmas?” Make me a list!
Would you believe me if I told you there are times God just wants to know “WHAT YOU WANT.”
1 Kings 3:5- “That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT GOD DO YOU THINK ABOUT HIM IN THIS WAY?
James 4:2- “…Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it.”
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
Matthew 7:7-11- “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
What is it that stirs your heart so much that you “keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking?”
WHAT DO YOU WANT? God wants to know what you want? God wants you to know what you want!
Let’s talk about the interaction Jesus has with a man named Bartimaeus. We’re going to read something you’re going to love.
Mark 10:46-52- “Then they reached Jericho, and as Jesus and his disciples left town, a large crowd followed him. A blind beggar named Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) was sitting beside the road. When Bartimaeus heard that Jesus of Nazareth was nearby, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
“Be quiet!” many of the people yelled at him.
But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and said, “Tell him to come here.”
So they called the blind man. “Cheer up,” they said. “Come on, he’s calling you!” Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked.
“My Rabbi,” the blind man said, “I want to see!”
And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.”
THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
- When Jesus Ask What You Want it’s the Same as Him Saying “I’m Willing.”
Mark 1:40-41- “A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said.
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Prayer is not about trying to change God’s reluctance, it’s about discovering His willingness!
1 John 5:14-15- “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”
2. When Jesus Ask What You Want He’s Not Considering Limitations.
If you ask me, I’m thinking about limitations!
Luke 1:37- “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
Psalm 78:41- “Again and again they limited God, preventing him from blessing them. Continually they turned back from him and provoked the Holy One of Israel!”
3. When You Tell Jesus What You Want it’s Child-Like Faith
Matthew 18:3-4- “And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Luke 12:32- “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.”
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
(Share Story of Dining Room Table. Journal Entry)
WHAT DO YOU WANT
NOW THIS CAN BE CONFUSING AND COOL!
This same story we read about in in Mark 10 involving Bartimaeus was also recorded in by Matthew in his Gospel in Chapter 20.
But his account involves two blind men.
Matthew 20:32-34- “When Jesus heard them, he stopped and called, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” they said, “we want to see!” Jesus felt sorry for them and touched their eyes. Instantly they could see! Then they followed him.”
NOW IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT WHAT I WANT, IT’S ABOUT WHAT DO WE WANT?
WHAT DOES THE ENCOUNTER FAMILY WANT? OR, WHAT DO I WANT FOR THE ENCOUNTER FAMILY?
I was going to say like Solomon, God give me wisdom to rule your people. The Holy Spirit says that’s nice but what do you really want for “WE” the Encounter Family?
I was going to say our vision statement, Encounter God, Experience Family and Enlarge the Kingdom.
The Holy Spirit says that’s nice but Kenneth WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?
I want a new church building for the Encounter Family!
A few weeks ago little Paul Lowman stood in front of my office desk and said “You need another church building, this ones too small.
THAT CHILD-LIKE FAITH!
Matthew 18:19- “Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, my heavenly Father will do it for you.”
CONCLUSION: What do you want? I pray you discover the willingness of our Heavenly Father. Nothing is impossible with God. God to Him with that child like faith!