Know What You Want: The Blind Man Who Made a Demand on God

Sermon outline

Every believer has a measure of faith, and dreams are fulfilled when you know exactly what you want, write it down, plan for it, persist, and ask God specifically like the blind man who cried out to Jesus.

1. God has dealt to every man a measure of faith

   No one is without faith, so never doubt that you have it. He asks the church to respond aloud, because when he sows the seed and they say amen they are tilling the ground and transacting with him, and he wants more than a quarter of the hearers to receive the seed.

   Illustration: In the parable of the four kinds of ground, he says only one in four receives the seed.

   “Everybody has a measure of faith.”

   • Romans 12:3

2. You must know what you want

   For your dreams to be fulfilled you must be specific before you aim your faith at them. The greatest achievers set goals and write them down until it becomes a lifestyle, so get a journal and a pen and write down exactly what you want from God. God is more willing to give than we are to ask.

   Illustration: You can't push an empty trolley to the supermarket cashier; you have to walk the shelves and know what you want. Salespeople start every month with a target.

   “Writing down your goals become your lifestyle.”

3. God loves a planner: dream bigger

   Noah had a specific plan for the ark, Moses for the tabernacle and Solomon for the temple, and builders work from plans too. If they needed a plan, so do you. When you dream bigger, you dream better, because it is God who gives the power to get wealth, not your education, job or boss.

   Illustration: He grew up very poor with no father; his mother was a housemaid raising five children. He went to school without shoes and stood in a bread line for jam bread and black tea at a Catholic school where rich children mocked him, and some family members told him he would amount to nothing. Even then, before he was a Christian, he knew he would not stay there.

   “When you dream bigger, you'll dream better.”

   • Deuteronomy 8:18
   • 1 Samuel 30:6
   • Matthew 18:19

4. Every level has a new devil: persist

   When God rolls out a red carpet you will meet new opposition and envy, and not everyone will celebrate your promotion, because Jesus promised blessings with persecutions. Don't be discouraged when prayers take long; God's timing is perfect, and great things happen to those who persist and try one more time.

   Illustration: In hospital, a Christian in the bed across from him said that after his promotion to store manager, people he never expected phoned to congratulate him while those he expected never did. He also tells of a prayer that took ten years to be answered; when Pastor Zubeda asked if he was still believing, he said it takes the same energy to believe as not to, so he chose to believe.

   “Winners are people who are willing to try one more time.”

   • Mark 10:30

5. Make a demand like the blind man

   Read the Bible with imagination: a blind beggar with no hope heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing and decided to make a demand. When people told him to keep quiet he shouted all the more. Identify the dream blockers who fill you with doubt, even by phone or WhatsApp, and walk away from people who don't believe in you.

   Illustration: After some phone calls you hang up feeling heavy, as if something jumped on you. He learned the hard way that a spirit can be transferred through a message or a call, not only face to face.

   “You're not anyone's garbage can.”

   • Luke 18:35-39
   • Psalm 5:12

6. What do you want me to do for you?

   Jesus knew the man was blind, yet He asked what he wanted, and the man asked specifically for his sight and received it. A short, specific prayer is better than an hour of babbling like the pagans. Jesus responds to people who know what they want, and personal faith is necessary, even in divine healing.

   Illustration: An attorney or any professional will first ask you what you want, and only then can they help you. He admits he lost many years as a young Christian babbling in prayer without knowing how to pray specifically.

   “Jesus responds to people who know what they want.”

   • Luke 18:40-43
   • Matthew 6:6-7
   • Matthew 18:19
   • Psalm 37:25

7. Count the cost and know where you want to be

   Jesus said a builder first sits down and counts the cost. When you write down what you desire, you are also inscribing it on the tablet of your heart, and you will never leave where you are until you know exactly where you want to be. You have one shot a week on Sunday to be washed and strengthened by the Word, so don't make excuses not to come.

   Illustration: No one would board a plane whose pilot doesn't know where he is flying; the crew are briefed on the route, weather, fuel and load. Many Christians are landing where they don't want to be.

   “You will never leave where you are right now until you know exactly where you want to be.”

   • Luke 14:28