A call to transformation

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to "Try Jesus!" If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining "Try Jesus."

I would also like to welcome those in Louisiana, Georgia, North Dakota, Maine, Illinois, California, and Ohio. It is a pleasure to have you with us today. The Lord continues to expand his word!

"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD."  (Psalm 122:1 KJV). The Lord is indescribable and uncontainable. We gather to seek him above all today. He is an amazing God!

How many of you have committed to consecration dedicating more time to prayer since last week? Have you asked your spouse or children to join you? We can never allow others to take away time that is dedicated to the Lord.

Did you know there are individuals in our nation that tell us there's too much praying, too much talk about Jesus, too much reading and speaking about the Bible. Well, if Jesus is too much, how could they live in eternity with him?

Jesus and prayer should never be placed in a stopwatch lifestyle, Amen? How free are you to talk about Jesus? Let's be free to welcome his presence throughout "TRY JESUS" today for those who truly love him.

"Heavenly Father, we thank you for giving us life and life in your loving abundance. Thank you for showing us your amazing grace and mercy throughout this week. Lord, we acknowledge your infinite power today.

Lord Jesus, the God of the universe, the creator of all things, your will is supreme. We humbly seek your guidance and strength as we begin today's message. Holy Spirit, renew hearts and minds with joy.

May the Holy Spirit empower us to be instruments of your love and truth. We thank you for your presence, your provision, and the joy you bring into our lives this morning. Please open our understanding to truth that brings liberty.

May we continue today, as we learned last week Lord, to realize our authority in prayer. Continue to teach us to pray with your strength and power. Help us to pray one for another and to pray for deliverance of our community and nation

May we be mindful of your presence in all that we do today. Lord, invite us to this place of authority and victory. We want to see you Lord, and accept the invitation to come up higher around your throne, In Jesus' name, Amen."

How many of you have ever asked a question with some doubt of it not being answered to your liking? This happens to little children all the time. They have many questions to ask but are not always happy about the answers.

I've experienced this many times in my life. Sometimes I was surprised when my parents said yes to some of my requests. But those many requests on my part paled in comparison to when my parents would offer something better than my request.

Whether you are a child, teenager, young adult, or mature adult, there are times when you will ask important questions, but not be ready to receive the answer. How many of you do not like question with question conversation?

We should never feel cut off or think that our question has less value or is meaningless in the conversation. When someone responds to a question with another question, they may be seeking more information that is beneficial to you

Sometimes people strike up caring conversations with good motive outcomes. There is an underlying intention behind their inquisitive dialog with you. Sometimes you may hear this verbal technique in car dealerships.

This type of verbal negotiation strategy is to delve deeper into your need. Today, many people are reluctant to share their most embarrassing moments of their lives for fear someone who truly cares may ask them a question on top of their issues.

I guess you might call these types of questions, rhetorical questions. They are typically asked to delve into a more caring conversation, not to get more dirt on your already chaotic turbulent life. Some of you today need prying questions.

When someone is prying onto your life, how do you feel? How do you respond? Do you prefer to keep things hidden? Are your secrets too painful to be exposed to scrutiny and questions? There may be people in your church who are prying.

Notice I said, “prying, not praying.” The praying may have already taken place before the prying questions are directed your way. It may seem a bit excessive that they are interested in your hidden private affair.

It might seem that they are being too inquisitive into asking questions on top of your deflated questions to get to the root of your anguish problems. There are times when we think pulling up living roots (like teeth) in our lives will hurt.

However, it's just the opposite. How many of you have Christian counseling in your church? I don't mean secular counselors outside your church. I mean Spirit filled counselors who operate under the caring power of the Holy Spirit.

They are given special discernment giftings to counsel individuals in deep marital, or family issues that bring about freedom and deliverance from complex issues. Sometimes there are questions that dig deeper to bring greater relief.

Some of you today may need that "Woman at the well" conversation. Maybe you need that "Rich young ruler conversation." These conversations can be read in (John 4:5-29; Luke 18:18-27). Our main scripture text is in Mark (10:35)

Here we find Jesus asking the questions. Jesus was great at asking questions. He always asked stimulating questions that made the mind ponder and think about the questions being asked. He knew how to expand thought.

His disciples were always ready to jump in and ask questions. In this encounter, James and John seemed oblivious in thought of what Jesus told them about his suffering and death he would endure. (Mark 10:35-45).

James and John's question was rooted in selfishness. When we ask questions to God, we should always check our true motives and intentions before seeking God. Jesus had told his disciples, whoever would be great, must learn to serve.

James and John caught a glimpse of Jesus' glory in the transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13), now they wanted more. God alone decides who receive places of honor. Their mother was the one prompting them to ask Jesus for this.

Mothers always want their children to be successful in life. But her thoughts also were misguided and selfish. (Matthew 20:20-21). Misguided questions can stir up resentment and jealousy among family and friends.

Their mother shook the beehive of animosity and jealousy. The other disciples were upset with James and John for trying to grab the top positions. But they all were jockeying for a position (Matthew 18:1).

Again, we are encouraged in the Bible to seek God first. (Matthew 6:33-34). We are told to come boldly to our heavenly Father, our daddy. (Hebrews 6:19-20; 10:19-22). But in coming to the Lord with questions, we come with reference.

Sometimes this lack of reference causes callous approach to the holiness of God's presence. It reminds me of the callous approach Aaron's sons had toward God by offering "strange fire" before the Lord. (Leviticus 10:1-2).

This story highlights the consequences of disobedience and the danger of approaching God with a profane or unauthorized approach. When we seek him, we must do so with reverence and respect.

Too often this happens in our churches and in our lives. We play religious games, expecting God to give us something in return. True worship, however, adores and praises Christ for who he is and for what he has done.

It's always wise and shows true love for the Lord, when we worship him in spirit and truth before bringing our questions to him. But let's move along further in our love letter (The Bible). Jesus had also moved along into Jericho.

In (Mark 10:46), Jesus had moved on from his conversation with his disciples to his ministry before him. Jesus came to seek and save those who were lost. He came to heal the physically broken and the spiritually depleted (Luke 4:18).

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem (Mark 10:32), and after crossing over from Perea, he entered Jericho. Here he met a multitude of people. There was also a man named blind Bartimaeus on the road begging. (Mark 10:46).

Notice how he cried out when he recognized it was Jesus coming with all the uproar. He never conducted himself this way with the religious leaders. Why? Because their shallow common belief was this blindness was the result of sin.

But Jesus used this man’s suffering to teach about faith and to glorify God. Bartimaeus approached Jesus, he referred to him as Son of David. Why this opening greeting? It was a popular way of addressing Jesus as Messiah.

[The Messiah would be a descendant of King David (Isaiah 9:7). The fact that Bartimaeus called Jesus the Son of David shows that he recognized Jesus as the Messiah. His faith in Jesus as the Messiah brought about his healing.]

As I mentioned earlier, coming to God in prayer is done so with reverence and respect. The same applies with approaching Jesus. When you've seen the Son, you've seen the Father. (John 14:9).

Notice how many people warned him to remain silent. There are times when church services are run more like college campuses with man-made time constraints on their services. Their services are scripted like TV shows.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit wants to interrupt the normal proceedings to focus on those who need a special touch from the Lord. We should let God be God, and allow his power to work through the service.

Jesus was still willing to work his mercy and power until his mission was accomplished. Jesus called for Bartimaeus to be brought to him. Notice how the people were now willing to bring him over.

We should never quench the moving work and power of the Holy Spirit in our church services, no matter what the clock shows on the wall. Whether you have one service or two services, we must allow God to work until he's through.

Notice how blind Bartimaeus did away with his normal routine. He threw off his garment (coat). This was special at one time. He used his thick coat