Verse: What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.”  Luke 18:41

Story: During the ministry of Jesus, once he was coming to Jericho, there was a blind man sitting by the road, begging. When he heard the crowd passing by, he asked, “What is this?” “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him. He cried out, “Jesus! Son of David! Have mercy on me!” The people in front scolded him and told him to be quiet. But he shouted even more loudly, “Son of David! Have mercy on me!” So, Jesus stopped and ordered the blind man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Sir,” he answered, “I want to see again.” Jesus said to him, “Then see! Your faith has made you well.” At once he was able to see, and he followed Jesus, giving thanks to God. When the crowd saw it, they all praised God.

Lessons: 

Cry for Help: Our help comes only from the Lord, we have only one place to look, and that is our Lord the blind man could not go to Jesus, he did not see Jesus coming, he just heard, what can that poor man, who is a beggar and blind do. Only one thing, cry out, and he did – And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Luke 18:38

Ignore pushback: People who were in front, who walked with Jesus, rebuked, and scolded this man should have been discouraged, he did not hear Jesus’s response at that time, and he could have assumed even Jesus was upset with his cry, but he did not respond to people but he cried out even louder – But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Luke 18:39

Never Give Up: This man cried till Jesus stopped, delay should never make us stop the cry to the Lord, and when Jesus stops to call us to him, everything in our life will change – And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, Luke 18:40

Answer Right: What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.”  Luke 18:41-42 – The Lord of the universe, if Jesus is asking what you want, will our answer be Lord I want to be well, spiritually, physically. I want to be more like you, I want to live a blameless life, and I want my loved ones and myself to be healed.

Spotlight on Jesus: And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. Luke 18:43 Every answered prayer, every prayer asked should bring glory to the Lord and the spotlight to be on Jesus Christ.

Verse: O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! Psalm 38:1

Reminder: Do we really know the impact of Sin? – When we remember the sin of mankind is the only reason for Jesus to suffer on the cross, heaven paid a tremendous price to redeem us from sin. Man lost his fellowship with God and the fallen nature of the world is the result of sin. Then how is it that we do not see sin as more deadly than the deadliest plague and calamities?

Background: Psalm 38 is a lament psalm. In it, David remembers the fact that his sin caused God’s wrath, anger, and judgment on David. As a result, David is suffering physically and emotionally. In addition to that, his friends are leaving him, and his enemies are increasing in number and power.

“The same title is given to Psalm 70, where in like manner the Psalmist pours out his complaint before the Lord.” This is one of those noted as the penitential psalms, along with Psalms 6; 32; 51; 102; 130; and 143.

Lesson:

1. Sin’s Response /Damage: There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38:3 – Of God’s displeasure, and of his own sin which provoked God against him (v. 1-5). Remember God being just there is payment needed for sin which is Jesus on the cross, but if we ignore sin what shall we say? Sin has serious consequences.
2. Sin’s Ongoing Results: For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. Psalm 38:7 – Of his bodily sickness of the unkindness of his friends (v. 6-11), nature and the human body also have deteriorated. Where is the remedy, it is not in our strength – O Lord, all my longing is before you;  my sighing is not hidden from you Psalm 38:9
3. Sin leads to vulnerability: Those who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long. Psalm 38:12 Of the injuries which his enemies did him, pleading his good conduct towards them, yet confessing his sins against God (v. 12-20). Our sins are giving footholds and strongholds for satan in our lives.
4. Sins Remedy: Do not forsake me, O Lord! O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! Psalm 38:21-22 – Lastly, he concludes the psalm with earnest prayers to God for his gracious presence and help (v. 21, 22). Our only hope is for Jesus and the Holy Spirit to help us. So let us sincerely cry out

Our response: I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:18

Verse: “Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands” Deu 8:2

Background: The Lord used Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt, The Lord brought them out with a lot of miracles and with His powerful hand. Pharaoh, his army, and even the Red Sea could not stop them. The reason to bring them out was to lead them to the Promised Land. And the actual journey from Egypt to Canaan would only take 11 days through the wilderness.

Outcome: We know it took 40 years and they got stuck in the wilderness; not only that, other than 2 people (Caleb and Joshua) all men above 20 years who started from Egypt perished in the wilderness. But Lord under Joshua got the next generation into the Promised Land.

Reason for Wilderness: The path through wilderness was chosen by the Lord, as that was the learning needed for them to humble, transform, and get Egypt out of their life before they start living in Canaan, The path to righteousness is many times through way of pain, but many perished in the school of wilderness, why?

But Why they perished: The word says due to their unbelief they could not enter the Promised Land. Although they came out of Egypt, it took 40 years for the lifestyle of Egypt to come out of them. In the same way, the Lord brought us out of sin and saved us to live a victorious life. But are we also continuing in old ways and going in circles?

Lesson: Wilderness is not the reason why we were called out. How long because of our old ways, will we continue in the wilderness of struggle? The salvation that we receive through grace should lead to change; in the way we live. It is not ok to live in sin, fear of God is to hate sin.

 Final thought:  A quote from D L Moody “We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow”

Verse: “As soon as the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him; God drew them away from him” 2 Chronicles 18:31

When is it too late to seek help? This story says it is never too late

Background:  2nd Chronicles chapter 18 verse 31 the background of the story is, Ahab the king of Israel asking Jehoshaphat the king of Judah to go to battle against the people of Ramoth Gilead. Jehoshaphat agrees, ideally, he should not have as King Ahab was an evil man. Prophet Micah told the King of Israel that he would be killed in the battle, so Ahab disguised himself. Enemy, King of Aram clearly told only to attack the King of Israel, captains mistook Jehoshaphat to be the King of Israel and attacked him. But Jehoshaphat cried out to the Lord and the Lord helped him, the Lord himself drew the enemies away. Meanwhile, a random arrow hit Ahab and he was killed.

Response to paralyzing fear: Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him: Finding himself as the only identifiable king in the battle, Jehoshaphat found himself quickly in danger. He cried out to the LORD and was rescued when they turned back from pursuing him.

Lesson: It is never too late to cry out and come to the Lord. Be very careful who we associate with. Bad company corrupts good habits. Balaam’s fall followed Balak’s call. Let us examine who we are associating with, The Lord is just a cry away to help you. Even if the situation is very bad, the Lord can change everything, He can help a sinner to live a holy life, He can use a weak vessel to bring many to salvation, and He can make heir of the kingdom of God. Lord bless you.

Prayer: Father Lord, let us walk with you and live a blameless life. Use us to build your children and bring many to the kingdom of God. Amen.

Verse: I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:18

David being the leader of Israel, was ready to write down a Psalm exposing his sins, Oh I am a sinner, especially writing the above verse, what would have the nation thought of David, for David all that mattered was his relationship with the Lord, rest all was secondary.

Background:
This psalm is titled A Psalm of David. To bring to remembrance. “Since with God to remember is to act, this word speaks of laying before Him a situation that cries out for His help.” (Derek Kidner)

It is a song full of pain and dark with guilt, as David felt the sore effects (seemingly both physical and spiritual) of his sin. 

Lessons:

• Standards of God: Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! Psalm 38:1 – “The anger of others I can bear, but not thine. As thy love is most sweet to my heart, so thy displeasure is most cutting to my conscience.” (Spurgeon). Lord’s standards are so high and perfect, cry out have mercy I have missed the mark, according to your lovingkindness.

• Realization of Situation: There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. Psalm 38:3 – How sensitive was David, look at the effect of sin in his life. Oh that we have a listening and sensitive heart like David, when was the last time we made a statement in prayer – no health in my bones because of my sin
• Reality of Sin: For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. Psalm 38:4 – David knew the burden of sin is so heavy to bear, if the Lord is not forgiving and refreshing us, we will get crushed under the weight of sin.
• Confession: I confess my iniquity; I am sorry for my sin. Psalm 38:18 – No playing with words, no excuses – honest cry, I am so sorry Lord, I have sinned against you alone.
• Desperation to Get Well: Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation! Psalm 38:22 – David knew restoration could come only from the Lord, please make haste, I do not want to continue in this state anymore. You alone are my Salvation – My savior Jesus.