In life, some people can’t see the forest for the trees. They make poor decisions, become depressed, lose confidence in themselves and others. The critical questions to be asked are: How do you live beyond blindness in your life? What are the three key points about faith based on the life of blind Bartimaeus? These questions were addressed at First Timothy Baptist Church’s Wednesday Night Bible Service on September 6.

Dr. Ronald Holmes was the facilitator for the bible service using the book titled, “Beyond the Sunday Sermon.” Dr. Holmes advised the congregation to live beyond blindness by getting rid of those trees and anything blocking their ability to see. To overcome your blindness from a biblical perspective, Dr. Holmes said, “you can be determined like the man who climbed the sycamore tree to see Jesus. You can be determined like the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment so she could be healed.”

With faith being the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11: 1), Dr. Holmes noted three key points for the lesson on “Living Beyond Blindness: I want to see! They are (1) faith believes even when you can’t see; (2) faith believes regardless of the opposition and (3) faith believes in the impossible. In response to key point one, Dr. Holmes said, “we must demonstrate our faith in the Lord, recognize the goodness and blessings of the Lord, faithfully ask Jesus to have mercy on us, and tell him what we want” (Mark 10: 46-47). To make his case, Dr. Holmes talked about a man who collapsed in a pool, lost his sight, and stopped breathing. Dr. Holmes highlighted how the Lord saved the man’s life and restored his sight because faith believes even when you can’t see.

In response to key point two, Dr. Holmes said faith believes regardless of the opposition. Dr. Holmes raised the question to the congregation: “Where is your faith in God when people try to stop you from worshiping the Lord?” Dr. Holmes said, “go get your blessing from the Lord. In doing so, be like Bartimaeus who refused to be persuaded by the people in Jericho and adamantly asked Jesus to have mercy on him” (Mark 10:48). Dr. Holmes also said, “go get your blessing from the Lord like the man who wrestled with Jesus all night long until He blessed him. Keep the faith and ask Jesus to have mercy on you regardless of the opposition.”

In response to key point three, Dr. Holmes said faith believes in the impossible. With God, nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37). Dr. Holmes revealed that Jesus made Bartimaeus’ enemies his footstool. Jesus asked him what do you want?  Bartimaeus said, “I want to see.” Because of Bartimaeus’ faith, Jesus granted his request to see and Bartimaeus followed Him (Mark 49-52). Furthermore, Dr. Holmes said we must be like Bartimaeus. “We must demonstrate our faith in the Lord, get rid of our baggage, follow Jesus and allow him to do the impossible in our lives.”

The next Wednesday’s night lesson titled is “Singing the Lord’s Song in a Strange Land from the book titled, “Beyond the Sunday Sermon” on pages 202-206. To hear the lesson online from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00p.m., you can go to the website of First Timothy Baptist Church. To order the book, you can purchase it online from Amazon.com.

Dr. Ronald Holmes is the author of 26 books and publisher of “The Holmes Education Post,” an education focused Internet newspaper. Holmes is a former teacher, school administrator, test developer and district superintendent. He has written children’s books about the coronavirus, solar system, flowers, careers and school bullying.  His adult books focus on religion, hazing, workplace bullying, bipolar disorders, issues in education and completing the dissertation.