Those near Jesus told Bartimaeus, “Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you” (v. 49). Some other translations say, “Cheer up!” In other words, your negative words or attitude can block God’s favor. Bartimaeus had an attitude of expectancy, and that was a vital factor in the miracle he would soon receive. He was also told to “rise” and hear Jesus’ voice. Without a hint of procrastination, this desperate man sprang into action: “Throwing aside his garment, he rose and came to Jesus” (v. 50).
Notice that if you want to activate the Favor of God (F.O.G.) in your life, you often must take action of some kind. It’s likely that Bartimaeus never would have received his healing if he had remained seated on the side of the road. OBEDIENCE is one of the most important ways to unleash God’s favor, and we see that principle here in the story of the beggar who needed a breakthrough.
Another thing Bartimaeus did was throw aside his old garment. If you are going to start a new life, you need a fresh set of clothes! We see this in passages such as Isaiah 61:3, where God promises to give us “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” In order to enter into a new dimension of God’s favor, you will need to cast off any old garments of fear, depression, unbelief, or unforgiveness. It’s a new day!
Jesus next asks Bartimaeus one of the most important questions in the entire Bible—and it’s the same question He is asking YOU today: “What do you want Me to do for you?” (v. 51).
Let that sink in for a moment. Jesus is right there with you, and He wants you to tell Him what your greatest need is. What, exactly, do you want Him to do for you? This is a critical component of what it takes to unleash the F.O.G. in your life:
You must be able to define the miracle you are seeking from God. To no one’s surprise, Bartimaeus told Jesus that he wanted to receive his sight. I’m sure Jesus already knew this, just as He already knows the desire of your heart today. However, He wants you to pray it and say it, letting your specific request be known before His throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16, Philippians 4:6).
When Bartimaeus’ breakthrough came, it was sudden and amazing: “immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road” (v. 52). Of course, Jesus could have told the blind man that his healing would come gradually, over a long period of time, but that was not the case with Bartimaeus. Jesus had unleashed the miraculous, and the results were instantaneous.
How did this happen? What secret had the blind beggar discovered? Jesus told him plainly: “your faith has made you well” (v. 52). Through faith and obedience, Bartimaeus had activated God’s supernatural favor and healing power.
