Hope Is Alive Sunday – Made New
Hope Is Alive Sunday
Ari Patchen | Hope Is Alive
April 6, 2025 | Series: Made New
Know how often they are coming to home
Thank Congregation
Prayers for
Slide – Healing Center
Slide – Staff
Slide – Residents
Why we are here…
A recent study showed
Slide – Oklahoma has reported that almost 800K people, 20% of its population, are addicted,
and 25,% struggle with mental health-related issues.
Slide – Between 2019 and 2023, Oklahoma saw a 129% surge in unintentional drug overdose
deaths. Methamphetamine was responsible for approximately 60% of these fatalities in 2023.
Slide – Fentanyl-related overdose deaths in Oklahoma escalated from 50 in 2019 to 730 in
2023, thats 1360% increase…
By a show of hands, who here has known someone who has been affected by addiction or
alcoholism…who has lost someone to an overdose or alcoholism?
My Story very short
Slide- Before Ari
Slide – After Ari
If you have a bible please open to
Slide – Mark 10:46-52
“46 And they came to Jericho. And as He was going out from Jericho, as well as His disciples
and a large crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, sat by the road.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, Jesus, Son
of David, have mercy on me!
Slide –
48 And many rebuked him so that he would be silent, but he cried out much more, Son of David,
have mercy on me!49 And Jesus, standing still, said, Call him here. And they called the blind man, saying to him,
Take courage. Rise. He is calling you.
Slide –
50 And throwing his garment aside, he leaped up and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered him and said, What do you want Me to do for you? And the blind man
said to Him, Rabboni, that I may receive my sight!”
52 And Jesus said to him, Go; your faith has healed you. And immediately he received his sight
and followed Him on the road
Two things in this portion that impressed me.
Slide
The name that changes everything
From birth, we are given names that define us to others. I bet if you took 10 seconds and
thought about the 3 people closest to you in your life, they come to your mind by name…mom,
dad, Amanda.
Names bring to life people, their personalities…their stories.
As Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem…He is passing through Jericho and on His way out of the
city He has his disciples and a large crowd…hundreds if not thousands of people.
Then we encounter Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus This story is also told in Matthew and Luke, but
Mark is the only version that gives us the beggar’s name. (Meaning honorable son, valued) As
Jesus walks by, Bartimaeus doesn’t just sit idly by; he cries out,
“Jesus, Son of David, (Messiah)
have mercy on me!” He calls out to Jesus, not because he thinks it’s a good idea, not to chat, or
get money…but because he knows that Jesus is the only one who can give him his sight…
Example:
His groundbreaking achievements transformed industries and reshaped the modern world,
fueled by resilience, creativity, and an unyielding pursuit of excellence. Though sometimes
controversial in his perfectionism, his visionary work left an enduring legacy, influencing
generations and redefining technology, entertainment, and communication. Steve Jobs
was a courageous and compassionate leader, driven by an unwavering commitment to justice,
equality, and nonviolent resistance. His deep sense of morality, resilience in the face of
adversity, and ability to inspire others made him a powerful force for change in the civil rights
movement. Martin Luther KingBorn in humble circumstances yet foretold for generations, He displayed extraordinary wisdom,
compassion, and power, walking among ordinary people to heal, teach, and bring hope. Though
betrayed, falsely accused, and crucified, He overcame death, resurrecting, and leaving a legacy
of love, truth, and redemption that continues transforming lives worldwide. The Lord Jesus
Christ
We recognize people by their names.
Humans have always assigned names to people, places, and even objects as a way of
establishing relationships and order in the world.
Toys, imaginary friends, pets…even cars…in the movie castaway Tom Hanks names his only
companion Wilson…a rubber volleyball…
Naming something gives it identity, familiarity, and meaning. Relationship
From the beginning of creation God named man and woman. Adam named
the animals…and so on…
Transition: Just as names are important in human relationships, they are also important in our
relationship with God.
So how do you interact with another person? Well typically you start by calling their name…the
same goes for God.
1. Psalm 145:18 –
truth.
”
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in
2. Isaiah 55:6 –
”
near.
“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is
3. Lamentations 3:55-57 –
“I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit;
you heard my plea…you came near when I called on you; you said,
‘Do not fear!’”
New Testament:
1. Romans 10:13 –
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
”
2. 1 Corinthians 1:2 –
“To the church of God that is in Corinth…together with all
those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their
Lord and ours.
”3. 2 Timothy 2:22 –
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love,
and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
”
Bartimeaus began to cry out Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!
And many rebuked him so that he would be silent, but he cried out much more, Son of David,
have mercy on me!
Slide – The World’s Rebuke:
Definition of rebuke: express sharp disapproval or criticism of (someone) because of their
behavior or actions
And many rebuked him so that he would be silent
In this moment, Bartimaeus models for us the importance of persistence in faith. How often in
our own lives do we encounter discouragement from those around us? How often do we feel
silenced by our circumstances, by others’ opinions, or by our own doubts? The world may try to
quiet our cries for mercy. The enemy may whisper that we’re unworthy of God’s attention or that
we should keep our struggles to ourselves.
But Bartimaeus teaches us something powerful: Do not be silenced. When we cry out to the
Lord, when we call on the name of the Lord, we are calling on the only One who has the power
to save us…to change our hearts. Don’t let the opinions of others, the distractions of the world,
or the whispers of doubt stop you. Cry out all the more. Call on His name…Nothing else
matters…
Slide – How will you respond when He calls?
And then, Jesus calls Bartimaeus.
“Take courage. Rise. He is calling you” Notice that Jesus
doesn’t say,
“Come to me once you’ve fixed everything.
” No, He calls Bartimaeus just as he is.
When Jesus called for Bartimaeus, he didn’t hesitate.
Jesus calls us in the midst of our brokenness. There is no need to be cleaned up, to have
everything figured out, or to be in the perfect state before we approach Him. He calls us as we
are, with all our struggles, questions, and weaknesses.
50 And throwing his garment aside, he leaped up and came to Jesus.
This cloak was likely his only possession, a symbol of his poverty and his blindness. It was also
a practical tool that he used to collect money. To throw off the cloak was a powerful gesture—it
symbolized his willingness to leave behind his old life, his old identity, and his old
dependence.When we come to Jesus, we are called to lay aside our former ways of living. We are invited to
leave behind the things that we cling to—our sin, our pride, our fears—and run to Jesus in faith.
Bartimaeus didn’t wait to be healed before he took off his cloak; he took that step in faith,
trusting that Jesus could and would heal him.
The cloak represented his old identity—his blindness, beggar status, and security. But when
Jesus called him, he threw it aside!
•
When we come to Jesus we get to leave everything else behind…
•
2 Corinthians 5:17 –
gone, the new is here!”
“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has
The Question:
When Bartimaeus finally reaches Jesus, Jesus asks him,
“What do you want me to do for you?”
This is a profound question. Jesus, who knows all things, still asks. He wants Bartimaeus to
verbalize his need, to express his faith and trust in Him. And Bartimaeus responds simply,
“Rabbi, I want to see.
”
In the same way, Jesus asks us today,
“What do you want me to do for you?” He knows our
hearts, but He desires for us to speak out our needs, our desires, and our hopes. Jesus wants
us to acknowledge our need for Him. When we do, He is faithful to answer.
Jesus tells Bartimaeus,
“Your faith has healed you.
” It was not merely the physical act of crying
out that healed him; it was his faith—his trust in Jesus as the Son of David, the Messiah, the
One with the power to heal and save. Faith is the key to receiving the mercy and grace of God.
When we come to Jesus in faith, He responds.
Finally, Bartimaeus’ story does not end with his healing. The text says,
“Immediately he received
his sight and followed Jesus along the road.
” He didn’t just receive physical sight; his spiritual
sight had already been opened. He recognized who Jesus was, and that recognition led him to
follow Jesus.
This is the essence of the gospel. Jesus heals us spiritually. When we come to Him in faith, He
opens our eyes to His love and truth, and we are called to follow Him. No matter where you are
in life, no matter how far you feel from God, no matter what you have been through, Jesus is
calling you today. Cry out to Him. Throw off your old life. Trust in Him and follow Him. He is here,
and He is ready to heal, to save.
Closing prayer of salvation –
Slide – Acts 2:21