The Mercy of Jesus - Mark 10:46-52
Someone once asked blind and deaf Helen Keller, “Isn’t it terrible to be blind?” To which she responded, “Better to be blind and see with your heart, than to have two good eyes and see nothing.” So it was with blind Bartimaeus – he could not physically see, but God opened his heart spiritually so that that he could see who Jesus was.
Sadly today, there are many who attend church and claim to follow Jesus, but when we watch their lives we get the overwhelming sense that they are pretend believers, make-believers, professors but not possessors. The Bible says there are many who are so self-deceived that they think they are serving Jesus, yet one day He will say to them, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
So how do you help those who think they’re saved, but aren’t? Taking them through the acrostic P.H.O.N.Y. may be a helpful tool.
P–Proclaim Christ
Have them share their testimony. Listen for words that talk about faith, repentance, and their love for Christ. Listen for a heart that desires to pursue Christ and has a willingness to confess Him before all men. Matthew 10:32-33 says, “32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
H–Heart for Christ
Ask them to evaluate whether Christ is their first and greatest love. Find out if there is anything or anyone they love more than Jesus. 1 Corinthians 16:22, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.” Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
O–Obedient to Christ
1 John 2:4 says, “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” This verse is talking about more than not disobeying. Some of the marks of a faithful, true believer are faithful attendance to a Bible believing church where they are an active member, giving sacrificially, serving in ministry, functioning in community, etc. It’s important to note that being obedient to Christ is more than focusing on externals. A true believer wants to obey Jesus from his heart. Romans 6:17 says, “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.”
N–No Idols
In order for us to help the marginal church attender or make-believer see their unsaved, hell-bound status, we need to help them see the idols of their heart that are replacing Christ. It could be a spouse, kids or wealth. It could be finding a husband or wife or having a boat. Anything people love more than Jesus is an idol.
Do you remember how Jesus helped the rich young ruler? He showed him how good, perfect, and holy God was - which showed him how bad he was – strike one. Next, Jesus exposed him to the Law of God so that he could see his sin, and his desperate need for repentance – strike two. Then Jesus exposed his idol which was his love of wealth – strike three. The rich young ruler went away without salvation. 1 John 5:21 says, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
True Christians love Christ first – they do not keep idols. Help people see they can’t love two masters. Find out if they have picked up their cross, denied themselves and are following Jesus – everyday.
Y–Yielding to Christ
Being a Christian is more than making an emotional decision that fades away over time. It’s an ongoing relationship where we are indwelt by Christ and are being transformed into His image. It’s a moment-by-moment lifestyle that constantly yields to Christ - more of Christ and less of us. New Testament verses that test the P.H.O.N.Y. ask these questions – is Christ in you, and are you growing in your relationship with Him?
2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; Test yourselves!”
2 Peter 1:10 says, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 tells us “these qualities” are “faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” Verse 8 says “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Help the P.H.O.N.Y. by asking if they Proclaim Christ, have a Heart for Christ, are Obedient to Christ, are putting Christ first where they have No Idols, and are Yielding to Him?
Sadly today, there are many who attend church and claim to follow Jesus, but when we watch their lives we get the overwhelming sense that they are pretend believers, make-believers, professors but not possessors. The Bible says there are many who are so self-deceived that they think they are serving Jesus, yet one day He will say to them, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”
So how do you help those who think they’re saved, but aren’t? Taking them through the acrostic P.H.O.N.Y. may be a helpful tool.
P–Proclaim Christ
Have them share their testimony. Listen for words that talk about faith, repentance, and their love for Christ. Listen for a heart that desires to pursue Christ and has a willingness to confess Him before all men. Matthew 10:32-33 says, “32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.”
H–Heart for Christ
Ask them to evaluate whether Christ is their first and greatest love. Find out if there is anything or anyone they love more than Jesus. 1 Corinthians 16:22, “If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.” Luke 14:26, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”
O–Obedient to Christ
1 John 2:4 says, “Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” This verse is talking about more than not disobeying. Some of the marks of a faithful, true believer are faithful attendance to a Bible believing church where they are an active member, giving sacrificially, serving in ministry, functioning in community, etc. It’s important to note that being obedient to Christ is more than focusing on externals. A true believer wants to obey Jesus from his heart. Romans 6:17 says, “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.”
N–No Idols
In order for us to help the marginal church attender or make-believer see their unsaved, hell-bound status, we need to help them see the idols of their heart that are replacing Christ. It could be a spouse, kids or wealth. It could be finding a husband or wife or having a boat. Anything people love more than Jesus is an idol.
Do you remember how Jesus helped the rich young ruler? He showed him how good, perfect, and holy God was - which showed him how bad he was – strike one. Next, Jesus exposed him to the Law of God so that he could see his sin, and his desperate need for repentance – strike two. Then Jesus exposed his idol which was his love of wealth – strike three. The rich young ruler went away without salvation. 1 John 5:21 says, “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
True Christians love Christ first – they do not keep idols. Help people see they can’t love two masters. Find out if they have picked up their cross, denied themselves and are following Jesus – everyday.
Y–Yielding to Christ
Being a Christian is more than making an emotional decision that fades away over time. It’s an ongoing relationship where we are indwelt by Christ and are being transformed into His image. It’s a moment-by-moment lifestyle that constantly yields to Christ - more of Christ and less of us. New Testament verses that test the P.H.O.N.Y. ask these questions – is Christ in you, and are you growing in your relationship with Him?
2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith; Test yourselves!”
2 Peter 1:10 says, “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 tells us “these qualities” are “faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.” Verse 8 says “For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Help the P.H.O.N.Y. by asking if they Proclaim Christ, have a Heart for Christ, are Obedient to Christ, are putting Christ first where they have No Idols, and are Yielding to Him?
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