The incident concerns a blind man called Bartimaeus, who hears that Jesus is passing by. It is recorded in Mark 10:46-52. It happened on a roadside in Jericho.
"I want to invite you to visualise that entire event on that roadside in Jericho," Dr Rajan tells his readers. He proceeds to give Bartimaeus' background, a man who had been blind from birth – a familiar sight in Jericho as he sat begging by the roadside. He tells how Bartimaeus became aware that something was going on when he heard the commotion of a great crowd of people. And then he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth who was passing by. Dr Rajan tells how he must have heard Jesus' reputation as a miracle-worker, because he began to cry out to Him. People tried to stop him, but he cried out all the more.
The principles at work were the principles of faith, Dr Rajan says. The first principle was the principle of how faith comes – through hearing the word of God. Bartimaeus heard about Jesus, the living Word of God, and what he heard caused faith to rise in his heart, Dr Rajan says, so that he felt that if anyone could help him, Jesus could. The second principle was the principle of giving voice to faith, he says. Bartimaeus cried out asking Jesus to have mercy on him.
His leap of faith made Bartimaeus grasp the invisible and the impossible, Dr Rajan says.
Dr Rajan says that when faith is voiced it always draws the attention of Heaven. "The Scriptures state that Jesus stood still," he says. "What a glorious sight. What a glorious moment."
He tells how Jesus called Bartimaeus, and when that happened, even those who previously had been trying to hush Bartimaeus became his friends, eager to usher him to Jesus.
It is at this point that one sees an important key concerning faith, Dr Rajan says. The narrative says that Bartimaeus rose "casting away his garment." Dr Rajan explains that this was a special garment identifying Bartimaeus as a blind man needing assistance, but that when he heard The Living Word commanding him to come, such was his faith that he abandoned that garment with its entitlements and placed all his hope on Heaven. And because he displayed that kind of faith he was not disappointed.
That wasn't the end of the story, Dr Rajan points out. Even 'tho Jesus knew he was blind, as soon as Bartimaeus was brought before Jesus, Jesus asked him "What do you want me to do for you?" Dr Rajan emphasises.
"He (Jesus) wanted Bartimaeus to voice his request," Dr Rajan says, explaining that it is when we bring our supplications before Him – our part of the exchange – that Jesus can respond to our faith.
"Faith always produces results," Dr Rajan says. "Faith that prevails in prayer will produce 100% victory over 100% of the enemy's power 100% of the time..... Remember this important truth before we proceed any further: faith must have prayer, and prayer must have faith."
Dr Rajan says that faith lives amid great conflict, and it moves the immovable. He recounts from Hebrews 11 the stories of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sara and other people who displayed faith, and what they accomplished. He notes that it is in this context that the Word of God says that without faith it is impossible to please Him, and that one who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (verse 6).
He points out that faith lays hold of things not seen:
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet (i.e., rain – any rain, let alone flooding rain - it had not yet rained on the earth, but the earth had so far been watered by a mist that rose from the ground – Genesis 2:5,6, and the 1st mention of rain was when God said He would cause it to rain on the earth to destroy from the face of the earth every living thing He had made after Noah, his family, and two of each animal were safely ensconced in the ark – Genesis 7:4), moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
In Abraham, faith produced innumerable posterity to obtain the promised inheritance, Dr Rajan points out – and him (Abraham) as good as dead. (Hebrews 11:12) When these heroes of the faith died, many of them had not seen the end promised to them, but they died in faith, Dr Rajan says, highlighting the eternal nature of faith. They were still looking to God, seeing afar off the reward of their faith. (Hebrews 11:13-14)
If they were looking at their lives' events without faith, they would have considered going back to where they had come from, Dr Rajan says, referencing Hebrews 11:15. But they knew that God's promises were far better, he says, and they were striving for that better, promised land for their lives. It was because faith continues to look forward and upward, and not backward, he says. And because of this their lives kept getting better and better. Moving from one glory to another, they experienced a much more fulfilled life than they would ever have imagined.
One's faith makes God acknowledge and honour the confession of His children, Dr Rajan says. Living by faith never disappoints, he adds, quoting Hebrews 11:16:
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.
Faith made Abraham obey the instructions of God to the point that he was prepared to sacrifice Isaac, his only son, Dr Rajan says, although he knew that his inheritance could only come through Isaac's line. This obedience by faith resulted in limitless blessings to Abraham, he points out.
The book is filled with wonderful stories of faith, and lists the names of God which enunciate the areas in which one is invited to have faith in Him. It concludes with an invitation to put one's faith in God for forgiveness and eternal life.
Part I can be read: here
Faith Without Struggle can be purchased at www.koorong.com and www.lifeinthespirit.info
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version.