TOPIC: LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Text: Mark 10:46-52 (CEV)
46. Jesus and his disciples went to Jericho. And as they were leaving, they were followed by a large crowd. A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus, son of Timaeus, was sitting beside the road.
47. When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!”
48. Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, “Son of David, have pity on me!”
49. Jesus stopped and said, “Call him over!”
They called out to the blind man and said, “Don’t be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you.”
50. The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus.
51. Jesus asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
The blind man answered, “Master, I want to see!”
52. Jesus told him, “You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith.”
Right away the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.

INTRODUCTION
Voice is a very prominent tool to make one’s intentions known. The hopeless cry out for help with their voice.

David said, “The day I cry out, my enemy disappears…” Your crying out could be in the secret or public. In whatever form, you need to cry out for help.  One African adage says, “Inability to speak out is the beginning of misfortune.” There is a restoration mechanism that God puts in you to make sounds. That is the power in your voice.

He always hears when we ask anything from him (1 John 5: 14-15). ”Our God is just and fair. He will forgive you if you ask, He will listen when you pray. Whether you do those things is entirely up to you” (Rich Warren).

We shall examine different people of the Bible that cried out and their voices were heard for their restoration.

BARTIMAEUS’ VOICE WAS  HEARD BY JESUS (Mark 10: 47)

The situation this man was going through changed his name, and he was called the blind man. He was not the only blind beggar around the area where Jesus Christ and his disciples were passing through. Something prompted him to call on Jesus in the midst of a great crowd of people. He might have been fed up with his blind and begging life, then he cried out (Mark 10: 47). When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, “Jesus, Son of David, have pity on me!” He called Jesus Christ to hear him very quickly, “…son of David…” This caught the attention of Jesus. He was not moved by the obstruction and distractions of the people, he cried more vigorously and Jesus gave him attention.

Devil has placed some elements  around you to stand as a distraction to you; what you need to do is to be sensitive and look beyond situations around you, cry out in serious prayer and your voice shall be heard.

A WIDOW’S VOICE WAS HEARD BY ELISHA (2 kings 4:  1-7)
One of the most significant states of molestation in human’s life is to be publicly humiliated in the time of hopelessness. The woman’s husband died, leaving debts behind. The creditor came to request for payment of the debts. What could she do as a widow?

2 Kings 4
1. One of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, has died. You know that your servant feared the Lord. Now the creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves.”
2. Elisha asked her, “What can I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?”She said, “Your servant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil.”
3. Then he said, “Go and borrow empty containers from everyone—from all your neighbors. Do not get just a few.
4. Then go in and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all these containers. Set the full ones to one side.”
5. So she left. After she had shut the door behind her and her sons, they kept bringing her containers, and she kept pouring.
6. When they were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” But he replied, “There aren’t any more.” Then the oil stopped.
7. She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go sell the oil and pay your debt; you and your sons can live on the rest.”

The only thing she could do was to cry out for help. She went to Elijah and her need was met. You need not be comfortable with that situation; cry out and let your voice be heard. ‘ A close mouth is a close destiny.’ The solution to your problem might be within your reach, but because you’re overwhelmed by the circumstances around you, this weigh you down. Arise now, and cry out! Your help is near.

KING HEZEKIAH’S VOICE WAS HEARD BY GOD
It is a great tragedy for one to hear the day of his death. Before that hour comes, that person would have died inwardly. There are so many things that could make one give up and lose hope at the centre of trying to struggle for life. One of them is sickness or terminal disease. Many people are in this stage now and they don’t know what to do because the physician’s report is that there is no way they could make it. This is the situation King Hezekiah was.

2 kings 20: 1-6

20. In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Put your affairs in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.’”
2. Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord,
3. “Please Lord, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and wholeheartedly and have done what pleases You.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4. Isaiah had not yet gone out of the inner courtyard when the word of the Lord came to him:
5. “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of My people, ‘This is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the Lord’s temple.
6. I will add 15 years to your life. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city for My sake and for the sake of My servant David.’”

He heard about the day of death, but he didn’t keep quiet, he cried out and the Lord heard his voice.   Whatever situation of life you are facing right now, and it seems that is going to be the end of your life, never lose hope; it is not over until it’s over. God has not stopped working out your miracle; you need to cry out with all seriousness and let the God of Heaven hear your cry.

CONCLUSION
Your voice is your power; you must not keep mute, neither should you suffer in silence. Never hide your feelings from God, though He is omniscience. He wants to hear your voice. God is your very present help in times of trouble. He wants to help you but you need to cry out to him.

For your voice to heard, you need to give your life to Jesus Christ, so that whenever you call on God through Jesus Christ, your voice would  be recognized. It’s well with you.

Let’s Pray.

1. May the Lord (Yahweh) answer you in the day of trouble; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
2. May He send you help from the sanctuary and sustain you from Zion.
3. May He remember all your offerings and accept your burnt offering. Selah!
4. May He give you what your heart desires and fulfill your whole purpose.
5. Let us shout for joy at your victory and lift the banner in the name of our God. May Yahweh fulfill all your requests.
6. Now I know that the Lord gives victory to His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven
with mighty victories from His right hand.
7 Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of Yahweh, our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand firm.
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
May He answer us on the day that we call.