The Secret To Healing Your Addiction (and every other problem)

Do you want to be free of your addiction? I sure did.

Today I tell the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, who Jesus heals in Mark 10: 46-52.

What can we learn from this story being healed? Does it hold the secret to freedom from addiction? I believe it does.

Listen in.

Thanks so much for listening in today!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Recovered Christian, the podcast
for believers who want to breakthe chains of addiction and
live a recovered life.
Join host Suzanne Bloomer eachweek as she shares her personal
journey of recovery, providesencouragement for yours and
takes a deep dive into thescriptures.
God wrote a book, and the Bibleis full of hope, wisdom and

(00:21):
practical applications for allof us.
So whether you're just startingon the road to sobriety or are
hoping to take the first step,this podcast is for you.
Tune in each week for abiblical shot of courage and
let's recover your life, onedevotion at a time.
Now here's Suzanne with Today'sShow.

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Welcome friends.
This is Suzanne and I am soglad you're here today.
When you're in active addiction, there's little you want more
than to be healed.
I cried out for healing all thetime.
When you're on the hamsterwheel of using and sickness and
wanting and finding, and usingand sickness and wanting and

(01:08):
finding, you just want to getoff.
I wanted to get off.
I wanted God to take it allaway, to take the need and
desire and hurting away.
I just wanted to be normalagain, without the burden of
addiction weighing me down everysecond of every single day.

(01:29):
For 20 years I prayed for Godto heal me.
I begged Him to heal me, butdid I believe he would or could?
And even if I believed he could, did I believe I was worthy of
receiving it?
Do you believe it?
Here's a story from Mark,chapter 10, verses 46 to 52.

(01:54):
Then they reached Jericho and asJesus and his disciples left
town, a large crowd followed him.
A blind beggar named Bartimaeuswas sitting beside the road.
When Bartimaeus heard thatJesus of Nazareth was nearby, he
began to shout Jesus, son ofDavid, have mercy on me, be
quiet.

(02:14):
Many of the people yelled athim, but he only shouted louder
Son of David, have mercy on me.
When Jesus heard him, hestopped and said Tell him to
come here.
So they called the blind man,cheer up.
They said Come on, he's callingyou.
Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up and came to Jesus.

(02:35):
What do you want me to do foryou?
Jesus asked my rabbi.
The blind man said I want tosee.
And Jesus said to him Go, foryour faith has healed you
Instantly.
The man could see and hefollowed Jesus down the road.
Wow, Bartimaeus was a beggar.

(02:55):
He was blind and apparently hewas annoying.
He wasn't a scholar or a richmerchant or a follower already.
He was just a man sitting onthe side of the road begging.
But Bartimaeus had this goingfor him.
He believed Jesus could healhim.

(03:16):
He believed and he asked forthe healing.
When he heard Jesus of Nazarethwas nearby, he started shouting
for him.
People tried to shush him, buthe kept on going.
He knew Jesus, the son of David, would and could heal him and
he wasn't going to let thatchance pass by.

(03:38):
The Bible tells us thatBartimaeus leaves his cloak on
the ground when Jesus calls him.
That cloak was likely all hehad in the world and his leaving
it on a crowded road, unable tosee.
It shows how much trust he hadthat Jesus would heal him, even
if he knows the area well fromhis days of begging.
Bartimaeus will be hard pressedto find his cloak again.

(03:59):
It could be stolen or moved.
He could be leaving his onlypossession behind.
But he does.
He throws his coat aside andjumps up to go to Jesus.
Jesus asks him what do you wantme to do for you?
And Bartimaeus says I want tosee.
And he does.

(04:19):
Instantly Jesus tells him Go,for your faith has healed you.
Jesus knew Bartimaeus' heart andknew the belief in him that
lived there.
He didn't ask him Do you thinkI can heal you?
Do you think I will heal you?
He simply did it.
Do we have that kind of faith inour hearts, not on our tongues.

(04:41):
It's easy to say we do, wealways say we do.
But do we have it deep down inour hearts, where our secret
desires and thoughts live?
Do we believe Jesus will healus, that Jesus can heal us?
Do we believe we are worthy ofthat healing?
If Jesus said to you today,throw down your most prized

(05:04):
possession and come to me, wouldyou?
Would I?
Will you throw down your wineor your porn or your cigarette
and go to him.
What about your job or yourhome or your kids?
Will you leave what you lovemost on the side of the road to
stand humbly before Jesus andhear him ask what do you want me

(05:25):
to do for you?
Bartimaeus did, the blind beggaron the side of the road did.
Why do we do less?
And if Jesus did ask you thatquestion, what is your answer?
Seven years ago, I would mostdefinitely ask to have my
addiction taken from me.
No question, I longed to befree of it.

(05:46):
I wanted to start living againfor real, not just getting
through each day in one piece.
Now I'm with Bartimaeus.
I want to see.
I want to see the blessings.
I want to see the Holy Spiritat work.
I want to see the world turnfrom their sin and turn back to
the Father.
I want to see my life dedicatedto the purpose he has called me

(06:11):
to.
I want to see.
Bartimaeus was instantly healedand he followed Jesus down the
road.
No longer a beggar, no longerblind, he's a follower, now a
student, of the King of Kings,the Messiah.
His faith, pure and true,brought about this sudden change

(06:32):
of circumstance.
The Bible doesn't say, if hewent back for his cloak, it
implies that he didn't.
He traded his only worldlypossession for something so much
more valuable.
Did I believe Jesus could healme?
I think so.
Did I believe I was worthy ofit?
Honestly, no, I don't believe Idid Not in my heart.

(06:54):
But, friends, I was worthy ofthat healing, and so are you.
You are the beloved child ofGod.
He knows your name, he hascounted every hair on your head
and he loves you so much he senthis son to die for you so you
could receive that healing.
And here's the really trulyamazing thing Jesus is asking

(07:20):
you right now, this very momentwhat do you want me to do for
you, this very second?
He is waiting for your answer.
Tell Him, erase any doubt inyour heart about the ability of
Jesus to heal, about yourworthiness to receive that
healing.
Fill your heart with thecertainty that God wants you to

(07:43):
be whole, and tell Jesus whatyou want.
He's waiting to hear from you.
So answer Him.
I'll see you next time.

Speaker 1 (07:51):
Thanks so much for tuning into this episode of the
Recovered Christian with SuzanneBloomer.
If you're enjoying the show,please rate, subscribe and leave
a review wherever you listen topodcasts.
Community and support are soimportant in recovery.
We'd love you to join ourFacebook group, the Recovered
Christian, where you canfellowship with believers

(08:11):
walking the same road, or visitour website at
therecoveredchristiancom.
Links to both are in the showdescription.
Once again, thanks forlistening and we hope you'll
join us again on the RecoveredChristian.