07/06/2026
SERMON BY: APOSTLE GAONE
TITLE: BETWEEN JESUS AND THE BLIND MAN
MAIN REFERENCE SCRIPTURE
Mark 10:46–52
Our God is always ready to intervene in our lives and release miracles. However, there is often something standing between Jesus and the individual in need of a miracle. There are barriers that attempt to hinder the manifestation of God's power in the lives of His people. Jesus is always willing and ready to open a door for someone, yet obstacles frequently arise between the promise and its fulfillment.
REFERENCE SCRIPTURE
Mark 16:17–18
"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
This Scripture tells us that signs and wonders are meant to follow those who believe. Yet, as children of God, many have spent years and even decades seeking miracles. The question then becomes: Why are miracles not happening despite being in the presence of God?
The answer is that there is often a barrier standing between Jesus and a child of God. These barriers arise with the intention of silencing faith, discouraging persistence, and preventing believers from receiving what God has already prepared for them.
REFERENCE SCRIPTURE
Jeremiah 33:3
"Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."
God is always ready to manifest something great and mighty. This Scripture gives us a divine command: "Call unto Me." No matter your situation, God promises that when you call upon Him, He will answer and reveal great and mighty things that you do not know.
In Mark 10, Jesus was travelling with His disciples when a blind man named Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was passing by. Many of you are calling upon God and expecting a divine encounter, yet there are barriers standing before you, just as there were barriers before Bartimaeus.
There is always a barrier when a miracle is about to come upon your life. For Bartimaeus, it was his appointed day to receive a miracle, yet the crowd and even those around him attempted to silence him. Nevertheless, he continued to cry out, and eventually his miracle manifested.
Many people stop at the sight of a barrier. The moment an obstacle appears, they become silent. There are promises that God has spoken over your life, and immediately after receiving them, opposition appears. Sadly, that is often where many believers stop.
When Christians receive a prophecy, they sometimes assume that because God has spoken, the doors will automatically open without resistance. They become relaxed and passive. However, that is not how God operates, nor is it how life works.
The Word of God teaches us that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to bear. Therefore, if you are facing a challenge, it means God has permitted it for a purpose. That challenge is not evidence of defeat; it is a barrier that indicates there is a miracle ahead.
Bartimaeus refused to stop despite the opposition around him. Instead, he cried out even louder:
"Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me!"
When I encounter a barrier, should I stop? Absolutely not. A barrier is often a sign that there is a miracle ahead of me.
The woman with the issue of blood said within herself:
"If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." (Mark 5:28)
Behind this woman stood many barriers. There was the crowd, her condition, her weakness, and her years of disappointment. Yet she pushed through every obstacle until she touched Jesus. Immediately, Jesus stopped and asked,
"Who touched my clothes?"
What touches Jesus is a faith that refuses to surrender to barriers. There is a virtue prepared for you, but you must be willing to press beyond the obstacles standing in your way.
REFERENCE SCRIPTURE
Daniel 10:12–13
"Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days..."
A barrier arose when the Prince of Persia resisted the answer that God had already released for Daniel. For twenty one days, the answer was delayed, but Daniel did not stop praying. He continued seeking God until the breakthrough came.
Many of us stop before our appointed time.
When a woman is in labour, she does not push only once. There is resistance. There are barriers. The walls surrounding the womb create pressure and difficulty. Yet the midwife continues to encourage her, saying, "Keep pushing."
Likewise, behind every barrier there is a miracle waiting to be revealed.
LET US PUSH, NO MATTER HOW HARD IT MAY BE.
David did not stop when confronted by obstacles. He continued pressing forward despite overwhelming odds.
When David entered the cave of Adullam, he did not abandon his destiny. He continued pressing toward God's purpose for his life.
Joseph was thrown into prison, yet he did not stop there. He understood that God's promise over his life remained intact. He knew that his appointed day would eventually come.
Some of the prisons you have entered have actually accelerated your journey toward your miracle.
While Joseph was in prison, God was preparing circumstances beyond his control. A king would eventually have a troubling dream, and a man would be sent to call Joseph to interpret it. What appeared to be a prison was in reality a divine waiting room for promotion.
Joseph's imprisonment was simply preparation for the moment when Pharaoh would dream, and when Pharaoh dreamed, the time for Joseph's elevation had arrived.
Therefore, wait upon the Lord. Do not attempt to rush God's process. Do not seek shortcuts. Simply continue pushing forward in faith.
We are not called to surrender to the enemy. We are children of the Most High God.
No matter what barrier stands before you, do not stop. No matter how long the delay may seem, do not stop. No matter how fierce the opposition becomes, do not stop.
For behind every barrier, there is a miracle.
Behind every delay, there is an answer.
Behind every trial, there is a testimony.
Keep pushing, keep praying, keep believing, and keep trusting in God, for your appointed time shall surely come.
According to the codes and standards of the military, a soldier is taught to persevere through every hardship and to "enjoy the day until he is paid," meaning that he remains committed to the mission regardless of the challenges encountered along the way. Likewise, an athlete understands that victory is not secured at the beginning of the race but at the finish line. Therefore, he continues to press forward with unwavering determination, refusing to yield to fatigue, opposition, or discouragement, until he crosses the finish line with his head held high in triumph. Such is the mindset of a true champion.
The mentality of a winner is characterized not by momentary enthusiasm but by steadfast consistency, resilience, and endurance. Great achievements are seldom the product of talent alone; they are the reward of those who remain disciplined when others quit, persistent when others retreat, and focused when others become distracted. In every endeavour, it is not merely how one starts that matters, but how one endures and ultimately finishes. Your consistency and endurance are the true measures of your commitment and the greatest determinants of your success.
