I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      In Mark 10:35-52, Jesus twice asked the question, "What do you want Me to do for you?”

                                                             1.      James and John asked Jesus to grant that they may sit on His right and left when He came in His glory (v. 37).  Jesus said that their request was not His to give (v. 40).

                                                             2.      The blind man Bartimaeus asked to regain his sight, and Jesus granted his request (vv. 51-52).

B.      We might interpret Christ’s appeal to us in the form of this same question – "What do you want Me to do for you?”  How do we answer Him?

II.      THE WORLD’S ANSWERS

A.      "Leave me alone.”

                                                             1.      Much of the world reacts to the message of Jesus as the first-century Jews did, for to them He is a stumbling block and a rock of offense (1Cor. 1:23; 1Pet. 2:7-8).

a.       Such people are offended by the gospel, for it calls them to accountability (Acts 17:30-31; 2Cor. 5:10).

b.       Like the Jews, they demand that Christians refrain from teaching in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18).

                                                             2.      Others in the world consider the message of Jesus to be foolishness (1Cor. 1:18, 23).

                                                             3.      In either case, people of the world are bothered by Jesus and want to be left alone.  Indeed, they will get their wish in eternity, but they will regret it (2Thess. 1:8-9).

B.      "Make life easy for me.”

                                                             1.      Many people ask Jesus for worldly possessions because they think material blessings will ease their burden and make life pleasant.

a.       Of course, the Lord has said that the Father will provide the necessities of life for those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6:25-33).

b.       However, some expect more than just necessities, and some ask for blessings that they may indulge their selfish pleasures (Jas. 4:2-3).  These will not receive their requests.

                                                             2.      Likewise, many ask Jesus to make them healthy.

a.       We are instructed to pray concerning sickness (Jas. 5:13-15).

b.       However, Jesus has not promised to heal every sickness, disease, and injury.  If anyone creates such false expectations, then he endangers his faith, for there is no guarantee that he will be healed.

                                                             3.      Some ask Jesus to make them feel happy.

a.       These people are not seeking physical relief but rather an emotional experience that gives them the perceived feeling of spirituality and religion.

b.       The Lord did not promise to bring us unceasing bliss on this earth.  In fact, He predicted that we would have to suffer for Him (Matt. 5:10-12; see 2Tim. 1:12; 2:3; 3:12).

C.      "Bring peace to the world.”

                                                             1.      Some have false expectations that Christ will end all strife on earth, yet Jesus said, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34).

                                                             2.      Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6), but the peace He brings is spiritual in nature, for He reconciles sinful men unto God and one another (Luke 2:14; Eph. 2:11-22).

D.      "Save me, but don’t ask anything of me.”

                                                             1.      This is a popular sentiment that stems from the Calvinist doctrine of "unconditional election.”  This doctrine teaches that God selects souls for salvation without any requirements of them.

                                                             2.      The Scriptures teach that salvation is conditional, and therefore we must do as God commands us in order to be saved.  This includes:

a.       Belief in Jesus in John 3:16;

b.       Belief and baptism in Mark 16:16;

c.        Repentance and baptism in Acts 2:38;

d.       Confession of faith in Jesus in Romans 10:8-10;

e.        Continual faithfulness to God in Colossians 1:23;

f.        Belief in Jesus, love of God, love of the children of God, and the keeping of His commandments in 1John 5:1-3;

g.        Every other condition set forth in the New Testament.

III.   THE RIGHT ANSWERS

A.      "Save me from my sins.”

                                                             1.      A person who is understanding and aware of his sins will cry out to the Lord for forgiveness.

a.       He will confess his sins to God as David did in Psalm 32:5 – "I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the LORD’; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.”

b.       Like the tax-gatherer in Luke 18:13, he will beg, "God, be merciful to me, the sinner!”

                                                             2.      In the likeness of David, a convicted sinner will ask God for cleansing and sanctification.  Notice Psalm 51:1-2 – "Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”

                                                             3.      In asking the Lord for salvation from sins, a penitent sinner seeks eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus.

a.       Notice Romans 6:22-23 – "But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

b.       Eternal life is a promise that Jesus has made to believers (1John 2:24; 5:13).

B.      "Use me in Your service.”

                                                             1.      A faithful child of God realizes that Christ cleansed him of sin not only for his salvation but also to make him useful to God.  Notice Ephesians 2:10 – "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

                                                             2.      Consider 2Timothy 2:21 – "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

                                                             3.      Therefore, let us all share the attitude of Paul, who said, "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service” (1Tim. 1:12).

C.      "Give me understanding and wisdom.”

                                                             1.      When God asked Solomon, "Ask what you wish Me to give you,” Solomon replied, "Give Your servant an understanding heart” (1Ki. 3:5, 9).  Let us reply likewise to the Lord’s appeal to us.

                                                             2.      God has promised wisdom to those who seek it faithfully.  James said, "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (Jas. 1:5).

                                                             3.      The wisdom and understanding of God come from a study of God’s word (Rom. 10:17; Eph. 3:4; 2Tim. 2:15; 1Pet. 2:1-3).

D.      "Deliver me from temptation.”

                                                             1.      In the model prayer of our Lord (Matt. 6:9-13), Jesus showed that we should request of God, "Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”

                                                             2.      God has assured us that He will indeed deliver us from evil if we will follow His lead.  Notice 1Corinthians 10:13 – "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

E.       "Do with me according to Your will.”

                                                             1.      In the likeness of Jesus, we should submit every request to God with humility and submission.  Our prayers should echo Christ’s words in Gethsemane when He said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will” (Matt. 26:39).

                                                             2.      For this reason, we should study the Bible to understand God’s will.  In this way, we can know what to ask when we pray.  Notice 1John 5:14-15 – "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.”

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      It is a blessed privilege to ask for God’s blessings and know that He hears us and answers us generously.  "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32)

B.      God has offered us precious, eternal blessings through our Lord Jesus Christ.  What do you want Him to do for you?