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Sermon July 13th 2016
“He who made me well, said….”
John 5:1 -15
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.[b] 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Quick RECAP
DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL?
Vs.6 – When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
Why would Jesus ask him that, he knew his condition – the time and more so, his heart?
His response “Sir!! “It was more like, how dare you ask me, can’t you see my outside ailment? But I thank God that He look at the heart and not the outside appearance.
Signs were there that defined his condition, but the source of his condition was only revealed when he met Jesus.
The bible says that he was like this for 38yrs (me) – Take a moment to think about his first day at the pool? How optimistic was he? How about a week in, a month, a year, ten years – no deliverance, faith fading away, 20 years, 30years and by now, Faith is slowly been replaced by comfort. Yes, the issue is still the same- maybe even greater now since the disease has progressed. It has affected him more, not to mention he has aged.
He has seen people come and go? People being delivered from their sickness, their marriages restored, their finances fixed, their addiction cured – when is my chance coming Jesus? I am still struggling with this Lord- when is my chance coming?
Not much is left, but to hope and deal with it. And here comes Jesus and He asks him “Do you want to be made well?”
Jesus is asking -Are you still the same person that hated that sin, you had a plan that involved you going into the well (Christ) when the water was stirred, you would find deliverance. Where is your heart today?
Sink Story – In my house there is this sink, when we moved in it had some rust, it was really bad, and still is… I put tape over the rust and over time, that which was urgent become a norm. The other day my wife Eva looked at it and said, when are we going to fix this, I hate it. “I was like “we will, but the truth is that, I can go for a week or two without noticing it. That which was nasty day one, has become normal 6 months later.
This is the same thing happening here – Jesus is asking Him “Do you really want to be made well? What is that thing in your life that you couldn’t bear since it was pulling you away from what God has created you to be? And over time, it has become that mat/bed, that you depend on to keep you comfortable while it delaying your healing? Your ability to be a great husband/wife, an amazing dad/mom, a son or daughter that brings happiness to their Father?
See we have allowed struggles to label us. But Sir! Am the lame person who has been at the pool for 38yrs. That’s all I know. We have to proclaim so that we can possess that we want to become.
We have to guard our hearts – Proverbs 4:23 – Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
This Springs of life are what bring us freedom. And if we don’t guard our hearts from being complaisant, this springs will be blocked over time.
If we don’t, that sin that starts as a small scratch that is annoying, if not treated and followed up constantly becomes an open wound that infects that entire body over time.
James 1:14 – 15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death. – Its starts out small
Daily we have to ask Jesus to check if “we really want to get well” Psalm 139:23 Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart; Test me and know my anxious thoughts;
RISE, TAKE UP YOUR BED
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed – The tone of the command was not – just rise, it was RISE (stop excuses)
You have power to overcome that which you have been using as your support, you now have the power to no longer need your bed, instead carry it – release the power in you through Christ Jesus and go dump it.
Vs. 9 He immediately he was made well,….There are two things that happened here, the power of Jesus made him well, but in order for him to realize it, he had to RISE UP …so he can be able to carry his bed away.
R- In order for the healing to be evident, He had to rise up, refuse that which had labeled him for 38YRS. That which was his support for such a long time, Fight through the fact that nothing else had worked before and against all odds, rise up!
“The other day I went Mountain Biking up with Michael Webster. I haven’t done that before, but about mile 3, I knew I was in trouble. I kept stopping to “take pictures” and when I couldn’t make any more “picture excuses” I realized that I didn’t have many choices, it was either I give up or push through …And so I did choose not shame myself and I kept pushing hard and harder. And at one point (even though my legs were on fire and I could hear my heart beating, I refused to admit defeat. After what felt like 10hrs, even though it was like 15 minutes later, he looked at me and said “looks like you got your second wind” …” I have heard that saying before but never thought much of it “and this what I found that it means “a new strength or energy to continue something that is an effort (The ability to breath freely after you have been out of breath.
Today Jesus is saying” I know what you are going through, I knew you before you were born, I have a great plan for you, to give you a future and a hope and if you listen and obey my instructions: I will give you a second wind” You will be able to breath freely because my power is in you. RISE AND TAKE UP YOUR BED!!
An act of obedience, no matter how hard it feels or how incapable you are, will show the evidence of Christ in you
With Obedience comes Complete restoration, lack of fear, strength …Because Jesus promises that when you listen to Him- He will guide you to freedom.
Once touched by Christ destroys years of bondage. Are you willing to be a source of Christ power?
Matthew Henry – The proof of spiritual cure, is our rising and walking. Has Christ healed our spiritual diseases, let us go wherever he sends us, and take up whatever he lays upon us; and walk before him
Rise, take up your bed and Walk!
WALK
Jesus gives him clear instruction – after you take your bed, do not look back- walk!
Our memories and past experiences tend to cloud our current experiences. We easily forget our redemption and easily start talking about how we were and even though our intention might be to show the great redemption, we have to be careful that we don’t give power to that which held us back, instead of glorifying THE ONE who saved us.
We are not immune to easily forgetting what God is doing has done. The Israelites, they experienced numerous miracles. A cloud over them during the day and a pillar of fire at night… yet when they came to the red sea they forgot who was leading them – Exodus 14:15 “ And the lord said to Moses “ Why do you cry out to me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
Some of you have been asking God for deliverance. He has searched your heart and knows that you “ do really need to be healed” He has asked you to “ Take up your bed’ and He has asked you to walk in the victory that He has given you, but you are still crying out to Him.
Others, today is the day Jesus is saying “ Start walking”
And it’s by walking that you will fully realize the power of Christ in you. See the man had been in fear, doubt, pain, despair for 38yrs. But when he was touched by Jesus, he did not care that it was a Sabbath. For it was unlawful to do anything in on the Sabbath – Vs.10- The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
When he experienced the power of Christ, something in him changed that made him bold to go against the normal limiting and restricting laws. He was no longer afraid and through this, people got to know the power of Jesus. Vs. 15- The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
The world is not going to know Christ, if when we get delivered we fail to recognize that our WALKING is evidence of the love of Christ. A hope that this world desperately needs. We are the evidence. (p)
1 Chronicles 16:8 “oh give thanks to the Lord Call upon His name: Make known his deeds among the people – God has saved you for this exact reason “To make his deeds known” so that He gets the glory.
When he was asked by the Jews why he was carrying his bed on the Holy day he replied “He who made me well said “Take up your bed and walk”
Are we going to be bold enough to say and do everything that the man (Christ) who has healed (changed) your live asks you to? Are we going to be obedient and rise up, take up our beds and WALK?
II Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Walk in your new found freedom. Stay in his obedience and he will give you the strength to be bold to say “He who made me well said…..”
What are you going to say when people ask you – what happened to you, there is something different about you – Are you allowing God to change you so you can boldly say? “He who made me well said … And yes let me introduce you to Him…