MAYBE YOU KNOW THE STORY of the man healed at the pool of Bethesda? Jesus said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” To which he had in my opinion a lame response, perhaps because of the condition he had been in so long. Jesus said, “Take up your mat and walk”; he did and was immediately rebuked,

“The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”” John‬ ‭5:10‬ ‭

This is quite a common response from the crowd of disbelievers. I have found in my own life that when Jesus does a miracle, others immediately come against you. Maybe they were jealous that they weren’t healed. Who knows. After years of lying on his bed, he was just healed! I’d be running laps. When I was born again, I had persons tell me, “You can never get married. You will never be used in the ministry. Your past is too nasty. You cannot do this or that”. My past was nasty. I hate the person I was. But I am not her anymore. You have mistaken me for someone else. I’m not merely cleansed of my sin; I am in fact a new creation. The Scripture I’ve clung to since the beginning is:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” II Corinthians‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭

I once was blind, but now I see. People are going to tell you everything you cannot do, but Jesus says, “take up your mat and walk!” Get up and get moving towards the Savior. You’ve been healed, redeemed, delivered, restored, set free! IF Jesus tells you to walk, then walk. If He tells you to go and wash, then go and wash. He also tells you to “Go and sin no more lest a worse thing come upon you.” You might want to remember that one.

“Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” I John‬ ‭3‬:‭4‬-‭9‬

You do not know God if you continually live a life of sin. I don’t care what you profess. When in Christ, there is a stark separation from sin and the world. Come out and be holy! You are not a version of your old self, but something entirely different. If His Word says you’re a new creation, then you are, period. But you are going to have to fight for that Word. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy and he will use well meaning people. The Word is appropriated by faith. Hold fast to His Word until it takes root in your soul. Your past is not held against you. Your sins are under the blood. Don’t let anyone keep you lying on your sick bed.

#runyourrace

To Learn More About Pastor Crystal please visit the Leadership Page