Jesus power can deliver us when we act in faith

John 5:1-9 I’ll be reading from the ASV (American Standard Version)

John 5:1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.John 5:2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep [gate] a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.John 5:3 In these lay a multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered, [waiting for the moving of the water.]John 5:4 [for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the waters stepped in was made whole, with whatsoever disease he was holden.]John 5:5 And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity.John 5:6 When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?John 5:7 The sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.John 5:9 And straightway the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked. Now it was the sabbath on that day.

Jesus power can deliver us when we act in faith

INTRODUCTION

We all come to God seeking healing and deliverance for our situations in life. Our God is powerful and capable of giving us timely deliverance. Day after day, month after month, and year after year we are the recipients of God’s blessings. If God has done a miracle for you shout a Hallelujah! Do you know that your deliverance comes at a price – The very life of Jesus Christ? So we must understand that we have a responsibility for the healing and deliverance we receive from God because we are healed and delivered when we act in faith.

In John chapter 5 Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem for a festival but on his way there he stopped at this pool called Bethesda. Now I want you to know this wasn’t a regular swimming pool. This pool is where serveal disabled people including the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed would all lie and wait for the water to be stirred. So they could be healed. See what I mean y’all done already miss something,.

Notice the quality of people that surrounded this pool they were all disabled so in other words they were only close because they were dealing with the same dysfunction and while you may be thinking this has nothing to do with you, let me show you why it does. Somebody say show me preacher. Glad you ask.

There are three different struggles in this story, you probably can relate to all three. The text tells us that these people are blind, lame or paralyzed, so let me break this down for you. There is a group of people who are really close because they are blind and don’t have a vision for where they are going. They lame meaning they haven’t been the same since they got hurt, do y’all know some people like that. They paralyzed meaning in some area of their life they have been living in a state of stagnation without any evidence of progression. See y’all bout to make me preach up in here.

My point is this is exactly how some of your friendships are, you’re not actually friends with them you just struggle with the same sin. Help me holy ghost. Y’all miss it, I’m say it again for the ones in the back.

But you call them family because you see familiar just like these disabled people you’ve been struggling with it so long you’ve now created a community that’s content with complacency.

Verse 5 says one who was there had been paralyzed for 38 years. After 38 years, this man’s problem had become a way of life. No one had ever helped him. He had no hope of ever being healed. His situation looked hopeless. But no matter how trapped you feel in your infirmities, God can minister to your deepest needs. Don’t let a problem or hardship cause you to lose hope. God may have special work for you to do in spite of your condition, or even because of it. In other words time was moving but he wasn’t. So, when Jesus saw him lying there after learning how long he had been in this condition he asked him a simple question do you want to get well now. I know what you may be thinking why would Jesus asked this man a question like that like of course he wants to get well or does he. See Jesus asked this question for a reason and it wasn’t just to hear this man’s projection it was also to show you a self reflection. Jesus power can deliver us when we act in faith.

Here’s what I mean, Jesus was speaking to a person who had been in the same place for so long it seemed as though he had become comfortable in his condition. Greater trinity see his condition wasn’t his conclusion. Jesus has the power to heal and deliver us when we act in faith do I have some witness in here this morning. Although God wants what’s best for us he won’t force what’s best on us, y’all miss it again let me say that again Although God wants what’s best for us he won’t force what’s best on us. My God from Zion.

Now watch how the man responds, he says sir I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred when I’m trying to get in, someone goes down ahead of me. Now why is that important because you gottta remember God is an all knowing God so when he asks a question it’s for you to discover the problem and the problem here is you don’t think he did anything wrong because you probably do the same thing yourself.

Heres the problem. Jesus asked if he wanted to get well but heard every reason as to why he hadn’t. So, he asked a yes or no question but got an excuse for a response and instead of accepting his excuse he submitted a solution he told him to get up pick up his bed and walk but hold on something in the water ain’t clean cause didn’t we just read that the pool was how they got healed we did but here the bible is attempting to articulate that God can bless you in a way that nobody around has ever experienced but Like this man is gonna require you to stop associating yourself with people who can’t see you hurting and refuse to see you healthy cause the truth of the matter is everyone don’t want to see you healthy because they see you as a threat to them.

1. Jesus is near the brokenhearted.

Jesus chooses to go to this pool. He didn’t stumble thereby accidentally. He knew what he was doing. Jesus was going to this pool the same way he went to Samaria to find the woman at the well, and the same way he went to sign-seeking, prophet-dishonouring Galilee to find a noble official who had a sick son. Jesus moves toward need, not comfort, toward brokenhearted people, not the self-righteous.

Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. You may have a pressing need now. You may not recognize it but our Lord is near you. We have tried for years and everyone is getting well and setting in life but you are in the same stuck-up condition. Today, my Jesus has come near you. Today is the day of your deliverance.

John 5:6-7 6When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (Instead, he explains his tragic situation.) 7“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

Today, you may feel lonely. You may think there is no one to help me. I am all alone. What will I do Lord? Remember, God is there to help you.

Jesus asks no more questions. In response to that description of his sorrows, Jesus acts. John 5:8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

2. Jesus is moved with compassion by your need.

This man did not know who was speaking to him. He did not ask Jesus for healing. It looks like Jesus healed him simply because his situation was so miserable for so long. In other words, it looks like it came from Jesus’ compassion, not man’s faith or righteousness.

At least nine times in the Gospels we read Jesus was moved with compassion. So not only does Jesus know your condition and near the brokenhearted but the misery we feel moves him. Every person has an appointed time of breakthrough and at that point even if you don’t ask, Jesus is there to pronounce his deliverance upon you. He is compassionate to us in our misery. He is a sympathetic High Priest for those who will trust him.

Jesus did not discuss with the man about the pool. He did not pay attention to the man’s complaints. Jesus told the man: John 6:8-9 8Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

 3. Jesus has the power to deliver us.

This man had a choice. He could start walking or just lie down in the same condition. There were many reasons for him not to walk. It was a Sabbath day. That day they are have to lift nothing. Lifting the mat was against the law. He never knew who was talking to him. Yes, faith sometimes acts against every human law. Today we have a choice – To act against our circumstances, act against our negative thoughts or continue in the same situation. When he listened to the voice of God his condition changed. For 38 long years, the mat carried him, now he is carrying the mat. Child of God whatever circumstances you face in life, if you act in faith you can overcome them by God. You are going to overcome your situations in Jesus’ name.

John 6:9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The words “at once” signify the immediacy of Jesus’ power. When he speaks, diseased muscles and bones obey. And they obey “at once.” This is John exulting again in the sovereign power of Jesus the same way he did in John 4 where the official’s son was healed at exactly the seventh hour 15 miles away when Jesus said the words.

Jesus meets us

Jesus will not abandon you halfway. No, he comes to us voluntarily, knows our needs, has compassion for us, and has the power to deliver us from all our troubles provided we act in faith.