Position is Everything

Do you want to be healed?

Before I begin let me tell you a little bit about what led me to my healing and ultimate freedom

For many years I experienced a great deal of pain and hurt.I grew up so accustomed to carrying the weight of my past that I wasn’t even sure I wanted healing at one point.

If I got rid of it I wouldn’t even know who I was so I just settled for carrying it with me.

I was raised by my parents till I was about 9 years old. My parents were both heroine addicts and sadly my mom contracted HIV through the heroine needles she shared. Shortly after that my sister and I were removed from our home and placed in foster care.

A few months after our mom was battling full blown AIDS and lost that battle at the young age of 32. My sister was 12 and I was 9 at the time. From that day forward our lives were forever changed.

And so I grew up in the system which brought its challenges and also very dark moments that I honestly never thought I would come out of.

I came to Christ at the age of 18 through a young man I was in a relationship with at the time, a very unhealthy relationship. Slo while Coming to Christ was liberating to me it was also challenging and difficult at times.

For many years I experienced a great deal of pain and hurt.I grew up so accustomed to carrying the weight of my past that I wasn’t even sure I wanted healing at one point.

That question was do I want to be healed?

Because if I got rid of it I couldn’t imagine being anybody else. I wouldn’t even know who I was so I just settled for carrying it with me.

After carrying a whole lot of baggage, ugliness, hurt and pain I needed to answer the same question the man who was healed at the pool had to answer.

The story of the healing at the pool was very relatable to me and is very relevant and eye opening for many of us today.

John chapter 5:1-9 tells us of a story when Jesus went to Jerusalem and stopped at the pool called Bethesda.

It says in verse 3..

3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4]

 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4]

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan

One man in particular had been there for 38 years. Somebody say 38 years.

Then it says in verse 6

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there for a long time. Somebody say He knew. You see God knows how long you’ve been where you are.

He then asked him this question “Do you want to be healed?”

Interesting question because you see the next statement the man makes I immediately related to him when I was at this very same place. He doesn’t even answer Jesus, He begins by saying...

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.”

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan..

I thought about that for a minute, how many times when I would be presented the same question and the first thing out of my mouth was what were my limitations and describing my current situation just as this man did.

I was in my past for too long I just couldn’t see what healing even was.

Its like were saying this is just my life, nothing ever goes the way I want it to. Every-time I try to get ahead someone else goes before me. Nobody wants to help me.

Just like the man he had looked to the waters to cure him yet he spoke of every reason why it seemed impossible to be healed.

Yes pls. Neutral palate: white, taupe, black, beige, etc

When all he asked the man was “Do you want to be healed?”

I believe what the man demonstrated here as I had done for so many years was he demonstrated his chronic inability to seize opportunity

In other words were so used to living with our past that we don’t see the opportunity for freedom so we choose to stay there.

lets look at what Jesus replies to him in verse 8

The New International Version Chapter 5

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

So he says “Get up!” Pick up your mat and walk.”

Jesus is not driven nor does he respond based off of our limitations nor lack of faith. He demonstrated his power in healing him even though he didn’t respond in the way many of us thought he would have.

I would think like many of us the response would go something like this..

Of course I want to be well. I have continually sought to be healed for many years. But it has always turned out to be impossible.”

“Of course I want to be well. I have continually sought to be healed for many years. But it has always turned out to be impossible.”

John 1: A Commentary on the Gospel of John, Chapters 1–6 5:1–30; The Miracle at the Pool

Of course I want to be well. I have continually sought to be healed for many years. But it has always turned out to be impossible.”

I believe this was his way of showing his power

If you’ve never experienced freedom and healing from your past then many of us I have found don’t even know how to respond to that question either.

If you don’t know the healer or rather the one who sets us free then we therefor just like this man, we are unable to perceive that Jesus is offering him the prospect of healing.

Today’s message is for people who really want to be healed from their past and if you want to be healed position is everything.

If you’re like the man lying at the pool. You’ve been carrying the weight of the past for far too long but don’t know how to get your freedom from the one who presents it to you today, then I want to show you how to position yourself properly to receive freedom and ultimate victory over your past.

If you’re like the man lying at the pool. You’ve been carrying the weight of the past for far too long but dont know how to

look at what it says In verse 9.

At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

After Jesus tells the man to get up and walk, he follows his instruction and positions himself to walk in his freedom.

but notice how he was cured before he got up? Thats because our freedom was already bought for us.

scripture tells us that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”

so its already ours even before we position ourselves to walk in it.

After Jesus tells the man to get up and walk, he follows his instruction and positions himself to walk in his freedom.

Somebody say position is everything

Today’s message is for people who really want to be healed from their past and if you want to be healed position is everything.

If you’re like the man lying at the pool. You’ve been carrying the weight of the past for far too long, but don’t know how to get your freedom from the one who presents it to you today, then I want to show you how to position yourself properly to receive freedom and ultimate victory over your past.

Lets look to scripture in where I believe King Jehosaphat gives us a frame work on how to position ourselves properly to win the battle. How to Position ourselves for freedom!

Lets look to scripture in where I believe King Jehosaphat gives us a frame work on how to position ourselves properly to win the battle.

Position of Engagement

2

The New International Version Chapter 20

After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites b came to wage war against Jehoshaphat.

2 Some people came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.