Dangerous Prayer: CHANGE ME (2)

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. (NKJV) 3 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.

3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. v 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

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. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

1 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, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Change is inevitable.

Someone once said, “Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.” They are right on both counts.

Things have certainly changed since I was a kid:

If mom or dad went to the store and you forgot to ask for ice cream, it was too late.

You actually had to wait until the next week to see the next episode of your favorite show

Math

As much as we may love or hate it, change is inevitable.

We resist change _when we believe the end result of the change will be a worse situation than if no change had happened._

(ILLUST - boy crying over not playing Fortnite - thought is life was changing forever (quote?) for the worse. (May have chuckled a little) Actually, this change may be exactly what he needs to be able to get out of mom’s basement and see the beauty of life apart from the screen)

We resist change _because sometimes it can be painful_

(ILLUST - some of my kids are at that stage of life of feeling pain in the process of physical change / growth.)v

Change is a physical reality.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

We live in a world twisted by sin and we feel the effects of that sin as it changes us physically.

Change is a spiritual necessity.

(NKJV) 3 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.

This man is waiting by the pool for ‘angels to stir it’ - based on pagan ideas

More than he needed to be changed physically by being healed, this man needed a spiritual change.

Jesus didn’t call his disciples to be saved to sit - they were saved and sent (more on that next week)

There is no growth without change.

Growth = change and no change = first sign of death

>>Begin to think about what in your life needs a change. What in your life, if it were changed, would cause you to follow Jesus more closely?

(what I say to my boys about their underwear is true for life as well)

Saying, “I don’t need to change” is not an option.

Jesus knows

5 One man

Our need for change.

was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time,

Whether or not this man knew Jesus we do not know.

This man had been sick longer than many people lid

But Jesus knew this man. It says there were a “multitude of invalids” — why this man?

Jesus recognized this man’s need for change, and in his divine knowledge chose this man so that he might heal him.

Ephesians says that Jesus . . .

(ESV)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

Jesus knew I needed a change and sought me out — what a marvelous thought.

Like a crippled beggar I was helpless and Jesus came to me to seek me out to change me.

Our struggle with change.

he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?

What a strange question!

You’d think Jesus wouldn’t need to ask such an obvious question.

It may not be as obvious as you’d think

Jesus knew if he healed this man that this man’s life would be radically altered.

A web of changes would trickled from this one major change.

Relationships would be different.

He would need to work for a living.

He would gain more responsibility

From this perspective Jesus’ question, Do you want to get well? is a penetrating one. ‘An eastern beggar often loses a good living by being cured’ (Finlay). Cure has its implications, particularly when the need is so long-standing that a whole way of life has been built up around it. Jesus’ question needs to be faced by all who would be delivered. Are we ready for the implications, including possibly repenting of sin and expressing a new loyalty to Christ (14)?

Jesus was asking if he was really ready for such a change.

Oftentimes our struggle with change and its ramifications cause us to resist change.

Sometimes the perspective from the other side of the change changes our perspective on the change itself.

ILLUST -

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Change, Resistance To

President Jackson,

The canal system of this country is being threatened by the spread of a new form of transportation known as railroads. The federal government must preserve the canals for the following reasons.

One, if boats are supplanted by railroads, serious unemployment will result. Captains, cooks, drivers, hostlers, repairmen and lock tenders will be left without means of livelihood, not to mention the numerous farmers now employed in growing hay for horses.

Two, boat builders would suffer and towline, whip, and harness makers would be left destitute.

Three, canal boats are absolutely essential to the defense of the United States. In the event of the expected trouble with England, the Erie Canal would be the only means by which we could ever move the supplies so vital to waging modern war.

As you may well know, Mr. President, railroad carriages are pulled at the enormous speed of 15 miles per hour by engines which, in addition to endangering life and limb of passengers, roar and snort their way through the countryside, setting fire to crops, scaring the livestock and frightening women and children. The Almighty certainly never intended that people should travel at such breakneck speed.

Sincerely Yours,

Martin Van Buren

Governor of New York

7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

I find the man’s response curious.

Why didn’t simply shout, “YES!”?

Perhaps because he did not recognize who was asking.

He didn’t know or believe that Jesus could heal him.

He was still relying on his own methods for healing.

He probably wanted Jesus to offer to help lift him into the pool

>>Sometimes we aren’t ready to allow Jesus to change us or the things in our lives that make us feel safe, comfortable, etc.

Jesus changes us!

This is the essence of the gospel. It is change - a change of spiritual healing - from death to life.

Passive realization of the change.

8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

The verb for get up (8, egeire) will be used again in the following dialogue for the life-bringing effect of Jesus’ call at the last day (28–29); the miracle exemplifies it. But in relation to the nature of the need identified above, the message is clear and gloriously relevant. Jesus can relate to long-standing need.

Man didn’t do anything to be healed

We are helpless to change our spiritual state without Christ.

If the man could have he would have.

Without Jesus, you are even worse off than this man.

(ESV)

1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

* Man couldn’t do anything to be healed

Man couldn’t do anything to be healed

Man couldn’t get anyone to help him get healed

* Man couldn’t get anyone to help him get healed

One of a few miracles where the person does not indicate any faith in Jesus prior to the healing.

Underscores the power of Jesus to change.

Active participation in the change.

9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Jesus changes us but he wants us to walk in the change!

What would have happened if the man said “Nope, not getting up?’

He would have been stuck.

There are far too many Christians who have been healed — they are saved — but they are still sitting on their mats!!

They can’t get past certain sins in their lives, they can’t get past old trauma,

They are more than happy to receive Jesus but they are not interested in standing up and truly walking with him.

Following Jesus requires a change. Do you really want to be healed?

>>How has your life changed since you trusted in Jesus? Doesn’t matter if it was 20 years ago or 20 minutes ago, When Jesus heals you through the gospel, he calls you to a changed and changing life!

* He wouldn’t have lived in the new reality of healing

* He may have been comfortable with the usual, but he would not know freedom

* >>Same thing happens to us when we refuse to participate in the healing.

* You can’t walk in healing if you don’t get up!

Notice how quickly the man encountered opposition - You’d think all would be good, right?

What would have happened if the man said “nope, not getting up?’

* He would have been stuck

* He wouldn’t have lived in the new reality of healing

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.”

* He may have been comfortable with the usual, but he would not know freedom

That’s not really true -

* >>Same thing happens to us when we refuse to participate in the healing.

11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.

* You can’t walk in healing if you don’t get up!

In a world of constant change, Jesus never does.

As God, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever

While our bodies change as they grow, the fact (truth) that bodies change as they grow never does.

Jesus never changes in relation to his message.

The truth of the invalid now walking is truth and must never change as anything but truth

The good news of the gospel is that it is just as valid and powerful today as it was when Jesus gave strength to the invalid’s legs.

We may put different jackets on the message to help communicating it, but we must never change the truth of the message.

The truth that Jesus changes people (the gospel) never changes while it always changes the people by the truth.

Jesus never changes in his relationship to me.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Because, (ESV)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (ESV)

He is an anchor on the sea of life’s changes.

He is the standard for all life’s change — Are the changes I’m taking in my life leading me more to be like the standard (Jesus)?

He is the standard for all life’s change — is the change in my life leading me more to be like the standard?

>> It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been sitting with your sin or your life the way it is, Jesus can still change you!

Conclusion

Pray for God to CHANGE ME!

Questions of the day:

* Where do I need to change?

* Maybe go back and pray again SEARCH ME

* Do I really want to be changed?

* CHANGE ME

When we ask Jesus to change us - what are the implications? What will need to put in its place?v

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