Sermon 092798

John 5:1-17                             Hope in God for Your Deliverance                                9/27/98

                                                                                                                             ABCC

I.    Introduction                                                                                                                      639

q      At this time in Jesus’ life, He is becoming somewhat known in His public ministry

q      He has chosen the twelve disciples, begun to travel, preach & work attesting miracles

q      Some opposition from the religious leaders has started because they see Him as a threat

q      We meet Jesus as He comes to Jerusalem …

II.    Initial Observations

A.     Jesus was obedient to the Law of God (v. 1)

B.      Jesus assembled with the mixed multitude (sincere & hypocrites) at the feast

C.      It is natural for people with serious physical infirmities to gather at a place of hope (v.2-3)

D.     God may occasionally intervene in nature for our deliverance & benefit (v. 4)

E.      Jesus is sympathetic and compassionate toward people with physical afflictions (v. 1-6)

III.   Further Investigation

A.     People with various kinds of incurable afflictions should not loose hope (v. 3-4)

B.      Some infirmities will consume a significant part of a person’s lifetime (v. 5)

¨       Jn. 9:1 (blind man); Mk. 2:1ff (paralytic); Mk. 5:25ff (hemorrhaging 12 yrs); Mk. 7:31ff (deaf/dumb)

C.      Some lengthy suffering is designed for glorious deliverance by Christ (cases in B above)

D.     Jesus alone in grace & mercy determines who, when, where & how He will help (v. 6)

E.      Faith is not essential when God in His sovereign mercy decides to heal (v. 7, 13a) – “Sir”

F.      People in misery can miss the very offer of Christ for deliverance (v. 6-7)

This man’s hope of deliverance was directed toward one method or means only – getting into the pool

Hope in God for Your Deliverance, pg. 2

G.     God may bypass all natural & available means to heal & deliver someone in misery (v. 8)

H.     A person delivered from misery & affliction may be joyful without true faith in or thankfulness toward Jesus (v. 9, 13a) – no mention of any expression of gratitude or acknowledgment

I.        

How long have you been wrestling with your affliction, trail, thorn in the flesh, lot in life that keeps you in weakness?  Has it been a month or two, a year…?  Have you given up hope that there will be no change, no deliverance?  This man was severely afflicted & suffered for 38 years, yet he continued to go to the place of hope.  One day when he was not looking for Jesus or expecting anything from Him, Christ comes to deliver him.  Where is your hope placed today – counselors at work, school, renown physician & specialist, medicines, vitamins, minerals, physical therapy, psychologist, modern meditations…  Some of you may feel that God has abandoned you; you’re wondering if you will ever be delivered from your affliction & trouble or some even wonder if you will ever have your soul saved & have a real relationship with Jesus.  If we learn anything from this account, it is that Jesus is sympathetic & compassionate toward people in misery; He is unpredictable – He may deliver at any time, even today; He is God with no limits to His power; He can deliver you immediately without any natural means – hope in the Lord today (Eph. 3:20; 1:18-19a; Matt. 19:26; Lk. 1:37)