Let us pray
Welcome....
On last Friday, while attending the camp meeting at Decatur, I received the
news that my former pastor, pastor George Suddeth passed
away............elaborate....
There are people today who like things just the way they are, and if a change
should take place they would not know what to do. Imagine being sick for 38
years, no rushing to go to work; no rushing to get back from work; no bills to
pay; no meals to cook; no home to take care of, and then suddenly you are
healed from your sickness, what would you do? This new change in life could
confuse you; this new way of living could drive you crazy; because now you
have to go look for a job; now you have to find somewhere to live; now you
have to find a way of providing for your self, and break the habit of lying
around doing nothing.
Please turn with me in your bibles to St. John 5
verses 1 through 16. Let’s all stand and read together. Please tell someone,
There is work to be done.
In our text for today we find Jesus attending a feast in Jerusalem. It is
believed that most of the people who attended the feast "would be God
fearing people and have their minds upon God; therefore, they would be more
prepared for the gospel. By attending the feast it gave Jesus the opportunity to
teach people to be faithful to the worship of God. We are all called upon to
be faithful in our worship of God. How faithful are you in worship of
God?..........elaborate..
There are five scenes that are noted in our text. The first scene is in verses 2
through 4 of our text (read verse 2-4) Just imagine for awhile a multitude of
impotent folks lying by a pool. They were not there sun bathing; they were
not there taking a swim; they were there because they had a need. At the
pool, were those who had eyes, but they could not see. At the pool, were
those who had feet, but they could not walk. At the pool, were those who had
ears, but they could not hear. At the pool, were those with withered hands,
deformed feet; bodies that were paralyzed; people who were helpless and
hopeless. Why were they there at the pool? They were there "grasping for
something to help them in their daily lives." These impotent folks found out
that at a certain time each year an angel went down into the pool and trouble
the water, and the first person who stepped in after the water was troubled
would be healed of whatever disease he had. Some might have said, why go
to the doctor, I can just stay here and wait, and there is a chance that I might
get healed, even if it takes 38 years....elaborate.....
Please note very carefully, people are always grasping for something to help
them in their daily lives. Some might look for the supernatural to take place;
some might look for the power in a pool of water; some might look in the
astrology of the stars for guidance; some might look to some magical person
on earth, because people have a need. Men never change regardless of what
time they live. "In their grasp for help in life, they continue to seek
everywhere except in Christ, the Son of God Himself. They hope and put
their faith in everything except Him." The Bible says in Pro-verbs 14 verse
12, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are
the ways of death." You can live however you choose to live, but each of us
will have to give an account to God........elaborate...
The second scene is in verses 5 through 9 of our text. This is a picture of
Jesus, who has the power to meet the needs of the desperate in the world.
There were many impotent folks lying by the pool, but Jesus focus his
attention upon a certain man who was there. This man was lying by the pool
for 38 years, waiting that one day things would get better. Jesus saw the man
lying there, he knew the man’s desperate condition, and he reached out in
compassion to help this man. This man did not ask for help, but when Jesus
sees a need he will reach out to help in that need.
I want somebody to know today, that Jesus knows your condition, and he
wants to reach out to help you in your time of need. What needs do you have
today? Jesus wants to help you. What burdens are you carrying? Jesus wants
to help you.....elaborate...
Jesus saw this man with a need; He saw this man who has been sick for 38
years, and Jesus asked this man a very strange question, Wilt thou be made
whole? or Would you like to get well? If you should ask a normal person
who is sick, do you want to get well, if that person is thinking right the
answer would be yes. This man who was helpless; this man who had no
family or friends to help him, did not say yes to the question. Look at the
man’s answer in verse 7 of our text (read) Jesus heard his answer, Jesus saw
his need, and Jesus told him to rise take up his bed and walk.
The question today is, would you like to get well? If you are physically sick
today, the question is, would you like to get well? If you are spiritually sick
today, the question is, would you like to get well? If you are faced with
problems that you can’t solve, would you like Jesus to solve your problems
for you. If you are faced with bridges you can’t cross, would you like Jesus to
cross it with you. If you are faced with mountains you can’t climb, would you
welcome Jesus to climb it with you. Jesus sees your need, and he is saying
get away from the pool, move away from those sick folks they can’t help you,
and rise up and walk. Stop hanging around those sick folks, and try to answer
the question, would you like to get well?...........elaborate...the doctors might
say there is no hope for you, but in Jesus there is hope. The doctors might say
they have done all they could, but Jesus is passing by, and he is asking the
question, would you like to get well?
This impotent man who was sick for 38 years, he heard the command of God
to rise, take up his bed and walk, and he obeyed the voice of God, and
immediately he was made whole, and he took up his bed and walked. Many
persons have missed their blessings; many person have not been healed,
because they have not obeyed the voice of God. This man could have said I
like it here by the pool. He could have said, I like being around sick folks.
He could have said I enjoy taking my sun bath, but when he heard the voice
of God to rise up, he obeyed, and he was made whole.
Would you like to get well? then start obeying the voice of God. Would you
like a change to take place in your life? then start obeying the voice of God.
Would you like God to bless you financially? then start obeying the voice of
God, and give to his cause. If we all can truly believe and obey God, we
would see extraordinary things taking place before our very eyes, For with
God nothing shall be impossible........elaborate....
This man was healed on the Sabbath Day, and for the Jews this was a
problem. This man’s life was changed on the Sabbath Day, and for the Jews
this was a problem. This man was freed from 38 years of misery on the
Sabbath Day, and for the Jews this was a problem. To the Jews, Jesus had
committed a serious sin, because he had healed a man who had a need on the
Sabbath Day.
Our third scene is seen in verses 10 through 12 of our text. This is a picture
of dead re-li-gion trying to meet the world’s desperate need. The re-li-gion-
ists were trying to meet the needs of people through rules and regulations,
ceremonies and rituals. The re-li-gion-ists were more concerned with the man
Je-sus who was violating the ritual of the Sabbath, than the man "who was
suffering in a pitiful condition." They should have realized that this impotent
man was healed through the power of God, and should have been eager to
share Jesus with this man. Somebody has said, nobody can do me like Jesus.
Thank God, it is Jesus who can open the eyes of the blind. It is Jesus who can
make the dumb to speak. It is Jesus who can raise the dead, surely nobody
can do me like Jesus.......elaborate... I said nobody, can do me like Jesus.
If I am sick he is my doctor.......
Dead religion is a religion blind to love and good. These religionists, these
good church folks were blind to what Jesus had done. Yes, they fasted twice
a week, but they were blind to what Jesus had done. Yes, they gave to the
poor, but they were blind to what Jesus had done. Yes, they went to church
regularly, but they were still blind to what Jesus had done. The question is,
would you like to get well? The great physician is here, is name is Jesus, he
sees your need, and if you want to get well, he is saying to you, rise up and
walk...........elaborate....get up and go....
In verses 13 and 14 we have our fourth scene with Jesus and the man after
healing (read verses 13 and 14) When Jesus has done something for you, it
might be physical healing or spiritual healing, but when that happens you can’t
help yourself, you just have to worship God. This man who was sick for 38
years; this man who was lying around sick folks; this man who had no
strength to get in the pool when the water was troubled, when he was healed
by Jesus, he took the time to worship and give God thanks. Somehow this
man found himself in the temple; somehow he decided to go to church
service, because he knew what had happened to him. If God has done
anything for you, you just can’t help yourself you will have to praise the Lord.
Those sick folks around you can’t praise the Lord for you, because they need
help, and so you have to praise the Lord for yourself......elaborate.. I dare
you to start praising and worshipping God for what he has done for you. In
fact, I double dare to start praising and worshipping God for what he has
done for you. Satan wont like it but I can hear the song saying, in the name
of Jesus, Satan will have to flee, in the name of Jesus we have the victory.
(Possible sing.....In the name of Jesus, In the name of Jesus..............)
When we have been touched by Jesus we have a responsibility, we have a
duty to perform. We have the duty to worship the Lord. We have the duty to
remember what God has done for us, that moment should never be forgotten.
We have the duty to sin no more. We have the duty to repent, make a change,
lest a worse thing come upon us. Would you like to get well? Jesus is here to
help you.
The final scene is found in verses 15 and 16 of our text. (read 15 and 16).
This man who was made whole started to testify of what the Lord had done
for him. He went to these religionists, these Jews, these strict keeper of the
Sabbath, and told them it was Jesus who had healed him. He was not afraid to
call the name Jesus, because somehow he knew that there was power in the
name of Jesus. Somehow he knew...........elaborate
To break the Sabbath law was a serious matter, which could result in death.
People were bound by the law, but Jesus, the Messiah came to liberate or set
people free from such enslaving behavior.In order to be saved, Jesus has to
set you free from sin so that you can worship God freely. If you are physically
sick today, whatever that sickness maybe, Jesus is reaching out to you, and he
is asking, would you like to get well? If your answer is yes, he is saying to
you, rise up, move away from those sick folks, and start walking. If you
are spiritually sick today, you are bound by sinful habits, you can’t help
yourself, today, Jesus is asking, would you like to get well? If your answer
is yes, he is saying to you, rise up, move away from those sick folks who
can’t help you, and start walking. Right now a change can take place in
your life; it might be a physical change, or it might be a spiritual change, but
Jesus can bring about that change for you, but it all depends upon you. Do
you want to be saved? Today you can be saved. Do you want physical
healing? Today you can be healed. Whatever you need, Jesus is here to help
you.....
Let us stand
Closing song/prayer
