We as
a church have recently been going through a small group study based on Pastor
Mark Batterson’s book, The Grave Robber. The book reveals seven steps that can be taken
from the seven miracles Jesus performed in the book of John. We are a few weeks into this study, and it
has really challenged me in my faith.
The
third miracle John writes about is found in John 5. It’s the story of the invalid who has been
lame, blind, and paralyzed for 38 years.
For the sake of context, imagine that he has been in the same space from
the end of 1976 until today. The belief at the pool of Bethesda was that as the
waters stirred, if you were able to get into the pool first, you would be
healed. I would encourage you to take a
moment to read the story in verses 1 - 17 before we continue… (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+5&version=ESV).
Now,
let’s apply this man’s situation to ourselves today. I understand you may not be lame physically, but
perhaps it’s a relationship that has crippled you in your journey of Faith. You might not be blind, but maybe you need
some new vision heading into the New Year.
You might not be paralyzed, but the fear of the situation you’re facing has
immobilized you.
I believe God has called us to be
mobile, agile, and full of faith. God
has called us to live in Breakout!!!!
How do
we get from where we are now -- whether it be emotionally, spiritually, or
spiritually crippled or paralyzed -- to the place God has for us of freedom and
boundless faith? Let’s look at a few questions
we can extract from specifics in this story:
#1 – How often do we stay where we are because of the people around
us?
John 5:3 - “In these
lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed…”
This
invalid was surrounded by multitudes of other like-minded and like-conditioned
people. How easy it must have been for
him to become trapped in a certain mindset and expectation--that is, until
Jesus came along and offered him an alternative viewpoint! Consider this:
Perhaps what has kept you where
you are is simply WHO you have surrounded yourself with. It’s easy to stay in fear of the economy
when you have surrounded yourself with people who are fearful of the economy. It’s easy to stay in bitterness when you’re
constantly inundated with bitter people.
My encouragement and challenge is
to surround yourself with people who are where you want to be. If you want to be healthy, then get around
people who are healthy. If you want to
have more faith, then surround yourself with people of faith. Now, obviously, this does not mean you
ostracize people who don’t meet this criteria for you. You’re going to have contact with people who
will try to bring you down; you can’t help that. But you can choose what degree of influence
you give those people in your life, and you can choose how much of your life
you open up to those people. When
choosing who to seek counsel from, who to be vulnerable to, who to make your
everyday companions and confidants, choose those who will make you stronger!
#2 – Do you want to be healed?
John 5:6 - “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?’”
Jesus
asked the man a simple question, and He asks the same question to you today. While it might seem insignificant, I believe
it reveals your motive, your desires, and your faith. So often I have heard that if you do the
natural, God will add His super to your natural. I agree with that, and in this story the only
natural thing this invalid could do was believe for healing. Sadly, I think more and more people want God
to do the super and the natural. Today,
God is asking you to believe.
#3 – How often do we let our excuses keep us from healing?
John 5:7 - “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…’”
Instead
of answering the question, the invalid immediately went into excuse mode. His
chance for healing was right in front of him, but instead on recognizing the Healer,
he focused on his perceived hindrances due to his condition. How often do we
say, “Yes, God, but--”? So I ask you
today: Will you cut the but? If God
is asking if you want to be healed, I don’t think He is wanting your list of
excuses as to why it is so hard to be healed.
Rather, He is asking to see if your faith is there for a miracle!
#4 – What is your mat?
No
doubt that to the invalid, his mat was a source of security -- a comfort zone,
so to speak -- after having been there for 38 years. But his place of security was also a place he
could never stay if he wanted to walk healed and free. Your
freedom will always require you to move from the mat! What is your mat? What is it in your life that you thought was a
security for you, but in reality, it has kept you from healing? Perhaps the breakthrough is found in your breaking
out of what is comfortable, safe, and secure. Our excuses are a result of not wanting to
give up our comfort zones. But when God
asks you to give up something, it’s so that He can fill that space with
something better then we could ever imagine.
We can never trade down to God! Will you pick up your mat and walk?
I believe
your miracle and breakout are right in front of you. I believe it’s time to believe God can, to
cut the but, and to watch as God moves in your life!
____________________
Tim
