Hello, friends. My name is Michael Kontes 00:00:30.65\00:00:33.16 and I want to welcome you to Faith Chapel. 00:00:33.17\00:00:35.18 Today, we're going to look at an incredible story 00:00:35.19\00:00:38.15 out of the Gospel of John, but first let us pray. 00:00:38.16\00:00:42.79 Father, we come to thee now 00:00:42.80\00:00:43.95 and we thank You for the Gospel of John. 00:00:43.96\00:00:45.79 We thank that You have preserved His writings 00:00:45.80\00:00:47.57 to help us see Jesus in a different mosaic 00:00:47.58\00:00:50.75 than the other writers have put down. 00:00:50.76\00:00:53.19 Be with us now, 00:00:53.20\00:00:54.41 guide us and lead us in Jesus' name, amen. 00:00:54.42\00:00:59.61 Have you ever seen anything that was so 00:00:59.62\00:01:03.78 pitiful and painful that it hurt you to your core being? 00:01:03.79\00:01:08.13 Have you looked upon something at humanity 00:01:08.14\00:01:10.31 that moved you, with compassion? 00:01:10.32\00:01:13.95 Today, we're gonna look at the Gospel of John. 00:01:13.96\00:01:17.53 And we're gonna take a look at how Jesus 00:01:17.54\00:01:19.50 was coming across a situation at the pool of Bethesda 00:01:19.51\00:01:24.19 and He saw something that wrenched His heart. 00:01:24.20\00:01:26.84 And He would not allow the traditions 00:01:26.85\00:01:30.96 of the religious leaders to reach out 00:01:30.97\00:01:35.59 His hand and touch someone in need. 00:01:35.60\00:01:39.03 Let us open up to John Chapter 5, 00:01:39.04\00:01:41.68 the Gospel of John Chapter 5. 00:01:41.69\00:01:44.35 "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep 00:01:47.18\00:01:50.69 market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew 00:01:50.70\00:01:53.87 tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 00:01:53.88\00:01:58.19 In these lay a great multitude of impotent 00:01:58.20\00:02:01.53 folk, of blind, halt, withered, 00:02:01.54\00:02:05.94 waiting for the moving of the water. 00:02:05.95\00:02:09.91 For an angel sent down at a certain season into the pool, 00:02:09.92\00:02:15.21 and troubled the water, 00:02:15.22\00:02:17.30 whosoever then first after the troubling 00:02:18.64\00:02:21.90 of the water stepped in was made whole 00:02:21.91\00:02:25.57 and whatsoever disease he had. 00:02:25.58\00:02:28.75 And a certain man was there, 00:02:28.76\00:02:31.49 which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 00:02:31.50\00:02:36.59 When Jesus saw him lie, 00:02:36.60\00:02:38.45 and knew that he had been there now 00:02:38.46\00:02:41.38 a long time in that case, 00:02:41.39\00:02:43.91 he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole." 00:02:43.92\00:02:48.30 The text reveals that Jesus was walking 00:02:52.13\00:02:54.50 through Jerusalem as the feast was going on. 00:02:54.51\00:02:57.79 Walking alone apparently 00:02:57.80\00:02:59.49 as His custom was in meditation and prayer 00:02:59.50\00:03:03.64 and He came upon a scene of wretchedness. 00:03:03.65\00:03:08.22 A scene that so moved Him, that He acted upon it. 00:03:08.23\00:03:12.79 Now, one thing I want you say is that here the term, 00:03:12.80\00:03:15.81 the pool of Bethesda literally 00:03:15.82\00:03:19.25 could mean in the Hebrew, 00:03:19.26\00:03:20.62 house of olives or house of mercy, 00:03:20.63\00:03:24.82 which should tell us that Jesus 00:03:24.83\00:03:29.28 came across a situation 00:03:29.29\00:03:31.79 and He was the true merciful life giver, 00:03:31.80\00:03:36.20 healer of all and He wanted to extend 00:03:36.21\00:03:38.50 mercy to a wretched situation. 00:03:38.51\00:03:42.07 I'm sure as Jesus gauged upon this scene, 00:03:42.08\00:03:45.58 seeing so many that were sick 00:03:45.59\00:03:47.55 and especially this individual 00:03:47.56\00:03:49.58 who had been there for thirty and eight years. 00:03:49.59\00:03:53.13 Can you imagine being the creator of the universe, 00:03:53.14\00:03:55.68 never intending for sin to touch and affect this planet, 00:03:55.69\00:04:00.37 this universe the way it has and walking, 00:04:00.38\00:04:03.11 finally walking this earth and seeing what Jesus saw. 00:04:03.12\00:04:07.76 Friends, I think the reason why many of us 00:04:07.77\00:04:09.43 struggle so many times is that, 00:04:09.44\00:04:11.87 we don't see through Jesus' eyes. 00:04:11.88\00:04:14.42 We see through our eyes and we come across situations 00:04:14.43\00:04:16.76 and we're so desensitized. 00:04:16.77\00:04:20.02 Because sin has so corrupted us 00:04:20.03\00:04:23.13 and been a part of our fiber. 00:04:23.14\00:04:25.82 That when we come across the situation 00:04:25.83\00:04:27.70 we just openly embrace it 00:04:27.71\00:04:28.86 and think that's life and go on. 00:04:28.87\00:04:31.07 How many have gone to a foreign land, 00:04:31.08\00:04:33.76 India or some third world country 00:04:33.77\00:04:38.29 and then you really realize how good you have it. 00:04:38.30\00:04:43.56 I bet many have been in that situation. 00:04:43.57\00:04:47.53 Now, notice in this story 00:04:47.54\00:04:51.73 one of the things that it said 00:04:51.74\00:04:53.20 is that there was a custom during this time. 00:04:53.21\00:04:56.47 A custom and a tradition 00:04:56.48\00:04:57.68 that an angel would come down, 00:04:57.69\00:04:59.07 stir up the waters and as the angel stirred up the waters, 00:04:59.08\00:05:03.79 the first one down would be healed, first one down. 00:05:03.80\00:05:09.78 To me, follow me friends, 00:05:09.79\00:05:13.14 this sounds a little satanic and I'll explain. 00:05:13.15\00:05:18.27 The Bible says over and over and over 00:05:19.60\00:05:22.50 the last shall be first 00:05:22.51\00:05:26.30 and the first shall be last. 00:05:26.31\00:05:29.58 This is just like Satan to come up 00:05:29.59\00:05:31.98 with some kind of faulty, 00:05:31.99\00:05:37.58 heretical tradition, so that people are trampling 00:05:37.59\00:05:41.67 over one another like animals to go get healed. 00:05:41.68\00:05:47.23 Completely disregard each other, 00:05:47.24\00:05:51.13 but only look and focus in on themselves. 00:05:51.14\00:05:54.17 How many times I don't know about you, 00:05:54.18\00:05:55.73 but how many times has a store had a great 00:05:55.74\00:05:57.59 after Christmas sale that you watch on the news. 00:05:57.60\00:06:00.67 People are lined up at the store 00:06:00.68\00:06:02.39 5 O'clock in the morning 00:06:02.40\00:06:03.53 Pick your store, Macy's, 00:06:03.54\00:06:05.27 Dick's Sports, Fry's Electronics. 00:06:05.28\00:06:08.17 It doesn't matters, best buy, 00:06:08.18\00:06:11.49 Bass Pro Shops, for those in Missouri. 00:06:11.50\00:06:16.79 The door, everyone is lined up behind the doors 00:06:16.80\00:06:20.34 and as soon as they are getting 00:06:20.35\00:06:21.32 ready to open up the doors, 00:06:21.33\00:06:22.36 it's like a herd of cattle crushing 00:06:22.37\00:06:23.96 everything in front of you 00:06:23.97\00:06:25.68 and then people are fighting with one and other. 00:06:25.69\00:06:29.10 People are saying, hey don't push on me 00:06:29.11\00:06:30.58 and they're getting elbows back and so on. 00:06:30.59\00:06:34.04 That is the mentality that Satan would have us 00:06:34.05\00:06:38.27 to have to disregard others 00:06:38.28\00:06:41.26 and this is the tradition that was there. 00:06:41.27\00:06:43.79 Now notice, it goes on "And the Savior came 00:06:43.80\00:06:47.60 across this scene and He saw something 00:06:47.61\00:06:51.20 that others did not see." 00:06:51.21\00:06:53.17 Let me explain once again, 00:06:53.18\00:06:56.47 as He gauged upon this wretched situation, 00:06:56.48\00:06:59.88 He saw an individual 00:06:59.89\00:07:00.98 who had been there for 38 years 00:07:00.99\00:07:03.48 with a terrible disease and what He saw 00:07:03.49\00:07:06.04 is someone who was hopeless and friendless. 00:07:06.05\00:07:13.42 And as He gauged upon this scene 00:07:13.43\00:07:15.84 I'm sure His heart was broken. 00:07:15.85\00:07:17.67 As His heart was broken, Jesus would do 00:07:22.85\00:07:26.78 what He has always done, extend Himself to fallen 00:07:26.79\00:07:31.56 humanity in their time of need. 00:07:31.57\00:07:36.92 It was Jesus who showed Himself to Moses. 00:07:36.93\00:07:43.86 It was Jesus who revealed Himself to Saul 00:07:43.87\00:07:49.55 saying, "Why do you persecute me." 00:07:49.56\00:07:53.94 It was Jesus coming to Peter saying, 00:07:53.95\00:07:56.75 "Feed my sheep." 00:07:56.76\00:08:01.28 Now its Jesus coming saying, "Wilt thou be made whole." 00:08:01.29\00:08:09.06 There are times in our lives, 00:08:09.07\00:08:13.33 when we have no friends and no hope. 00:08:13.34\00:08:17.78 When we are at rock bottom 00:08:17.79\00:08:21.29 and I know it's crazy as this may sound, 00:08:21.30\00:08:24.34 that is the place where God would have us to be. 00:08:24.35\00:08:29.98 Let me explain, when we have no friends 00:08:29.99\00:08:34.65 and there comes the place 00:08:34.66\00:08:35.63 when we've almost out of hope, 00:08:35.64\00:08:38.27 Jesus reveals Himself 00:08:38.28\00:08:41.24 and we realize that our true friend 00:08:41.25\00:08:45.93 and our true hope comes from God and God alone. 00:08:45.94\00:08:51.02 There are many times where we can get 00:08:51.03\00:08:53.76 our sense of strength and hope from mommy, daddy, 00:08:53.77\00:08:59.79 our wife or spouse or husband, or kids. 00:08:59.80\00:09:05.16 And yes they can be used as instruments, 00:09:05.17\00:09:08.18 but not as crutches. 00:09:08.19\00:09:10.68 So many times if our spouse is doing good, 00:09:10.69\00:09:13.03 we're good, if our spouse have hope, we've hope. 00:09:13.04\00:09:18.35 What if our spouse isn't doing so good, 00:09:18.36\00:09:22.18 do we still have that hope. 00:09:22.19\00:09:26.61 There are times in our lives friends, 00:09:26.62\00:09:28.61 that no one can help us except Jesus. 00:09:28.62\00:09:32.07 Let us turn to the Book of Psalms, 00:09:32.08\00:09:34.60 Psalms Chapter 23 and look at this famous verse, 00:09:34.61\00:09:39.73 "Yea, though I walk through the valley 00:09:39.74\00:09:42.91 of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, 00:09:42.92\00:09:47.39 for thou art with me thy rod and thy staff comfort me." 00:09:47.40\00:09:56.33 No one, no one except merciful, wonderful, 00:09:56.34\00:10:02.37 counselor, mighty God, the Alpha and Omega, 00:10:02.38\00:10:06.39 the Prince of Peace, the Keeper of my faith, 00:10:06.40\00:10:10.75 precious Redeemer, Savior, the Amen and my salvation. 00:10:10.76\00:10:17.60 No one, but Him will be there for me. 00:10:17.61\00:10:21.90 Now when we come to the end of our resources 00:10:21.91\00:10:26.98 and we feel like the whole world is against us, 00:10:26.99\00:10:31.70 the people around us look small 00:10:31.71\00:10:36.27 and God begins to look bigger. 00:10:36.28\00:10:39.27 Many times when I'm in an airplane 00:10:39.28\00:10:43.96 and we're taking off as we're on the ground 00:10:43.97\00:10:46.79 before takeoff you look around 00:10:46.80\00:10:48.07 every thing looks normal, but as you begin the takeoff 00:10:48.08\00:10:51.34 and you begin to reach that cruising altitude 00:10:51.35\00:10:54.08 and you begin to look down the world looks what, 00:10:54.09\00:10:57.75 the world looks really small. 00:10:57.76\00:10:59.96 The world looks really small 00:10:59.97\00:11:01.47 and that's what God would wants us, 00:11:01.48\00:11:03.25 how God would want us to see the world. 00:11:03.26\00:11:05.27 He would want us to view the world small. 00:11:05.28\00:11:09.08 He would want us to look at the people in our life. 00:11:09.09\00:11:11.94 And when I say, small, I mean spiritually small, 00:11:11.95\00:11:14.65 meaning that they're not a crutch for us, 00:11:14.66\00:11:17.07 but that we have a relationship with God 00:11:17.08\00:11:19.90 and that Jesus is our crutch. 00:11:19.91\00:11:22.90 Now notice Jesus says, "Wilt thou be made whole." 00:11:22.91\00:11:31.44 Notice the individual, 00:11:31.45\00:11:34.97 the man with the infirmity didn't even hear Jesus, 00:11:34.98\00:11:39.62 didn't even hear Jesus. 00:11:39.63\00:11:42.33 Notice what the verse says in John 5. 00:11:42.34\00:11:47.35 John 5, verse 7, "And the impotent man 00:11:47.36\00:11:54.01 answered him, saying Sir, I have no man, 00:11:54.02\00:11:58.63 when the water is troubled, 00:11:58.64\00:12:00.42 to put me into the pool, but while I am coming, 00:12:00.43\00:12:05.16 another person steppeth down before me." 00:12:05.17\00:12:09.64 No one has, he didn't even hear what Jesus said, 00:12:12.91\00:12:15.82 Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made 00:12:15.83\00:12:17.81 whole then automatically his eyes went in 00:12:17.82\00:12:20.16 and focused in on his situation 00:12:20.17\00:12:23.04 and what he was a custom to thinking 00:12:23.05\00:12:25.99 how he could get out of his situation. 00:12:26.00\00:12:28.91 Meaning the tradition had 00:12:28.92\00:12:30.24 that he had to go down at the pool, 00:12:30.25\00:12:31.70 someone would have to take him 00:12:31.71\00:12:33.02 in there and no one would, 00:12:33.03\00:12:34.00 no one has been there for him to be able 00:12:34.01\00:12:35.67 to take him down there. 00:12:35.68\00:12:36.67 And even if I've seen some strange 00:12:36.68\00:12:39.57 coincidence, someone thus show up, 00:12:39.58\00:12:44.26 he can't get down there quick enough. 00:12:44.27\00:12:46.93 Yet Jesus said, "Wilt thou be made whole." 00:12:46.94\00:12:52.29 We often follow the pattern of this man. 00:12:52.30\00:12:56.50 Jesus is standing next to us offering us 00:12:56.51\00:13:00.47 wholeness and we're trying to get Jesus to help us. 00:13:00.48\00:13:07.78 Notice Jesus, once again said, 00:13:07.79\00:13:09.24 "Wilt thou be made whole" 00:13:09.25\00:13:10.41 and the man said I have no one, 00:13:10.42\00:13:12.91 kind of dropping a little hint, 00:13:12.92\00:13:14.31 will you take me down there. 00:13:14.32\00:13:15.79 Jesus has great plans for us, 00:13:19.04\00:13:20.76 greater plans than we can ever imagine, 00:13:20.77\00:13:23.99 but we begin to focus entirely in on our plan 00:13:24.00\00:13:30.58 and on the obstacle in front of us. 00:13:30.59\00:13:35.21 Friends, today, what is the pool in your life? 00:13:35.22\00:13:41.96 What is the obstacle in your life 00:13:41.97\00:13:44.61 that is keeping you from coming closer to Jesus? 00:13:44.62\00:13:49.65 What is the obstacle in your life 00:13:49.66\00:13:51.37 that you are so focused in on? 00:13:51.38\00:13:56.10 That is very difficult for you to answer the question, 00:13:56.11\00:14:00.10 "Wilt thou be made whole." 00:14:00.11\00:14:03.67 As I've shared in the past, growing up 00:14:03.68\00:14:07.46 I felt that my father did not love me. 00:14:07.47\00:14:11.61 That was my perception, 00:14:11.62\00:14:13.31 and it was a wrong perception, 00:14:13.32\00:14:14.54 but that's what I felt. 00:14:14.55\00:14:16.24 And sometimes perception can become reality 00:14:16.25\00:14:18.58 if we focus in on the fly on the wall. 00:14:18.59\00:14:23.39 I began to get in to competitive sports, 00:14:23.40\00:14:26.64 football, basketball. 00:14:26.65\00:14:28.87 I was MVP of both sports, through high school. 00:14:28.88\00:14:32.62 Graduated high school, 00:14:32.63\00:14:33.72 said I would never play sports again. 00:14:33.73\00:14:37.20 Went to a football game at the local junior college, 00:14:37.21\00:14:39.66 Sacramento City college and got bite by the bug 00:14:39.67\00:14:41.85 went out for the football team, 00:14:41.86\00:14:43.24 made the local football team, we are fifth in the nation, 00:14:43.25\00:14:46.12 I got hurt and I realized very quickly 00:14:46.13\00:14:50.35 that there weren't too many 00:14:50.36\00:14:52.11 5 foot 7 Greek white receivers in the NFL 00:14:52.12\00:14:56.22 and kind of gave up on football. 00:14:56.23\00:14:58.24 Then I got into competitive bass fishing. 00:14:58.25\00:15:01.56 You notice the pattern here. 00:15:01.57\00:15:03.16 I am going from one competition 00:15:03.17\00:15:05.58 to the next, to the next. 00:15:05.59\00:15:07.16 I found out very early in my age, 00:15:07.17\00:15:10.36 I found out that when you compete it and performed, 00:15:10.37\00:15:16.16 that you had the admiration and the flattery of others. 00:15:16.17\00:15:21.78 And I ate these, sweet little morsels up 00:15:21.79\00:15:26.24 being filled up inside feeling 00:15:26.25\00:15:28.91 that everything was great 00:15:28.92\00:15:30.31 when I would perform on the football field 00:15:30.32\00:15:32.23 or on the basketball field. 00:15:32.24\00:15:33.58 And then even later on 00:15:33.59\00:15:34.60 when I got into competitive bass fishing, you know, 00:15:34.61\00:15:37.90 if you did good and finished high 00:15:37.91\00:15:39.94 which I didn't do too many times, 00:15:39.95\00:15:41.50 but when I did I felt pretty good. 00:15:41.51\00:15:45.03 Until you realize the whole in your heart 00:15:45.04\00:15:47.95 that you are trying to fill for your father's 00:15:47.96\00:15:50.41 unconditional affectionate love 00:15:50.42\00:15:52.11 can only be filled by your heavenly Father. 00:15:52.12\00:15:56.59 At times in high school, I would go home 00:15:56.60\00:15:58.75 after making a game winning free throw, 00:15:58.76\00:16:02.88 or a touch down pass, or a kick off run. 00:16:02.89\00:16:06.48 And I come out of, I should say I came out 00:16:06.49\00:16:08.78 of the stands and the fathers, 00:16:08.79\00:16:10.48 and the parents and the families 00:16:10.49\00:16:11.96 would pat on the back. 00:16:11.97\00:16:13.49 And my father wasn't there, 00:16:13.50\00:16:14.75 he was busy working and it felt good 00:16:14.76\00:16:17.98 when people were patting me on the back 00:16:17.99\00:16:19.56 and telling me how great I was. 00:16:19.57\00:16:22.78 Until I got home and the person 00:16:22.79\00:16:24.08 that mattered to me the most had no idea 00:16:24.09\00:16:28.38 what I had done. 00:16:28.39\00:16:31.33 So many of us are carrying a pool around with us. 00:16:31.34\00:16:37.48 As a pastor I see this many, many times, 00:16:37.49\00:16:41.15 many people in the church 00:16:41.16\00:16:42.34 are looking at the pools in front of them. 00:16:42.35\00:16:45.31 They are looking at the pool, some of us, 00:16:45.32\00:16:48.39 you know, that's the point, 00:16:48.40\00:16:49.93 that just came-- a thought that came to me now 00:16:49.94\00:16:52.44 sometimes it's a pool 00:16:52.45\00:16:53.97 and other times its multiple pools. 00:16:53.98\00:16:56.85 Some of us have more than one pool in front of us. 00:16:56.86\00:17:01.21 We come to this pool or pools 00:17:01.22\00:17:04.23 and we're so focusing on the pool 00:17:04.24\00:17:08.88 that we miss the great physician 00:17:08.89\00:17:12.10 and the healer who wants to touch us. 00:17:12.11\00:17:14.03 What is your pool today? Were are you stuck? 00:17:18.30\00:17:24.67 Is there a past experience in your life 00:17:24.68\00:17:27.26 that has so scared that it has paralyzed you 00:17:27.27\00:17:29.94 and has left you down for 38 years? 00:17:29.95\00:17:33.96 Is there an experience maybe a parental experience, 00:17:33.97\00:17:39.90 mother, father maybe a brother or sister, 00:17:39.91\00:17:43.24 maybe a family friend? 00:17:43.25\00:17:45.24 Maybe there was a situation in high school, 00:17:45.25\00:17:48.09 some experience that has so touch 00:17:48.10\00:17:51.14 the core of your being, 00:17:51.15\00:17:52.46 that the pool has become so great that literally, 00:17:55.71\00:18:03.37 you've made a mountain out of a molehill. 00:18:03.38\00:18:07.44 I have done that in my life many times 00:18:07.45\00:18:09.20 the experience with my father was one. 00:18:09.21\00:18:12.31 The second time I can share with you 00:18:12.32\00:18:15.26 as I grew up not being a trusting person. 00:18:15.27\00:18:19.05 I didn't trust any one, only myself. 00:18:19.06\00:18:23.92 I had an eye problem, I couldn't see past myself. 00:18:23.93\00:18:27.41 I can only trust myself. 00:18:27.42\00:18:29.89 And so when I began to have relationships with people, 00:18:29.90\00:18:33.65 when I had friendships with individuals, 00:18:33.66\00:18:35.44 I was always looking 00:18:35.45\00:18:37.67 how someone was going to hurt me. 00:18:37.68\00:18:41.43 I was always looking around the corner wondering, 00:18:41.44\00:18:44.19 okay, what's going to happen next. 00:18:44.20\00:18:47.19 I know something is going to happen, it has to. 00:18:47.20\00:18:51.65 I was always looking at the glass half empty 00:18:51.66\00:18:55.59 and not looking at it half full. 00:18:55.60\00:18:58.03 And these types of scars can so paralyze us, 00:18:58.04\00:19:03.95 so paralyze us, they can leave us in such a state 00:19:03.96\00:19:07.32 that not only does they paralyze us, 00:19:07.33\00:19:10.83 but it hurts all of those around us. 00:19:10.84\00:19:14.59 When Jesus came on earth, 00:19:14.60\00:19:16.38 He placed trust in His disciples. 00:19:16.39\00:19:19.60 He empowered them and He placed trust. 00:19:19.61\00:19:21.60 He sent them out to go do ministry. 00:19:21.61\00:19:25.52 Some of them weren't even fully converted at the time 00:19:25.53\00:19:27.87 when He sent them out, 00:19:27.88\00:19:29.07 but He trusted them knowing that, 00:19:29.08\00:19:30.82 you know what, they're going to learn. 00:19:30.83\00:19:33.47 Can you imagine walking around 00:19:33.48\00:19:35.74 and not trusting people and having this be your pool. 00:19:35.75\00:19:40.87 Not trusting your children, 00:19:40.88\00:19:42.48 not trusting your wife, not trusting your employer, 00:19:42.49\00:19:45.08 not trusting anyone but yourself. 00:19:45.09\00:19:48.72 You are living in a prison cell. 00:19:48.73\00:19:52.27 You are living in such a prison cell 00:19:52.28\00:19:55.76 that you are strapped and cuffed 00:19:55.77\00:19:58.06 and had and you are up with fetters 00:19:58.07\00:20:00.08 and you've no freedom. 00:20:00.09\00:20:02.82 Many of us, many of us allow these experiences 00:20:02.83\00:20:08.23 to literally push people away from us in relationships, 00:20:08.24\00:20:13.80 because we can't let it go. 00:20:13.81\00:20:15.66 We don't look to Jesus when Jesus says, 00:20:15.67\00:20:17.49 "Wilt thou be made whole." and embrace Him. 00:20:17.50\00:20:20.44 We don't do like the lady who had the issue of blood. 00:20:20.45\00:20:22.99 We don't reach out there 00:20:23.00\00:20:23.98 when He's standing right next us. 00:20:23.99\00:20:25.34 We don't reach out to him 00:20:25.35\00:20:26.43 and grab the bottom of His garment, 00:20:26.44\00:20:29.01 just the bottom of it. 00:20:29.02\00:20:31.93 Because all we can see is the pool in front of us. 00:20:31.94\00:20:35.49 Though the paralytic did not know it, 00:20:39.69\00:20:42.89 he stood in the presence of the Creator; 00:20:42.90\00:20:46.38 he stood in the presence of the one 00:20:46.39\00:20:49.88 who made the mountains he could not walk. 00:20:49.89\00:20:53.02 He stood in the presence of the one, 00:20:53.03\00:20:56.20 who made the ocean, who he could not swim in. 00:20:56.21\00:20:59.89 He stood in the presence of the one, 00:20:59.90\00:21:04.02 who shaped and formed him. 00:21:04.03\00:21:08.95 Sometimes we get so wrapped up in our situations, 00:21:08.96\00:21:11.76 we can't see Jesus. 00:21:11.77\00:21:14.75 Now I don't want to just put it 00:21:14.76\00:21:17.38 to my pre-converted life that I did that, 00:21:17.39\00:21:20.49 and sometimes it just ends there. 00:21:20.50\00:21:23.92 Sometimes even as the pastor friends, 00:21:23.93\00:21:25.73 things happen, they come up 00:21:25.74\00:21:28.26 and if I begin to focus 00:21:28.27\00:21:29.84 on this little situation in my life 00:21:29.85\00:21:33.14 that I think is brought me great physical harm, 00:21:33.15\00:21:37.04 spiritual harm, and do not realize that Jesus 00:21:37.05\00:21:40.48 the one who has given me possession of the holy ghost 00:21:40.49\00:21:44.47 to hold my hand, to walk me through 00:21:44.48\00:21:45.94 and to guide me through every, 00:21:45.95\00:21:48.86 every street and every alley of life. 00:21:48.87\00:21:54.90 If I don't realize that, 00:21:54.91\00:21:56.94 what good am I to my congregation? 00:21:56.95\00:21:59.10 Pastors can fall into this trap as well. 00:21:59.11\00:22:02.21 Pastors can fall into thinking, 00:22:02.22\00:22:04.49 oh, my goodness, this is so big and so huge, 00:22:04.50\00:22:08.32 how can I ever get passes. 00:22:08.33\00:22:09.83 And then a pastor becomes paralyzed to the point 00:22:09.84\00:22:13.15 where he himself cannot even minister to the congregation. 00:22:13.16\00:22:19.05 Let us see in John 5, verse 8 the next text, 00:22:19.06\00:22:22.83 what Jesus said, "Jesus saith unto him, Rise, 00:22:22.84\00:22:28.50 take up thy bed, and walk." 00:22:28.51\00:22:33.84 And notice what takes place in the story. 00:22:33.85\00:22:36.58 The man's faith takes the hold of these seven words, 00:22:36.59\00:22:40.99 that Jesus says, "Take up thy bed and walk." 00:22:41.00\00:22:44.36 And for the first time in 38 years, 00:22:44.37\00:22:48.26 the individual every nerve, 00:22:48.27\00:22:50.28 every muscle thrills with new life. 00:22:50.29\00:22:54.71 A healthful action comes over his crippled limbs. 00:22:54.72\00:22:59.75 Without question he steps out 00:22:59.76\00:23:04.30 to will to do the command of Jesus 00:23:04.31\00:23:08.83 and all of his muscles respond to this will. 00:23:08.84\00:23:14.61 Brothers and sisters, He could have sat there 00:23:14.62\00:23:17.40 and He could have doubted, Jesus could have said him, 00:23:17.41\00:23:21.67 rise take up thy bed and walk in. 00:23:21.68\00:23:23.30 He could have sat there and just doubted 00:23:23.31\00:23:25.11 and never would have been healed. 00:23:25.12\00:23:26.94 But He had to make a choice, 00:23:26.95\00:23:29.24 he had to align his will with 00:23:29.25\00:23:32.07 the will of the great physician 00:23:32.08\00:23:34.19 and step forth in faith and walk up 00:23:34.20\00:23:37.00 and instantly he was healed. 00:23:37.01\00:23:42.15 I would like to read to you a quote 00:23:42.16\00:23:43.64 from the book Desire of Ages. 00:23:43.65\00:23:47.07 The Savior is bending over 00:23:47.08\00:23:50.23 the purchase of his blood saying 00:23:50.24\00:23:54.32 with inexpressible tenderness and pity. 00:23:54.33\00:23:57.59 "Wilt thou be made whole." 00:23:57.60\00:24:00.17 He bids us to arise in health and peace. 00:24:00.18\00:24:05.77 Do not wait to feel that you're made whole, 00:24:05.78\00:24:09.64 do not wait and feel to be made whole. 00:24:09.65\00:24:12.66 Believe His word and it will be fulfilled. 00:24:12.67\00:24:19.63 Put your will on His side, wilt to serve Him 00:24:19.64\00:24:24.50 and in acting upon His word 00:24:24.51\00:24:26.52 you'll receive strength, 00:24:26.53\00:24:30.15 whatever maybe the evil practice, 00:24:30.16\00:24:33.70 the master passion which through 00:24:33.71\00:24:37.02 long indulgence binds both body and soul. 00:24:37.03\00:24:42.27 Christ is able and longs to deliver. 00:24:42.28\00:24:49.30 If He would have left His mat there, 00:24:49.31\00:24:52.69 this individual would have been tempted 00:24:52.70\00:24:55.32 to go back to his mat. 00:24:55.33\00:24:57.69 How many times does that happens friends in our lives? 00:24:57.70\00:25:01.26 God comes into our lives, He delivers us, 00:25:01.27\00:25:04.12 lets say from alcohol and what we do is, 00:25:04.13\00:25:08.21 we go back to the same stuff. 00:25:08.22\00:25:10.88 We have a tendency to gravitate back there. 00:25:10.89\00:25:13.62 Jesus says take away, throw out that stuff away, 00:25:13.63\00:25:16.82 get rid of that stuff, take it with you 00:25:16.83\00:25:18.79 and throw it away and know that, 00:25:18.80\00:25:20.74 you've got a victory over it. 00:25:20.75\00:25:22.49 Yet, what we do is we leave it around, 00:25:22.50\00:25:26.08 so at the proper time 00:25:26.09\00:25:28.50 we gravitate back to it like the dog, 00:25:28.51\00:25:30.75 as the Bible says going back to its own vomit. 00:25:30.76\00:25:33.75 I can share with you today, 00:25:33.76\00:25:35.88 I can share with you today that there are sins 00:25:35.89\00:25:40.36 that I had in my life prior to becoming 00:25:40.37\00:25:42.94 a Christian that once I accepted Jesus words 00:25:42.95\00:25:47.33 Michael "Wilt thou be made whole." 00:25:47.34\00:25:49.72 I embrace that saying of Christ 00:25:49.73\00:25:52.83 and instantaneously bam, 00:25:52.84\00:25:55.20 I was delivered from that sin. 00:25:55.21\00:25:57.50 Now there are others sins and it will take a life time, 00:25:57.51\00:26:00.12 pride that I'm sure that I will fight 00:26:00.13\00:26:03.33 with that one for the rest of my life. 00:26:03.34\00:26:05.49 But there are other sins like for example 00:26:05.50\00:26:08.62 let say some of us may have filthy mouths. 00:26:08.63\00:26:11.55 Jesus comes into your life, 00:26:11.56\00:26:12.66 there is no need to struggle in that area. 00:26:12.67\00:26:14.64 It's a choice for us to say these words. 00:26:14.65\00:26:17.33 If its alcohol, it's a choice for us to pickup the bottle. 00:26:17.34\00:26:21.35 If it's marijuana it's a choice to pickup the joint. 00:26:21.36\00:26:24.83 Jesus says allow me to make that choice for you. 00:26:24.84\00:26:27.90 You exercise your will on the side 00:26:27.91\00:26:30.94 that I want you to do and I will empower you 00:26:30.95\00:26:34.30 and you won't have to be a prisoner 00:26:34.31\00:26:37.00 laying invillite at that pool. 00:26:37.01\00:26:40.25 "Take up thy bed and walk, 00:26:40.26\00:26:42.90 " Jesus is telling us to get rid of the old life. 00:26:42.91\00:26:46.94 Do not allow that molehill to be a mountain. 00:26:46.95\00:26:50.49 Do not allow that pool to become pools. 00:26:50.50\00:26:53.76 Jesus is saying "Wilt thou be made whole, 00:26:53.77\00:26:57.50 take up thy bed and walk." And brothers and sisters, 00:26:57.51\00:27:01.26 when Jesus Christ tells us to do something, 00:27:01.27\00:27:05.19 He will give us the strength 00:27:05.20\00:27:07.02 and He will empower us to walk a victorious life. 00:27:07.03\00:27:10.88 And the reason why, is because Philippians 4:13 00:27:10.89\00:27:14.10 says, "I can do all things through Christ Jesus." 00:27:14.11\00:27:17.61 How many things? 00:27:17.62\00:27:18.89 Some things, a quarter, a half, three quarters? 00:27:18.90\00:27:22.81 "I can do all things through Christ Jesus 00:27:22.82\00:27:25.67 who is strengthens me." 00:27:25.68\00:27:27.04 Does that mean that Jesus can take away 00:27:27.05\00:27:30.52 that pool in your life? 00:27:30.53\00:27:33.05 I believe so, what pool has hampered you. 00:27:33.06\00:27:37.23 Today Jesus Christ is calling out to you 00:27:37.24\00:27:41.13 and He is saying son, daughter, 00:27:41.14\00:27:46.38 "Wilt thou be made whole." 00:27:46.39\00:27:48.14 And if you're lying yourself with Him, 00:27:48.15\00:27:50.65 His will with your will, 00:27:50.66\00:27:53.14 then what will take place is absolute victory. 00:27:53.15\00:27:56.97