DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GET WELL?

PROCLAMATION

“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool … called Bethesda … Here a great number of disabled people used to lie … One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there … He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ … Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk.’  At once the man was cured …”  John 5:1-9 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the incident with an invalid male at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.  The man had been affected for thirty-eight years when Jesus saw him and asked him if he wanted to get well.  Rather than answer the question, the man began to offer excuses regarding why he had not gotten well.  The water in the pool had healing power once it had been stirred by an angel and it would heal the first person to enter it. (John 5:4)  Jesus, told the man to get up, pick up his bed and walk and at once he was cured.  This upset the Jewish leaders because it occurred on the Sabbath and it was not lawful to work on the Sabbath. (John 5:9-10)  They wanted to know who told him to pick it up and walk, but he did not know. (John 5:12-13)  Sin may have been the cause of this man’s problem because later Jesus saw him in the temple and told him to stop sinning or something worse may happen to him. (John 5:14)  The remainder of the chapter deals with Jesus offering His justification and authority to do what He did. (John 5:16-47)  Jesus performed His third public miracle and the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him for it.

 

APPLICATION

All too often we beat around the bush instead answering a direct question.  Frequently we offer excuses for our behavior or our inability to get something done.  Jesus was questioning this man’s faith; He knew that he was sitting by the pool because he wanted to be healed.  Our faith is tested regularly.  We cannot have a testimony without first having gone through a test.  Too many of us are focused on our problems or our situation, and we are waiting for someone to help us.  We do not realize that faith in The Lord God is all that we need.  Jesus, The Christ, is The Son of God.  He can do anything that God, The Father, can do. (John 5:19)  He can give life to whomever He pleases. (John 5:21)  He is omnipotent.  He can heal you.  The question is, do you believe in Him and do you want to be healed?

  

 

TO TOUCH OR TO BE TOUCHED BY CHRIST

TO TOUCH OR TO BE TOUCHED BY CHRIST

PROCLAMATION

“And wherever He went, into villages, towns, or countryside, they placed the sick in the marketplaces.  They begged Him to let them touch even the edge of His cloak, and all who touched it were healed.”  Mark 6:56 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to Mark, a companion Simon Peter.  Jesus and His disciples left Jairus’ house and went to His hometown.  When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue and all who heard Him were amazed.  They felt that they knew Him and could not understand how He became so wise, or how He was able to perform miracles.  They were offended by Him. (Mark 6:1-3)  That was when Jesus said, “A prophet is not without honor, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4)  Then He went from village to village teaching and preaching. (Mark 6:6)  He called His disciples together and sent them out among the people, two by two, to teach and preach, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. (Mark 6:7-13)  After John the baptizer was beheaded by Herod, (Mark 6:14-29) Jesus gathered His disciples together and crossed the lake by boat, but the crowd followed Him wherever He went, even to a remote countryside. (Mark 6:30-35)  This is where Jesus fed the five thousand men plus their wives and children with the two fish and five barley loaves of bread. (Mark 6:36-44)  After He sent the crowd away and told His disciples to cross the lake and go to Bethsaida ahead of Him, He went up on a mountainside to pray.  Later on that night, He joined them on the boat by walking on the water out to the middle of the lake. (Mark 6:45-52)  When they landed at Gennesaret, the people recognized Jesus and brought their sick to Him.  Wherever He went they brought the sick to Him.  They asked Him to touch them and heal them, or just let them touch the hem of His garment and be healed. Mark 6:53-56)

APPLICATION

Jesus, The Christ, was a healer and He healed all manner of illnesses, diseases, and disorders.  He healed whoever He touched, or whoever touched Him or His garments.  To touch or be touched by Christ changed a person.  Even today, Christ can change a person and heal a lost sin-sick soul.  Miracles can still be performed today in the lives of believers.  All healing, be it physical, psychological, or spiritual, is by the power of God.  To God be the glory!!!

THE LORD GOD WILL COMFORT US

PROCLAMATION

“I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips.  Peace, peace, to those far and near, says The Lord.  And I will heal them.”  Isaiah 57:18-19 (NIV)

EXPLANATION
These are the words of The Lord God which were spoken to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah.  Chapter fifty-seven of The Bible Book of Isaiah begins by stating that the righteous die in order to be spared from evil, and so that they may find rest and God’s peace. (Isaiah 57:1-2)  Then He presents the abominable idolatries which were committed by the children of Israel. (Israel 57:3-13)  Afterwards He states that He punished them because of their behavior but that He would revive them, restore them, and comfort the mourners among them.

APPLICATION

The Lord God knows our sins and He has seen the suffering which we brought upon ourselves.  He said that He would heal us and our land if we would seek Him and turn from our wicked ways. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  He also said that He would guide us and comfort those of us who are mourners. (Isaiah 57:18)  We need to understand that death is a part of life and that people die for a reason. (Isaiah 57:1-2)  None of us came here to stay here forever.  When believers die, they transition from earthly labor to a heavenly reward. (1 Corinthians 3:8)  If they are absent from the body that means that they are present with The Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8)  We may miss them and wish that they were still here with us, but that is us just being selfish because I am sure that no one wants to leave the presence of God and return to the suffering on earth.  We need to make sure that we will join them and be with Christ when our time comes.  That can only happen if we believe. (John 3:16, Acts 16:31, and Romans 10:9)

A PRAYER FOR A LONGER LIFE IS ANSWERED

PROCLAMATION

“Then the word of The Lord came to Isaiah: ‘Go back and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what The Lord, The God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.  And I will deliver you and this city …”  Isaiah 38:4-6 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Beginning in chapter thirty-six, the prophet Isaiah repeats some history of Judah and prophecies which were presented previously in The Bible Book of Second Kings. (2 Kings 20:5-6)  To recount the events which are referenced here, King Hezekiah got sick and became ill to the point of death. (Isaiah 38:1)  He consulted with the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was going to die.  Then King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and wept, and prayed to The Lord. (2 Kings 20:2-3 and Isaiah 38:2-3)  Afterwards, Isaiah left the presence of the king but before he could get completely out of the palace, The Lord spoke to him and told him to go back to King Hezekiah and tell him that He heard his prayer and saw his tears, and that He would add fifteen more years to his life.

APPLICATION

King Hezekiah walked faithfully before The Lord with wholehearted devotion and did that which was right in the eyes of The Lord and He extended his life.  The Bible says that the days of our lives will be threescore and ten, seventy years old, but that could be lengthen or shortened. (Psalm 90:10)  The Bible also says that we can lengthen our days on earth by honoring our father and mother. (Exodus 20:12)  By honoring them we need to give them affection, reverence, esteem, obedience, and to give them assistance with the things that they need.  Here Hezekiah showed us that a good Christian walk and a prayer request can also extend our lives on earth.  We do not know the hour or the day when we will transition from labor to reward, but we now know that it is possible to get an extended stay here before we go home to heaven.

REPEATING CYCLES OF GOOD TIMES AND BAD TIMES

PROCLAMATION

“Till The Spirit is poured on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.”  Isaiah 32:15 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

In chapter thirty-one the prophet Isaiah continues to present the woes which will befall the children of Israel, for relying on Egypt instead of The Lord God, which he began in chapter thirty. (Isaiah 31:1-5)  Isaiah encourages them to return to The Lord and tells them that God will take care of their enemy Assyria. (Isaiah 31:8-9)  In chapter thirty-two Isaiah predicts a time of peace and happiness and prosperity for Israel. (Isaiah 32:1-8)  Then he prophecies to the women that in one year their crops will fail, their great cities will be deserted and abandoned, and their fields will become wastelands. (Isaiah 32:9-14)  After this, The Lord God will pour out His Spirit upon the people and the land and it will become fertile again and there will again be peace in the land. (Isaiah 32:15-20)  one day, there will come a King who will reign in righteousness with justice. (Isaiah 32:1)

APPLICATION

We have become a very proud, complacent, self-indulgent, stingy people and we seek help from everywhere but from The Lord God.  Therefore, like the children of Israel, we will continue to go through periods of good times followed by periods of bad times.  Then we will pray for mercy and act right for a while and The Lord will bless us again, until we start to turn away from Him again.  Our lives are like the mathematical sine wave with repeating cycles of ups and downs.  If we really want our country to be healed, then we need to humble ourselves and pray, and seek God, and turn from our wicked ways before The Lord will hear us and answer our prayers. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  Repent people, the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matthew 4:17 and Mark 1:15)

HEALED BY THE POWER OF GOD

PROCLAMATION

“Elisha sent a messenger to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed … his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.”  2 Kings 5:10-14 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram.  He was great and highly regarded but he had leprosy. (2 Kings 5:1)  A young girl from Israel, who served his wife, suggested to him that he go and see the prophet Elisha, who was in Samaria, to cure his leprosy. (2 Kings 5:2-3)  After loading up with silver and gold, he got a letter from the king requesting that he be cured, then he set out to see the king of Israel. (2 Kings 5:4-6)  The king of Israel could not heal him and was upset that he was sent to him.  When Elisha heard what had happened, he sent for Naaman, and then sent a messenger to him. (2 Kings 5:7-10)  Naaman was upset that Elisha did not come out and see him and pray over him.  He was also upset that he was told to go wash in the Jordan.  After he was convinced to follow the instruction of the man of God, he did so and was cured. (2 Kings 5:11-14)  Naaman offered to pay Elisha, to give him gifts of gold and silver but Elisha refused them. (2 Kings 5:15-16)

APPLICATION

We may not always like what the man of God and the Word of God says, but if we follow God’s word we will be blessed.  We want things to be done in the way that we prefer but that is not how God works.  The Lord God works in mysterious ways His wonders to unfold.  All things are done His way and not our way.  We just need to pray and ask for his guidance, direction, and healing.

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THE SIN-SICK PEOPLE OF THE WORLD NEED THE WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.’”  Luke 5:31-32 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  In this chapter he begins by presenting the events around the calling of the first disciples of Jesus, The Christ.  After He had finished teaching the people while sitting in Simon Peter’s boat at the edge of the lake, He told him to push out into the deep water and cast his nets.  Although he was reluctant, Simon Peter did as he was instructed and caught such a large load of fish that his nets broke and he had to get help from his partners. (Luke 5:1-7)  Seeing this, he worshiped Jesus, who told him that He would make him fishers of men. (Luke 5:8-11)  After this Jesus healed a man with leprosy (Luke 5:12-14) and a paralyzed man (Luke 5:17-25) before He saw Levi, the tax collector, and told him, “Follow me.” (Luke 5:27-28)  It was at a banquet at Levi’s house that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law began to question Jesus about the company that He was keeping.  Jesus defended Himself and His disciples and told them that the sick people need a doctor, not the healthy. (Luke 5:29-39)

Application:

Jesus, The Christ, spent time with outcasts and sinners because they were the people who needed to be saved.  He changed them, they did not change Him.  If we are going to spend time with the unsaved people of this world, then we need to be strong enough in The Lord and The Word of God that we can help them out and not get pulled down into their sins.  If our purpose is not to take The Word of God to them, then we do not need to be where they are.  However, if the sinners are in our homes or our place of employment, then we need to stay “prayed up” and walk and talk in such a way that they can see The Christ in us.  Remember, only those who recognize that they have a problem will seek assistance.