KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:14 KJV” Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

Dear patrons be reminded that we are considering the topic a walk with Jesus through the gospels. The Lord met the impotent man, and admonishes him, as follows: you have been made whole, do not go and sin again lest a worse thing comes upon you. This underscores the point that sin gives access to all kinds of evil coming on men. Sin is the mother of evil. Sin is transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4. Sin is also submitting to satanic instructions that gives the devil, the right or access to control, afflict or even choose to live in you. God our father did not make a world, filled with pain, danger, and destruction.

Why is sin so devastating? Sin defiles the sinner and rebels against the very authority of God. This is why the scripture says when one confesses his sin, the Lord is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse him from all unrighteousness. The Lord cleanses the filth of sin and forgives the rebellion of sin. Rebellion challenges the very authority of God. It rises against the very throne of God and this is the severity of sin. It makes God come against you. If God be against you, who will set you free. Pro 14:34 KJV” Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Sin is also the sting of death, meaning sin kills. 1Co 15:56 KJV “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law”. Toying with any kind of sin, is like playing with a viper on your laps.

The Lord asked the man, not to go and sin again, lest a worse thing come upon him. What is the worst thing that may come upon him?

This worse thing could be a severe sickness. Could it be death. I think death happens to men. What can be a worse thing that may come upon him? Romans 8:13 KJV” For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. What kind of death is the scripture speaking of. This kind of death is spiritual death. It is being separated from the Spirit of God. This is a worse punishment to come to any man.

THOUGHT:  IT IS ALWAYS TERRIBLE TO LIVE IN SIN.

FURTHER STUDIES

Romans 6:16 KJV “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

Hebrews 3:13 KJV” But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:12 KJV “Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?”

In our previous study we looked at some of the contrasts between conventional religion and true Christianity. Religion is basically an expression of one’s efforts without any special reliance on the grace of God, to please God. Love for God and man is very much lacking in the heart of a religious person. He is very strict with observing the law, yet breaks the law at the blind side of all. In our key scripture these religious people were insisting on why the Lord will ask him to carry the mat on a sabbath day. They were not in any way concerned about who he was, or why he should be carrying his mat in the first place. Religion from our topic is a legalistic catastrophy. This man was carrying his mat because the Lord Jesus asked him to do so. How on earth could Jesus have gone wrong with the observation of the sabbath. He is the Lord of the sabbath, yet these legalistic zealots were questioning his wisdom in asking the impotent man to carry his mat.

Religious people are self-driven individuals, whiles true Christians are spirit driven. These religious ones attribute a lot of things to themselves. Religious people have difficulty in believing the miraculous. John 9:18 KJV” But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight, until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.” In this verse the Lord Jesus healed a blind man, but the religious Jews argued with him whether he had been healed. Another sign of a religious person is that they speak more of their denomination, than the larger body of Christ. They are denominationalists, rather than looking at the church as a bigger body of believers coming from so many denominations.

Any person who does not believe in Jesus as his Lord and Saviour, but believes in some deity is a religious person. Dear one I wish to humbly submit to you, that, you must bow to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 KJV” Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Jesus is the only Saviour. There are many who profess to be Christians, yet they see the above traits of a religious person in them. Dear one do not argue with the truth. Just humble yourself in your heart, and repent from the deception of the devil. Thank God for exposing the truth to you and surrender your life to Jesus

THOUGHT: RELIGIOUSITY IS THE GREATEST DECEPTION OF ALL TIME, BREAK AWAY FROM IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 5:4 KJV “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”

1Corinth 15:56 KJV “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:10 KJV “The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.”

Humans are so religious that, they would attack God’s interest, thinking they are doing a great service to Him. The apostle Paul put it this way; Romans 10:2 KJV “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.” What kind of knowledge do they not have? They lack God’s terms and standards for righteousness? God’s kind of righteousness is faith that worketh by love. The impotent man was healed and carried his bed around. The Jewish religious leaders asked him. Today is the sabbath day and you must not carry your bed around. This man has suffered almost throughout his lifetime and should have been celebrated. They rather came accusing him of something that posed no disobedience to God in any way.

The foundation of religion is self-righteousness.

This brings a sharp difference between real Christianity and religion.

The foundation of Christianity is justification by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ Romans 5:1

It gives no man any grounds to boast.

In theology, that is the study of God, religion is defined as faith in a divine being, with its corresponding practices, rituals and laws. By this definition some may say Christianity is a religion, yet there is a sharp difference in the practice of conventional religion and Christianity. In conventional religion man strives to obey certain laws and also to observe rituals stipulated within that faith so that he would be accepted by God. In Christianity we count on, or believe in the finished work of our Lord Jesus to be justified. We trust in the Holy Spirit to express His life through us. The Holy Spirit in us makes us Holy and so we are called saints. (1 Peter 1:2 “We do not compare ourselves with anyone, neither do we judge or condemn anyone.”)

These Pharisee were religious zealots who would find faults with others and were very strict in upholding the laws, although they faulted in many aspects. John 8:9 KJV” And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.”

The religious people’s act of defending God’s law, even to the point of killing offenders, does not proceed from a love for God, but rather a justification of themselves and condemnation of the offender. Religious people have no true love.

Sadly, there are many ‘Christians’ who are very religious. Sadly, such people are not saved, if they fall within the explanation said about religious people. If you are in such a state just repent and surrender to Jesus, before it is too late.

THOUGHT: ANY TIME YOU SEE YOURSEĹF AS BETTER THAN OTHERS, THEN YOU, HAVE FORSAKEN THE GRACE OF GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 18:11 KJV” The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”

John 8:3 KJV” And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:8 KJV “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

The Lord Jesus after a short discourse with the impotent man asked him to rise up take up his bed and walk. The man instantly took his bed and walked away. This time when the Lord instructed him to rise, he did not consider how difficult it has been all these thirty-eight years. He just acted on the word and to his own amazement he rose up and walked away. The word of God has life giving power. Hebrews 4:12 reads “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. The old English word ‘quick’ also alive, meaning it can give life.

This word means the word has the ability to create or perform what it says. It does not matter how weak, how sinful or even how dead you may be. All you need is to believe and act on the word. If you are bound by a particular sin or weakness, do not wonder and ask how can this word change me. All you need to do is to know and believe that this word of God is extremely powerful and potent. Just accept the word and act on it. If it is about healing just do not wonder the degree of seriousness of the disease. Believe and act on the word.

About two weeks ago a member of our congregation came to me and said that he just received a call that the baby of a friend of his, has just developed complication from an inoculation given to the baby. This brother came to me with this case, because I had earlier given him a word of instruction to tell that particular sister not to inoculate that particular baby. I asked him did you tell her not to inoculate the baby? He said yes, and added he does not know why she disobeyed the instruction. He then left. After about an hour he received a call from the lady that the child had died. I was shocked, yet I asked the Lord can something be done about this case? The Lord said, yes something could be done. I went to this brother asked him to call the lady for me. When he gave me the phone she was crying and wailing. I asked her to stop crying and follow my instructions. I asked her to go for water, and as she responded she has gotten some, I prayed over the water and asked her to sprinkle the water over the lifeless baby. All this while she had taken the baby to the hospital and he was with the nurses. She went to the nurse took the baby from her and sprinkled the water on the baby. I say to God ‘s glory the baby instantly started breathing and then cried as well. She just acted on the word and the life in the word brought life to her dead baby.

THOUGHT: GID’S WORD IS FULL OF LIFE, JUST ACT ON IT.

FURTHER STUDIES

Joh 6:63 KJV” It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

2Tim 3:16 KJV “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:6 KJV “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

The Lord asked the impotent man, will you want to be made whole? His answer was, I have no man……The bible said, the Lord knew that he had been in that condition for thirty-eight years. He knew the man wanted to be healed, yet He asked him will you want to be made whole? I believe the Lord wanted him to say, yes, I want to be made whole. Certain challenges become so used to the people such that they accept that this is impossible to go. They have a number of reasons why nothing could be done about it. Why did the Lord ask if he wants to be made whole, although He knew the man needed healing.? The man’s answer showed what was on his mind. His thinking was, why was I not getting well, but should have been,

 I want to be well. Many people complicate matters for themselves by focusing on the negative, rather than the positive side of life.

 Jesus is always touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Heb 4:15 KJV “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. “Every difficulty or pain the Christian goes through is felt by the Lord. He appeared to Apostle Paul and asked, why are you persecuting me? Acts 9:4. Why did he not attend to the man early enough? The man did not call on him, he did not know him, nor believe in Him. Although the Lord will know your condition, it is your faith that takes the solution or answer

 Many children of God, complain why is the Lord not answering me?

This is a very subtle error of most people. It is one thing for God to answer a request, and it is another thing for you to take the answer. As we have physical hands that possesses whatever is given to us,

 faith is the invisible hands that takes from God. Mat 11:12 KJV” And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Dear brother, stop waiting for your answer and receive it because the Lord says He finished His works from the foundation of the world. Hebrews 4:3, 4. Faith knows it has received. It does not worry or ask why has the condition not changed? Faith thanks God and says, God has answered and I believe, and so I have my answer.

THOUGHT: GOD ALWAYS SIMPLIFIES MATTERS; IT IS MAN WHO COMPLICATES HIS   MATTERS

FURTHER STUDIES

Heb 4:3 KJV” For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.”

3 John 1:2 KJV” Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:5 KJV “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.”

Disease is a very frustrating condition for anyone. God our Father, has demonstrated in His word that it is not His will for men to be tormented that way. (Acts 10:38) Unfortunately many men find themselves in such terrible conditions. Our key scripture says the impotent man suffered as long as thirty-eight years. We could make the following deductions from his experience and condition.

1. His condition was humanly incurable. Many people in these days suffer from conditions that are humanly impossible.

2. He had no man to get him into the water when it was stirred by the angel. How did He get to the pool side in the first place? I believe some people, might have carried him there. Why did they not wait to help him into the water each time the water was stirred? The people might not have been kind enough to wait. It could also have been his making. There are certain sick people who are very insulting and extremely unbearable. Could he have been like that? There are those who would not receive any further help because they never show gratitude for the little kindness that was expressed to them.

This man did not only have negative lessons to teach from his story, but some positive aspects as well.

1. Despite his incurable situation, he did not commit suicide, to end his life. He kept his hope alive. He believed in life and so made a constant effort each year when the water was stirred but failed. John 5:7 KJV “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool, but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.” From the preceding verse we see that, although every effort of his failed, year after year, he never gave up trying. In life we ultimately get what we aspire for or what we are ready to perspire for. Don’t give up on any good thing you have started doing.

On the day he met Jesus, he said I have no man who would help me get into the water. He put every hope to succeed on his sole effort, and wished somebody could help him. It seems God was not in his thoughts. It seems he never anticipated a miracle coming his way. Dear one, no matter the challenges and the outcome never loose hope in God and in his ability to work a miracle for you. This impotent man thought the only thing that could bring a change was the help of men. Psalm 146:3 KJV “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” The scripture cautions us not to put our trust in princes, for there is no help in them. True help comes from God. It is God who uses men to help. Always put God first.

THOUGHT:BE POSITIVE ABOUT LIFE, AND TRUST IN GOD

FURTHER STUDIES

Psalms 118:8 KJV” It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”

Proverbs 3:5 KJV Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 5:3 KJV” In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.”

At the pool of Bethesda, there were a camp of sick folks who waited for the moving of the water. The scripture says at a certain time of the year, an angel gets into the water and stirs, so that anyone who first falls into it was healed from whatever sickness that troubled or tormented him. It was so called the house of mercy, because of the healing that came freely to all who would first land into the water.

Beloved although this was a great relief and showed mercy to those who would be fast enough to fall into the water, by the great sacrifice of our master Jesus, we have a limitless house of Mercy. Now everyone, anywhere can obtain this great mercy of healing. This is a universal house of mercy. In Isaiah 53:1 the prophet said ” Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?” The arm of the Lord, that is the healing grace of God would come on anyone who would believe the report of the Lord. What is the report. The report says in verse 5 that, “…by His stripes ye are healed “Apostle Peter also said the same thing in the following way “….by whose stripes you were healed”

Apostle Peter’s statement revealed that, it was a concluded matter. He said by His stripes ye were healed. This is a settled matter. It is up to you to claim your healing or better still to possess your already settled healing. If you would believe that Jesus has indeed carried away your sicknesses the power of God, or the hand of God would be released to you.

How do you take hold of the mercy of healing;

1. Thank the Lord for giving Jesus to take away all our diseases.                 

2. Declare to your body that our Lord Jesus has healed us by the stripes He bore and so you are healed.

3. Rebuke the devil to take his hands off your body in Jesus’ name.

4. Thank the Lord for your healing.

5. From now keep thanking the Lord for healing you.

6. Refuse to consider any symptoms that may be showing up.

7. Continue looking at the word as you thank the Lord for healing.

THOUGHT JESUS, THE ETERNAL HOUSE OF MERCY

FURTHER STUDIES

 Matthew 8:17 KJV” That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

Isaiah 53:4 KJV” Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:51 KJV” And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth.”

The ruler who came to Jesus received healing for his son. He was met on his way home by his servants, who announced to him that his son was well. He enquired about the time when his son was healed; and it was the very time when the Lord said to him go thy son is well. This man had the faith to take his son’s healing. By faith you can take your answer. In Mark 9:22, the man who brought his son to the disciples, but could not be helped, asked the Lord, if he could have compassion, and heal his son. The Lord also said to him, if you can all things are possible to him that believes. The power for your own answer lies within your faith.

How can one grow his or her faith to obtain answers?

1. You develop your faith by knowing God for yourself. Knowing the word without knowing the God of the word, is frustration. You do this by accepting God’s revelation about himself and living to please Him. Hebrews 11:6

2. Give more time to feeding on faith building teachings. Watch and listen to testimonies of God’s great acts in the lives of others. Do not give attention to those who speak reasonably but not scripturally. Mark 4:24 ” And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.

3. Always do what the word says. Do not give up if things don’t go as expected.

4. Never speak contrary to what the word says. Your faith is strengthened or weakened by your words.

5. Refuse any, negative thought or impression that opposes the word of God.

One thing that overthrows the faith of most people, is when their expectation seems to delay. If your faith happens to grow weak, then there is a big question about your faith. The foundation of faith is established on the nature of God. Heb 6:18 and God’s oath to be faithful. These two things cannot change. God’s nature cannot change, and He cannot break His oath. You must not let down your hold on Him under any condition, for your foundation for your faith, cannot be affected by anything. When your faith begin weaken under any condition then that faith was not established on these two unchanging or immutable qualities of God.

THOUGHT: FAITH DOES NOT FAIL IF ESTABLISHED ON THE RIGHT FOUNDATION.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 6:18 KJV “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:”

Hebrews 10:35 KJV “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:50 KJV “Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.”

The word of God is God’s instrument for working miracles. He said, all things were made by the word, and without the word there was not anything made, that was made (John 1:3).

The Lord, told the man, Go your way, your son is well. The scripture added, and the man believed the saying of Jesus. His son was healed the very same hour. What is your challenge? The scripture says those who have believed have entered into their rest. Heb 4:3.

What is the sign that one has believed.?

In our story the ruler stopped his anxious pleading with Jesus to come to his house. He joyfully left.

1. The man who has believed is no more anxious Philip 4:6&7

2. Anyone who has believed demonstrates actions that shows confidence in God.

3. A little child who believes the promise of his father tells his friends his father is bringing home the thing he promised. If you believe, you would surely announce to all that, you have received what you prayed for.

Dear reader, if you would dare to believe God, a lot of the sorrows would cease. Men would know that there is a God in the heavens who hears the heart cry of His children. There are a lot of situations that men call impossible, yet if they would believe God, that situation would have been averted.

I was once at the Accra business area, when I heard a large sound of something hit the floor. It was a child of about one year and a few months old, who had fallen from a height of about six meters, or approximately eighteen feet. Incidentally, there was a medical team having health screening at that moment. I quickly, rushed to the scene, the moment I heard the fall. The child was taken to the medical team, who checked her pulse and heart beat with the stethoscope, but found no life in the baby. The doctor, who was a lady checked other parts and just shook her head in a disappointed manner. The doctor pronounced the baby dead. I was not moved by that. A man carried the baby on the shoulder whiles I laid my hands on her commanding life back into her. I prayed in the midst of the market women whiles we ran to get a taxi to get her to the children’s hospital. I joined the taxi and kept praying. By the time we got to the hospital the child started crying. At the hospital she was attended to, and amazingly, no bone, head or any part of her body was broken The Lord had restored her totally. The baby is normal and very healthy. It took somebody to believe God for a miracle.

THOUGHT: DARE TO BELIEVE GOD ALWAYS AND YOU WOULD ALWAYS HAVE THE LAST LAUGH

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 11:2 KJV” For by it the elders obtained a good report.”

Hebrews 11:33 KJV” Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 4:47 KJV “When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.”

Many people pray, yet a lot of people do not receive answers to their prayers, because they do not pray rightly. In the above verse a noble man, or a ruler head about Jesus’ presence in Cana which was close to Capernaum, where he was. He had a very pressing need. His son was very sick at the point of death. He went to see Jesus, and asked Him to come heal his son. Nothing seemed wrong with his request until the Lord revealed the man’s error. In verse 48, the Lord said,” Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” This man wanted a solution from Jesus, but did not come in faith. He prayed with passion like most people do, yet lacked the vital punch to bring the answer.  He came to the master with a preconceived thought about how the Lord must answer.

His anticipation was that, the Lord must come to his house and lay his hands on the child or do something in the presence of the child before his son would be healed.

The bible says whosoever comes to the Father must believe.

 To believe means, when you place your request before the Lord, the next is to leave assured of the answer.

It becomes an act of unbelief when you create in your mind the process by which, the Lord should answer you. In verse 49, he voiced out his expected approach to be answered.

 Lord come down, or else my son dies.

Dear child of God, it is the desire of God to answer your prayers.

John 16:24 KJV “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” This is the master’s candid desire for you. He wants your joy to be full by answering your request. Don’t create barriers to your answers. He says “when you pray, believe that ye receive the answers, and you shall have what you ask for” Mark 11:24

Hindrances to most people’s prayers come from a clear misunderstanding of the following,

1 The power of God Jeremiah 32:17

2 The love of God Rom 8:38,39

3 The word of God. PS 119:89,90

The power of God shows His works and acts. His love reveals his nature, which makes you, His favourite. His word declares His covenant. All creation is sustained by the word of His power (Heb 1:3). Failure of His word in the shortest moment, would mean the disintegration of all creation, but His word cannot fail. So long as the universe is held intact, then God’s word is fully in force and whatever He said is sure. Meditate on these three qualities about God and come always to Him, in full assurance of faith.

THOUGHT: ANSWERS =ASK + BELIEVE + RECEIVE

FURTHER STUDIES

Jeremiah 32:17 KJV” Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:”

Rom 8:38, 39 KJV For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalms 119:89 KJV LAMED. For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.