Why not Us? Why not Now?
by Pastor Donny Granberry
In a few minutes we are going to be giving you an opportunity to be a part of something miraculous.
There are many opportunities that we will encounter in life and our success depends upon us making the very best of the opportunities that God gives us.
Yet opportunities such as we have today, do not come our way all of that often.
Today we have the opportunity to do something great for the kingdom.
In our text this morning we will read about those sitting around the Pool of Bethesda, waiting on the waters to be stirred.
John 5:1-9
Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. 2Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. 3Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. 5One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”
7The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”
8Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” 9The man was healed on the spot.
Miracle – An event that is neither a part nor a result of any known natural law or agency caused by the direct intervention of a supernatural or divine power.
1. The Need is Great
(v. 3) Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. 5One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years.
In this house of worship this morning we have many who came to Jesus sick.
• Sick in body
• Sick in spirit
• Sick in hope, joy, and in mind
• Sick in bondage and addiction
• Sick in heart
I have good news for you today;
• Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted
• Jesus came to restore what the enemy has stolen
• To give sight to the blind and motion to the lame
• To give abundant life to anyone who calls on His name
The need in our world, in our nation, in our community, and yes, even in the church is great.
• Statistics tell us that there are more that 19 million alcoholics in the U.S. alone.
• There are also more than 9 million drug addicts.
• You could take the cities of Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, and New York, double their numbers, and still not equal all of the Drug/Alcohol dependant people in America.
• 46.8% of High School students are sexually active.
• 31% of young women become pregnant before the age of 20.
What can put a halt to the downward spiral in many people’s lives?
We have the answer, the antidote to the venom of the devil.
What can wash away my sin, nothing but the blood of Jesus?
The only relief to the needs of the world is the life changing power of Christ.
When they asked the non-sexually active teens why the were practicing abstinence, the #1 answer was that it was against their spiritual and moral beliefs.
Jesus is the answer, for the world today!
When Jesus came to the Pool of Bethesda, there were literally hundreds of people there in need.
Every day, every week we come across hundreds of people who have great needs and someone must do give them the answer and I ask?
WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?
2. Waiting on the Water.
(v. 6&7) Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knowing how long he had been there said, “Do you want to get well?”
The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”
Most would have thought, what an ignorant question, do I want to get well.
I have been coming to the pool every day for years.
I sit here just waiting on the water to be troubled, and then it happens.
The water begins to stir, and I go as quickly as I can, but every time someone else gets there first, and here I am, waiting on the water again.
How many people are there in need, and just waiting on the water?
I don’t know of anyone who plans on being a drug addict, an alcoholic, or any other bondage in life, but it happens.
When you speak with them, 0%, none, nada, will tell you that they are happy with where they are in life.
100% would like to change, but they have given up hope.
They have seen the waters stirred many times, but always for someone else.
They have given up hope; they have no one to help them get into the water.
Someone must help them get into the waters.
WHY NOT US? WHY NOT NOW?
3. On the Brink of a Miracle.
(v. 8&9) Jesus said, get up, take your bedroll, and start walking. The man was healed on the spot.
The man at the pool had the answer standing in front of him and he did not realize it.
Jesus, the healer, the way-maker, the life giver, the answer to all of his questions, was in his presence and he did not realize it.
Do you want to get well? Yes, but I’m waiting on the water.
Do you want to be free? Yes. But I’m waiting on the water.
Do you want your circumstances to change? I’m just waiting on the water.
Jesus did not ask his for an excuse or to analyze his situation, He asked a simple question, do you want to be healed?
Sometimes it is easier to wait on the water than to walk again.
Waiting on the water does not require anything from us.
He says, I don’t have anyone to help me, or I can’t.
I have people that will tell me, I have tried to change, but I can’t.
The problem is that you will not.
Pastor it can’t be that easy, I just can’t just decide to change, and then just do it, that is too easy.
That may have been right at the moment, but not any longer.
Jesus asked him, do you want to get well, then arise, take up your bed and walk.
If you want things to change, do something.
The power of Christ to change a life.
• Church, we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to change lives.
• We have been blessed by God with the resources to make a difference.
• We are stewards of what we have been entrusted with, “to whom much has been given, much is required.”
Every day, the miraculous happens at Teen Challenge, and we have been mandated by God to be a part of it.
Today, once again it is time for the waters to be stirred.
Someone must be a part of a life changing miracle, and I ask you?
WHY NOT US, WHY NOT NOW?
Let us declare, today is the day for greatness for the kingdom.
Today is the day for greatness for this church.
Today is the day for God to use me for greatness.
