It’s about Time
Illustration: New Year’s Resolutions…
John 5:1-8 (NAS)
1 After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep {gate} a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters; 4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool, and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.] 5 And a certain man was there, who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time {in that condition,} He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?" 7 The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me." 8 Jesus said to him, "Arise, take up your pallet, and walk." 9 And immediately the man became well, and took up his pallet and {began} to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. (NAS)
1. The Sheep Gate – This was the city gate closest to the Temple where the people brought in their animals that were to be sacrificed.
They were still living under a sacrificial system where the blood of an animal needed to be spilled and it needed to die. That is how they atoned for their sin. That is how they received forgiveness.
People still try and atone or their own sin today…
John 1:29 – John called Jesus the “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.”
It’s about time we acknowledge our need for the Lamb of God. He is the only one that can take away our sin! Eph. 2:8-9! Breakthrough only comes through Jesus Christ!
2. Bethesda - "House of Mercy" – because of it’s healing properties.
The needy knew where to go to have a chance, a hope, to be healed. They heard the stories, the testimonies, and promises of hope! Can you imagine hearing of such a place? It would be like Dorthy hearing about the wizard the 1st time!
Put yourself in this man’s shoes. Wouldn’t you be there waiting as well?
It’s about time we come to the House of Mercy, God’s house.
It’s about time we believe that healing and breakthrough is possible.
It’s about time that the needy of St. Joseph hear the testimonies of the healing waters that dwell in the house of God.
3. Five Covered Colonnades (porches) - This is where people gathered and waited for the “stirring up of the waters”.
*I see these five porches as representative of 5 people groups.
a. Sick: [Impotent folk] Sick people; or people who were weak and feeble by long disease. The word means those who were "feeble" rather than those who were afflicted with "acute" disease. (from Barnes’ Notes)
Application: those who have allowed the pressures and circumstances of life to make them weak and faint of heart.
These are people who are depressed carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. My charge to you is that God didn’t save you by His grace to have you sick with worry and fear the rest of your life. Jesus died so that we can be free!
It’s about time we let go and let God!
b. Blind: Those who could not see
Application: those walking in spiritual darkness unaware of the Truth of God’s love and His purpose for their lives.
You may be here this morning and this is the first you’ve heard of the Truth of God’s love and purpose for your life. God loves you and gave His only son to die for your sins, your mistakes, so that you wouldn’t have to face God’s wrath. His purpose for you is “abundant life” here on earth, eternal life in heaven when this physical life is over.
- It’s about time we see the Truth and receive eternal life!
c. Lame: Those who couldn’t walk
Application: those crippled by a stronghold of sin.
One of our purposes – goals – is to grow in our relationship with God.
Sin separates us from God and holds us back from walking closer to God.
Strongholds of sin cripple our walk with Christ.
It’s about time we break those strongholds so that we can receive the healing and breakthrough that God has for us.
d. Withered: Those who were afflicted with one form of the palsy that withered or dried up the part affected.
Application: those with a dry or withered soul due to unwillingness to address their discontentment & bitterness.
Discontentment = ungratefulness. If you can’t be content with what you have, you’ll never be content with what you want. There is no joy in discontentment.
Joel 1:11-12
11 Despair, you farmers, wail, you vine growers; grieve for the wheat and the barley,
because the harvest of the field is destroyed.
12 The vine is dried up and the fig tree is withered; the pomegranate, the palm and the apple tree- all the trees of the field-are dried up. Surely the joy of mankind is withered away
Discontentment and bitterness affects those around you as well. It can destroy the potential harvest.
Bitterness will dry up your heart and if your heart is dry your soul will die.
Jonah 4:7 But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the vine so that it withered.
Why are you discontent or bitter? Is it because you didn’t get exactly what you wanted, or you didn’t get your way? Is it because somebody is being blessed and you’re not?
It’s about time that we confess our bitterness, make things right, and be grateful for what we have.
e. The Waiting: The crowd that stands around to watch
Why watch when you can participate?
You can be a blessing and help some get to the water to receive their breakthrough.
A phone call…a visit…an encouraging word…a word of correction in love
It’s about time we get off our porch and help others to receive our breakthrough.
4. Do you want to get well?
- This man had been ill for 38 years. I’m sure he wanted to be well.
- But…he made excuses…his will was as paralyzed as his body.
Maybe you’ve dealt with your “condition” for sometime now…it’s become a fact of life for you as it was for this man.
Jesus is asking you today, “Do you want to be well?”
Don’t make excuses…don’t doubt that Jesus can do it!
It about time we “get well” and have our breakthrough!
Closing:
Bow heads and close eyes…
Call up prayer team and ministry elders…
Perhaps for you…
It’s about time to acknowledge your need for the Lamb of God to take away your sin. Maybe you’ve never done that before. Maybe you’ve never asked Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to become a part of your life so that you could have “abundant life” here on earth and “eternal life” in heaven.
Perhaps for you…
You haven’t seen the church as a place of mercy and healing. It’s about time to believe that God’s House is the House of Mercy where the healing waters flow…a place that you can testify about…a place where the people of St. Joseph can come and have their needs met.
Perhaps for you it’s about time to get off your porch…
- The porch of sickness with worry and fear from pressures and circumstances
- The porch of blindness to the truth of His purpose for your life
- The porch of the lame and crippled due to a stronghold of sin
- The porch of the withered heart due to discontentment and bitterness
- The porch of the spectator who would rather watch than do
DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?
DO YOU WANT TO SEE OTHERS GET WELL?
Here is your chance…come to the altar…the waters are being stirred up even now! Your season is now…it’s about time for your breakthrough!
