FAITH’S PERFECT TIMING
TEXT: John 5:2-7, "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 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 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."
The New Testament has much to say about faith. From it we find that faith manifests itself in different ways. There are at least four different types of faith revealed in the N.T.
1. The “measure of faith”-There is a basic faith inherent in man. It is a faith in a higher power. Although there are some who profess to be atheist, they usually arrive at that misconception from a failure to understand sin and it’s effects on humanity, and to comprehend a Holy God who’s righteousness will ultimately demand justice. The writer of Hebrews mentions this kind of faith. Hebrews 11:6a, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is." This kind of faith is an important and necessary element, but it is just a beginning. Many people believe that God is. Unfortunately the often fail to understand who God is, or they fail to act on that belief. This brings us to the second type of faith.
2. Faith that believes that God is concerned about us, and that He will respond to our seeking and our prayers. Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." This faith begins to move beyond a consciousness of God to an experience of God. This is faith that will bring us into a relationship with God, and will lead us to salvation. But salvation is not the final resting place of faith; indeed, it is only the beginning!
3. The third kind of faith is the Gift of Faith. It is a special, divine enablement from God, who grants it in response to a particular need calling for extraordinary faith to do mighty deeds and/or stand faithfully in unusually trying circumstances. It is a supernatural endowment by the Spirit to accept the utterly impossible. It enables the recipient to discern with extraordinary confidence the will and purpose of God, usually concerning the immediate future. The heart is suddenly emptied of doubt. Faith “sees” the impossible as not only possible but as becoming a reality.
4. Finally, there is faith for the miraculous. This faith may entail each or all of the others at different times (after all, what greater miracle is there than that of salvation), but it goes beyond them to believing God for the seemingly impossible. It is the operation of this kind of faith that concerns us this morning.
How does faith operate? We have all heard of those who seem to have great faith, and we have all struggled at times with what we perceive as our lack of faith. I trust that by the time we are finished today, we all leave with our faith bolstered; but more importantly, I pray that someone will respond in faith to the working of the Spirit and receive the miracle you need!
Jesus came to Jerusalem to the Pool of Bethesda. There he found many that were sick waiting for an angel to come down to the pool and “trouble the waters.” The first person to enter the pool after the troubling was then healed. John 5:5-6, "And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 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?" Of course he wanted to be made whole! That is why he was living by the pool in the first place. The problem was, due to his condition he had never been able to be the first to reach the waters. John 5:7, "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." The point to be made is this: the man had faith to believe that if he could reach the waters he would be healed.
The problem was not his faith-it was his timing!
This is Sunday morning, and we don’t have a lot of time to develop the thought, so let’s cut right to the chase. When the “waters are troubled” it’s time to respond. When the Spirit is moving, the miraculous occurs. Let me offer you a definition of faith. Faith is the active and immediate response to the moving of the Spirit. More specifically, it is the active and immediate response to the spoken (or preached) word of God. How many times has the word of faith gone forward, and we take the idea home to meditate on what was said or what was preached. May I submit to you that the hesitancy to respond was the reason you failed to receive your answer! Faith’s perfect timing is to respond when the waters are troubled. You have to swing the bat as the ball crosses the plate! When the word is spoken we must meet it with the immediate response of faith! You can have a perfect swing, but if the ball is nowhere in sight all you will do is fan the air.
Let me quickly validate this point. Paul told the Romans, Romans 10:14,17, "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Miracle working faith comes by the hearing of the word of God. Paul is very consistent with his word usage here. He emphasizes the idea of “hearing”-the word specifically referring to that which is heard with the ears. He is not talking about some good thought that you had, or even some scripture that you read. He is talking about something heard. He then follows the thought of hearing with the statement, "and hearing by the word of God." “Word” in this verse is the Greek word rhma meaning; “that which is or has been uttered by the living voice.”
You see, when a preacher preaches, God’s written word is quickened, or made alive by the Spirit or the anointing. It then becomes the spoken word of God, and becomes the word we respond to in Faith. We are not here to hear another sermon. It does little good to take the word home to “chew on it” when God’s timing is to move now. God has created the Church to be an assembly of believers who join together in fellowship and love to lift up Jesus Christ and to edify (build up) one another. This happens only when we come together in services such as this. That is why the things we are doing here are eternal. That is also why you can’t experience all God has for you at home. His plan is to work in and through His Church.
How often have we left without an answer because we failed to respond? Why are we hesitant to come forward when a call is made for prayer for healing? Could it be that the Spirit was troubling the waters, and we never made an attempt to enter in? Did you ever notice that we don’t have a prayer line every time we come together? However, when the Spirit impresses upon leadership to call for prayer, then it is time to act! Faith responds immediately! The attitude of “its just another prayer line” or “I can get my healing back here” is not miracle working faith. Although I believe God can and does heal anywhere and any time he chooses, yet when the Spirit speaks, God has made His choice. Purpose in you heart this morning, that when the spirit moves, you will act on that call. That’s Faith’s Perfect Timing!
We have a phenomenon is Pentecost that we have termed “chronic seekers.” There are those who have sought after the Holy Ghost for many years. Maybe the reason they are seeking this “free gift”, is because they have failed to respond to the spoken word of God. Some have tried to receive this on their own terms-“not at church, Lord-not at the altar, why not right here in my bench?” Faith’s timing is to respond in God’s way, at God’s timing. Is it tomorrow, or three weeks from now? No my friend, He wants to fill you with His Spirit NOW! 2 Corinthians 6:2b, "(For he saith…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation)." Peter went to preach to the Gentiles, and while the Word was being preached, and while the Gentiles were hearing Peter’s voice, Luke records; Acts 10:44, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word." God wants to do the same thing today! You have wanted the Holy Ghost for a long time, but you never felt it was for you because you sought for it at home but have never taken the step of faith when the word was going forth. Faith’s perfect timing in NOW! God can fill you NOW! If this is your first time in a Pentecostal service, let me give you a word of faith.
Acts 2:1-7, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled,"
Acts 2:13-17, "Others mocking said, These men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:"
Acts 2:37-39, "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." This promise is for you this morning! Will you respond to the troubling of the waters?
Healing:
· Psalms 103:2-3, "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;"
· Malachi 4:2, "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings."
· Mark 16:17-18, "And these signs shall follow them that believe…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
· James 5:14-15, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up;"
Provision:
· Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
· Luke 12:27-31, "Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you."
· Hebrews 4:16, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
