COME AND SEE #5: SIGNS AND WONDERS #1: JESUS IS THE HEALER
THE BIG IDEA: Jesus asks, “Do you want to be made well?” This message looks at Ten Biblical Reasons Why Healing is God’s Will Today.
I. THE SETTING
1 After this 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 (house of mercy), having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
• The reason there were so many people poolside: they were waiting for a miracle.
II. THE “VICTIM”
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made 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."
• Why would Jesus ask this question? Not everyone at the pool really wanted to be healed.
• So many people today have a victim mentality – they want to be the victim.
• “Poor me!” hoping for sympathy and handouts. No desire to change.
• Not everyone who comes to church really wants to change. Some come for music/friends.
• Some people like to whine and complain all the time. You know who I mean!
III. THE QUESTION
Jesus said, “Do you want to be made well?”
• This is a good question. If Jesus heals him, his whole life has to change. Get a job, etc.
• Jesus asks this question today: “Do YOU want to be made well?”
IV. THE HEALING
8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
V. THE WARNING
10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."
• Religious people always get mad when they hear us say that Jesus heals people!
11 He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'" 12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?" 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." (John 5:1-14).
• Now we see why this guy was sick – it was a consequence for his sin.
• When you are a glutton, alcoholic, druggie, you will reap what you sow!
• “When I refused to confess my sin, I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” (Psalm 32:3-4).
• Not all sickness is from sin – sometimes it’s a virus, not taking care of our bodies, etc.
10 BIBLICAL REASONS WHY HEALING IS GOD’S WILL TODAY:
We want to lay a strong foundation to build your faith in God’s Word concerning healing!
1. JESUS IS WILLING TO HEAL THE SICK:
“And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” (Matthew 8:2-3).
• Most Christians believe that Jesus can heal the sick (He has the power to do so) and that He has healed the sick in the past, but doubt His willingness.
2. JESUS IS A COMPASSIONATE HEALER:
“And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.” (Matthew 14:14).
3. OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IS A GOOD GOD:
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:7-11).
• I love this Scripture: “Matthew 7:11.” 7-11 Convenience Stores = always open!
4. JESUS CAME TO DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL:
“Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” (Luke 13:10-13). Then the ruler of the synagogue got mad at Jesus.
“So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it--for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” (Luke 13:17).
• Quote Acts 10:38 – Jesus healed all who were oppressed of the devil.
• “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8b). Sickness is one of the works of the devil.
5. HEALING BRINGS GLORY TO GOD:
When Jesus healed a paralyzed man: “And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!” (Luke 5:26).
• Whenever you see someone healed by Jesus in the Gospels, they gave glory to God.
6. GOD’S NAME IS ‘THE LORD OUR HEALER’:
“If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.” (Ex. 25:26)
• “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” (Malachi 3:6).
• “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Hebrews 13:8).
7. THE FULL GOSPEL IS POWERFUL:
“in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God…I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:19).
• “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” (Mark 16:20).
• The Kingdom of God is not in word only, but also in power!
8. THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT ARE FOR THE CHURCH TODAY:
“to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles.” (1 Corinthians 12:9-10).
9. JESUS PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR HEALING:
“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).
• “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24).
10. JESUS HAS COMMISSIONED US TO GO AND HEAL THE SICK:
“And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature… And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues…they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15-18).
• Jesus has given us the power and authority to lay hands on the sick and see them recover!
THE ABC’S OF PRAYING FOR HEALING:
A. ASK IN THE NAME OF JESUS:
“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13).
B. BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE:
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11:24).
C. CONTINUE ASKING UNTIL YOU RECEIVE!
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.” (Luke 18:1, NLT).
• Even Jesus had to pray for a blind man twice before he was fully healed! (Mark 8:22-25).
CLOSING: PRAY FOR THE SICK:
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
