Satan's Not The Only Rascal

SATAN’S NOT THE ONLY RASCAL

How ften have we heard that we are our own worst enemy?

We do to ourselves what we would not let anyone else force us to do.

We wouldnt let anyone force feed us, but we gorge ourselves.

Drug ourselves (cafine, nicotine, lathorgy)

I mean, really, who is the culprit here?

John 5:1-15

5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 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.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 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?

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.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 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.

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

Dismal Life Of Paralytic

Found at Pool of Bethesda – “house of grace and mercy”

Must have resided near the Pool – probably crawled there daily

He would wait for the angel to trouble the waters

He had no one to help him to the water, but yet he would go, day after day, hoping that someday a miracle would happen

For 38 years he had endured scorn and ridicule

His Condition Was Evidently Caused By Sin - verse 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."

The Pulpit Commentary: “The form of the sentence points to something special and persistent in this man’s habits, rather than to the general corruption of human nature.”

There are certain habits and lifestyles which bring afflictions.

Smoking – lung cancer

Heavy drinking – fries your liver

Drunk driving – jail time

Promiscuous lifestyle – increased exposure to certain types of STD’S

Drug abuse – shortened life span

Whatever this man’s lifestyle had been previously, it evidently produced this condition of paralysis (Sin will keep you paralyzed as long as you keep engaging in it. You can’t read your Bible or pray because it condemns your lifestyle.)

His condition was his own fault – 38 years of Divine discipline.

This man needed a God big enough to save him from himself.

A lot of times we bring affliction on ourselves by our stupidity.

We do something stupid and we sin.

Because of our sin we are faced with consequences.

Then we feel guilty and embarrassed that we could be so stupid, and that guilt and embarrassment, instead of pushing us toward the throne of grace, Satan use’s it to pushes us away.

It becomes a vicious cycle.

Sin begins to take its toll on you.

Then one day you find yourself bitter and broken, surrounded by the sick, halt, and lame.

Just as this man found himself lonely and friendless – no one to help him into the water.

Sin makes you bitter – no one wants to be around bitterness and complaining.

Those around him had no mercy or sympathy – his condition was his fault!

Often, from this place of hopelessness and despair we can hear the voice of Jesus calling to us, “Stop sinning, you’re only making things harder on yourself”!

But I can’t stop sinning, and I can’t get better – I’ve tried on my own and failed so many times.