DO YOU "REALLY" WANT TO BE MADE WELL?

DO YOU "REALLY" WANT TO BE MADE WELL?

(John 5:1-6)- After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 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. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 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 REALLY WANT TO BE MADE WELL?”

Do you realize that we can get so used to being 'sick' (and I don't only mean physical sickness, but emotional and spiritual as well) that we don't even realize that we are sick! And sometimes, we actually do realize that we are sick, but we really don't want to get healed! Now I know you think I have lost my mind or that you have misread what I wrote! I'll say it again for clarification: SOMETIMES WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE MADE WELL!

WHAT?!

You see, we tend to get comfortable even in sickness! Anything that is familiar to us, is safer for us than that which we don't understand...or that which we have not experienced in a long time-if ever! We get so used to the pain (again, this could be physical, mental or spiritual) that it becomes a part of who we are! It's all we know-or all we've known for such a long time, that we don't know how to live without it!

So let me ask you a question: DO YOU WANT TO BE MADE WELL? Now I know many if not all who are reading this will say "YES! OF COURSE I DO!" BUT....DO YOU "REALLY" WANT TO BE MADE WELL?

(John 5:7-8 )-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.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

Notice the man did not answer Jesus! He continued to make excuses and blamed others instead! How often do we do the same thing?! The Lord will send something or someone in our lives that could possibly help, but we find every reason why we can't allow them to do so! "Oh no! I can't go to church this week...I'm in too much pain!"........ "I could not possibly forgive that person! They've hurt me too bad!"......... "I have tried to give it to God, but maybe it's not His will for me to be healed!"......... I would read my bible, but the words are too small and it gives me such a horrible headache!"........ "I would get the surgery, but what if something goes wrong?"......... "Oh, you don't understand how much I suffer!" "No one really cares about me anyway!".........

I could go on and on with the many excuses we give to others and to God! But the underlying issue is often FEAR! See sometimes with healing, comes REAL LIFE RESPONSIBLITIES! We have to "GET UP AND WALK" on our own now! We can no longer wallow in the 'safety' net of despair and pity. We can no longer rest in the 'arms' of pain and suffering. No more excuses! We have to step out into the unknown, and who will care for us now that we've been made well?! No more pity...no more sympathy...no more nurturing and catering.... But we forget, that GOD will still be there! He has never left our side! He will see us through and guide us into our preordained destinies! We've only got to trust Him- to rest in Him! If we would give Him our praise even in the midst of the pain, we'll be surprised at how He can work in and through us to reach others going through what we ourselves have come out of!

So let me ask you again: DO YOU "REALLY" WANT TO BE MADE WELL?! Let me share one final thought: Often times we are locked in a prison, behind walls that we ourselves have built! In our effort to keep the intruders (anything or anyone that has hurt us) out, we also lock God and those He sends our way to help us, out as well! And in essence, we have locked ourselves in! But all you have to do is allow God to help you break down those walls like He helped the Israelites break down the walls of Jericho! Place your trust in Him and He'll give you the tools you need to do so! The 'hammer' is sitting right beside you! Why aren't you using it?! Break down those walls, brick by brick....IF YOU "REALLY" WANT TO BE MADE WELL!

NOTE: I KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING A PHYSICAL ILLNESS, OR EVEN EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL ISSUES, THAT TRULY DO WANT TO BE SET FREE! WHO TRULY DO TRUST GOD AND ARE DOING ALL THEY POSSIBLY CAN, TRUSTING IN HIM TO DELIVER THEM! THIS MESSAGE IS NOT TO MAKE YOU FEEL THAT YOU AREN'T DOING ENOUGH OR THAT YOU ARE DOING SOMETHING WRONG! GOD KNOWS OUR HEARTS! THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED WHERE THEY ARE BECAUSE OF COMFORT AND FEAR; WHEN I KNOW THIS IS NOT GOD'S WILL! I AM PRAYING FOR ALL THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED IN ANY WAY! NEVER LOSE HOPE! IF GOD PROMISED YOU HEALING AND DELIVERANCE, OR ANYTHING ELSE, SO SHALL IT BE! BE ENCOURAGED! HE HAS NOT FORGOTTEN YOU!

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