LESSONS FROM SECOND ARTICLE

 CAUSES OF DELAY

4) Lack of faith. John 5:1-9

 "In this account, there was a certain man which had an infirmity for 38 years and Jesus, while passing by to go to Jerusalem, came to the pool Bethesda and saw many people. Note, not only this man was there. Many impotent folk, blind, halt, withered and they were all waiting for the moving of the water. Verse 6, when Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case (he knew that he had been delayed), he saith unto him, wilt thou be made whole? Many times, children of God suffer delay because of lack of faith, in themselves now. His response, John 5:7. "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." This man lacked faith in himself, but chose to put his faith on others. For a whole 38years, he had been struggling to enter into the pool to be made whole. He made a statement, but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. For a whole 38 years, he was coming and another will step down before him. In verses 8-9, Jesus said unto him, rise up and walk and he was made whole, took up his bed and walked. Until he had faith in Jesus and in himself, he could not walk. Jesus just had mercy on him and healed him on the Sabbath day to show that our God is a merciful God. However, he expects us to be up and doing. He never expect us to sit lazily, doing nothing, and be expecting a miracle. Although, he will still show up because he's a merciful Father. This man never expected his miracle to come in another way. He thought, that was the only way. When Jesus asked him, will you be made whole? He still kept on repeating history. Sometimes, we behave like this man. We never expect something new and dynamic. Of course, there are some fundamentals which cannot be by-passed in achieving things, but there are still some expectations from us in achieving them. We only fix our gaze on normal routines and we make use of the same approach in doing things. We are not flexible to allow the ministration of the Holy Spirit as to how to do it better. There is a saying that "you cannot do things the same way and expect different results". Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Step out in faith. Do that thing God is placing in your mind. Do what God wants you to do. Don't be lazy. Don't give excuses. Act boldly. We can see eventually, that it was this man that rose up to walk himself. Nobody helped him. He believed in Jesus and he believed he could rise again. Maybe Jesus opened the eyes of his understanding. You too can rise again. God bless you.

The second case study is the woman with the issue of blood. Mark 5:25-34. Now this woman had a disease of an issue of blood for twelve years. She had suffered many things of many physicians and had spent all she had, but she rather grew worse. Until she regained sense to put her faith in Christ Jesus, she was not made whole. Don't put your faith in people. Put your faith in God through Christ Jesus. Until she had faith in Christ, she was not made whole. Who am I speaking to this evening? Do you have faith in Jesus? Have you been delayed because of your lack of faith in Christ? Do you believe Jesus Christ died for you and he was buried and he resurrected? This is for you. Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour today. Stop delaying yourself. Are you there? You're stuck up with a project? You don't know how to go about it and the Holy Spirit had been ministering to you on how to do it but you are filled with fear? Step out in faith. Faithful is he who has said it, who also will do it. It's all on God, let him handle it. Also, is there a possibility you are placing your faith in men instead of in God? Retrace your steps back to him. He loves and cares for you. Have faith in God. Live a fulfilled life. Remember, we walk by faith and not by sight. God bless you.

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 13, 2021 at 10:27 PM

    God bless you dear.
    It's very encouraging.

    Keep doing the good work.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. MaryD's Life LessonsApril 14, 2021 at 7:28 AM

      Amen. We thank God sir/ma. By His grace. Thank you so much for reading through. God bless you sir/ma.

      Delete

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