12th Dec, 2010
Written By Rev Law Hui Seng
Posted By Teresa Han
John 5:1-15
Main Idea: Exercise your faith
A. Introduction
- In Christianity (in our personal relationship with Jesus), the element of faith is a great subject because it is something powerful, challenging and mysterious. It is powerful because it can accomplish unbelievable things (miracles) for Jesus. It is challenging because many think that it is difficult to do and normally we do not persevere in expecting God to show up; also because most of the times, we believe by sight. We want it to happen immediately after we pray and do. It is mysterious because you may not understand how it works (how God works out things) when things are happening. You just have to attribute them to God.
- The word of God always reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Why we have to please God? I have always this question. The answer must be because He desires us to obey Him. He knows what is the best for us. So, we must please God in order to obey God. When you please God, you exercise your faith.
- Let us see a significant case on exercise of faith in today’s passage.
B. The process that led to healing
- Let us see how Jesus healed an invalid. He was physically very weak because of his sickness. He could not move about. He could not be the first person to jump into the pool when the water stirred. Whoever was the first one to jump the stirring waters, he would be healed of his sickness as the tradition went.
- Jesus asked him whether he wanted to get well in verse 6. He did not give a positive answer to the son of God, Jesus, who can heal. I believe he even did not know who was Jesus. In verse 7, we were told that his focus was the stirring pool. He just said he was not in time to be the first one to go in as the others were so much faster than him.
- Then, in verse 8, we can see that despite the lack of faith for the invalid, Jesus still decided to heal him and so He said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Usually it takes faith for Jesus to heal (Mk 5:34). In this case, the invalid as shown by verse 13, he did not even know who Jesus was, Jesus healed him. Isn’t it amazing! If Jesus desires to heal anyone, he will do it. So, can you put faith to practice and pray for the healing of the sick so that Jesus can release the divine power of healing upon you.
- What happened after Jesus commanded the invalid to get up and walk? The word of God ins verse 9 says, “The man was cured.” You may wondering by now why I entitle my sermon as the element of faith based on this passage as the invalid does not have in Jesus to get healed for he did not even know who was Jesus!
- The last part of verse 9 explains the sermon title. It says, “… he picked up his mat and walked.” Brothers and sisters, if after the invalid was healed by Jesus, he refused to believe as he was an invalid for 38 years already, you think he was healed or not. For whatever reason he stood up, there must be the element of faith in Jesus. He might not have known Jesus at first, he eventually he knew as Jesus introduced himself in verse 14 later on.
- Therefore, it was very the faith element of the invalid that made him stood up. Sometimes, when you do not even pray for your healing of your sickness, you get well, do you attribute it to Jesus?
- Now, eventually, after the healing when the invalid showed himself around, the legalistic Jews condemned the healing because he was healed on Sabbath day. The Jews misinterpreted the Sabbath and they do not allow people to heal on Sabbath day.
- My point now is that encounter must have caused the healed person to think about Jesus. Eventually Jesus met him and told him not to sin again or else something worse may happen to him again. Brothers and sisters, do you believe your sin can cause to be sick? In this case Jesus says so! Let me give you examples, you worry too much and get depressed, you will get mental diseases; when you are so negative in your outlook of life, you are not happy, your body produces lot of toxic which destroy your body immunity system and then, all kinds of diseases including, all kinds of cancer will come.
- This person who was healed, in verse 15, eventually, he knew the real identity of Jesus and what happened next? He went around, giving witness that Jesus made him well. Brothers and sisters, when you are healed, you must do likewise. Do not just attribute your healing to medicine.
C. Applications
- In view of this passage, how can you exercise your faith like the invalid? Of course, you must pray for healing of your sickness. I have taught you to do it based on James 5, where you need to confess your sins and lay hand on the sick for healing because the prayer of a righteous person will heal. That is the promise of the scripture. Please also take note that we also must see doctor for medication; and seeing doctor is not lack of faith for God also uses doctor to bring about healing. This is our Methodist stand.
- However, do not just exercise your little faith in sickness only. Take note that in Hebrews 11:1,” Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” You do not see it is there yet, and yet you believe God will do it in His timing! This is faith. I find that it is such a practical definition that I always use it in my life, my family, my ministry, when I make disciples of all nations.
- I get you to pray for 100 girls and 100 boys on Thursday night prayer meeting and now it happened for 100 girls. Now, we need to trust God for more brothers and sisters to step forward to do the ministry at Pujut school on Wednesday afternoon at 2.30pm when the school reopens. Anybody who is willing to forward by faith? I now get you to pray by faith that God will provide the helpers and officers.
- The reading bus and alpha in Tudan have resulted in lots of children coming to Tudan Church, how can we keep them after reading bus. Sister Chew Moi want to give English tuition to them. Praise the Lord 2 have signed up. If 100 children turned up, they cannot cope. Can we exercise our faith that God will provide, by prayer? This is great opportunity to use our English ability to make them disciples of Jesus. You see the power of exercising our faith, so many others are blessed. Our personal relationship with Jesus must result in bring blessing to ourselves. If that is so, we are so matured a disciple of Jesus yet. When you pay the price to bless others with your money, time and energy, your expertise ability, you are much more powerful and matured for Jesus.
- No matter, how you exercise your faith, one thing I cannot afford not to preach and teach you, you must do it based on the word of God or focus on the person of Jesus. Failure to do it, you are not exercising your faith. You are just doing some activities. If it is not based on God’s word, you must not even pray and do it. Do you realize that I get you to pray based on God’s word of making disciples of all nations?
- One great implication of my preaching today is you must not depend human calculations as you do and pray by faith. Do not calculate in such a way that you do not put faith into your ministry. When we do not have manpower to do certain things, do not say no to it. Say yes, to it and trust God to supply the manpower, or whatever resources.
D. Conclusion
- Living by faith, the secret of a joyful life.
