July 14, 2020 -- John 5:6 -- Freedom

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

John 5:6 English Standard Version

What a strange question. The man had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Our natural response might be to snort and say, well of course this man wanted to be healed. Who wouldn’t want to be healed and whole once again? But the question is correctly shows us the wickedness of the human heart.

Imagine Jesus looking at you and asking, “Do you want to be healed?” As a woman who struggles against gluttony and overeating—do you really want to be healed? Are you prepared to battle this addiction in your heart and life? As a man who struggles with pornography, do you want to be healed? Will you ensure that your heart, mind and eyes are engaged in the necessary battle to stay pure and safeguards are in place on your electronic devices?

Do you want to be healed? Think about a sin that might have a stronghold in your life: anger, jealousy, sexual promiscuity, alcohol, lying, stealing, drub abuse, laziness, discontent, or whatever sin it is that tears at your relationship with God and with others. Many of us have been wallowing in our sins for a long time unprepared to hear the healing word of Jesus and get up and walk into newness of life. Worse yet, having been healed, how many of us go back to our sins, toying with them, acting again and again as if victory over our sins is beyond our grasp.

After a car accident I was afraid to drive the highways. It was debilitating. This lasted years. Many times I prayed that the LORD our God would give me the courage and grace I needed to drive on highways, rather than bound in fear always having to stay on secondary roads and secondary highways. Once, after such a prayer for healing, the Spirit impressed on me this question: “How will you know you are healed unless you drive the highway, exactly as you’ve prayed to be able to do?!” Thanks be to God He healed me and I was able to travel without fear. How many of us live in strongholds of sin, even though the Spirit, the Helper, has opened the doors to freedom and given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ?!

Father in heaven, thank You for giving us Jesus Christ-Who not only took on Himself the punishment for our sins, He gives us victory over them. Thank You, Lord Jesus for Your healing grace. Father in heaven and Sovereign King Jesus, thank You for the Spirit of God given to us in great measure. Thank You for the Spirit, the Helper, Who opens prisons doors and sets those captive to sin free! Break the chains of our sins and where such chains are broken help us to walk freely in newness of life. Amen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGYjKR69M6U