FROM DESPERATION TO EMANCIPATION

In the picture, Dr Heidi Baker, the fervent and fiery apostle & missionary to Mozambique, posed with Pastors John & Mary, at the "Open Heaven Conference" in Singapore, January 2008.

This week, enjoy reading from another chapter of the book: "HIS HELPING HANDS", due to be released soon from the stable of Xulon Press, USA.

Read, Remember and Retain for, the Bible says: "wisdom is profitable to direct".

DESPERATION TO EMANCIPATION

“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 want to be made well?’ ” (John 5:1-6)

A desperate man is like a very hungry man. A desperate man could be like a dangerous man in a sense too. He is ready to try to get anything that he believes he can get. Are you so desperate to excel for Jesus Christ in life? Your actions will show to all the degree of your desire. Many really have desires in life but it takes real determination, plus a lot of

discipline, to get to that desired place.

The Lord Jesus Christ himself at the pool discovered this man. To some of us this man had no faith. Why should Jesus go for a man who has no faith to be healed and delivered?

However, if we really think it through, we will see that this man possessed faith.

We are told that many always lie near the pool of Bethesda, waiting for the moving of the water. Whosoever first jumped into this pool would be healed or made whole of any disease he was suffering from. Many had waited in anticipation until their expectation was turned into manifestation in the end. So it was really worth the wait!

However, many had also left the pool after a long time only for somebody to get into the pool ahead of them, and so all their effort amounted to nothing. There is one thing worth noting in this story. Why would no one among the sick decide to stay in the pool instead of waiting for the moving of the water?

In that case, if the angel came; the moving of the water waves would reach him first before any one could jump in. What does this translate to in our day?

We need to be in the Word of God. We need to hear the Word of God with the proper hearing of faith. There is the need to pay particular attention to the Word of God, staying long in the logos till it turns to rhema. We should get ourselves soaked in the Word of God and saturated with the Living Water of the Word till that Word becomes flesh!

In this account, the man abandoned himself at the Throne of Grace refusing to go home. He knew God would show up but he did not know when. Relatives had forsaken him as had friends. No one seemed to care anymore for him. He was desperate for deliverance. He was watching the pool day and night. Even though he laid there helplessly with little or no strength as a paralyzed man, something in him was saying one day it would be his turn. Though he did not know how, he still kept his focus on the water.

Keep your focus on the Living Water; He is ever ready to satisfy you.

“For the Lord GOD will help Me;
Therefore I will not be disgraced;
Therefore I have set My face like a flint,
And I know that I will not be ashamed.
He is near who justifies Me;
Who will contend with Me?
Let us stand together.
Who is My adversary?
Let him come near Me.
Surely the Lord GOD will help Me;
Who is he who will condemn Me?
Indeed they will all grow old like a garment;
the moth will eat them up.” (Isaiah 50:7-9)

He fixed his eyes on the Living God. He had seen many leaving that place rejoicing all the way to their homes. He believed one day it would be his turn. That was why whenever there was the stirring of the water by the angel on assignment; he would use all his strength to get to moving water first. He did not complain of a lack of strength or weakness and resign himself to die. No, he believed his day of destiny would come!

Finally, after 38 years in that condition, his day of destiny did come. Forty years makes a generation. Almost a generation of the life of this man had been wasted. May God restore our wasted years in Jesus’ Name.

A man walked up to him. He said: “Would like to be made whole sir?” It was a simple question. The man retorted: “I have no man to help me sir.” “Sir, would like to go home whole today?” The Lord Jesus asked again.

“I like to go home healed but there are many who have more strength more than I; and before I can get there, they are already in the moving water. Honestly I do not know how I can make it, but I believe in the LORD, that my day will come one day as I have resolved to make this place my home until I am healed,” said the man with the palsy.

“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 want to be made well?’
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.’ ” (John 5:6-9)

The Lord Jesus saw that the man had been there a long time. The Lord knows what you have been passing through and what you are currently encountering or that is challenging your faith in Him. Hold on to the Word of the Lord. He never fails.

Fix your eyes on Him. He is faithful. He is rewarder of them that diligently seeks Him. He knows your strength is small but He is your strength and refuge (Psalm 46:1). Only do not give up your faith.

Hannah had been going to Shiloh year after year, but a particular year she was so desperate for a breakthrough that almost everybody misunderstood her, including the priest who misinterpreted her heart cries for drunkenness. The bond of barrenness in her life and marriage was broken once and for all. She later had five children after Samuel, one of the great prophets in Israel. She was focused and desperate. She wanted not better food or wine but a man-child! She got more than one!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20)

Jesus reached out and touched this man and that was the end and expiry of 38 years of suffering affliction. Indeed, weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5).

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

I remember a true-life story of a minister of the gospel in my country, Nigeria. He came from a poor family. His family was so poor that poor people referred to his family as poor. For up to 16 years of his life, he did not even own a pair of shoes. Then, the time came when he was to go to high school.

To be continued next week.....................

Share with friends, colleagues and family members! Do not miss it!!

Pastor John M. O. Ekundayo

Cornerstone Community Church

Singapore SE Asia