Believing in Jesus: A Reflection on Faith and Healing

Waiting for the Water to be Troubled John 4:46-54; 5:1-15

Are we waiting by the pool for the water to be troubled or believing in Jesus and accepting His Word and trusting it?

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Matthew 21:22 ESV

Are we staring into the sky waiting for our provision when Jesus is in our midst by the power of His Holy Spirit, waiting for us to believe and obey?

Would we like to be made whole, be made well?

Jesus will always asks us, "What do you want?" Do I believe in Him for the answer?

Jesus' rebuke is for people believing in the power instead of in His person.

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 ESV

The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 2 Thessalonians 2:9 ESV

False authority will always perform false signs and wonders to lead one astray from Jesus, His truth, and His authority.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, Do you want to get well? Sir, the sick man answered, I don t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I m coming, someone goes down ahead of me. John 5:6 7 HCSB

The work of grace is upon a conscious mind, not a senseless one, or a careless one, or an ambivalent one.

He replied, The man who made me well told me, Pick up your mat and walk. Who is this man who told you, Pick up your mat and walk ? they asked. But the man who was cured did not know who it was, because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. John 5:11 13 HCSB

He asked them at what time he got better. Yesterday at seven in the morning the fever left him, they answered. The father realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, Your son will live. Then he himself believed, along with his whole household. John 4:52 53 HCSB

Not only did our relationship with God die that day, but our ability to take things by faith did as well.

Do you believe what Jesus says, obey what He says, living by faith, or do you need evidence first? Do you need to see the stirring of the pool?

The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. Proverbs 28:13 HCSB

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 HCSB

After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn t happen to you. John 5:14 HCSB

Sin can have physical consequences, as well as spiritual and emotional. (Gen 2:17; 3:7; 8; 16; 4:8; 6:5; 1 Cor 2:14; Gal 6:1-10).

Neither this man nor his parents sinned, Jesus answered. This came about so that God s works might be displayed in him." John 9:3 HCSB

Grace and mercy always have the authority and permission to violate "the rules of men" if it draws one towards God.

Are we waiting at a pool for the water to be stirred while Jesus waits in our midst for us to believe in His person, power, and promises?