There was a man who laid in infirmity for 38 years near a pool called Bethesda (house of mercy) in Jerusalem. Among him lay many people; some blind, halt and withered, who waited for the waters to be troubled by an angel. At the time when the angel did go into the pool, the person who stepped in first was healed of their disease. One day Jesus saw this man lying there and asks him, "Wilt thou be made whole?"
Though this man lay there in infirmity all of these years it would seem strange that Jesus would ask him if he wanted to be made whole. The man had been there in the same condition for a long time; of course he wanted to be made whole, right? However, when asked if he wanted to be made whole, he began to offer excuses as to why he had not received his healing.
Many of us carry burdens, illness, pain and heartache with us for many years. Our excuse is the same as the man in the scripture. We use others as an excuse to continue in the same state as we've always lived. We can even accept our infirmity as the way things are for us and become comfortable with living below our spiritual means. Some of us aren't happy unless we have a lot of drama and confusion in our lives. We use illness and issues as a means to gain the attention of others. This man is like many of us. We feel as though we can't receive deliverance or healing unless we stand in the "blessing line" and allow someone else to lay hands on us or we blame everyone else for our lack of joy and peace. If we wait on others to do it for us we may never be whole.
We who are the children of God have the answer to all of our diseases, infirmity and problems in Jesus. Instead of looking to someone else for our help, we should look to the only one who can truly make us whole not only in health but in spirit as well. Sure there is a need for the laying on of hands but every Sunday? I think not. The key is seeking wisdom to ask for the right things and to accept responsibility for our own actions or lack thereof. We get upset with Satan and why?
A.) He can do no more that the Lord allows
B.) Why get upset because the Devil has better work ethics than many Christians?
The truth is that we have everything we need in Christ. We simply need to ask for wisdom. We can slack off in the areas where more is required and we suffer self inflicted burdens and illnesses because we don't own up to our faults. Why ask the Lord to heal hypertension when you can't stay away from those ham sandwiches with sausage gravy? It's time to confess. Maybe instead of healing we need deliverance and instead of seeking the Lord in supplication we need repentance.
Just a thought.
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