It was early this morning that the Lord put this scripture in my spirit and I believe God wants us to spend time studying it together.
John 5:39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
This passage of scripture comes from the book of John Chapter 5 in an exchange is having with the religious leaders of his day as Jesus makes the case for him being the Son of God and in relationship with the Father God. This exchange builds from what we see as the Chapter opens with Jesus going to the Sabbath day to the Pool of Bethesda and heals a man who has been sick for 38 years waiting for a chance to be healed.
Let’s actually go together and read what happen because there are some great truths in this story we do not want to overlook.
John 5
King James Version
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
***The first point of the message today: It does not matter what your plan is, when Jesus shows up in your situation, follow his directions.
**There are some of us who have thought out all the steps, all the scenarios, all the things God should do in order to heal you, deliver you, ect.
What if the man had just focused on getting in the water before anyone else. He could have said Jesus. I am so glad you are here. If you would just wait with me until the water is troubled by the angel and then throw me in the water I will be healed. We sometimes miss the deliverance God has for us in our situation because we limit his ability to move in our lives based on our preconceived idea of what he is going to do, when and how.
***The first point of the message today: It does not matter what your plan is, when Jesus shows up in your situation, follow his directions.
10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.
**This is not worthy of a message point but it is a reality of life. When God heals you do not tell a religious person….as a matter of fact I avoid speaking to religious people at all cost. Give me a drunk sinner to talk to over a sober religious person any day.
Matthew 9:10-13
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house of Matthew (this was right after Jesus called Matthew to follow him), behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance
11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.
12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.
14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
***Wait what was that Jesus just said?
***Point #2- Our willful sinning can bring physical sickness and death.
As a reminder, we read this every Sunday morning at Communion time:
1 Corinthians 11:29-32
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
**Yes Jesus paid the price for our salvation and healing on the Cross, but Jesus says do not continue in sin or a worse infirmity will come on you.
Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
James 1:15
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
1 Corinthians 6:17-20
17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Just a little earlier in Paul’s letter to the Church at Corinth:
1 Corinthians 3:17-19
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
***I believe there are people in this room this morning and listening on line that are going to be made free by the truth of God’s word. You may have been struggling with a physical and mental infirmity for years and you have found yourself experience seasons of freedom and healing but the infirmity returns following willful sin. Jesus speaks to us today through his word:
Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
So
***The first point of the message today: It does not matter what your plan is, when Jesus shows up in your situation, follow his directions.
***Point #2- Our willful sinning can bring physical sickness and death.
***Lets go back to John Chapter 5:15
15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.
22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
****Point #3 of the message today: You cannot be in relationship with the Father God unless you do it through the Son, Jesus Christ.
***This is a basic doctrine of Christianity but it is important that we understand the foundation and basis for this. Jesus tells us here in his own words that the Father is not going to do the judgement but he has delegated that to his Son, Jesus Christ.
Do you understand now why Jesus said: John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
You cannot be in relationship with the Father God unless you are with the son.
25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;
27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
***Jesus is confirming the prophecy from the book of Daniel here.
Daniel 12:1-2
1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
***Point #4 of the message today: We all have been summons to appear before the Lord to be tried for our words and actions.
2 Corinthians 5:8-11
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
Revelation 20:11-15
11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Matthew 12:35-37
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
***So what have we covered so far this morning?
***The first point of the message today: It does not matter what your plan is, when Jesus shows up in your situation, follow his directions.
***Point #2- Our willful sinning can bring physical sickness and death.
****Point #3 of the message today: You cannot be in relationship with the Father God unless you do it through the Son, Jesus Christ.
***Point #4 of the message today: We all have been summons to appear before the Lord to be tried for our words and actions.
***Lets go back to John Chapter 5:30
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.
33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved.
35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.
37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.
38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.
***Now we have arrived at our key scripture today. Jesus in his defense and confirmation of his claim to me the Son of God he challenges the religious leaders to search the scriptures for the facts about him. Verse 39
39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
***Point #5 of the message today: Our trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior is not based on blind faith, but overwhelming evidence of truth.
****In Closing****
There is a modern movement in Christianity to only preach and teach from the New Testament part of the bible. I want you to understand the words of Christ here as he challenges the people to go and see the confirmation of who he is in the law and the prophets. Listen if Jesus put value in the old testament scriptures then we should not be throwing them out.
Lets go look at where Jesus talked about this in a parable.
Matthew 13:47-52
King James Version
47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind:
48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.
49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,
50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.
52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
***Point #6 All sound doctrine will be in harmony with the Old Testament and New Testament. By this measure, we will avoid falling into depiction and false doctrine.
40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.
41 I receive not honour from men.
42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you.
43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.
47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?