His Power Alone
From The Message: Supernatural Not Superstitious
You’ve been waiting for 38 years. You’re all alone in this world. Everyone around you has gotten their miracle, yet you still wait. Those around you who wait haven’t been there as long as you have; your condition is the worst of the worst.
This is the story of a man from Jerusalem that sat by the pool called Bethesda. His story looked bleak in the natural, then God stepped in.
The local legend said that when the water was stirred up at this pool, the first to climb in would receive healing. The problem for our long-suffering friend is that he could not walk and he had nobody to help him into the pool. Countless times those around him would jump into the freshly stirred pool as he sat there watching. Countless times he’d be a bystander rather than the one receiving.
As Jesus walked into the situation the man was full of doubt. “How can I be made whole, I have no one to put me into the pool” came to his mouth. This question was almost silly to Jesus, as He spoke 7 words that would change this man’s destiny “Rise, take up your bed, and walk”. Instantly the man could stand; 38 years of waiting remedied by 7 words.
The Lord Jesus showed that all the glory and power are His. “Bubbling water doesn’t cause miracles, I do!” must have ran through His head. Jesus was very intentional about who He chose to heal. There were many infirm people at that pool, yet Jesus chose the man who waited 38 years. This wasn’t a coincidence it was a statement. “If I can heal the worst of the worst-the one who’s been sick the longest-then I can heal anyone” He showed!
May this story transform us into having a complete and utter reliance on God, for it is He alone who heals! No pool, remedy, medicine, doctor, or therapist can fix a situation like Jesus can!`
A little bit later the pharisees confront this man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath. He was unfazed by this interrogation because of what the mat represented. “For 38 years this mat carried me, but now I carry it-because the Lord is the one carrying me” must have gone through his head! Him carrying the mat was the expression of a testimony 38 years in the making, a testimony of the transformative power of God!
Whatever your mat is, carry it today. The man wasn’t scared to let his testimony shine because His confidence was in the God who transforms; may this be your story as well. No matter who confronts, interrogates, or persecutes you, if God has transformed your life then let your light shine.
