Rise, Make Your Bed, and Walk!
Notes
Transcript
The Word of Christ Saves, Sanctifies, and empowers for Spirit-filled living.
Man’s Emaciated Condition (1-7)
Man’s Emaciated Condition (1-7)
The man’s condition - he was impotent, depressed, unable to help himself into the water.
His condition was also the result of sin. Not all sickness is the result of specific sin (though all sickness is the result of the Fall generally)
And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
However, some sickness IS the result of specific sin and it appears to be the cause in this case. (verse 14)
Mysticism and False Spiritualism cannot save! (2-5)
Mysticism and False Spiritualism cannot save! (2-5)
Many people are looking to some mystical power, some spiritual source outside of the Gospel of Christ. These will always fail to bring lasting help.
They are trying to find an answer within themselves or connect with a “spiritual power” inside them.
They may be seeking an exhilarating experience.
Human Power cannot save! (2-5)
Human Power cannot save! (2-5)
“I have no man to help me...” This man was also looking to man’s help.
He was a spiritual secularist! He was dependent upon man’s aid and looking to mystical powers for healing.
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.
Christ’s Empowering Command (8-9)
Christ’s Empowering Command (8-9)
Rise!
Rise!
Stand up, stand up for Jesus, stand in His strength alone, the arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own! Put on the Gospel armor, each piece put on with prayer, Where duty calls or danger, be never wanting there.
Christ tells the man to get up, and instantly strength flows into his muscles.
A picture of salvation
for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Christ’s Word saves!
Take Up Your Bed!
Take Up Your Bed!
Christ’s Word Sanctifies!
He did just leave the man in his condition, but commanded him to clean up the elements that pictured his former impotency.
Christ’s word sanctifies us from the former life. It enables us to clean up the mess in our lives.
There is a separation from his former place of residence.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Walk!
Walk!
Christ’s Word empowers for Spirit filled living!
The Lord’s command is to go forward in newness of life. This is mirrored in how we are to walk in the world today as believers.
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
An Exhortation in Conflict (10-16)
An Exhortation in Conflict (10-16)
When the religious leaders reacted to the fact that he was healed on the Sabbath they brought pressure on the man to expose Jesus.
The exhortation is to sin no more, to sin in this case would be to reject Christ!
Accept Christ and receive salvation, sanctification, and the empowerment of the Spirit!