John Chapter 5:1-6

We look at our situation. Think well I can't do this and I can do that but you know it doesn't matter fact of the matter is, God can.

God is able whatever's going on in your life if you breathe in in here this morning. Our praise God gave ushers in the Jekyll cup. We put whoever that me if you just raise your hand if you're in here and your breathing, your whoever is King. Jimmy says your whomsoever you can receive the power of God. No matter what's going on in your life, you can receive the power of God for that situation for that circumstance in your life you need to understand that God is so powerful that often we say what I can't do this. Why can't do that, but there's no way I can't do the and you know what you're forgetting the power of God welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is a senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina at the bridge. David McGee has associate pastors and one of them is DA Brown, who was with us right now. Bottom cited beyond excited for this teaching God's word today. Often we view our circumstances by the power and ability. We had to change. But we forget that God has unlimited power when he's working on our behalf. Everything contains is no limit to what he can do what you going to do today friend watch what God wants to do for you.

Listen to today's teaching be encouraged and what an awesome teaching it is today.

DA David McGee was beginning his teaching. Do you want to be made well. John chapter 5 verse one says, and after this there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. I remember that there were three feasts that year that every Jewish male was required to go up to Jerusalem for an Jesus was obedient to this as far as we can see in the Scripture Deuteronomy chapter 16 verse 16 and 17 says three times a year all your mail shall appear before the Lord your God in the place which he chooses at the feast of unleavened bread, at the feast of weeks, and at the feast of Tabernacles, and they shall not appear before the Lord empty-handed.

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which he has given you so three times you were to make your pilgrimage to Jerusalem and you were supposed to bring your firstfruits or your offerings and your ties to the temple at least three times a year which, remember, if you're in Europe, in Galilee, which is the northern part of Israel. You've got a pretty good hike. Pretty good walk in front of you to get there and these again these three feast of unleavened bread or Passover. Remember Passover is the first night of the feast of unleavened bread, but it's got a call unleavened bread or Passover, meaning those collective eight days then you have the feast of weeks or Pentecost is what we know that by happening not only in the Hebrew Scriptures. But again in the book of acts we see that at the birth of the church and in the third one is Tabernacles or boozer shoe caught in the Hebrew and I last week.

Get ready to see a miracle Jesus. Last week we talked about the fact in John chapter 4 and John chapter 3 there's a couple John chapter 2 there's miracles going on, we see the miracle of the wedding which is a very private thing we see the miracle with the nobleman's son, which again was a very private thing to not a lot of people knew that there was a miracle happened. But this miracle that will talk about today was different. This bird is the public ministry of Jesus of you will think is important to note how that progress.

He did some things that were private and that led into a public ministry. Why is that important because I think that's the way every ministry needs to begin needs to begin in private. It needs to be again and doing things for the Lord.

Perhaps it nobody else sees that's important. Why because as men as women we can be motivated sometimes by public ministry by get in front of people. We need to be careful before the Lord will place us in a public platform which is comes with grave responsibilities and accountabilities.

He brings us through a season of private time in private ministry with him and to him and that's one of the reasons in ministry week.

We don't we do things like, we ask you to wait a few months before you start get involved with ministry. We want to know that this is your home church and then we ask you to get involved in a ministry. Perhaps like sparkle. The cleanup are different things and is very different. I was talking to my week or two ago and they said yeah you know, the first Sunday they went to this church. They asked him to be on the worship team as a pastor you know I hear things like that.

Nothing and how how inappropriate is there's no way the pastor could know that person and yet put them in a place of public ministry, which could damage human and hurt them just important to note that verse two.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool which is called in Hebrew that is that having five porches. Bethesda does not mean five porches has nothing to do with with numbers, but this is Bethesda so what does the word back to me anybody LOL house actually excellent.

Beth means house in Hebrew so we know it means house of something else of what house of mercy house of grace and what an appropriate name for this place for healings to happen. In verse three in these lay a great multitude of sick people blind Lane paralyzed waiting for the moving of the water for an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water. Then whoever stepped in the end first. After the stirring of the water was made well of whatever disease he had noticed that there was a great multitude of sick people blind Lane paralyzed impotent uses the King James genders and we live in a world that looks a lot like this place. We live in a world where there's a lot of sick people. There's a lot of blind people who can't see the Lord. You don't are blinded to the gospel there lamely can't walk in the ways of the Lord there paralyzed and in the waiting perhaps there waiting for what you already know that you could share with them and a lot of times we think well you know soon as I get this and get that soon as I get my masters or my doctorate in theology then I'll be happy to go out and share my faith with somebody why you're waiting for that day.

There's people that are done for what you already know. Perhaps if you're here this morning and it's important for us to be looking at the world in such a way, what because that's the way Jesus looked at it is people that are paralyzed or paralyzed by their fear by hatred there paralyzed by sin. Bondage and the weightless for somebody to speak words the freedom of freedom to them and you know what that somebody can be you. So often we think well you know I am not in the ministry. I'm not pastor, but think about it.

Think about how you look around this room and think about every person in here is going to interact with. I don't know if the statistics would say anywhere from 20 to 1500 people in the next week. Think about the impact that we could have is a fellowship on this community. If we were all willing to share our love for the Lord tell our stories to tell our testimonies and this is the place we find Jesus, which is cool because Jesus is the place were people need first life lesson is everyone is important to the kingdom of God. Jesus didn't look at this place or hear about this place and while not going down there that are just a bunch of sick people say that even think like that and that's exactly where he found himself that's exactly the place that he sought out because again everyone is important to the kingdom of God and don't ever look at somebody and think or can't do anything with him.

That's just the person that God wants to use what because when that person gets used for the glory of God. Nobody is going to stand around thinking well you know if your domain is obviously together person is obvious why God which is no God takes the weak things of the world. The broken thing is the messed up things of the world uses them for his glory. What because when he does that. Guess who gets the glory. Does because nobody gets mistaken about who did what is true here. The Lord is used me colleague could've chosen some other people. Some people that were more together that what you were quite as scattered and certainly who didn't have the colorful history that I've had in my life but that's exactly who God likes using you think of the disciples he didn't go down industries Olympic the most well-educated rabbi.

He took a bunch of messed up fishermen and use them to glorify his name and spread the good news. Now something I just get this perverted sense of encouragement by thinking about praise God in the King James it says in these lay a great multitude of impotent folk and I love J. Vernon McGee, who I'm related to somehow, even if I got it back to Noah tells a story that he went into a children's home for children with respiratory ailments and diseases and this one little boy had memorized the whole chapter of John chapter 5 the whole chapter and he quoted it to an J Vernon said the only part that wasn't exactly correct is when he got to this part about in potent folks he said and and there was a multitude of important folks. I like that important folks again. Jesus looks at those that the world is cast off at the world says now you know they're just always going to struggle with that and those of the ones he often seeks out to do work in their life and of their important to Jesus. That should be important us as part of the reason we have things like arrest her ministry were we going to rest homes in ministry and share the gospel ensure songs and stuff because even families of forgotten some of these people pitched north are important to Jesus are important to Jesus in verse four talks about an angel going down at a certain time. There's two words are really like, in this verse. This is then whoever stepped in first. After the stirring of the water was made well of whatever disease he had.

Whoever and whatever I get, you know why there's no limit to the power of God as her second life lesson.

There is no limit to the power of God uses whomsoever and whatever whoever whatever, whenever, wherever we need to think about when we think about our problems when were in a situation is God's power is not limited to, we look at our situation. Think well I can't do this and I can do that but you know it doesn't matter fact of the matter is, God can. God is able whatever's going on in your life if you are breathing in here this morning raising razor, praise God. Okay ushers we need check on Gottlieb, but whoever that me if you just raise your hand if you're in here and your breathing, your whoever is King. Jimmy says your whomsoever you can receive the power of God.

No matter what's going on in your life, you can receive the power of God for that situation for that circumstance in your life you need to understand that God is so powerful and often we say what I can't do this. Why can't do that. There's no way I can't do the and you know what you're forgetting the power of God, you're judging what will happen by your own abilities and you know what the relationship with the Lord you have to do that anymore. Praise God will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now is a word from associate pastor DA Brown hey Bob excited to be here today with you want to pray for some people in the cities and our listening audience in California Santa Maria Scotia Shasta so dad so cool. South Lake Tahoe and Stockton, God, thank you for the people in the cities listening today we pray that they would have an expectant heart right now Jurgen is speak to them right where they're at and in the situations are going to God, we pray that you would protect them if there is some the listening audience who are sick. Today we pray that you please heal them. Hello, we pray that everyone will be in a Bible teaching Bible believing church and get those pastors wisdom on how to navigate the waters in a tumultuous situation in Jesus name, amen. Hey man, thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse understand when Jesus stood outside of the tomb of Lazarus and he said Lazarus come forth to know I put it that way.

You know why he called Lazarus by name is elitist at their need to suggest come forth.

Everybody in that grave would got up and walked out. He had to call Lazarus by name or some here this morning's call and by name he say Nina went. I want to do the miraculous in your life to somehow we get this notion that the miraculous is what God does in the lives of other people.

We hear stories and go all that's great that's awesome God did that for years never done anything like that for me me assure you, God wants to do something like that for part of what happens is we get to the end of ourselves and we say you know I can't do this. God waits for us to get to that place in a while because he'll receive the glory because you couldn't of done it and you know you can't do it and you crown to the Lord and the Lord comes to take my work.

There's there's so many we see whomsoever so many times in the Scripture and so many important places. Luke chapter 6 verse 47 says whosoever comes to me and hears my sayings and does them, I will show you to whom he is like.

And he talks about the house, built upon the rock. John 316 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 414 but whosoever drinks of the water that show give him shall never thirst. But the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up in everlasting life.

John 1126 whosoever lives and believes in me shall never dive.

Do you believe that this was filled with whosoever.

This room filled with whosoever's. God wants to show himself strong on your behalf. Whatever's going on in your life, be encouraged. If God the for you who can be against you.

See if God for you. It doesn't matter who's against you. You know why because God is powerful.

God is all-powerful. It's interesting they talked about giant in the Old Testament when the 10 spies blew it and came back and said all those giants in the land you member what the Lord talks about the Giants looking like grasshoppers, grasshoppers, and while we may look tender. What's understands my good afraid of giants. It is hard to understand how some I would get afraid of grasshoppers and coming hopefully you don't have some weird thing about grasshoppers, grasshoppers, personal grasshoppers make sense to be afraid of them does it right. And if God is for you, doesn't make sense for you to be afraid of giants, either was David afraid of giants. Verse five's is now a certain man was there who had an infirmity 38 years. Every time you read a detail in the Bible ask why it is there 30 years resentment question why you told us detail and for good reason. You remember when the children of Israel left Egypt they went to K – bar near which we just spoke over the 12 spies took a little over year and they wandered around the desert waiting for something to happen. How long were they in the desert 38 years and here's this man's been waiting 38 years waiting for someone to happen just like the children of Israel walking on the desert for 38 years and it's interesting as is.

Note certain man this place is filled with sick people. Does Jesus heal them all.

Now he doesn't why I don't know I don't understand that. See, there's a mystery in the healing well. It's a mystery to us is not a mystery to God.

Now let's be real plain. Let me be real forward in this I believe God still heals people supernatural. You cannot show me any verse in this Bible that says God doesn't do that anymore is not the, God, serve, and I know there's fellowships out there that say will.

God doesn't act like that anymore. God doesn't heal people supernatural anymore and upset and you know several times but it was bizarre thing is if you believe that then why even pray for sick people. Why does the Bible even tell us to pray for sick people.

If God doesn't heal people anymore supernaturally. As you know nothing about what even pray Lord, we know you don't heal people anymore were praying for Martha she sick to just know you don't heal. People should just go ahead and take her home. A man brace got to believe. Please don't pray for me to get well, God still heals people he heal some when we pray for supernaturally so me waits to heal, but you know that I have a decision if I had a decision. If you sit in a pastor David for the rest of your life.

You can walk in perfect health and never be sick again, but you won't be quite as dependent upon the Lord, I wouldn't take so you know what let my dependence upon the Lord. Stay strong, even if I have to go through illnesses and diseases.

I don't understand why God heal some people. Why doesn't heal others, and I think we need to be very careful of St. what's obvious that this person appear they had faith and that's why they got healed. In this verse everywhere. They obviously lacked faith or maybe their sin in their life and that's why got healed. Be careful.

That's a dangerous paintbrush to use because member.

The Bible says the way that you judge other people as a way you're going to be judged. So that's the standard you want and anytime you get sick you want to be condemned for not having enough faith or being in sin, then go forth with man what a dangerous place to be. Let me assure you, you're suffering from some disease or something going on in your life some affliction guarantee you if you know Jesus you will be healed.

Just question land you might be healed today.

Next week, next year it might be as you're coming into the presence of the Lord in heaven.

You may take your disease or your affliction right up to the gates of heaven, but let me assure you some friend you will take it in.

You will be healed and if you have to wait for that day and that's okay. It's not going to be that long.

It's not going to be that long. Lord sees this man maybe saw he was lonely maybe saw that he had nobody else to help. The Lord looked at this man and Lord still looking for people second Chronicles 16 nine love this verse. The Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fully you've been from now on you will be at war look to the Lord, commit your heart to him this morning look to the Lord focus on the Lord.

That's what we're here for not here just because were having some meat in a warehouse where here to focus on the Lord is what we want to worship to be about us what we want the teaching to be about to be about Jesus verse six when Jesus saw him lie in there and knew that he Artie had been in that condition a long time.

He said to him do you want to be made will want a bizarre question.

What a good question. Personal understand Jesus knew Jesus understood this man and he understands you you been through things that nobody else in here made be able to understand maybe that nobody else is aware of. But Jesus is aware of Jesus understands. Jesus knows Jesus sees Hebrews 415 reminds us, for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin, no life lesson. There is Jesus sees Jesus knows, even when no one else does. This is one of those to me one of those how holy grounds in Scripture. Because of this question because Jesus isn't just asking this man 2000 years ago at the spool. This is just question for each and every one of us here today. Do you want to be made well. Do you want to be made well do you realize that some people don't want to be made well. I don't understand it but certainly in this day in the Middle East. You actually made 11 well you you know people today at stop lights and whatnot they make a better living as a backer than they could work so they don't want to be well for some of them to make up blanket judgment but some of them don't want to be healed. They don't want to be made will but sometimes there's a different form of payoff.

Sometimes it's an emotional payoff. Sometimes we help trap people and that we extend mercy. Sometimes when we should be sharing the truth with people all you poor thing. I can't believe that happened to you and you just you having such a hard time what happens. First thing is you get your eyes off of Jesus and you start put them on yourself and your circumstance in your problem and you don't stop there. You're not content.

There you want to get everybody else's eyes upon your circumstance. Upon your problem and you enter in the something that is so dark and so demonic that I don't think we recognize that sometimes and that's that realm of self-pity. Everybody should feel sorry for me. You know what I've seen in ministry that will kill a ministry because basically you're looking at people say you need to get your eyes on me feel sorry for me. Don't look at Jesus look at me, but any of us in all of us can do that and sometimes we do it we care for Saints. Be careful because in doing that some of us look at Jesus as he says you want to be made well. We look into going up I'm enjoying where I am developing this victim mentality that it's kind of all about me and see what happens.

There is a keeps us from learning a lesson that we need to be learning because were so concerned with how we got treated badly. Woe is me. This happened to me, that happened to me. Enough about you. Let's talk about me some more. Do you understand that some of us as believers are living like that to get our house off of ourselves and put them on the Jesus friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God want you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous.

So congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a thought to meditate on throughout your day.

From the heart of David McGee.

That sounds good Pastor day and again.

It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM Eastern time. This visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link. There you will experience a live service from David's home church. The bridge in North Carolina again. That website is cross the bridge.com.

Thanks again for listening and join us next time.

As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the Gospel of John