Meeting at the Foot of the Cross R1700

God has an encouraging word for you and me today to the Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton about the healing voice of God, he will be headed in John chapter 5, beginning in verse one in just a moment with Dr. Don Wilton well-known author evangelist seminary professor and pastor and today as he takes us into God's word will be understanding about the power of the healing of the voice of God.

Now perhaps there's something going on in your life right now. You like to have us pray with you for healing a prank for anything where here 24 hours a day at 866-899-WORD got the number down 866-899-9673 or meet us on our website TW online.org that's tewonline.org he would love to connect with you connect with resources and pray for you, especially now Dr. Don Wilton with today's message will in John chapter 5 this is what the Bible says John chapter 5 in verse one after this there was a feast of the Jews and the Jews went up to Jerusalem not in Jerusalem by the sheep gate. There was a pool which in Aramaic is called the thing is, which has five roofed colonnades in the these lame shoes of invalid leads blonde Lehman paralyzed one man in particular was they who had been an invalid lead for 38 years when Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he'd already been there for a long time. He seemed team do you want to be healed the sick man on, since I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up and while I'm going another steps down before me. And Jesus said to him, get up, take up your bed and walk and once the man was healed and he took up his bed and he will now. The day was the Sabbath so the Jews said to the man who had been healed.

It's the Sabbath it's not lawful for you to take up your bed, but he wants it. That man was the one who healed me. That man seemed to me, take up your bed and walk and they Austin, who is the man who said, take up your bed and rule. Now the man who had been healed did not know was Jesus had withdrawn as there was a crowd in the place, but often Jesus found him in the temple, and say to him. See you all will send no more and nothing worse will happen to you.

The man went away and told the Jews that Jesus who had healed him waited this take place. This is very important for you to hear the pool of Bethesda was not a Christian healing pool not even sold the pool of the phases of the word Bethesda means mercy. That's the word mercy. It's a beautiful the house of the phase of the house of mercy. So the pool of Bethesda was parked of the Hellenization of the Roman Empire. It was one of the many things that will boot by the Roman presses who were ranked pagans God Jehovah had no part of their life.

In fact, they crucified Jesus accepting the cry of the crowd to crucify him in the pool of Bethesda was no different to the theater that was sports complex.

Even just you almost from the pool of Bethesda. Looking at the Antonio fortress which lies on the right side of the temple mount Way Pilot Was Way, Jesus was judged that was all Roman. The Hellenization of Jerusalem and the pool of Bethesda was boot to the God Asclepius asked clip use that was his pool who was as copious Asclepius God the pagan God Asclepius was the God of well-being, the God of health and the God of medicine that's who he was and just to help you to understand Asclepius. Asclepius had two daughters. Guess what their names were ones name was hi Gina or hi Genia, that sound medicinal hi Jean, where do we get our name hi Jean, he's first daughter her name was hi Genia the second daughters name was Panna C. Panacea remedy for sickness.

I know I'm being very simple and medical people are saying you just scratching the surface.

I so yes Asclepius the God of medicine, the God of healing. He's two daughters hi Genia and panacea and the symbol the symbol for all of this was a snake still to this day, medical symbol Orion. So putting all these things together. This place here was a place where gone. So impressed on me was a pagan place where, according to the gardens. Whomever went to this place because that was the place that you were supposed to go to to toss the gods to do their work. Justin Martyr, one of the great fathers that were yours.

He said how do you explain all of this, the stirring of the water in every Justin Martyr said and I'm quoting Justin water when the devil brings forward. Asclepius is the razor of the day and the healer of all diseases may not say in this matter. Likewise, he has imitated the prophecies of Christ now who is the devil, the devil is the great imitator. Everything he does. He tries to save himself up as God like God and actually and in times that's the ultimate what's going to happen with Antichrist whose antichrist and during the tribulation antichrist is going to save himself up in the temple as God.

And because the Holy Spirit is going to be removed from the earth. Everybody who's been left behind is going to believe it because they have no means to not believe it, because the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us concerning sin and righteousness and judgment take the spirit out.

You've got to expect sin you got to expected disdain for the righteousness of God and you've got to discuss.

Expect a mockery concerning the judgment of God. So here we have the pool of Bethesda. That's where this took place wanted to provide water. This provide well I provided an avenue. It was one of the many features of the Roman Empire.

It was no different in many ways from the sporting activities where they would provide these gory scenes so that people would come in and in and see students scream and Sharpton and give meaning to their feelings and and feel like they could let it all hang out, so to speak.

That's what the Romans that they understood the lust of human nature for something to be able to think on to get a hold of and the pool of Bethesda dedicated the God Asclepius was the place where they said look man, you come to the garden if he wants to buy whatever means you do it and they believed it, they believed it, and hundreds of thousands of people came including this one man came looking for the onset in the wrong place.

To the wrong person and in his case, costing many many years as the Bible said so why was he there this this brother here this man here was there for very good reason.

He was desperate need of healing and then the fourth thing was who it was that he would him and this is all going to come together here, who was at that healed after all is said and done and and the Bible hearsay is that he'd been coming all his life been any's condition for 38 years and he was persistent he was desperate and in the final analysis, who you the only person who could. It wasn't the water was in the place it wasn't Asclepius's Jesus and I just want to say the subject so much in my mind's want to say this to you that often Jesus and healed him.

There were two pools have a lot I want to tell you there are two pools within walking distance is the pool of Bethesda here and then at the bottom of the city of David the bottom of the Kidron Valley almost where the way Gahanna meets the Kidron Valley you have the pool of silo. When Jesus healed the man at the pool of silo.

He told him off preview them to go and wash off in the pool of silo.

But this man, after he healed him.

He didn't tell it now go and wash off in the pool of Bethesda. Why because Jesus wanted him to know when I've healed. You don't go back to the gods.

Don't go back and dip your toes in the waters that are not mine. And that's why Jesus said don't go back to your sin of falling off for another God. He didn't say your sin is the course for your sick. He was saying you were sinning because you are following pagan gods and Jesus said you want to go back to the pagan gods.

These things will come because I do not share my space with any other God, and there are many of us we go to Jesus and Jesus wants is our prayer, and two weeks later went back same thing but a powerful challenge from Dr. Don Wilton do we say yes to God and ready to change her behavior and then fall back forgive the interruption doctor will come back with the conclusion of today's program in just a moment but perhaps in this desire of each of us to break free from a herd habit or hang up so that you don't find yourself two weeks later back doing the same thing.

Let us form a hedge of prayer protection around you. We love to pray with you and for you and give you the resources that will help you grow your faith. Spending time in God's word every day is mission-critical, you can sign up for an email from Dr. Wilton the wonderful daily Bible study on our website right now ITE W online.org TE WRI.org sign up for the daily email can also have a send you a free copy of a quarterly devotional has the same kind of information and it feel free to know that we have friends would love to pray with you anytime at 866899 word that's 866-899-WORD 9673 and you haven't heard about the cross of Jesus in a special message of the cross by Dr. Wilton. There is Liz with all the details of the world is becoming increasingly challenging place to live as a Christian, Jesus's sacrifice on the cross remains a message of hope for everyone discover a deeper understanding and appreciation for seniors death on the cross in doctoral things powerful sermon prompts along with the bonus book the cross of Jesus by morning W years which explores the entire crucifixion in detail.

These powerful resources are yours with your gift of support Encouraging Word. Thank you for listening today that's is one of many great resources you'll find on our website TE W online.org drop by today again the website is TE W online.org.

Now back to today's great teaching on the healing voice of God with Dr. Don Wilton very quickly just to contextualize five ways. The Jesus heals just can write these down will be putting this on Instagram, you can get the notes off towards five ways in the Bible Jesus deals number one instantly previous chapter John chapter 4, starting at verse 46.

There are just countless illustrations Jesus heals instantly I watched even in our church. I've seen it in the lives there are some people sitting here today that we've watched go through deep deep waters. And Jesus has just healed them just like I've heard more so many stories and diagnosis in the case of sickness and they did this, that went to the doctor and the radiologist came and said we did we just don't understand is not a sign of anything Jesus can heal instantly. Number two.

Jesus heals slowly so if you go to Mark chapter 8 talking about the blind man with side Mark chapter 8, the blind man at bedside.

Jesus heals slowly. If I may say. Very respectfully, in the face of my Jesus. It's his decision. Sometimes he heals instantly.

Sometimes he seems to take his time. Thirdly, he Jesus heals in the Bible medicinally. He uses people godly doctors, nurses, medical people, he hews medicinally in our day and age.

How true is that you going to Luke chapter 10.

The Bible is full of all of oil, the Samaritan man sitting in Luke chapter 10, he was medicinally. God uses the means that have been brought into the benefit of our people, but he heals number four, fourth way he heals as gracefully.

I don't how to put that in another term because in second Corinthians 12 pieces.

My grace is what's the word sufficient for you, and this is a tough one. I have met some of the most grace food people in this congregation who have had debilitating whatever it might be for years and years and years and in that they been healed gracefully because they carry in the context of that debilitation. Such a living testimony of grace. I don't how to say this. Please forgive me. It's like God is just said I want you to keep having this problem because you are placing so many people you just an act, get their people I meet that I know all hurting in whatever way but they show such grace. It just it's like and then and then the final one that I put on the table today is Jesus.

He was eternally he takes people home to be with you none, 20, 21, Karen's father, my father-in-law got code and yeah it was a very elderly gentleman but come essentially to my father-in-law and we like many people just like you very very love beloved man and it was because of covert and he got he was taken off the hospital. We couldn't even see them memo those that time he's lost five weeks on this earth. We couldn't even see our father couldn't go in. Couldn't see him is by himself and I remember when they brought in the hospice the lost day and we stood there watching them offload him from an ambulance and then put them into this little isolation room at hospice. We couldn't go in which stand outside the window and I remember my father-in-law saying I have fought the good fight of faith in the lifted these hand and he saluted us through the window and shortly there often Jesus healed him eternally. This week a lady very close to my wife. Same thing happened or you know eternal healing is the greatest healing because it's tied into the greatest healing that God never gives us what's the greatest healing salvation.

We began with baptism today. This is a picture of the greatest single healing that can take place when he heals us from death to life. The healing of forgiveness. Everyone that is listening right now is a sinner. Everyone all of us of sin. And we've been healed because we been forgiven. What what hope would we have in the world in the world. What hope would we have with our sons and daughters I have in my life and ministry folks are built with men who have been unfaithful to their wives and they can face the sender Jesus and Jesus forgave and then they can fix that today, wife, and they why forgave's greatest healing that could ever happen if we if you took the greatest healing of Jesus out of us what we left with why all we Christians why do we believe in this church and I think in all Christian churches that we are the place where everyone can invite who anyone to come to First Baptist Church to encounter the living pool of Bethesda anyone because of the healing of Jesus. It's the greatest joy in the world so full healing to happen. I've earmarked five things that need to take place for you to be healed. Someone you have to be in the right place and I don't know what I'm saying that I stood at the pool of Bethesda. It was the wrong place for this man for 38 years, but it turned into the right place. I think right now, you just might find yourself in the right place be up here will be listening in your living room are you in the right place. Number two need to be in the right position. I'm speaking of your heart the way you are position before holy and a righteous God number three you need to have the right reason to be seeking healing you go to get down to that in the motive, and I began my message a little while ago saying you locked reason number four.

You need to have the right determination. Nothing should stand in your way and then you need to be going to the right person, you can spend 38 years going doing everything trying everything but you dealing with Asclepius and he's not going to heal you and then here comes Jesus. This is the voice of God. So many of us have gone repeatedly to the pool of Bethesda and we looking at you, Jesus, it's your voice it's who you are today. Lord Jesus, as we go into this invitation time. There are people who will come forward seeking prayer making decisions. There are people right now who are giving their hearts to Jesus which is the single greatest healing that can ever take place not pray Lord Jesus that people everywhere today would trust you as Savior and Lord, are you wary heavy laden, Jesus wants us to come and lay Albert right there at the foot of the cross and he will be the one to heal. We believe this, Lord Jesus, and as we go into this invitation.

Right now you are doing your work, and we believe it and we are praising the name of Jesus. And when people come and save this we need to like this man will say Jesus did in Jesus name we pray together. Amen. The Lord is stirring in your heart you need to know. We believe God is ready to do the work. Jesus is ready to do a work in your life, you may want to call us and let us pray with you. Maybe answer some questions that are 866-899-WORD number that's 866-899-WORD 9673 or perhaps you want to just take a moment and call out to God before we get away.

Dr. Wilton has a closing thought that could be the most important few seconds of our broadcast today. Well hello again my friends are you ready to give your life to Christ, you know you been listening like us and God has been speaking like this has me and he speaking to your heart. I'd love to help you give your life to Christ right now. Why don't you pray this prayer make this your prayer because you know that God not only hears our prayer, but he wants is our prayer to pray this prayer with me.

Dear God, I know that you love me very much.

I believe Jesus came and died on the cross just for me and that he gave his life for me right now.

I confess my sin to you, by faith I receive you into my heart and into my life in Jesus name I pray. Well if you prayed that prayer right now in just a moment, we gonna send you something I want you to listen real carefully because you can take note of that, we've got the means by which we can connect together and I want to connect with you because you're part of my family are part of the family of God.

You are my brother, my sister in Christ, God bless you today.

Indeed, we are ready to connect with you 24 hours a day if you want to meet us on our website TE W online.org start the conversation to connect with resources will help you grow and perhaps moments ago you praying with Dr. Wilton to give your life to Jesus.

Maybe for the first time or maybe re-dedicating your life you need to know that we want to rejoice with you and Dr. Don would love to pray for you and put some free resources in your hands. Please prepare these resources with you giving your life to Christ for the first time will rededicate your life today, would you give us a call. 866-899-WORD is our number. I'll slow down 866-899-9673 is on our website TE W online.org this is a broadcast presentation of The Encouraging Word made possible the prayerful and financial support of many friends like you. If you want to discover how you can get involved discover more@tewonline.org