We need to feel comfortable to Step Out of our comfort zone in order to Step In to a new experience…
John 5:1-16…
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. 10The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ” 12Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
What do you step out of? What do you step into?
In order to know where you are headed, you need to know where you are standing. It is important to know our starting place. This helps us get to where we need to go.
3 aspects that are part of our situation when we need to step out so that we can step into something better-
- Environment- where you are
- Effort- what do you do to improve your situation
- Experience- what happens when you decide to act
Sometimes we find ourselves seeking a place for healing, instead of seeking the one that can heal. Like the man in these verses, we need to step out of where we are in order to get well.
You cannot help someone who does not want help. They need to want to step out of their current situation.
There are those that have lost hope and believe that their situation cannot change. God says you are not an exception to His help. Try Him out. Step out of where you are into where He wants to have you. God is willing to show you mercy and make you whole.
Jesus showed this man mercy even before the man knew Him.
There will, however, be those people that refuse to see the truth even when it is presented to them. Truth can only be found in Christ. The Pharisees here missed God because they just focused on the healing on the sabbath day. The religious rules were more important to them than the miracle.
God’s intention is to have a relationship with you. He does not just heal you and walk away. He loves you and continually pursues you.
A religious heart and mindset is callous towards the things of God. When we come in and are all about the rules, we miss God. God’s desire is to have a relationship with you.