Word Of Life Ministries Of All Nations

Now there is a Jerusalem by the sheep market, a pool which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the move of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water: Whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole – John 5:2-6?

For many years, the man in this account lay paralyzed near the pool of Bethesda, hoping someday to be healed. However, it is clear from the man’s words that he was not in faith. He told Jesus, “I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled.

The man was waiting and hoping for divine intervention from God and depending on other people to help him receive his miracle. Under the circumstances, the man would have kept waiting and hoping until he went to the grave, never receiving his healing. To receive his healing, the man needed to have faith in God and not depend on someone else. The Bible instructs us without faith, we can’t please God.

Too many Christians depend on others to pray for them rather than praying for themselves. They will go to others before they go before God with their request. There is nothing wrong with asking others to pray for you but take your request to God first, then ask someone to touch and agree with you for your prayer request before the Lord.

The paralyzed man’s statement, “I have no man to help me.” expresses the passive dependence of many Christians today who are looking to be healed through other people’s faith. By depending only on the faith and prayers of others, these believers paralyze their own ability to believe, and they remain too weak spiritually to receive what they need from the Lord.

The Bible teaches that there is a similarity between physical and spiritual growth. In every believer’s life, the time comes when he has to learn to walk and have faith for himself. God is our heavenly Father; He wants us to come to Him with our problems and concerns.

God loves you more than anyone will ever love you. What concerns you concerns Him, and He promised He would perfect those things that concern you. He does not love Sister Buckmouth more than He loves you; He does not have favorite children.

God wants you to depend on and place your trust in Him. Don’t base your heavenly Father’s love on your earthly Father. Don’t think your prayers are too large or too small for Him to get involved in it. God wants to show Himself on your behalf.

Our lack of faith often results from the lack of time we spend with God. Build your prayer time with Him. Read and study His Word to know what belongs to you as a child of God. Every promise God has promised you is in His Word. Know His Word so you can pray His Word; He watches over His Word to perform it.