Troubled Waters

 

John 5:1-9 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at 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 moving 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? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

I.               Pool vs. Jesus

A.            Most people talk about Jesus

1.             His divine intervention for the impotent man.

2.             I want to talk about this pool

II.             Setting the stage

A.            Sheep Market

1.             Sheep gate

a)             These are likely the same sheep that were offered in sacrifice for sin at the temple

B.             Bethesda

1.             House of mercy

2.             For the afflicted

a)             There was no fee

b)             God’s mercy was free to all

3.             This was a well-known place because of the mass of people there.

4.             They all came for the same reason.

a)             They needed healing

C.             An angel

1.             Divine intervention happened in this pool.

2.             An angle would trouble the waters and the first one in would be healed

3.             This could only have come from God

D.            Certain season

1.             There was a specific time that the angel came to trouble the waters

2.             It was a time appointed by God

3.             The angel always made an appearance at the direction of God.

E.             Trouble the waters

1.             Stir up the waters

2.             The placid pool would become boisterous and choppy

3.             The still waters would begin to ripple and move

4.             The first one into the pool at that time would be instantly healed of their disease

a)             Did not matter the affliction they would be healed.

b)             Healing and miracles took place at this pool.

F.             The infirm

1.             Anticipation – for the troubling

2.             Anxiety – after not getting in once or twice

3.             Apathy – after sitting for years without being able to get in

III.           Jesus Vs. The Pool

A.            There was a multitude in the porches

1.             They all needed healing.

2.             They all were there when Jesus arrived

3.             Jesus came to deliver healing to ONE man

a)             We do not find record of Jesus healing anyone else at this pool

b)             We do not even find record of Jesus talking to anyone else at the pool

c)             But everyone there needed healing

B.             Our thinking vs. God’s thinking

1.             His ways are higher than our ways

2.             His thoughts are above our thoughts

a)             Not everyone receives his or her miracle in the same way.

b)             Some people there at the pool were meant to be healed by the pool.

c)             Some people DID receive their healing from the pool

d)             In fact the man was so focused on the pool that he never considered any other type of healing.

e)             Sometimes we get so focused on instant healing or deliverance the way we want to see it happen that we forget God is sovereign and can do what He wants.

C.             Slow vs. fast

1.             Some people are instantly healed or delivered

2.             Others go through a process.

3.             One is not better than the other

4.             Each is sufficient for the person

IV.           Troubled waters

A.            Angels

1.             Angel – could be pastor or preacher

a)             Revelation 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God

B.             Certain Season

1.             Your trial may not end tomorrow

2.             You may have to endure a while

3.             But when a “certain season” comes around, your waters will be troubled.

a)              Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

b)             Your waters WILL be troubled, you WILL reap if you faint not.  We’ve got a promise today

C.             Water

1.             Could be the Word of God

a)              Eph 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word

b)             God uses the preacher in the Word, to trouble your waters.

c)             You start feeling uncomfortable with the conviction

d)             You start feeling your faith rise, God’s just troubling your waters

2.             God moves on the water for creation

a)             Genesis 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

b)             God moved on the face of the waters for creation to begin.

3.             It will be up to you to jump into what God has in store for you.

4.             Diving into troubled waters takes 2 things

a)             Recognition

(1)          You must recognize when your waters are being troubled by God

b)             Faith

(1)          It’s not always easy to dive into troubled waters

(2)          What looks like an insurmountable problem might be God troubling your waters.

(3)          Perhaps some self examination is needed as God has been dealing with you about some issues in your life (troubling your waters)

(4)          Stay close to the place of sacrifice and repentance, God will trouble the waters for you too.

5.             At the house of Mercy

a)             Mercy is free for all today.

(1)          I feel God is already starting to trouble the waters for some people here.