Get ready; It is time for take off
It is time to be sensitive to the Spirit in order to understand what God is saying. Every Christian should now be so prepared to move as the Lord leads.
An expectant mother does not wait until the last minute when she is going into labor to start looking for diapers, blankets et cetera for the unborn baby. Similarly, a student waiting to sit and pass his or her exams does not wait until the last minute to study for the exams. A farmer also does not wait until it rains for him to prepare his land, plant and still expect a good harvest. All the mentioned expectations require preparation in advance, to avoid being caught unawares and to ensure desired results.
This is equally expected of serious Christians. We need to always be prepared for God's move and blessings. Some brethren wait for God’s move without adequate preparation and no wonder some are caught unawares while others miss on God altogether. It is OUR responsibility to prepare spiritually and do our part before we start waiting on God. Once you do your part, God will cause everything else to fall in place because His part is already done and was declared finished on the cross.
Brethren, the journey of Christian faith can figuratively compare to a person travelling by a flight. Note that we have a free will to choose the path of life or death. John 3:16 says – whosever believes in Him. The choice of believing is left to an individual just like a passenger has a free will to travel or not. Anyone taking a flight has a responsibility to acquire a passport, visa and air ticket. He does not depend on the pilot to get him or her ticket for the flight. As Christians we need to be sure we are in possession of the tickets for our flight at all time. No one knows the day or the hour and so having assurance that one is in right standing with God spiritually by accepting Christ into our lives and confessing Him as Lord of our lives.
Its is imperative to allow the grace of God to save us and the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is the greatest preparation with an eternal impact in our life. A singer sang 'niahete kindu kiria ki goro, nakio nikiria aheire Zachayo, kuoherwo mehia ni kindu kiega kuri thahabu na kuri betha' that is to say, 'He gave me something so precious, similar to what He gave Zacheous, forgiveness of sins is better that gold or silver.' Once we receive Christ, HE becomes the pilot in our lives, while the angels are like the air hostesses whose role is purely to minister to us. So long as we have the ticket and have taken a step to board the flight, all we have to do is sit back, relax and allow the pilot to take us through to our destination safely. The pilot knows the turbulence ahead, the altitude and even the timing. This means we prepare spiritually, and let the angels’ minister to us as Jesus flies us to our spiritual destination. Before we think of preparation for fulfilling the purpose of God in our live, let us be keen to first and foremost be part of the family of the most high which will spend eternity praising and worshipping the Lord of Lords.
John 5:1-15
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For 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. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When 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?”
7 The 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.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” 11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” 12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward 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.” 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
The man by the pool was not prepared or ready for his miracle. No wonder he was asked whether he wanted to get well, his response was excuses and blaming other people who received their miracle before him. Note how he answered Jesus, saying, I have no one to put me into the pool. This sounds like an unprepared student sitting an exam and when he or she reads a question, they give totally a different and farfetched answer.
Brethren, Jesus is ready with your solution but what is your response when He asks you what you want? Being ready and sensitive to God’s move will help you avoid giving excuses or blaming those who already have received their breakthroughs. Do you realise God’s timing and are you aware of what He is doing in your life? The guy had been by the pool for 38 years but when the time of God came, there was a turnaround in His life.
As was mentioned earlier in the text, we need to have a relationship with God by knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. We have to prepare our hearts and our minds and understand where the Lord wants us to be. We have to get ready! Being ready means, total preparation to appreciate the completed work of the cross and start moving ahead with Jesus from that point of awareness.
1 John 3:8b
...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. You do not have to worry about the devil as long as you have done your preparation part. Its important to understand what God wants you to do, and then prepare your heart to hearken to His leading.
Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
As we get back to the main text, note John 5:14:
Afterward 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.”
Getting a blessing is one thing but sustaining it is another. After all is said and done, you need to sustain God's blessings. One of the ways to sustain blessings is by being obedient to what God says. Not all good deeds and things are Godly! The way to preserve blessings is to ensure Psalm 1 becomes your portion, avoid sin. When you have done your part, you are ready to go.
This is the season that God is turning round the state of His children. It really does not matter how long you have been waiting by the pool. Its not even about the seriousness of your condition which may have immobilised you to a level of not being strong enough to make a move towards your miracle. Church, Jesus has noted your state and is passing by the place of your helplessness. Do not resist His move and do not give any excuses. Just say like the singer, I say yes yes Lord, to your will and to your word, I say yes, yes Lord ----.
Be calm because the Master is about to break all protocols just to meet you at the very point of your need. Jesus did not wait for the angel to stir the water for Him to throw the man into the pool. He also did not bother that it was Sabbath day, after all He is the Lord of the Sabbath. Know that whatever has been fulfilled through procedures in the past and in other people’s lives, is about to be accomplished just by one word from the Maker. Take up your mat and go.
Get out of worry and sit still. The Pilot knows where you are going, so there is no need to worry. May God reveal to each of us what we need to do so that we can be ready, to just take up the mat and go.
7 The 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.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” 11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’” 12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward 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.” 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
The man by the pool was not prepared or ready for his miracle. No wonder he was asked whether he wanted to get well, his response was excuses and blaming other people who received their miracle before him. Note how he answered Jesus, saying, I have no one to put me into the pool. This sounds like an unprepared student sitting an exam and when he or she reads a question, they give totally a different and farfetched answer.
Brethren, Jesus is ready with your solution but what is your response when He asks you what you want? Being ready and sensitive to God’s move will help you avoid giving excuses or blaming those who already have received their breakthroughs. Do you realise God’s timing and are you aware of what He is doing in your life? The guy had been by the pool for 38 years but when the time of God came, there was a turnaround in His life.
As was mentioned earlier in the text, we need to have a relationship with God by knowing Christ and the power of His resurrection. We have to prepare our hearts and our minds and understand where the Lord wants us to be. We have to get ready! Being ready means, total preparation to appreciate the completed work of the cross and start moving ahead with Jesus from that point of awareness.
1 John 3:8b
...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. You do not have to worry about the devil as long as you have done your preparation part. Its important to understand what God wants you to do, and then prepare your heart to hearken to His leading.
Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart belong to man, But the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
As we get back to the main text, note John 5:14:
Afterward 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.”
Getting a blessing is one thing but sustaining it is another. After all is said and done, you need to sustain God's blessings. One of the ways to sustain blessings is by being obedient to what God says. Not all good deeds and things are Godly! The way to preserve blessings is to ensure Psalm 1 becomes your portion, avoid sin. When you have done your part, you are ready to go.
This is the season that God is turning round the state of His children. It really does not matter how long you have been waiting by the pool. Its not even about the seriousness of your condition which may have immobilised you to a level of not being strong enough to make a move towards your miracle. Church, Jesus has noted your state and is passing by the place of your helplessness. Do not resist His move and do not give any excuses. Just say like the singer, I say yes yes Lord, to your will and to your word, I say yes, yes Lord ----.
Be calm because the Master is about to break all protocols just to meet you at the very point of your need. Jesus did not wait for the angel to stir the water for Him to throw the man into the pool. He also did not bother that it was Sabbath day, after all He is the Lord of the Sabbath. Know that whatever has been fulfilled through procedures in the past and in other people’s lives, is about to be accomplished just by one word from the Maker. Take up your mat and go.
Get out of worry and sit still. The Pilot knows where you are going, so there is no need to worry. May God reveal to each of us what we need to do so that we can be ready, to just take up the mat and go.
What must I do to ensure am ready for the move of God?
-- Pastor Mary Mugo.
(25/11/12 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor.)
Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
- Stop the flimsy excuses and hearken to the voice and leading of God. Just say, yes to Jesus and to all He says to us. Do you want to get whole, say yes, period! If someone offended you so much, its time to allow Him who came to heal the broken hearted to minister to you. Stop the long story of how you were hurt and receive real rest for your soul. Are you sick? Receive healing because the great physician has said by His stripes we are healed (1 Peter 2:24). Stop the story of how people have neglected you and not taken you to hospital. Just receive your healing in Jesus name. Are you in a state you cannot help yourself? That’s why Jesus is right in you to help you out. The man who was sick for 38 years was equally helpless and if the master handled his situation, He will handle yours too, because He is not a respecter of persons. Jesus is saying, move out of that terrible state and start to walk forth. Your miracle has been accorded.
- Be sure that you have the ticket because the pilot, air hostess and cabin crew are ready. Be born again and forgiven of your sins. Luke 9:23, John 3:5-6 and 18.
- Avoid blaming the circumstance surrounding you. Just surrender to the maker. The man said he had nobody to throw Him in the pool yet Jesus was not after the explanation. The miracle is not by what we think. Its not by power nor by might but by the Spirit of the Lord. Zechariah 4:6.The man at the pool was so helpless just like the state that you are in right now; but God’s power which overcame even death propelled the guy to healing and destiny.
- To sustain what God has given you, keep off sin. Jesus said to the man, sin no more so that worse things do not befall you. This means a condition can be worsened by lifestyle which is contrary to the leading of God.
-- Pastor Mary Mugo.
(25/11/12 Sunday Service Sermon, Africa Transformation Mission. Pramukh Plaza, 6th Floor.)
Pastor Mary Mugo is a Pastor at Africa Transformation Mission, a ministry under Christ Harvesters Ministries.
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Blessings.