“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 5:6).
Notice Jesus went to this pool where a great multitude of sick people gathered. They were all waiting for the water to be troubled. They knew that when the water moved, the first person who stepped in would be healed. Everyone else had to wait for the next visitation. And they’d wait and wait and wait….
The situation was a little like a person who decides to stand out in a field and wait for lightning to strike. Maybe it will strike; maybe it won’t. There are no guarantees.
Unfortunately, most of the church world is in that state of wishful thinking. Most Christians would like healing to just hit them. But they won’t do their part to take hold of their healing by faith.
“Wilt thou be made whole?” That’s a good question.
Some Christians would protest, “But if healing were for today, everyone would be healed.” No, not everyone even wants healing! Some folks would rather stay sick.
For example, Janet and I know a lady who has been sick for thirty-five years, and she’s become accustomed to it. If some people were healed, they wouldn’t have anything to talk about. It would cut their vocabulary about ninety-five percent! If other people were healed, they wouldn’t get any attention.
I don’t mean that unkindly, but that kind of situation is a reproach to the body of Christ. We ought to love people and give them the attention they need when they’re well so they don’t have to be sick to receive it.
At the same time, we ought to examine ourselves. Are we “waiting for the water to move?” Or are we doing our part to receive our healing by faith?
I am whole. I don’t use sickness as a way to get attention,
and I don’t just wait for the “water to move.” Healing
is mine, and I receive it now by faith!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.