Written by Mark Driskill:
Wednesday February 23, 2011
Read John 5:1-9

“…who had been an invalid for 38 years.”

Before we can step out in faith we have to step up by faith. This is what happened to the invalid by the pool.  He had been lying around waiting for the waters to stir and for someone to help him in for 38 years.  Wow! 38 years spent looking for hope in the wrong place.  How many today have spent their whole lives waiting around for a moving of the waters when what we really need is a move of the Spirit?

How long will you sit beside a false source of hope waiting for a break that never comes before you look up to Jesus and step up by faith and finally find your healing? You keep hoping that if you wait long enough for the things of this world to get you on your feet eventually someone or something will come along and make your life right. But if you listen you can hear the savior saying to you what he said to the invalid, “Do you want to get well?” What a convicting question! In other words Jesus was asking the man if he had had enough superstition and was ready for a real touch from God. Now listen as he puts the question to you. “Do you want to get well?” Are you ready to push beyond your circumstances and stop blaming other people for you afflictions? Are you ready to step up from pity and into faith? Are you ready to stop wasting away the days reliving all the pain and rejection of the past and step into a future of hope? Are you ready to take Jesus at his word? Or do you just want to lie there in your problems basking in the sympathy of anyone who will listen to you talk about all your issues…again.

Someone today needs to make a decision. You have spent most of your life waiting by the pool for someone to come along and listen to your misery. You love it when they hold your hand while you tell about all the people who have hurt you and all the things that have set you back. But now Jesus comes to you after all these years asking a simple, yet penetrating question. “Do you want to get well?” He offers his healing to you today. Will you step up by faith, and take his hand? He’s waiting for your response. What will it be?

Mark Driskill and his wife Mary are homeschooling community ministers in Breathitt County Kentucky.  They have four children. They co pastor Emmanuel fellowship Church, serve as Camp Pastors at Bethel Mennonite Camp, and Mark Teaches at Oakdale Christian Academy.

Mark is web minister for Begotten by theWord , a ministry of Helping Hands Christian Resources.

Once a month he preaches on the local radio station through the “Lion of Judah” program. Mark also preaches in youth rallies and revivals upon request at no charge. Their vision is to see true spiritual awakening come to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and to the nation.

Contact information:
Email: driskill@hilbillymail.com
Facebook: Mark Driskill
Address: PO Box 1159 Jackson KY.