The First Step Toward Freedom

The First Step Toward Freedom

Bayless Conley

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.  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.  Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  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?" (John 5:2-6).

Jesus asked this man a seemingly ridiculous question, "Do you want to be made well?"  It's obvious isn't it?  He is at the pool, isn't he?  The only reason people went there was to be healed.  What kind of a question is that to be asking?  Of course, he wanted to be healed.

But Jesus was not convinced.  This man had been stuck in his condition for a long time.  He was not only lying down on the outside, he was lying down on the inside.

Sometimes people get used to living in their problems.  While they may outwardly be going through the motions to get free (generally because they know that is what is expected of them), inwardly they have given up.

The first step toward getting free from your problems and that which binds and restricts your life is wanting it—really wanting it.

You have to stand up on the inside before you can ever stand up on the outside.

Let me be very bold and ask you:  Do you want to be made well?  Do you really want things to change?  Or have you grown accustomed to living under the devil's heel?

If you are tired of defeat, mediocrity and bondage, then stand up on the inside and say, "Enough is enough!"

It is the first step toward freedom. 

Visit the Answers with Bayless Conley website for more ways to Connect with God 

Fire by Night 

LINGERING" PROBLEMS

                    Glenn H. Jackson                        

                                                                                      

    If one truly trusts Me THEN they WILL be found obeying Me - 

in even the smallest of details.

        ...."Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths".... Proverbs 3:5-6 The Amplified Translation

        ...."He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much".... Luke 16:10 NASB

        ...."humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully [Ps. 55:22]".... 1 Peter 5:6-7 The Amplified Translation

        ...."We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience [Love] of Christ".... 2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB

        The reason why many of God's children experience "lingering" problems in spite of all of "their" efforts is that they are operating from their "own" strength and understanding [from the position of a heart that is not "wholly" given to the Father in the area that they are having difficulty] - and, thus, they continually open the door to the Evil One to "maintain" his mind-sets [strongholds of fear] and schemes in their life. Casting the care of any "ground" exposed by the Holy Spirit upon the Father [as one draws near to Him in the "inner chamber"], and bringing EVERY thought captive to a revelation of His Will [Word] will lead to obedience in even the smallest of things that are "revealed" to their heart - and this "ongoing" [abiding]obedience will, ultimately, [sometimes spontaneously] provide the solution to the problem[s] - without exception.