DON’T YOU HAVE ANY MAN?

Charismatic Hour (22/06/2021) Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement   Topic:                        DON’T YOU HAVE ANY MAN? Text:                          Jn. 5:1-9   INTRODUCTION The events of our text occurred at the time of a feast (believed to be the Passover, the most celebrated Jewish feast), when all the people (Jews and proselytes) were supposed to be in a joyous, festive mood, as they reflected on the mighty deliverance that the Almighty Jehovah wrought for their vassal ancestors in the furnace of Egypt (cons. Exo. 12:43-49).   But while multitudes were seriously preparing for the celebration, many lay sick and troubled, beside a pool of water, waiting in hope. The pool was called Bethesda meaning House of mercy: it was a place where an angel periodically visited men in misery to put songs on the lips of the fortunate amongst them.   The people there were described as ‘impotent’. The Greek word from which it was translated means ‘To be feeble’ (in any sense). These were people without strength, powerless, weak, diseased, physically disadvantaged: blind, halt or lame, paralysed; mentally retarded etc. All were waiting in hope for their moment of visitation, as friends and well-wishers assisted them to make life more bearable.   But there was an individual who uniquely had an overbearing challenge, and the apparently unyielding challenge was ultimately overcome.   Our message shall be coming under the 2 subheadings: (1) The Over Bearing Challenge (2) The Overcome Of The Challenge.   THE OVER BEARING CHALLENGE (Jn. 5:5-7)   Life on earth is full of challenges that turn out to be the spice of earthly existence. But when the challenge becomes overbearing, it often metamorphoses into disgust and despair. And such was the case with the man that caught the attention of the Master.   His disease had lasted for 38 years without any remedy and the man had stayed by the pool for a very long time with no positive result. He has been abandoned by every acquaintance and so was left solitary and desolate. There was no ray of hope left and he had resigned himself to fate as did the widow of Zarephath; hence his reply to the Lord, ‘Sir, I have no man..’ (Jn. 5:6-7; 1Kgs. 17:12).   In like manner, most people in our nation (and in our midst) are suffering in the midst of surplus (as our country is blessed with resources), living in poverty amidst the promises of prosperity. There are people that have accepted the verdict of a nation that cannot progress and are living by it. But God’s word says that Nigeria will be a springboard to the end-time revival through the WCCRM. This we must believe and stand on.   THE OVER COME OF THE CHALLENGE (Jn. 5:6-9; Matt. 19:26; 18:20; Ps. 46:1; 27:10; Job 5:13)   Though the impotent man had lost all hope of recovery and the first faith that was manifested at the time of settling by the pool had been dashed in pieces, yet the Lord attended to him, and he OVERCAME. (cons. Isa. 41:17). We must believe in God for the recovery of the nation.   The Lord Jesus is the Hope of the hopeless, the Helper of the helpless, the Friend that is closer than a brother, the very present Help in trouble, the Master of every circumstance Who delights to be identified with every BELIEVER. He recovers the forgotten and forsaken. He promised to be with every disciple (believer) all through the Christian way. He said “come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden.” (Matt. 11:28; 28:20b; Heb. 2:10-11). Let us go unto Him and report about the happenings around us: Oppression, Killings by invaders, insecurity caused by Boko Haram and ISWAP etc.   This is an intercessory Charismatic Hour, and so we request the revelation OF THE LORD in our country to neutralize the forces of wickedness and cause sanity to come upon the land. Let us rise to pray.                                            HSCF 93, 120