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We continue this week with the story of the sick man healed at the Pool of Bethesda. [John 5:1-15].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 5:5-6, NKJV)
Sin is an active force in this life. This is a result of the fall. It is the same reason weeds grow without being cultivated. They are both evidence of the fall, a state of being short of the glory (life-giving presence and power) of God. [Romans 3:23] Hence, we can NEVER afford to rest on our laurels. For, the moment we do, we begin to fall, (decay, die, and lose value). We begin to lose our edge. We begin to deteriorate. We begin to go back to our vomit. And, this will not be because we want to. It is simply the law of nature, by virtue of the fall. [1 Corinthians 10:12]
"Faith, without trouble or fighting, is a suspicious faith; for true faith is a fighting, wrestling faith." (Ralph Erskine)
He says,
“You will be accepted if you do what is right [whole, accurate, true, sure, sound]. But if you refuse to do what is right [whole, accurate, true, sure, sound], then watch out! Sin [swelling, bloating, fluffiness, evil, unrighteousness, corruption, light-weightiness, wickedness] is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (NLT – emphasis, mine)"Whatever I ‘align’ myself with are the very things that will create a ‘line’ into my future." (Craig D. Lounsbrough)
Are you subduing sin? Are you subduing your lower nature? Are you cognizant of who you are in Christ Jesus? Are you living from your higher (true) nature? Are you contending for that which is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? [Philippians 4:8]
© 2017 Akin Akinbodunse
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