Anglican Devotional 12 November 2023 – Say No To Stagnation

anglican devotional

The Daily Fountain Devotional of the Church Of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) 12 November 2023 – Say No To Stagnation

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TOPIC: Say No To Stagnation

READ: John 5:2-14 (NKJV)

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?”

The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry [your] bed.”

He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ “

Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in [that] place.

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

THE MESSAGE:

Today’s passage reveals the situation of a man who was sick for thirty-eight years and had no helper around him. He was at the pool called Bethesda waiting for an angel to come down and stir up the water so that he could step into it and receive his healing. What made his healing difficult was that multitudes with all kinds of infirmities were at the pool with him, waiting for the same miracle that would be available for just only one person in a while. As a result, he kept waiting for several years. Suddenly, Jesus appeared at the pool and had compassion on him; He knew that he had been in that condition for a long time. Jesus Christ broke his yoke of stagnation.

Beloved, do not complain about your situation like this man at the pool of

Bethesda, instead say no to your stagnation. Jabez rejected his condition by praying to God for a change and God heard him (1 Chronicles 4:9-10). Are you experiencing stagnation in any area? Are your efforts to progress in life abortive? Have you been on the same spot for years? Suicide is not a solution, rather, turn your life to Jesus today and ask him to turn things around. He says, “Come to me all who labour and are heavy laden, I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Pray like Jabez; God will answer you.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please break every yoke of stagnation around my life in Jesus’ name, Amen.