Crutches (John 5:2-9)
Definition:
§ A support used by the disabled in walking
§ To support, to prop up
§ Crutches are implements used by the injured and weak to supplement what they are lacking due to their injuries.
§ Crutches are NOT meant for people without injuries.
1)
Crutches
start as positive devices but over time actually retard our health and healing
A) Cause Atrophy (wasting away of the body due to lack of use) (vs. 5-6)
1) Of Faith (Matt 14:25-31)
2) Of belief in Christ (Matthew 11:2)
B) Takes our independence from us (vs. 7)
1) Others moved into the water by themselves, why not him?
C) Provides excuses for our condition (vs. 7) (I have no one to help me..”)
§ “I am like this due to generational curses” (Jer 31:29-31)
Genetic pre-dispositions may inhabit the flesh and/ or spirit of man.
When we become “new creatures” (creations) in Christ though, we obtain a new bloodline
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)
§
“The Devil
made me do it”
Man’s spirit can become infected with demonic spirits. Again, the blood of Jesus draws a line that cannot be crossed by demons.
Mat 12:43 "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes
through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, 'I will
return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied,
swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other
spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final
condition of that man is worse than the first.
Demons cannot abide where Christ abides. If your body is the
demons cannot dwell where the Holy Spirit
lives.
§
“But the
Devil can oppress us from the outside …”
The
Bible says “resist the Devil and he will flee” (James 4:7)
2)
Crutches are
meant to be uncomfortable and remind us of their intrusions in our lives, but
over time can become comfortable and a welcomed friend
A) Crutches should remind us we are wounded, hurt, not whole and in need of help.
1) Paul’s thorn always reminded him of his weakness and that he needed Jesus to give him wholeness. (2 Cor. 12:7-10)
2) Jacob’s limp was a reminder of wrestling with God (Gen 32:22-32)
3) Our Cross bearing should be a source of discomfort (Luke 9:23)
B) Crutches are no longer intrusive when we have become acclimated (or addicted) to them
1) Any unhealthy dependency toward material things, drugs (legal and non), alcohol or unhealthy relationships should show us we are still not whole and in need of healing
§ Material things – money, fame, physical appearance, possessions
§ Drugs – to help you sleep, to help you out of depression, to calm you down, to ‘get high’
§ Alcohol – drinking when stressed, when needing a lift, when sad
§ Unhealthy relationships – co-dependency, abuse, “needing someone to make us feel complete”, people pleasers.
These deaden or suppress the
symptoms but DO NOT deal with the injury!
Remember: Crutches should remind us we are wounded, hurt and are not whole
They should not be a comfortable part of a healthy Christian’s life.
3) You
have to discard your crutches to be healed (Hebrews 12:1-2a)
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded
by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles,
and let us run with
perseverance the race marked out for us.
2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of our faith,
Jesus told the man at the pool in John 5 to
“rise and take up your mat”. He had the ability all along to get to the healing
waters, but his crutches carved out a life of acceptance, dependence and
bitterness. Jesus showed him he all along had the ability to throw down his
crutches and receive his healing and deliverance.
What
are YOUR crutches …… and when will YOU put them down?
Remember…crutches
say “you are not whole”
The
Word says “you are complete in HIM” (