Pick Up Your Mat

John 5:1-14

GOD WANTS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOU!!!  If you are not familiar with our new format you might want to go back a week on DEEPENstudents.com and go through the devotionals entitled, START THE DAY WITH SOAP, #1-5.  It explains a little more.

Scripture.  Choose the passage.  Have a plan, don’t make it a random passage in

the Bible.

Observation.  What does the passage say?  What is difficult to understand?  What

does it say to me?

Application.  How do I apply these verses?  Is there something to give God thanks

for?  Is there is a sin to avoid?

Prayer.  Simply end your time with God talking with Him.

 

Scripture. John 5:1-4.  Look it up in your Bible, on a Bible app or on Biblegateway.com or Biblehub.com.

 

Jesus is back in Jerusalem after traveling around through the smaller towns.  He goes to a pool by one of the gates and there are a gathering of disabled people – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.  Jesus walks up to one of them.

Observation. Think about what the verse says.  What instruction does it give?   If you have a journal or notebook, write down some thoughts.

 

What does Jesus ask this one crippled man?

 

            How long has he been crippled?  Does this seem like a strange question to ask this man?

 

            Why do you think Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

 

            Why did the Jews gets stirred up about this miracle?

 

            What did the healed man tell them?

 

            Why do you think the healed man turned Jesus in?

 

S  Is there a sin for me to confess?

P is there a promise for me to claim?

A . Is there an attitude for me to change?

C  Is there a command for me to obey?

E Is there an example for me to follow?

 

While we cannot answer all the questions about this story, we can see a couple of simple things.  First, Jesus had compassion on this man.  He asked if he wanted to be healed and Jesus healed him.  The Jews get mad because the healed man was carrying his mat on the Sabbath.  Some people get upset over the smallest things and lose perspective on what is important.  The man tells them his story, Jesus healed him.

 

People in our world need to hear our story.  Jesus saved you and me from our sins when we made a personal decision to believe IN Him.

 

Who in your life needs to hear that today?

 

1. Prayer. Take a few moments to really talk to God.  Use C.H.A.T. to help you guide your prayer time.  But most of all, be real with God.  Talk to Him.

 

Confess

True confession is agreeing with God about your sin.  It includes repentance, doing a 180 from your sin.  Repentance is not just being sorry for being caught, but sorry for breaking the heart of God.  Examine your heart. Admit your faults.  Be teachable.

 

Honor

 

Honor God by praising Him for who He is.  You can do this by reading verse of praise or singing a song to God.

 

Ask

 

Ask God for your needs.  Praying for your own needs, both daily and crisis needs.  Also, pray for the needs of others.  Be specific!

 

Thank

 

Express gratitude for God has done!  Write it down so you can remember how God has answered your prayers!

 

 

Pray.  Remember, just talk to God.  Look at the ingredients above.  Not every prayer has to include all the ingredients.  Just remember, be honest.  Don’t try to sound religious or churchy.  Just be real as you talk to God.