Matthew 11:28-30

1. Matthew 11:28-30 28“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

2. “Same Excuse… Same Scenery” Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church Of Christ – 1/8/17 Excuses With God Are Inexcusable!

3. The lonely, the dying, the discouraged, the exhausted, they’re all here.

4. (John 5:2-3) 2Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep [gate] a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. 3In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters.

5. (John 5:5-6) 5A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying [there], and knew that he had already been a long time [in that condition], He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"

6. (John 5:7) 7The 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."

7. (John 5:8-9) 8Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." 9Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and [began] to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day.

8. Lame man at the pool; • unable to walk for 38 years • burden • little sense of self-worth

9. How did he become a candidate for healing by Jesus? 1. He Identified What He Wanted. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6)

10. Some OfUsJust Don’t Want To GetWell!

11. Why not? • As long as we stay like we are… • Free from unpleasant responsibilities. • Get sympathy...especially when we complain. • Can manipulate people. • Can punish ourselves if we feel guilty.

12. Do you want to get well? • You have friends who bring you here & you’ve developed friendships with others who come here regularly. If I heal you your life will do a complete reversal. You’ll be expected to get a job & relate to people on a different basis. Are you ready for that change? • Do you really want to get well?

13. That’s a question you may need to answer. What do you reallywant?

14. “As psychiatrists, we cringe whenever Christian patients use the words, ‘I can’t’ & ‘I’ve tried’. Any good psychiatrist knows that ‘I can’t’ & ‘I tried’ are merely lame excuses. We insist that our patients stopsaying ‘can’t’ and say ‘won’t’ instead.”Drs. Minirth & Meyer from “Happiness Is A Choice”

15. It’s never really • “I can’t .” • Be honest, it’s • “I won’t.”

16. “I just won’t get along with my wife.” “My husband and I won’t communicate.” “I won’t discipline my kids the way I should.” “I won’t find time to pray.” “I won’t stop gossiping.” “I won’t make time to exercise.”

17. 2. He Had To Quit Blaming Others. 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.” (John 5:7)

18. Finally, something we are good at! • Hey Adam, why? • “That woman You gave me...” • Aaron, about that calf... • The people pressured me, since you were gone so long. I just threw this jewelry into the fire and out came the calf.

19. Pilate: “I just wash my hands”. “I’d stop drinking if my wife would stopnagging me.” “I’d work harder but no one appreciates my effort.” “I’d make better grades, but my teacherdoesn’t like me.”

20. As long as we blame others, our focus is not on what can be changed.

21. So then each one of us will give anaccount of himself to God. (Romans 14:12)

22. 3. He Stretched Beyond Himself. Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” (John 5:8)

23. Ten lepers, “Go show yourself...” Man with a withered hand, “Stretch forth your hand...” Blind man, “Go wash in the pool of Siloam...”

24. Notice Four Characteristics of Christ’s Healing Power: It was instantaneous. It was complete. It was undeniable. He was reliable. He never failed.

25. Do you want to getwell? Are you willing...?

26. 4. He Gave Credit To Jesus. The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. (John 5:15) Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone works wonders. (Psalm 72:18)

27. Everygoodgift comes from God!

28. I worked hard. I had a great idea. I sacrificed a lot & invested well. I take care of my body. I...

29. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)