6/18/21- “I WAS BORN CRIPPLED!” - SO WHAT?

When it comes to Jesus’ response to what we’re faced with throughout our lives. His answer remains the same. “So what?” The choice of remaining a cripple is ours, be it spiritually or physically. He has the answer for both. Both forms of infirmity have a spiritual component to it. How can I say that? Let’s listen to Jesus’ own words as He addressed the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

“One Sabbath day, while Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, He encountered a seriously handicapped woman. She was crippled and had been doubled over for eighteen years. Her condition was caused by a demonic spirit of bondage that had left her unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her condition, He called her to Him and gently laid His hands on her. Then He said, “Dear woman, you are free. I release you forever from this crippling spirit.” Instantly she stood straight and tall and overflowed with glorious praise to God! The Jewish leader who was in charge of the synagogue was infuriated over Jesus healing on the Sabbath day. “Six days you are to work,” he shouted angrily to the crowd. “On those days you should come here for healing, but not on the seventh day!” The Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Don’t you care for your animals on the Sabbath, untying your ox or donkey from the stall and leading it away to water? If you do this for your animals, what’s wrong with allowing this beloved daughter of Abraham, who has been bound by Satan for eighteen long years, to be untied and set free on a Sabbath day?”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:10-16‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Who did Jesus say had crippled her? Exactly. So there are some people who have accepted things that they thought were their lot in life or cross to bear, as some have erroneously been taught. They accept things that should be resisted. Don’t stone the messenger. Jesus said all things are possible to him who believe. Are you a believer? He said these signs shall follow those that believe. Are you a believer? Mark 9:23; Mark 16:17-18

Let’s look at two more accounts and the responses of the recipients.

“Among the many sick people lying there was a man who had been disabled for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, He knew that the man had been crippled for a long time. Jesus said to him, “Do you truly long to be well?” The sick man answered, “Sir, there’s no way I can get healed, for I have no one to lower me into the water when the angel comes. As soon as I try to crawl to the edge of the pool, someone else jumps in ahead of me.” Jesus said to him, “Stand up! Pick up your sleeping mat and you will walk!” Immediately he stood up—he was healed! So he rolled up his mat and walked again! Now Jesus worked this miracle on the Sabbath.”

‭‭John‬ ‭5:5-9‬ ‭TPT‬‬

“One afternoon Peter and John went to the temple for the three o’clock prayer. As they came to the entrance called the Beautiful Gate, they were captured by the sight of a man crippled from birth being carried and placed at the entrance to the temple. He was often brought there to beg for money from those going in to worship. When he noticed Peter and John going into the temple, he begged them for money. Peter and John, looking straight into the eyes of the crippled man, said, “Look at us!” Expecting a gift, he readily gave them his attention. Then Peter said, “I don’t have money, but I’ll give you this—by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk!” Peter held out his right hand to the crippled man. As he pulled the man to his feet, suddenly power surged into his crippled feet and ankles. The man jumped up, stood there for a moment stunned, and then began to walk around! As he went into the temple courts with Peter and John, he leapt for joy and shouted praises to God.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:1-8‬ ‭TPT‬‬

In both accounts the men had been crippled for a combined total of seventy-eight years. One had an explanation for his condition, the other didn’t get to explain. But both received what they needed. When you think your condition is your lot in life you’ll never believe that there’s a possibility for a different outcome. Jesus told the man at the pool to stand up on his own, Peter and John offered the man at the temple their hands of support. The decision to be made whole requires obedience and participation. “Will you be made whole?” I have no one to help me. Stand up! Can you give me some money? Money won’t help your condition because you’ve been sitting in the same place for over forty years. Give me your hand! Choices. Either way help showed up that day for both men.

God sent Jesus so we wouldn’t be spiritual cripples for the rest of our lives. He desires that we be made whole, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically and financially. But there are those who would rather complain or take the handouts and remain crippled. The men and the woman may have settled into their normal, telling themselves there was no way out of their situation. But Jesus is and always will be our way out and up. These people received their lives and sense of dignity and purpose back. The response to their transformation varied, the woman glorified God, the man at the pool went back to church, at least that’s where Jesus found him. But the man at the gate totally lost it. He clung to Peter and John. He never knew anything else but being a cripple, he had nothing to compare his healing with. He was walking, leaping and praising God, the scripture says. The man at the pool wasn’t born crippled. Something he did caused his problem. How do I know this? Jesus told me.

“Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”John‬ ‭5:14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Most, not all, of our problems can be traced back to a decision we’ve made. That little insignificant thing has become a major player in your crippling situation. But Jesus is calling you to rise up and walk away from whatever it is. You may have been born crippled, but Jesus has sent a believer with a Word and a helping hand. Take it! Rise up and walk into a whole new experience of eternal life. I am that believer today, I am that voice and hand through this message. (Psalm 107:20) You’re not destined to remain a cripple! You’re a son and daughter of Abraham! Now a joint heir together with Christ Jesus. Won’t you rise up from being a spiritual cripple to a robust life in Jesus? Whenever you read accounts in scripture where the people are nameless, it’s by design so that we can insert our names in its place.

What lies have you been told, or have told yourself? In Jesus Christ nothing is irreversible. All we need to do is act upon what we believe. We’re called believers for a reason! It’s not just an acronym. We are destined to win because of Whose we are. There is no failure in God. That toxic relationship, Welfare, Stimulus checks, Section 8 and unemployment isn’t a hand up, it’s a handout. Like the lame man begging for a handout, which wouldn’t change his situation, the Lord is offering us a hand up, something that will last forever. In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth! RISE UP and WALK! Take your life back from the lies of the enemy that has crippled you. Start walking, start leaping, and praise the God of heaven who has made you whole! You won’t need to say a word, your transformation will speak for itself.

“When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭3:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

O taste and see that the Lord is good! For no one is cast off by the Lord forever. Psalm 34:8; Lamentations 3:31

Written by permission of the Holy Spirit

W. Tennant

June 18, 2021