Let’s pickup the account of the man at the Pool of Bethesda. John 5:5 says, “Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.” That is a long time! In verse 6, Jesus asked him, “…Do you want to be well?” The man did not answer the Lord’s question.

In verse 7 he said, “…Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool…” Jesus did not hear faith, yet He healed him immediately. Though the man was distracted by looking at man, the Lord revealed Himself to him as a Healer. Note verse 14. It says, “…See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Whether the Lord heals us or not, He desires faith in Him alone. Isaiah 43:7 says, “Everyone who is called by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

Romans 8:29. Our trials, no matter what classification, are working to conform us to His image. We are to exemplify Him through every aspect of our lives.

Does the Lord hear faith through your thoughts? Galatians 3:5 says, “Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?”

Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” The Lord is pleased when He hears faith through our thoughts, conversations, and through our prayers.

James 5:15 says, “And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sin, he will be forgiven.” This verse clearly states that sickness can be the result of sin.

Yet in John 9 we see another reason. Jesus saw a man blind from birth. In verse 2 His disciples asked, “…who sinned, this man or his parents…?” Verse 3 says, “…Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

John 16:33 says, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Jesus overcame for us through His death on the cross.

We are called to be overcomer’s. 1 John 5:4 says, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” Are you adding to your faith?

Faith was a seed gift at salvation. Romans 12:3 says, “…as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.” Romans 10:17 says that our faith is increased through hearing His word. 2 Peter 1:5-7 is a list of things we are to add to our faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love.

Colossians 2:7 says, “Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Are you diligently making personal applications from Scripture? Psalm 119:11. His hidden word keeps us from sinning.

I was communing with the Lord before time to get up. As I thanked Him for His words, “It is finished!” it was as though I heard a scream of terror and anguish. My mind immediately went to 1 Corinthians 2:8 says, “Which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Colossians 2:14-15 says, “Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Hallelujah! Revelation 19:10 says, “…For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Isaiah 53 was written 700 years before Jesus died on the cross. I am reminded of Genesis 3:15 says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Hebrew for bruise is crush.

Peter, James, and John were with Jesus on the top of the mountain. He was transfigured right before their eyes. Matthew 17:2 says, “…His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light.”

Peter wrote about that eye-witness event. 2 Peter 1:17 says, “For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

John 14:21 says of those who love Him, “…I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” Manifest means to appear, come to view, reveal, make visible, present oneself to the sight of another. 

Hard trials find us in a crucible of fire. The Lord divinely orchestrates and tempers every trial. They are designed to reveal the hidden dross-lies undermining our faith. The implanted lies of the enemy distort our view of the Lord.

Moses. Hebrews 11:27 says, “…held staunchly to his purpose and endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible.” Let us develop the practice of gazing.

Meditating on 1 Peter 1:13 has been a delightful experience. The verse is so full of truths. It has taken me a while to mine them out. As I came to the last phrase, I pondered it. How will Jesus reveal Himself to us in the present?

I thought back to the disciples. 1 John 1:1 says, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life.”

They were daily with Jesus. Yet, there were times when He revealed Himself to them in ways they had not known Him before. He fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish. He multiplied them before their eyes. John 6:11.

He calmed the tempestuous sea. Luke 8:24. He walked on water. Mark 6:49. He turned water into wine. John 2:7-9. He raised Lazarus from the dead. John 11:43-44. He convicted the consciences of the scribes and Pharisees. John 8:9. He revealed the heart of the Samaritan woman. John 4:18.

Let’s recap God’s wisdom from yesterday’s devotional. It gives us an understanding heart, the ability to discern between good and evil, it is pure, and undefiled. James 3:14-16 is the root of man’s wisdom. I am paraphrasing. It comes from a self-seeking heart. It contains bitter envy, lies against the truth ~ leads to confusion and evil. Verse 15 says, “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.”

God’s wisdom helps us discern the lies of the enemy. Hebrews 5:14 says, “…who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” God’s wisdom gives us X-ray vision. Lies contain a hidden skeleton~agenda to defeat. When we allow them to penetrate, they will set up an inner stronghold.

In my experience, the fiery dart lies come in the first person ~ always defeating. “I can’t…I will never…I hate…” Anytime we have a thought against ourselves, others, or our circumstances, we can be sure that they are fiery darts. We are created in His image. We are loved unconditionally. We will stand before Him faultless!

Jude verse 25 says, “To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” Our source of True Wisdom comes from the Lord. Wisdom is a Person.

The One who is All Wise appeared to King Solomon. In first Kings 3:4, God said, “Ask! What shall I give you?” What would you have answered? Solomon recognized his inability to lead, “…a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted” according to verse 8.

Verse 9 says, “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil…” The Lord granted his request. Verse 12 says, “…there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you.”

We have the same opportunity. James 1:5 says, “…let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach…” All means without exception. James 3:17 described His wisdom as, “…first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”

Colossians 1:11 says, “Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Psalm 55:22 says that He will sustain us. Isiah 41:10 says that we are not to fear because He is with us. 

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him. Hebrews 12:2. Hebrews 10:36 says, “For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.”

Jude verse 24 says, “…that He will present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy…” Moses asked to see the Lord’s glory. The Lord hid him in the cleft of a rock. Exodus 33:22-23says, “…while My glory passes by…will cover you with My hand…you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

One day we will stand before the Lord, face to face, faultless, and in the absolute fullness of exceeding joy! 1 Peter 1:9 says, “Receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” Eternally dwelling in His Presence.

Jude 24 says, “…keep you from stumbling…” What does it mean? James 3:2 says that we stumble in many ways. The Holy Spirit led me to compare Scripture with Scripture. 

Jesus told Peter that satan wanted to sift him as wheat. I love Jesus’ words. Luke 22:32 says, “But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

1 Peter 5:10 was written from that experience. It says, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

John 6:39 says, “This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” Jesus’ prayer just before His crucifixion. John 17:12 says, “…Those whom You gave Me I have kept…” Verse 20 says, “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word.”