John 5:2-9, “Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. [3] In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. [4] For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. [5] And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. [6] When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? [7] The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. [8] Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. [9] And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”
This reveals three things:
1. First, you’re not too damaged to be restored.
2. Secondly, you need a prophetic connection not only to be delivered but to be preserved.
3. Thirdly, it takes your recognition of the prophetic vessel, it takes submission and loyalty to the prophetic vessel to be restored.
Do you want to rise? Do you desire to climb higher? Do you want to be delivered from financial paralysis? Do you want to be delivered from marital, social and emotional paralysis? How badly do you want restoration? There are prophetic vessels God has ordained for your deliverance and preservation. It takes a strong desire for restoration to be able to end paralysis.
This man was paralysed for a long time. His legs were paralysed. His finances were paralysed. He was limited and couldn’t do what others were doing. He couldn’t go where others were going. He couldn’t move the way others were moving. Because of his condition, he lived on the mercy and generosity of others. Through me and other servants of God, someone will have an unforgettable encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ in this programme, in the name of Jesus. Men will have an encounter, women, children, families, businesses and destinies will be touched in the next five days, in the name of Jesus.
He was raised and lifted.
But he had an encounter with Jesus through Peter and John that turned his life and destiny around.
Acts 3:6-8, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. [7]And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. [8] And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”
Remember God had cut a deal with Peter to anchor the church. Matthew 16:18, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” He became the leader of the new movement. Those who lied to him were killed and fear came upon the church. God was trying to give us an understanding of the mystery of prophetic covering.
What about Moses? What about king David?
Moses had his flaws, he had anger issues but for the children of Israel, he was their spiritual zone of safety. Noah got drunk after he got out of the Ark, but God used him to set up the Ark of safety.
Lot was safe and he was prospering until left Abraham. He continued to prosper for a while until he was forced out of Sodom and Gomorrah empty handed.
Make A Fresh Move
Every breakdown reveals a weakness not to cry over but to fix. Sometimes your weakness cannot be fixed so. Sometimes your failure reveals a pathway or strategy you should stop using. So, what do you do? Choose a different path, a different strategy. Turn to your strength and major on it. Your weakness diminishes as you grow your strength. This happens for two reasons: first, you starve your weakness by turning your focus away from it. Stop giving oxygen to your weakness.
Secondly, you develop a new sense of worth by achieving something with your strength.
So, instead crying over weakness, start celebrating your strength.
Your restoration will come from the moves you make. Fresh moves. No one will do that for you. Jesus asked the man who was crippled for 38 years, will thou be made whole? Then He told him, get up and walk. He told him to do what he spent his entire life thinking he could not do. You are where you are not because you are incapable of achieving success but because you believe you cannot.
So, one of the roles of the prophet in your life is to challenge you to do what you believe you cannot do.
The children of Israel believed they will end up as slaves until Moses showed up and told them to prepare to leave Egypt.
Move away from people who believe or tell you that you cannot do better. I don’t want people who sympathize with me in my breakdown but people who push me to my breakthrough.
So, open your mind to find out what fresh moves you can make from today to get out of the ashes of defeat to your throne of dominion.
Write a fresh application, draw up a new plan for that business, meet new people, make a fresh move! Rise up and walk!! Stop making excuses, make progress!
As long
Obstacles give way to those who are on the move. God told Moses to tell the people to go forward. Forward was the Red Sea. The sea divided when they moved. Rivers part and dry ground appears for those who dip their feet in the water. The River Jordan parted when the priests bearing the Ark dipped their feet in the water.
I see mountains falling before you! I see obstacles crumbling before you!
Make a fresh move!
God told David to pursue, overtake and recover all that the enemy stole from him. Crying is not a strategy for restoration. Make a fresh move!
In 1989 I lost my house and hospital to fire. I came out with my siblings and only the clothes we wore to sleep. Years of hard work were brought to nothing. Strangely enough, I had a choice either to be discouraged or to pick myself up. I chose to pick myself up. That was before I got married. I chose to pick myself up and try again.
Have you suffered a broken relationship? Stop crying, make a fresh move. Have you suffered losses in business? Make a fresh move! Are you a victim of moral failure? Have you fallen? Rise up and walk! Are you crippled financially, rise up and walk! The God of restoration is touching you right now, in Jesus Name.
Bishop Dr Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l.
