John 5:5-14
John 5:5-6 states, “One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’”
It seems rather odd for Jesus to ask someone who is severely injured if they would like to be well. It’s possible Jesus asked the man this because sometimes we get so comfortable in our pain that we let go of the desire to even be made well.
This can happen in all areas of our lives, including when it comes to meeting the person God wants you to marry. As a way of protecting yourself after years of waiting, it’s tempting to let go of this desire. When God wants to give you a spouse, he may then need to ask you, “Are you still open to meeting the love of your life?”
If God is awakening this good desire in you to glorify him through marriage one day, here are 3 biblical steps you should take.
And I also wanted to quickly mention that the deadline to enroll in AGW University closes tonight, May 28th at 11:59pm.
If you enroll before the deadline, you get lifetime access to all 7 of these relationship courses, 3 months of bonus email coaching with me, lifetime access to the private Facebook group which has over 900 other students in it currently, and you will get the $50 scholarship.
For more information, feel free to read to the end of this article where I’ll share more details about this unique opportunity. Or you can click here to visit AGW University.
1. If You’re Open to Meeting the Love of Your Life, Tell Jesus What You Feel Is Holding You Back
After Jesus asked this man if he wanted to get well in John 5:6, verse 7 then states, “The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.’”
We can interpret this statement in a lot of different ways. We could say he was making excuses and perhaps didn’t want to get well. While it would have certainly been difficult to get into this pool that he felt could heal him, after 38 years, you’d think he could have convinced someone to help him reach the pool first at least once.
Or we could interpret this as foolish idea altogether, “No wonder he’s not well yet. He’s believing superstitions. Getting into that pool wasn’t going to heal him anyways.”
But the fact is, we don’t know this man’s heart. What we do know is that Jesus patiently listened to him. He came to this man who was sick for a long time, and rather than assuming he wanted Jesus to heal him, he showed him respect and dignity by asking him first. He didn’t then ridicule him for his answer. Jesus just accepted the man for where he was at. He could handle the man’s honest answer. Whether it was an excuse, an unbiblical belief, or something else, Jesus listened.
Likewise, tell Jesus what you think is holding you back from meeting the person you hope to marry one day. You could be wrong or you could be right, but Jesus will listen and then instruct you. Do you feel like it’s a you problem? Do you feel like it’s a lack of options? Or do you feel like it’s some spiritual barrier blocking this blessing? You might be wrong or you might be right. But the first step is to talk to Jesus about it. James 1:5-6 states:
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.”
2. If You’re Open to Meeting the Love of Your Life, Do What Jesus Tells You to Do Next
After the man answered Jesus in verse 7, John 5:8-9 then states, “Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.”
Jesus listened to the man, but then it was time for the man to listen to Jesus. Likewise, do what 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) commands, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Obey Philippians 5:6 (NIV), “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
It’s always right to pray, to tell Jesus your troubles, and to ask him for his help. But you can’t stop there. You then have to be prepared to obey whatever he says next (1 Peter 1:13). Jesus didn’t tell the man to get into the pool. The solution the man thought he needed was not what Jesus told him to do.
Likewise, when you tell Jesus about your problems, including when it comes to your desire for a spouse, he may tell you to do something you didn’t expect. Whatever he tells you to do, you have to do it if you want to receive what he wants to give you.
One time when Jesus and Peter needed to pay a tax, Jesus said to Peter, “. . . go to the sea and cast a hook and take the first fish that comes up, and when you open its mouth you will find a shekel. Take that and give it to them for me and for yourself” (Matthew 17:27).
Don’t critique how God wants to answer your need. Present your request to God, but don’t demand how he answer your requests. Just obey.
3. If You’re Open to Meeting the Love of Your Life, Serve God and Avoid Sin
John 5:14 states, “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.’”
Like all of Jesus’ miracles, the physical healing to this man was not Jesus’ main concern. He healed the man’s body as a witness to the man’s soul.
Likewise, whatever it is we want on this earth, including when it comes to marriage, Jesus hears our prayers and many times he will grant us our request. But either way, we must always remember that the most important thing to Jesus is that we follow him. “Go, and sin no more!” In other words, love God.
Whether you will be single for longer or you are about to meet the love of your life, the most important thing is that you serve the Lord.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, the deadline to enroll in AGW University will close tonight at 11:59pm.
This biblical content is not mystical information promising you lavish blessings; and I would never want to mislead anyone by making them think I know a secret marriage formula.
However, what I can promise you is that if you are in a season of life where you are prepared to work hard and truly study what the word of God says about relationships, you will grow immensely by enrolling in AGW University. And while I would never claim to have a secret marriage formula, I have created a wise blueprint that you can follow to increase your chances of meeting the one God might have for you.
I believe so much in the biblical information packed into these courses that I offer a 30-day money back guarantee for anyone not fully satisfied with their experience, no questions asked. Here’s what a few recent students have said about their experiences:
If you enroll before the deadline, which is tonight at 11:59pm, you will get:
- Lifetime access to all 7 relationship training courses, which is a total of 73 in-depth biblical classes. Each class has a video and the content is all in writing as well.
- You will also get lifetime access to the AGW University private Facebook group. This is where all the students can come together, share their struggles, make new friends, and learn from each other. I started this group as a little side bonus, but it has since blossomed into a thriving, encouraging community of likeminded people. This group has over 900 students in it thus far.
- Also, if you enroll before the deadline, I’m giving you three months of bonus email coaching with me for no additional tuition cost. This is where you can share your personal story with me and you and I can create an individualized plan just for you to help you follow the Lord’s leading in your life specifically.
- Lastly, for everyone who enrolls before 11:59pm tonight, I am also giving you a $50 scholarship.
Again, this is not a magical formula. Rather, this is an invitation to those of you who desire to go to the next level and receive specialized relationship training that stems right from God’s word.
Click here and you can see all the course content and all the other bonuses I haven’t even mentioned yet. I’ll see you over at AGW University. God bless!