There was a lady who was walking along the road early one morning. She was carrying a large load of potatoes on her head to sell in the market that morning. A friend of hers drove by in a truck and stopped to pick her up. She was very grateful to him and thanked him over and over. She got up into the seat but still held her potatoes in her lap. Her friend looked over at her and said, “Why don’t you put the potatoes down here on the floor? There is plenty of room.” She looked over at him and said, “Oh no sir, you have been so kind to give me a ride, I could not ask you to carry my potatoes too.” How many times do we do the same thing? We place our total trust in Christ for our eternal life, but we struggle to trust Him with our day to day life. Trusting in God does not stop when we are saved. The trust must be extended to daily life!

Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

When helplessness defines our life and hope is properly placed, Christ is the answer for the sinner and the saint.

John 5:1–9 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

Helplessness defines our life v5 

The man with an infirmity had been in that situation for 38 years, he knew he was helpless. The man with an infirmity was in that condition because of sin. v. 14 Before Salvation – We were helpless to save ourselves, we were helpless and we had to know this to be saved.

1. Ephesians 2:8–9 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
2. Using our own strength will only cause God to fight against us. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6
3. We had to come in desperation knowing that Christ was the only answer.

Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.

The same attitude, dependency, and faith we have toward Christ for our salvation is the same attitude, dependency, and faith we must have toward Christ for our daily life. After Salvation – We are helpless to live a life that glorifies God – we have to know this daily.

1. John 15:5 for without me ye can do nothing.
2. Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
3. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; And we all do fade as a leaf; And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
4. Do we have the same daily desperation for Christ that we did for salvation?

When helplessness defines our life and hope is properly placed, Christ is the answer for the sinner and the saint. 

Helplessness defines our life and Hope must be properly placed

Why did Christ ask the man with the infirmity, “Wilt thou be made whole?” Let us see what this question might have done for the lame man.

• It turned his attention from the water to Christ. Imagine his life of complete attention to the water. His red eyes from not blinking enough. His weary face from long hours awake. His discouragement knowing that even if the water did move, no one was going to help him in time.
• It let him realize his total helplessness. He had to ask someone else and it would be too late. vs. 7
• It opened his heart to the hope of a cure.

Up until then this man watched the pool of water every day, trying to be the first one into the water so he could be healed. All his hope was in that pool of water. He did not realize that that his hope should have been on the Creator of the universe who was talking to him. Before Salvation – Salvation is not in ourselves or anything cursed by the fall

1. Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
2. Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

After Salvation – Glorifying God does not come from our flesh or in anything cursed by the fall.

• We are created to glorify God

Colossians 1:16–17 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 1 Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

• We fall short of our purpose of creation. Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned…
• We have a different focus for our hope.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

• We cannot glorify God by our own effort.

Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

When helplessness defines our life and hope is properly placed, Christ is the answer for the sinner and the saint. 

Helplessness defines our life, Hope must be properly placed, and Help only comes from Christ

The man with the infirmity looked to Christ suggesting that he knew his faith and dependence may have been in the wrong place. v. 9 Maybe there was something more in which to hope. Maybe there was another solution. What about us? So we think we have it all worked out? Do we think that we know all the options and we understand all there is? God will bring life to a place where we lose hope in anything that is not God. Only then will we consider there may be another Hope. Before Salvation – Our salvation can only come from Christ, though many desperately search for other means

Acts 4:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. Colossians 2:6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

After Salvation – We can glorify God only through Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Prov. 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall strengthen your heart. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

•   Substitutes – Idols, things we depend on in place of God
  1. Health
  2. Money
  3. People

How do you know if you are trusting in any of the above? Well, what happens when you lose them? Do you fail to glorify God? Do you get discouraged? Do you lose your hope?

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Rejoice when God shows you your weaknesses. When you are too tired to face a new day, when circumstances and people pile up against you, then the field is set for God to work.

When helplessness defines our life and hope is properly placed, Christ is the answer for the sinner and the saint. 

Conclusion: Is Christ saying to you “Wilt thou be made whole?”  Have you been struggling for 38 years in your own weakness with your hope fixed on something affected by the curse of sin? It is time to take a good look at reality. You can’t do it, you are helpless without Christ’s daily help. You need to get your eyes off of whatever it is that you have been trusting. Christ is trying to get your attention. Hope is only found in Him. Let’s not be guilty of trusting God for our eternity and doubting Him with our days.