Sermon Synopsis 4.12.26

Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III

Scripture: John 5:1-9 (NKJV) 

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 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.

5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.

6 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?”

7 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.”

8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

I.               Introduction

• In chapter 5, now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
• I want to talk about “Determined to Show Up.” You may be seated in the presence of the Lord today.

• Determination is something that marks a person who is full of faith and full of resilience. Determination is not something that comes by habit—it is something rooted in revelation. When life begins to press toward you and everything begins to say stop, it is determination that pushes you past your pain and pushes you toward the promise of God.
• Today, I believe, as I introduce you to someone in this text who has persevered—who has been determined to show up for thirty-eight years—it is going to change your life. Because it shows you what it looks like when somebody refuses to quit.
• Thirty-eight years. Let that sit for a minute.
• Some of us could not wait thirty-eight weeks. Some of us could not wait thirty-eight days. But we are about to encounter a man who showed up for thirty-eight years… waiting… believing… hoping… expecting… even when nothing changed.
• And that is going to stretch you, because that is counterintuitive to how we think faith works.
• We think if it doesn’t happen fast, something must be wrong, but this man teaches us something different.
• He teaches us that sometimes faith doesn’t look like movement… it looks like endurance.
• Tony Robbins once said it is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped—but let me upgrade that—because showing up repeatedly is not just a habit… it is a declaration.
• It is a declaration that says: “I trust God’s timing over my timeline.”
• And every single day—even when nothing seems to change—faith is positioning me for what God is going to do.
• And I believe with everything in me, there is a divine encounter that happens for people who keep showing up.
• Not the ones who show up once. Not the ones who show up when it’s convenient, but the ones who show up when it’s hard.

II.               Keep showing up repeatedly, even when nothing seems to change.

1. Because that’s the tension. It’s easy to believe God on Sunday, but can you still believe God on Wednesday… when what you heard on Sunday hasn’t shown up yet?
2. Can you still trust Him when your reality doesn’t match your revelation?
3. Faith allows you to see life through the invisible realm… and refuses to be distracted by disappointment or delay.
4. And some of you know exactly what that feels like.
5. You’ve been praying.
6. You’ve been trusting.
7. You’ve been doing the right things.
8. And nothing is shifting.
9. Nothing is moving.
10. Nothing is changing.
11. But I came to tell you—you still have to show up.

III.               Years of setbacks cannot stop those who refuse to give up.

1. Because setbacks don’t stop people who are built different.
2. And I know I’m talking to somebody in here—you’ve had one setback after another.
3. Every time you try to move forward—you get pushed back.
4. Every time you think it’s your time—something happens.
5. And the question is—what do you do when life keeps hitting you?
6. You keep showing up, because something in you refuses to quit.
7. People are watching you… waiting on you to give up.
8. They don’t understand what’s holding you together.
9. They don’t understand the faith that is sustaining you.
10. But they’re about to find out.

IV.               Keep your hope fixed on what God has promised.

1. You cannot get distracted by what you see.
2. You have to stay anchored in what God said.
3. What did God promise you? It not what it looks like. Not what people said.
4. What did God promise you? Because if God said it—it will come to pass.
5. And I’m going to keep showing up until I see it.

V.               Consistent effort prepares you for opportunity.

1. Let me talk to you about consistency. This is where most people lose.
2. You’re good at starting, but you’re not good at staying.
3. Consistency is what prepares you for what you’ve been praying for.
4. A farmer plants a seed and does not dig it up the next day.
5. He understands the process. You don’t go to the gym one day and expect transformation the next.
6. There is a process. Shout PROCESS!

VI.               Daily discipline matters.

1. We shout about miracles, but we struggle with maintenance.
2. Prayer, Obedience, Study, Faithfulness. That’s the real work.
3. That’s what positions you for the breakthrough. “My Father is still working, and I am working” (John 5:17), Which means while you are working—He is working.
4. While you are moving—He is moving.
5. While you are showing up—Heaven is responding.
6. Exodus 16:4… daily provision.
7. Joshua 6… daily obedience.
8. Daniel 6… daily prayer.
9. Luke 9:23… daily surrender.
10. This is not occasional faith. This is daily discipline.

• Patience produces provision.

• God honors those who refuse to quit.

• Show up, even when it’s inconvenient.

1. Your consistency contributes to the change in your circumstances.
2. And now here comes the shift. Because after thirty-eight years…
3. Jesus shows up and when Jesus shows up, He does not ask about the system.
4. He asks the man: “Do you want to be made well?”
5. Because after thirty-eight years, this is no longer just physical.
6. This is emotional.
7. This is mental.
8. This is spiritual.
9. Do you want to be whole… or just healed? And the man starts talking about people. “I have no one…” While the miracle is standing in front of him.
10. And some of you are missing your moment because you’re still rehearsing your pain.
11. But Jesus is saying: “I’m right here.”
12. And then one instruction changes everything: “Get up. Take your bed. Walk.”
13. No countdown, No delay, No process. Just Immediately. Thirty-eight years… Reversed in a moment.
14. Immediately! And I came to tell somebody—your suddenly is about to collide with your consistency.
15. What took years…God can shift in a moment. And when He does it—it won’t even look like how you thought it would happen.
16. Because God does not need the system. He will bypass the system… and bless you anyway.

• There is somebody in this room today… You’re saying it hasn’t been thirty-eight years—but it feels like it.
• God says, “I see you.” God says, “I know.” God says, “I’m about to move.”
• And if you’re ready…This is your moment to respond.