OUTHSIDESCOOP
EDITION 34
FRESH DEW
RiseUp BySis.RickiFuller
“Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there…, 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.” (John 5:5-9aNKJV)
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OrlanderR.Thomas
SeniorMinister
WilliamA.Stephens
MinisterEmeritus
WileyShearin,Jr.
ElderEmeritus
RickiFuller
Women’sCounselor
CandiceP.Blount
ChurchAdministrator
QuentellaWilliams
ExecutiveAssistant
Deacons
JohnAlcox
AnthnoyGreen,Sr.
ArthurHackney
JohnMathis
ChesterMayfield,Jr.
RogerMcDougal
JoeWilliams
KeithWright
Seemingly Jesus’ words to the lame man, mentioned in the verses above, were absolutely strange to him. The Scripture indicated the man had been stricken with a rather debilitating disease that rendered his health condition as invalid for thirty-eight painful years without any possibility of help in curing/eradicating his infirmity. His being near the pool strongly suggests he wanted to be healed.
And, then, Jesus shows up asking him whether he wants to be healed. Some of us may have mustered up the response to Jesus stating ‘why do you think I’m laying here by this healing pool?’. Yes, I want to be healed, but someone else always steps into the pool directly after the angel moves the water before I can orchestrate my body in. And, the first person who entered the stirred-up water received the healing. So, sir, why are you asking me such a question?’
Just as He does with us, Jesus was simply gently guiding the lame man to THINK differently – to see himself actually being healed and able to not only walk but to carry his cot/bed (so as not to litter, smile). We are led through prayer responses, Bible School lessons, sermons, fellowship with other Christians, and a myriad of Spirit-led ways to look at our life conditions/situations from a Christ-like perspective. Once our outlooks change, then we can confidently rise up to walk/live as GOD so designed for us.
Similar to the lame man, we can be healed in our minds and bodies (while perceiving healing from GOD’s perspective, not our own preconceived notions). Possibly, while viewing/hearing Andra Day’s song, we can hear Jesus tell us to Rise Up to Him with renewed thinking/believing:
“You're broken down and tired, Of living life on a merry go round, And you can't find the fighter, But I see it in you so we gonna walk it out, And move mountains, We gonna walk it out, And move mountains, And I'll rise up, I'll rise like the day, I'll rise up, I'll rise unafraid, I'll rise up, And I'll do it a thousand times again, And I'll rise up, High like the waves, I'll rise up, In spite of the ache, I'll rise up… All we need, all we need is hope, And for that, we have each other, And for that, we have each other, And we will rise, We will rise, We’ll rise, oh, oh, We’ll rise…” Let’s RECOMMIT/RISE UP our minds to obey GOD’s will!
EDITION 34 24 SEPTEMBER 2023
BULLETIN Nathaniel Granby 15 Charlestine Royster 18 Anthony Green, Jr. 19 Taylor Redfearn 19 Arwyn Palmer 20 Irma Brown 21 Velma Bethea 23 Samuel Page 23 Deidre Green 24 Greg Hill 24 Ebonie Purvis 24 Tyler Patterson 25 Ron Lindsay 28 Wanda Reed 28 Angela Cotton 29 Valerie Burt 30
