Sermon Outline: Sin Can Affect Your Body

John 9:1-7 is clear that just because one has a physical problem it does not mean they have sinned. However, in John 5:1-14 we see sinning can adversely affect our health. The idea for this message came about in part after Dorcas, my wife, read from a reliable source on the Internet that those who lie less tend to be more healthy. She could not remember where she read that but an article on WebMD.com seems like it could have been the one. Glancing over it, it appeared to me the article was simply mentioning there was a study that seem to indicate that if you lie less, you live healthier. The article was not necessarily pushing the thought, and even if science could “prove” this theory to be true, I would not trumpet that “fact” since facts in science are so changeable. The Holy Bible has the true, unchanging facts about the morals God expects from us.

In John 5:1-14, I felt led of God to use four areas of that passage to show sin can make us sick.

I. The Man’s Problem v.5 “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.“

What I found interesting in the opening verses of this passage was that “impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered” were listed in verse 3, and in verse 5 “disease” is mentioned but when we read about the man that was to be healed by Christ “infirmity” is used. This is what James Strong {1} says about the Greek word translated here as “infirmity”:

769 ασθενεια astheneia as-then’-i-ah 
AV-infirmity 17, weakness 5, disease 1, sickness 1, 24 
1) want of strength, weakness, infirmity 
1a) of the body 
1a1) its native weakness and frailty 
1a2) feebleness of health or sickness 
1b) of the soul 
1b1) want of strength and capacity requisite 
1b1a) to understand a thing 
1b1b) to do things great and glorious 
1b1c) to restrain corrupt desires 
1b1d) to bear trials and troubles 

As you see, it is somewhat a general term and can be applied to both body and soul. I agree with many others that our soul often means the place where our affections reside, and these affections are developed by our body and spirit. Given the fact the Holy Spirit purposely chose astheneia for the Apostle John to use it seems to imply to me this man had an inner spiritual weakness.

II. Christ’s Probe v.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?”

I mean probe in a good sense here. I believe when our Savior examines us He loves and hates. He loves us, but hates our sins. He hates our sins because He loves us and knows far better than many of us do that our sins will bind us on the course to hell.

Note carefully that Christ knew the man had been in that condition for a long time and then asks if he wanted to be made whole (well). That might seem odd at first, but I am of the opinion after observing many people over the course of forty decades that some do not want to get healed.

There was one man in our church a few years back who was on Social Security Disability for an ailment and openly admitted he did not want to work. However, he would come up for prayer to be healed. Needless to say he died in that condition.

Some people find a little comfort in being sick, or like the attention, and, especially in the United States are hooked on the money the government gives them and the medications their doctors prescribe. It is hard to see healing faith developed in these people.

In our time some of those who claim they want God’s healing touch need to hear the same words of Christ, “Wilt thou be made whole?” 

III. Christ’s Power 8-9 “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.”

Christ certainly has the same power today. I am so glad there is always hope in Him.

IV. Christ’s Portent 14 “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

Proof right from the lips of our Lord that sin can make us sick. I can remember years back one poor man harbored a bitter spirit, and at the same time was plagued with arthritis. I, myself, know that Christ has also corrected me, not only to live well spiritually but also physically.

We sin because we have weakness we might not have permitted Christ to heal. I must think of Jeremiah 2:13, especially the last part of it, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.” This fits quite well with a portion of astheneia’s definition, viz., “want of strength and capacity requisite to … restrain corrupt desires.” 

Let the Great Physician examine you and let Him remove whatever needs to be removed so you can be your best. The foundation is being truly surrendered to Him.

Notes:

1 – From an electronic version of Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance incorporated in the Online Bible program.

God willing, links to the audio for this message will be posted at http://www.sapphirestreams.com/life/audioM.html#M206 hopefully before August 16, 2012.