The destructive power of a wrong belief

Text John 5:1-15
Main Truth: Wrong belief can prolong and intensify our agonies

Introduction:
The power of mental conclusions: You are what you conclude yourself to be. …
Hopelessness is a mental conclusion.
Happiness is a mental conclusion
Horror is a mental conclusion. Ex. What to others is the horror of perverted poverty was to Mother Teresa an opportunity to love and help.

No one is spared from the agonies of life. We will have to know how to cope up or overcome our pains. Otherwise, we will be drowning unnecessarily. The story today is about a man who had a difficult need.

I HIS BURDENS WERE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT
1. Handicap- His freedom of movement was extremely limited
2. Helplessness- He was alone with no one to help him.
3. Homelessness- He had been there for quite a while and was no longer in his home

II HIS BELIEFS WERE NOT HELPFUL TO HIM
1. The angel- he was focused on the arrival of the invisible angel
2. The water- he was focused on the rippling or bubbling of the water
3. The people who can help would of course help themselves first
4. the result: years of terrible burdens and pains

III HIS BLESSINGS INCLUDED A CHANGE OF MENTAL CONCLUSIONS
1. Change of focus: Not on being unable to walk but on walking
2. Change of mental conclusions. From “I can’t walk “ to “I must walk”
3. Change of focus “not lying down but walking around with the mat”
4. Change of attitude. I must avoid anything that may bring back my burdens “ “sin nor more”

Conclusion:
The answer is not clear when we have wrong beliefs. Wrong belief drowns. The bridge between a burden and a blessing is right belief.