Freedom

I greet you in Jesus’ precious name! It is Sunday morning, the 9th of November, 2025, and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.

We start in the Gospel of John 5:11. This is the former paralysed man speaking:

“He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

That man had been paralysed for 38 years. Jesus spoke to him, healed him instantly, a powerful miracle, and then told him to take up his bed and walk. Amazing! I have been to that place. I have prayed for many sick people in that place and they have recovered.

It is a beautiful place in the Old City of Jerusalem. It is where the Pool of Bethesda was. Once a year the angel would stir up that pool of water and the first person who was lowered into that water would be healed miraculously. This man had no one to help him into the pool and Jesus said to him, “Take up your bed and walk” and he walked. But you know what is so sad for me is, when the people heard about the miracle and they knew that man, they never glorified God for the miracle. They asked him, “Why are you walking on the Sabbath?” There is a scripture in 2 Corinthians 3:6, and this is what it says:

“…for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”

We need to be so careful that we don’t become judgemental. When the Spirit of God moves folks, we need to rejoice and give all the glory to Jesus Christ. People need the Lord. Now, as you know, I have recently returned from an incredible evangelistic event, where I saw the poorest of the poor - not only poor, but also fearful, anxious, lost, and forsaken. They were not wearing three-piece suits. No, they were very meagrely dressed. I saw a miracle take place. I saw a hunger for Jesus Christ, like I have very rarely seen in my life. I saw a desire to know Him more. I saw people’s eyes open when they heard the simple Gospel message. 

Today, be very careful that you do not kill the Spirit of God by being religious. Religion kills the Gospel. It’s the freedom of the Holy Spirit that sets you free! I will never forget that meeting in my life and I will never forget the Pool of Bethesda in the Old City of Jerusalem where we prayed for sick people. Jesus bless you and have a wonderful Sunday.

God bless you.