Apples of Gold
Radio Script for November 7, 2008
“Sick Guy by the Pool”
Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.
So there’s a sick guy by the pool.
Crippled, actually. He can’t get up.
He’s by the pool because of this whacky story about an angel that “stirs the water.”
He has this crazy notion that if he can be the first person in after the water is “stirred,” then he will be healed.
He’s been lame for over 30 years, so I don’t know what makes him think anything’s going to change.
But boy does he have faith in that water.
Sounds dumb, doesn’t it. Why would he have faith in the water?
Enter Jesus, who walks over and says, “Do you want to get well?”
“Sir,” he says, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Freeze that right there. Look at that man’s face. Look at his eyes. It’s almost childlike, this total belief he has in that whole stirring of the water thing.
I mean, he is serious about getting into that water. And you can see the frustration and disappointment, just because someone else always gets in the water before he does.
Why does he believe in this obvious fairy tale? Why does he keep trying?
Oh, that’s an easy one.
Because when he can’t get in first, when he looks over and sees someone else’s toes break the surface of the water – they get better. They are healed. They walk away, problem solved.
No, it hasn’t happened to him, but he believes because he sees it happening to others.
You know what? It doesn’t take a mountain of faith to believe it can happen to you when you see it happening to others.
So how is your faith level today? If it’s low, if it seems like God isn’t doing anything, then go where the water is stirring, where God is changing people’s lives. Get around those people.
When you get around people who are on fire for God, people full of the Spirit – your faith level will soar!
That crippled man by the pool. He didn’t need much faith at all. It was obvious what God was doing for the others, and easy to believe it could happen to him.
So get around people where God is moving.
Where is that?
Find people who are truly seeking the Lord; people who are drawing near to Him.
These are people who love the Word of God. The Bible is their bible. They study it and learn it and do it.
These people pray and spend time with God. They are humble before Him, grateful.
They surrender their will to God’s will. Their life is not their own.
Today I heard a radio interview and the lady said, “I was thinking about the past, back when we were more passionate.”
Well let me tell you, there are plenty of passionate, sold out Christians right now! These people love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.
Get around those people and watch your faith grow!
It won’t even take any effort. That man by the pool didn’t have to muster up faith in the water. He saw with his own eyes its effect.
And you won’t have to muster up faith in God when you get around fired up Christians. You will see with your own eyes what God can do in someone’s life, and you will know He can do it for you.
So build your faith. Find a place where the water is stirring. Find some people whose God is the Lord and who bow their knees to Him.
And your faith will grow in ways you never thought possible.
Comments?
E-mail me: dougapple@wave94.com.
May God bless you today! With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.
This Bible story is found in John chapter 5.
© 2008 The Arrow’s Tip
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)
Why “The Arrow’s Tip”? Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold. Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.” I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.
Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL 32315
(850) 926-8000
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