PARE DE ESPERAR AS ÁGUAS SE MOVEREM - 03/05/2026 - PR. RUBENS MARTIM

Key Points

• Jesus heals a paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda, who had been waiting 38 years for a miracle, by directly asking "Do you want to be healed?" and commanding him to rise, breaking the religious protocol of waiting for the water to stir.
• The healed man faces criticism from religious leaders for carrying his mat on the Sabbath, focusing on rule-breaking rather than celebrating his restoration.
• Jesus declares, "My Father is working until now, and I am working," emphasizing that God's work is continuous and not limited to specific days or rituals.
• The message warns against spiritual passivity and excuses, urging believers to move with God's ongoing work rather than waiting for perfect circumstances or human help.
• There is an urgent call to action: believers must work while it is "day" (the present opportunity), avoiding the trap of waiting passively, which can lead to spiritual decline.

Summary

The transcription centers on a sermon delivered on Labor Day, using John 5:17 as the foundational verse: "My Father is working until now, and I am working." The preacher explores the story of a man paralyzed for 38 years at the Pool of Bethesda, where people waited for an angel to stir the water, believing the first to enter would be healed. Jesus approaches this man and asks a direct question: "Do you want to be healed?" The man responds with excuses—he has no one to help him into the pool, and others always get there first. Jesus ignores these justifications and commands him to "Rise, take up your bed, and walk." The man is instantly healed, bypassing the need for the stirred water, religious rituals, or human assistance.

The sermon then highlights the reaction of religious leaders: instead of celebrating the miracle, they criticize the healed man for carrying his mat on the Sabbath, a violation of their rules. This reveals a deeper issue—people often focus on religious regulations rather than the transformative work of God. Jesus counters this by declaring that the Father never stops working; He continuously sustains, governs, and operates in the universe. If God ceased for even a moment, creation would collapse. Jesus identifies Himself with this continuous divine work, stating that He too is always working.

The preacher applies this to modern life, warning against a "Bethesda mentality"—waiting passively for a miracle or for circumstances to change, making excuses like "I have no one to help me" or "I am waiting for the right moment." This passivity, often disguised as "waiting on God" or taking a "spiritual sabbatical," is dangerous because it leads to spiritual paralysis and decline. The call is to break free from this mindset and actively participate in God's ongoing work. Jesus models this by not waiting for the water to stir but by acting immediately.

The sermon emphasizes urgency, quoting John 9:4: "We must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work." This highlights that opportunities are limited, and believers must act now. The preacher criticizes those who claim to need rest or time off from their spiritual duties, arguing that such attitudes open the door for spiritual coldness and deviation. The core message is that God is always active, and believers are called to move with Him—not to wait for perfect conditions, but to rise, take action, and fulfill their purpose in the present moment. The sermon concludes with a strong exhortation to abandon excuses and embrace a life of continuous, faithful work in alignment with God's unceasing labor.