In the Gospel of John chapter five there is the story of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. He thought he knew what he needed to do to get healed, but he surely could not do it himself, and nobody would or could help him. Thus, he remained in his pitiful condition. The text indicates that his impotency was due to sin (v.14), and further, we find that actually this man was dead in his sin (v.25), for death is the ultimate consummation of sin. Actually, this man represents all mankind—all of us (for we all begin as dead in our sins and offenses which we inherited from the fall of that first man Adam). At this juncture, the Lord Jesus came to him and asked one question: “Do you want to get well?” Although only a simple yes or no was required to answer the question, the man began instead to explain his situation and how he could not do what he thought he needed to do in order to get well. Before the man could finish, the Lord Jesus spoke one word that changed this man for the rest of his life and into eternity—“Rise, take up your mat and walk.” That one word from the Lord actually enlivened and energized the man. Verse 25 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, An hour is coming, and it is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” Indeed, one word from the Lord is worth more than a million words of advice from anyone else. His one word is full of life supply! His words are spirit and they are life (John 6:63).

The Bible is the Word of the Lord. It was breathed out from Him (2 Tim. 3:16). When we exercise to breath in His word through prayerful reading, we experience the same supply of divine life experienced by that sick man back in John chapter 5. Besides pray-reading the Word of God to get life, we can also listen to the other believers of Christ, who are members of Christ. When they speak for the Lord and speak forth the Lord, again, life is supplied to us, even imparted into us, through the speaking of the saints. May we all position ourselves in front of the Word of God and in the midst of the believers in Christ where we can have the speaking of the Lord imparting life into us!