Religion is either pure or vain. Sadly though, the religious life of many people falls short of God's standard. They go to Church, some even work in the Church as ministers yet their lives are full of cursing, swearing, lying, evil-speaking and selfishness. The word of God says such people are deceiving themselves with vain religion. The world is filthy and you must avoid being stained by it. Evil communications corrupt good manners.

You can have what you say, therefore speak according to God's word and not according to your thoughts and feeling. Speak what you want to see and not the problems and challenges in your life, because God's word teaches that you can have what you say. Carnal, fleshly words are destructive but the spiritual word of God is life-giving and profitable. Don't just believe God's word, speak it.

King Hezekiah was sick unto death and he prayed for healing but God sent Prophet Isaiah to advise him to prepare for death. The message from the Prophet did not stop his prayer. He prayed until God changed the verdict of the Court of heaven and added fifteen years to his life. Hannah's womb was shut by the Lord but when she persisted in prayer, God eventually answered her and gave her children. Do not stop praying until God undertakes for you.

The fact that many Churches are not preparing their members for the coming of the Messiah, confirms that we are in the last days. Their worldly lives appear to be mocking the promise of His coming. They have forgotten that every word of God must surely come to pass at His appointed time. Jesus said, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also. At His ascension, the angels said, this same Jesus, which is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

The man in our key text was in the same unpleasant situation for thirty-eight long years. He believed that one day someone would be kind enough to help get him into the healing waters at the right time. However, when Jesus came by and asked if he would like to be healed, he failed to see that the Doctor of doctors had come to his help. His trust was not in God but in man.