[2 ] Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. [3 ] In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. [5 ] One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. [6 ] When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” [7 ] The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” [8 ] Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” [9 ] And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. (John 5:2-9 ESV)
One addict writes:
“For the addict, dope is God. It is the supreme being, the Higher Power in the junkie’s life. He is subjugated to its will. He follows its commandments. The drug is the definition of happiness, and gives the meaning to love. Each shot of junk in his veins is a shot of divine love, and it makes the addict feel resplendent with the grace of God.” And yet, as scary as that sounds, the addict is deceived and will tell you he is in control and can stop anytime he wants.
This all sounds horribly gloomy but this is the reality of sin. Welch writes: “As a result of spiritual oppression, drug worshiper may be very intelligent, but they can be oblivious to the destruction and slavery associated with drug (alcohol) abuse. They need the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18), the message of Christ crucified and risen. Other therapies can offer sobriety, but only this good news is powerful enough to liberate the soul.”
From the comment in Amazon books http://www.amazon.com/Addictions-Banquet-Finding-Resources-Changing/dp/0875526063
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Amazing Grace Choir visited 17 Taiwan jails in October, 2010 to reach five thousand inmates. After the 2-hour program, four thousand inmates raised their hands to receive Jesus. The altar call is the first step for a person to get healed that who want to change and has the faith on Jesus. On Christmas, 98 inmates in the three Kaohsiung jails were baptized. Below is the news from the association:
From:中華民國矯正機關收容人關懷協會
1、感謝美國恩典合唱團與本會配合17場99『奇異恩典』關懷監所收容人巡迴音樂會。每一場都觸動收容人心弦，感恩！
2、感謝恩典合唱團捐獻經費為高雄戒治所設立教堂及高雄監獄、雲林監獄修繕教堂；全部工程圓滿完成，也分別舉辦捐獻禮拜，今年聖誕節高監、高戒、高二監等有92位，雲監6位，總共98位收容人受洗成為基督徒。
Jesus asked two thousand years ago “Do you want to be healed?” Today, Jesus is asking the same question for those who need His power for healing.