Open Heavens Devotional 6th April 2026

By Pastor E. A. Adeboye

TOPIC: Sin No More

MEMORISE

“Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”
— John 5:14 (KJV)

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READ: John 5:1-14 (KJV)

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

2 Samuel 17-18

MESSAGE

The man in our Bible reading today had been sick for thirty-eight years. He had been coming to the pool of Bethesda year after year, hoping to be the first to step into the water when it was troubled. But every time, someone else got there before him. He had no one to help him. He was helpless, hopeless, and had almost given up.

Then Jesus came. Jesus did not ask him about his faith. He did not ask him about his church attendance. He simply asked him, “Wilt thou be made whole?” The man gave an excuse about having no one to put him into the pool. But Jesus was not interested in his excuses. Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” And immediately, the man was made whole.

After healing him, Jesus found him later in the temple and gave him a warning: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” This is a very important warning for all of us who have received healing, deliverance, or any form of blessing from God.

Many people come to God for healing, deliverance, or financial breakthroughs. They cry to God day and night. They fast and pray. And when God answers them, they go back to their old sinful ways. They forget that the same sin that caused their problems in the first place will bring an even worse problem if they return to it.

Sin is the root cause of many of the problems we face. When God heals you, He expects you to live a holy life. He expects you to turn away from sin completely. If you go back to sin after God has shown you mercy, you are inviting a worse disaster.

The man in our Bible reading had been sick for thirty-eight years. That is a very long time. But Jesus said that if he goes back to sin, something worse will come upon him. That means there are worse things than being sick for thirty-eight years. There are worse things than poverty. There are worse things than failure. There are worse things than loneliness. The worst thing of all is to be separated from God for eternity in hell.

Beloved, God has done so much for you. He saved you from sin. He healed you from sickness. He delivered you from bondage. He provided for you. He answered your prayers. Now, He is saying to you today: “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

Do not go back to that sin that crucified Jesus. Do not go back to that sin that brought sorrow to your life. Do not go back to that sin that opened the door for the enemy. You have been made whole. Now, live a holy life. Let your healing be permanent. Let your deliverance be complete. Let your blessing be sustained.

If you have fallen into sin after God blessed you, repent today. Return to God. Ask for mercy. He is faithful and just to forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. But do not continue in sin. Do not take God’s grace for granted.

ACTION POINT

Examine your life today. Is there any sin you have returned to after God showed you mercy? Repent now and ask God for the grace to sin no more.

HYMN 10 – I Am a Soldier of the Cross

1. I am a soldier of the cross,
   A follower of the Lamb;
   And I shall fear no battle’s loss
   When I shall fight for Him.

2. The cross before me, world behind,
   No turning back for me;
   I’ll follow Christ who’s true and kind,
   And His disciple be.

3. If I should faint or fall away,
   Lord, lift me up, I pray;
   And let me see Your face each day,
   And follow all the way.

4. When I shall reach the heavenly land,
   And see the King in glory,
   I’ll tell the story of His grace,
   And sing redemption’s story.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, thank You for the gift of salvation and for making me whole through Your Son, Jesus Christ.

2. Father, forgive me for every sin I have committed after receiving Your mercy and blessings. Wash me clean with the blood of Jesus.

3. Father, give me the grace to sin no more. Help me to live a holy life that pleases You every day.

4. Father, deliver me from every besetting sin that has been dragging me back into bondage. Break every chain of addiction and compulsion in my life.

5. Father, help me to never take Your grace for granted. Let me not abuse Your mercy by returning to sin.

6. Father, every root of sin still growing in my life, dig it out by fire, in the name of Jesus.

7. Father, let the same power that raised Jesus from the dead empower me to overcome temptation and walk in victory over sin.

8. Father, please keep me from falling and present me faultless before Your presence with exceeding joy.

9. Father, bless Your son, Pastor E. A. Adeboye, and give him the grace to continue to lead Your flock in the path of righteousness.

10. Father, bless everyone reading this devotional today. Let this message bring lasting change to their lives.

COMMENTARY

The Danger of Returning to Sin

The story of the man at the pool of Bethesda is one of the most powerful healing narratives in Scripture. For thirty-eight years, this man had been incapacitated. Thirty-eight years of waiting. Thirty-eight years of disappointment. Thirty-eight years of watching others receive what he desperately needed. His condition was not just physical—it was also emotional and spiritual.

Then Jesus came. Jesus did not require faith from the man. He did not ask for a confession or a prayer. He simply commanded: “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” And the man was healed instantly. This demonstrates the sheer grace and power of God. The man did not earn his healing. He did not qualify for it. Jesus gave it freely.

But the story does not end there. Later, Jesus found the man in the temple and gave him a stern warning: “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” This warning reveals that the man’s infirmity was likely connected to sin. Jesus did not say this to everyone He healed. But He said it to this man because there was a specific spiritual issue that needed to be addressed.

The Connection Between Sin and Suffering

While not all suffering is a direct result of personal sin (see John 9:3 where Jesus said a man was born blind not because of sin but for God’s glory), much of it is. Sin has consequences. Sin opens doors to the enemy. Sin invites judgment. Sin separates us from God’s protection and provision.

The man had been sick for thirty-eight years. That is a long time to suffer. But Jesus warned that something worse could happen if he returned to sin. What could be worse than thirty-eight years of helplessness? Eternal separation from God. The loss of salvation. A demonic return that makes the first condition seem mild.

Jesus’ warning is for all of us. Many believers receive healing, deliverance, or breakthrough, only to return to the same sins that caused their problems in the first place. They forget that sin is not just a mistake—it is a poison that destroys everything it touches.

The Grace to Sin No More

The good news is that God does not just command us to stop sinning—He gives us the grace and power to do so. Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Through the Holy Spirit, we can overcome sin. We can live holy lives. We can say no to temptation. We can walk in victory. But it requires cooperation. We must choose to flee from sin. We must renew our minds with God’s Word. We must stay connected to the body of Christ. We must pray without ceasing.

A Call to Examination

Today’s devotional is a call to self-examination. Have you returned to any sin after God showed you mercy? Have you taken His grace for granted? Have you forgotten the price Jesus paid to set you free?

If so, today is your day of repentance. Run back to God. He is merciful. He is faithful to forgive. But do not continue in sin. Do not let the enemy steal your healing, your deliverance, or your salvation.

Remember: You have been made whole. Now, sin no more.