Getting Closer to God

Scripture

Mark 5:25–34 KJV 1900

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, 26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. 28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. 29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. 34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

Intro

There’s an old saying that goes, “When there’s a will, there’s a way.”

What do you guys think that means?

You’ll do whatever it takes!

Anything you set your mind to, you can do it.

If you want to be something, you can be it.

If you want to accomplish something, you can accomplish it.

This story in the Bible are prime examples of when there’s a will, there’s a way.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Had continuous bleeding for twelve years.

So this woman had been dealing with this issue for years. Could you imagine having a head cold for 12 years with no fix from earthly doctors.

Spent all her money on physicians.

She was so desperate to get this issue fixed that she has spent all her money on doctors and physicians trying different treatments and medicines

It only grew worse.

The Bible doesn’t go into detail about why her issue got worse but it’s assume it was because of the varied treatment she underwent.

She was an outcast.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

Since people of this time generally believed that this

Rendered ritually unclean.

She wasn’t even considered suitable to be in God’s presence. She wasn’t even allowed to be participate in religious ceremonies.

Forbidden from physical contact.

It was to the point where she couldn’t even have physical contact with anyone. Couldn’t hug her friends. Couldn’t shake hands. Couldn’t hold her newborn niece or nephew if she had any.

The Woman’s Faith

She pushed through the crowd.

One thing I found really inspiring is that the woman knew that she wasn’t supposed to be near people and anytime Jesus preached or showed up to a town, which this one was Capernaum, He had a big crowd around Him. But she didn’t care and there’s a reason why she came up behind Jesus and tried to sneak up and touch his garment.

She had to get to Jesus.

She didn’t care who was around. She was determined to get to Jesus. She knew she didn’t even have to touch Jesus, she just wanted to touch the hem of His garment.

She was healed.

She fought through the crowd and literally just touched the hem of His garment and was healed. And like Jesus said, her faith made her whole.

The Main Point

The main point that I want to get from this story is that sometimes, you have to push to get to Jesus by yourself. You have to make up in your mind and have faith that you’re gonna touch God. Some of you may be struggling with an issue that no one but yourself may know about. And there will be times where you feel like you’re all alone, you’re secluded and you can’t seem to get pass this issue.

You struggle to touch God

And if you’re honest with yourself, you’re letting that issue or that struggle keep you from touching God. Whatever it is, it’s hurting you and not letting you get through the crowd to reach Jesus. It’s a scary place to be when the Holy Ghost is moving and you can’t feel God. Yeah you might lift your hands, you might jump, you might run, you might even shed a few tears but if we’re honest with ourselves, sometimes we can’t even do that. We let our struggles and our sins bind us down and we stand there like statues while the Holy Ghost is moving. We don’t even make an attempt to get to Jesus. We just let everyone else touch God while we stand off by ourselves.

Warn against lust

I didn’t even plan on going down this road when I began putting this lesson together but as I was studying today, I just felt a nudge to talk about it and I don’t feel like God would put this on my heart so heavily just for no reason. But I want to warn against lust and more specifically pornography. I know it’s an awkward topic but back when I was first in the youth, no one really talked about it and just avoided it but I wish someone would’ve warned me because I don’t think I would’ve like I did if I would’ve had someone teach about it.

I don’t know what you guys are struggling with but you are all of the age to where you can be introduced to pornography. Especially if you have a phone. A cellphone will get in so much trouble if you are not careful. Your phone can take rule over you if you let it.

Don’t dabble with sin

If you’re starting to dabble or get curious about pornography, let me give you a warning. It will eat you alive. Studies have shown that it will literally alter your brain structure and function. It will tear you up from the inside and change how you view the world. It’s been proven to be just as addictive as drugs or alcohol.

And if you’re not careful, and you don’t get ahold of it, you will become one of it’s victims. I can say that because I struggled with it for over 7 years. I was first introduced around the age of 13 or 14 and it was a battle all the ways up until I finally made a decision for myself, that I wasn’t going to let this issue or this struggle keep me from reaching God.

I sat in service after service feeling nothing cause I had let my struggle keep me from God and I don’t want to see that happen to you. If I’m being honest, I can see that some of you are already bound. You can’t worship, you can’t breakthrough. When’s the last time you wept and I mean wept on an altar of repentance.

Encouragement

I’m not here to bash you guys and say you’re horrible sinners but I can see that some of you are struggling because I was once there not too long ago.

I don’t want to see you guys like this.

I wanna see you guys shouting and worshipping freely.

I want to see you guys up front praising and worshipping God.

I want to see you guys being used of God.

I don’t want to see you guys keep yourself from reaching God.

You have got to make up in your mind. I’m gonna touch God.

This Sunday, I want you to come with the attitude, “I’m gonna touch God and I’m not gonna let anything stop me.”

Once you do, you can feel so free in the presence of God.