Faith that makes you whole

Luke 8:41–48 NKJV

41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Multitudes came to Jesus for help

for healing, for deliverance, for understanding, for salvation

The Woman

She had an incurable problem -

it doesn’t really matter what the specific problem was

It was a problem that affected her life - in about every way

She could not do the things she wanted to do

She could not live the life that God created her to live

God’s will for you is the abundant life- the life that really is life

She had spent all of her livelihood on physicians that could not heal her

spending all her substance, time and resources to cured and then not cured -

so much like so many people today -

She was desperate -

when you are desperate - change can come

Desperate Faith

In here desperation - she thought of Jesus

Being desperate alone is not enough -

some people jump off a bridge in their desperation

Some people just give up in their desperation

Having faith alone also is not enough

That may not sound very religious -

but there a re a good many people who have dignified faith -

faith within bounds

socially acceptable faith

Inclusive, politically correct faith

desperate faith is fervent faith -

the kind of faith that does not care who is watching or what they think

the kind of faith that has no plan b

The faith that leads to the effectual fervent prayer -

Charles Finney wrote:

Now, do not deceive yourselves with thinking that you offer effectual prayer, unless you have this intense desire for the blessing. I do not believe in it. Prayer is not effectual unless it is offered up with an agony of desire

This desperate faith lead to action -

If I Can Touch Him!

In her desperate sate - she put her hope, and her confidence in Jesus

She had to touch Him!

Where have you put you faith?

Where is your confidence?

what keeps you safe? Where is you provision?

If you trust in men, you will end up like this woman was for so long

Is your trust in your employer

Is your trust in your friends

Is your trust in your own self

in your righteousness - or goodness

Where is your faith

She said - If I can just touch Him — even the hem of His garment -

You may be a terrible wretch - but if You can Touch Him

You may be in a miserable state - but if you can touch Him

You may be where all hope is lost - but if you can touch Him

And you can touch Him!!

She did not touch Him with her hands

She touched Him with her faith —

You also, must touch Him with your faith -

what do you believe?

Luke 8:48 NKJV

48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

She touched Jesus - by faith - and her faith healed her

Jesus said it was her faith — that made the difference

With so many problems and dangers in the world, there has never been a better time than now to get back to this

Our faith will make the difference - but we must have faith

Fervent faith -

faith that touches Jesus - and will not let Him go - the abiding faith

Psalm 91:1–2 NKJV

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 91:9–10 NKJV

9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

With so many dangers in the world - sickness - violence - poverty - and more -

we can sill live an abundant life - with confidence

Some people are not afraid -

Some people are living more healthy than they ever have -

Some people were living free in the middle of the lock downs

Not in an arrogant or irreverent way - but with bold confidence in Him

We are the church of the living God - we must live our lives Touching Him!

If you have never touched Him- if You have not received Jesus Christ - do so now

If you have - then live like the disciple you are - with confidence -

Matthew 17:16–20 NKJV

16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him.” 17 Then Jesus answered and said, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Press Through The Crowd!

Even though you have faith and are desperate - that still may not be enough

there are obstacles to our faith

The disciples had to overcome the obstacle of unbelief -

There is plenty of unbelief in the crowd

She had to press through the crowd

there are always other people

they each had their own goals, needs, agendas

some f them are not wrong - but they can be int he way -

The can distract you -

like the weeds in the garden - that choke out the fruit

You must get past the crowd -

you must reach past the obstacles -

cut through the doubt

dodge by the what ifs of unbelief

Take hold of faith --- Lay hold of eternal life!

Mark 16:15–18 NKJV

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

James 5:14–15 NKJV

14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

If any are sick — let the elders of the church pray over them — that is you and I -

The prayer of faith will save the sick -

We are victorious in faith.