Continue Seeking

Introduction: Seeking the Lord, should be a personally motivated act of faith, that is done, knowing that there is only one true and living God, who can handle every issue we bring to him. The text shows two fretful people, who come to Jesus in sincere faith.

Luke Chapter 8

Continue Sowing (Luke 8:4-15)

Continue Shining (Luke 8:16-18)

Continue Serving (Luke 8:19-21)

Calming Storms (Luke 8:22-25)

Continue Showing (Luke 8:26-39)

Continue Seeking (Luke 8:40-47)

I. Reach Out to Jesus (8:43-44)

Reach to Jesus In Your Brokenness (8:43) - 43 A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years, who had spent all she had on doctors yet could not be healed by any,”

Note: The two people who came seeking help from Jesus were opposites in every way.

Jairus was a wealthy man, the woman with the issue was anonymous and now bankrupt. Jairus, had twelve years of happiness with his daughter, while the woman had experienced, twelve years of misery. Jairus was respected, and this woman had been rejected. Jairus came up to Jesus, and made his request, while the woman pressed her way up behind Jesus to simply touch. The singular similarity between the two is there attitude of faith.

Note: Some people refuse to come to Jesus based on pride, while others refuse to come to Him, based on pity. Both cases are tragically wrong. All who call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved.

Note: The ceremonial law gives a very detailed description of how a woman’s monthly cycle should be maintained. The practices given in Leviticus 15:25-33 would be used to address the health and sanitary practices, which are now handled with modern medicine and practices. Because of her condition she the woman was suffering physically, and emotionally and Spiritually. Based on the Ceremonial Law, she was

Cut off from family, friends, and the fellowship at the Synagogue. Should not be in crowds, or large groups of people. “She was defiled, destitute, discouraged, and desperate; but she came to Jesus and her need was met.”

Psalm 118:8-9 (HCSB) - “8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in nobles.”

2 Corinthians 1:3 (HCSB) - “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.”

Reach Out to Jesus In Spite of Barriers (8:44) - “44 approached from behind and touched the tassel of His robe. Instantly her bleeding stopped.”

Numbers 15:37-40 (HCSB) - “37 The Lord said to Moses, 38 "Speak to the Israelites and tell them that throughout their generations they are to make tassels for the corners of their garments, and put a blue cord on the tassel at [each] corner. 39 These will serve as tassels for you to look at, so that you may remember all the Lord's commands and obey them and not become unfaithful by following your own heart and your own eyes. 40 This way you will remember and obey all My commands and be holy to your God.”

Acts 5:15 (HCSB) - “15 As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on beds and pallets so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.”

Note: The tassels at the hem of the priests’ garments were used as a constant reminder of their travels by faith, making it upon the grace of God. Her act of faith was a connection to and acknowledgement of the Lord’s work, and her belief that He was able to do so again.

“When the inventor of chloroform, Sir James Simpson, was dying, a friend said to him, “You will soon be resting on His bosom.” Simpson humbly replied, “I don’t know as I can do that, but I think I have hold of the hem of His garment.”

II. Respond to Jesus (8:45-47)

Respond to Him Based on His Omniscience (8:45-46) - “45 "Who touched Me?" Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds are hemming You in and pressing against You." 46 "Somebody did touch Me," said Jesus. "I know that power has gone out from Me.””

Note: Jesus asks a rhetorical question, that prompted the crowd to pause and consider His question. He knew exactly who touched Him in confidence, as opposed to those who touched Him in closeness.

- “You get it by throwing yourself at His feet and admitting how desperately in need of His help you are and surrendering yourself fully to Him.”

The Church Father Augustine states, “Multitudes still come similarly close to Christ in the means of grace, but all to no purpose, being only sucked into the crowd.

Psalm 38:9 (KJV) - “9 Lord, my every desire is known to You; my sighing is not hidden from You.”

Luke 6:17-19 (HCSB) - “17 After coming down with them, He stood on a level place with a large crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. 18 They came to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those tormented by unclean spirits were made well. 19 The whole crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming out from Him and healing them all.”

Respond to Him Openly (8:47) - “47 When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched Him and how she was instantly cured.”

Note: She takes the opportunity to make a public profession of her inward confession. And that is what every child of grace who knows his sins have been forgiven should gladly do. When we go into believers baptism, it is a declaration to the world that Jesus’ touch has made a difference in your life.

Psalm 38:7-11 (HCSB) - “7 For my loins are full of burning pain,

and there is no health in my body. 8 I am faint and severely crushed; I groan because of the anguish of my heart. 9 Lord, my every desire is known to You; my sighing is not hidden from You. 10 My heart races, my strength leaves me, and even the light of my eyes has faded. 11 My loved ones and friends stand back from my affliction, and my relatives stand at a distance.”

Psalm 66:16-20 (KJV) - “16 Come and listen, all who fear God, and I will tell what He has done for me. 17 I cried out to Him with my mouth, and praise was on my tongue. 18 If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. 19 However, God has listened; He has paid attention to the sound of my prayer. 20 May God be praised! He has not turned away my prayer or turned His faithful love from me.”

Philippians 2:12 (KJV) - “12 So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

III. Restored by Jesus (8:48)

Restored in Comfort (8:48a) - “48 "Daughter," He said to her, "your faith has made you well.”

Note: The woman was ceremonially unclean person, touches a clean person, the clean person becomes infected or defiled. However, this is not the case in this story. That is the power of grace in our lives, when the clean touches the unclean, it purifies.

1 John 2:1-2 (HCSB) - “1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father-Jesus Christ the righteous One. 2 He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not only for ours, but also for those of the whole world.”

Matthew 8:13 (HCSB) - “13 Then Jesus told the centurion, "Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you." And his servant was cured that very moment.”

Acts 14:9 (HCSB) - “9 and heard Paul speaking. After observing him closely and seeing that he had faith to be healed,”

Hebrews 4:1-2 (HCSB) - “1 Therefore, while the promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear so that none of you should miss it. 2 For we also have received the good news just as they did; but the message they heard did not benefit them, since they were not united with those who heard it in faith…”

Restored in Confidence (8:48b) - “Go in peace.”

Luke 7:47-50 (HCSB) - “47 Therefore I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; that's why she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little." 48 Then He said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 Those who were at the table with Him began to say among themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" 50 And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."