“what Do You Need From God?”

“What do YOU NEED from GOD?”

Mark 5:25-29

This is where it is finally won or lost, any doctor will tell you, “within.” How many times the words “hang on” have been used!

Illust:

When the French surrendered to General Giap and the Vietnamese at Dien Phen Phu, the long line of survivors were led on foot toward Hanoi. A French army surgeion among the prisoners realized that his appendix was in trouble. What would he do?

Existence can reduce itself to one line ---“To be or not to be, that is the question.” The doctor arrived at the moment of truth. Would he go on or would he give up? He took the only instrument he had, a razor blade, and made the incision upon himself. He skillfully removed the offending organ. He sewed the wound with the only available thread, taken from his army uniform.

The doctor made it to Hanoi. Later he was released in an exchange of prisoners. He returned to Paris to practice medicine there.

So many have said, “What is the use? I might as well give up and die. This is the end of the line for me.” But there is the person, like the woman of our text, who says within herself “I”LL MAKE IT!!!!1

I. A FATHER’S ACTIONS

A. A concerned father brought his son to Jesus. The boys

convulsions were pitiful.

22The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.” Mark 9:22

1. The heart of Jesus must have been touched by this beleaguered parent. It could never be a question of whether or not Jesus could heal. That was not open to debate. The resilience, the intestinal fortitude, of the father was.

Verse 23 tells us: 23Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all ALL THINGS s are possible to him who believes.”

2. Until I resolve to go all the way, I stay the resources of another world.

B. It was up to that Father! Would he quit? When he chose

“Possibility,” and with utter honesty appealed to Divinity to

shield him against the attack of doubt, “

1. “LORD, I BELIEVE; HELP MY UNBELIEF.” Heaven came to his

aid. You have to go on when it seems impossible.

II. PETER’S CHOICE

A. Peter had to make this choice in his evangelism.

1. Dorcas, an admirable sister in the Lord , was dead “…and

all the widows stood by him weeping, and showings

the coats and garments which dorcas made…but Peter put

them all out…”

2. He had to refuse to consider anything that could drag and

drain triumphant faith. The need was to accentuate the

positive.

B. He (PETER) “…kneeled down (not facing the corpse but facing the

Risen One), and prayed; AND (THEN) TURNING HIM TO THE

BODY SAID…” (Acts 9:36-40) He drew strength from the

greater fact---

1. There is Life beyond the casket.

Jesus had appeared to him. There was that gut-experience, “I

know,” that became the authority in the apostle, “TABITHA

ARISE!!!

LOOK IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

3.Had he prayed toward the the corpse, his faith would have diminished.

a.Like Daniel, he looked in the right direction. It’s downhill to look toward detractor and head-waggers. Look toward assurance and those with sympathetic attitudes.

b. Peter looked at the answer before he turned to the PROBLEM.

C. Our Lord knew this fact. Every bone in His body argued “Stop.

“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine be done” (Luke 22:42).

1. It was when Jesus would not turn back that “there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him” (verse 43).

2. It was this resolve that released the forces of heaven toward Him. Wishes and sighs are never enough. You have to reach inside and find something that says, “I WON’T QUIT!!

D. Four Lepers in the Old Testament found this.

1. They had three options

“Why are we sitting here until we die? 4If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die (II Kings 7:4).

THE REWARDS OF A Made UP MIND.

3.The resolve brought these wretched men victory and immorality.

“When these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent and did eat and drink…” (Verse 8)

4. God was with them and met their need. It would not have happened had they not resolved the question. WHY DO WE SIT HERE UNTIL WE DIE?