In Spite Of My Issues - Part 2

MARK 5:25-34 (v.25) “IN SPITE OF MY ISSUES” – PART 2

A) Here is a woman who was separated and alone, day after day, month

after month, year after year .......

* With no physical contact from another human being.

* Her very presence caused some who knew her condition to shun her in order

to avoid their own contamination.

B) She had invested all the little money she had in one false hope after

another to rid herself of her plague, but to no avail.

* There was not one doctor who didn’t know her and try to sell her on their remedy

for her situation ... She still got worse ... And poorer.

* PICTURE: For twelve years, life hemorrhaged from her body, leaving her weak

and unclean in the eyes of her family and community.

C) She finally realized that she could no longer live with this issue in her life.

* She had to act – She had to do something.

D) PICTURE: When we first see her in the Bible, she is weakly walking .......

* Sometimes crawling, pushing in desperation through the suffocating crowd

to get to her one last, best hope ... Jesus.

E) Look closely at this woman as she presses through the mob.

* Look at the suffering face she is trying so desperately to conceal from those

around whom would reject her and her pursuit of her own healing.

* And when you get close enough to discern her features, you’ll find that she

looks just like ME AND YOU.

F) All of us have secret issues that hinder us, secret struggles that keep us

barren and hidden.

* Issues like fear, guilt, shame, hurt, failure, marital, financial ... Drain the

abundant life from us.

* Regardless of the specific issue, all of us experience limitations in our walk

with God.

G) And just like it was with this woman’s issue, there is only one answer .......

* Only one way to deal with our issues ... We must reach out to Jesus.

WHAT EXACTLY IS AN ISSUE?

A) An issue is a condition, an attitude, or a circumstance that robs us of

the abundant life that Jesus has secured for us.

* Issues are those private, secret things of our past and present that show up .......

* To hinder, block, trouble, and even destroy our dreams, hopes and desires.

B) Issues are the challenges, problems, and crises .......

* That attach themselves to us to block our success, victory, and effectiveness

in the kingdom of God.

C) Issues show up without invitation.

* They’re like a flat tire on a car ... Frustrating, time-consuming, and costly.

* And while we point accusing fingers at someone else, we overlook the fact

that we are lugging around the heavy baggage of our own issues.

D) What do issues look like and how do they affect my life?

* I gave you three last week – Let me remind you of them .......

(1) ISSUES ARE SECRET

A) We are the kind of people who don’t want people to know our issues.

* We hide them – We keep them secret and try to overcome them ourselves, but

we all need one another in this fight.

B) Yes, it’s true that every man shall bear his own burden .......

* But the Bible also says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law

of Christ.”

* Bear: The Greek word is “bastazo” (bas-tad’-zo); and means to lift, literally or

figuratively, carry, take up.

(2) ISSUES CAUSE SEPARATION

A) Just like this woman, our issues keep us separated from God and

from people.

* We try to keep them to ourselves and may even try to hide them under

a facade.

B) Issues make us fear relationships, ministry, and intimacy with God

and others.

* Isa. 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,

and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

* LET ME TRANSLATE: “Your sins are the roadblock between you and your

God – That’s why He doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see His face.”

(3) ISSUES ALWAYS FLOW FROM A SOURCE

A) The Greek word for “issues” is “rhusis” (hroo’-sis) which means

“a flowing.”

* Issues in our lives such as fear, anger, and bitterness flow from a source in

our past experience or from our beliefs.

B) Until we deal with the source of these issues .......

* They will continue to flow throughout our lives; and when this happens,

we go through the same frustrating patterns of behavior over and over.

* Remember Romans 7:21-24

C) Paul is saying, “I know exactly what’s gonna happen ... The moment

I decide to do good; sin is there to trip me up.”