“Current Issues”
Text: Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48
25And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, 26and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, 27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment. 28For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole. 29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague. 30And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments? 31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. 33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. 34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? 46And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
I am convinced we all have baggage. We all have issues. In fact I believe right now everyone who hears my voice has a current issue. Something that is on your mind. Something that we worry about, think about, fret over. We have issues that need to be dealt with. I want to talk to you about your current issue based on this account we read in the Word.
Prayer:
I. Defined
Have you ever noticed that this woman’s name is mentioned nowhere? Was here name Sue, Betty, Mary, and Amber? We just don’t know. Did you notice that she was known by the following description, “The woman with issue of blood?” That was all the information needed and everyone knew whom the writer was talking about. In other words, this woman was defined by her issue. Everyone knew her as the woman with the issue. She wasn’t known by her name. She was totally defined by her issue. Like Blind Bartimaeus was defined by his issue.
How many of us are defined by our issue? That’s the woman with the bitter spirit. That’s the man who was hurt by the pastor. That’s the boy who’s dad beat him. That’s the couple that got divorced. That’s the girl who had an abortion. That’s the guy who tried to commit suicide. That’s the preacher who failed morally. We become defined by our issue. We walk around wearing our issue like a nametag. That’s the young woman who has the bad attitude. We become known by our issue. We are become totally wrapped up in what happened to us. Our current issue defines our attitude, our actions, the way we talk, the way we behave and the way we believe. The hurt we suffered 10 years ago defines us.
II. Disqualified
But her issue did more than just define her. Her issue also disqualified her. Because of her state she could not worship. She wasn’t allowed to enter the temple to pursue a closer relationship with God. Because of her state she couldn’t enter into relationships. She wasn’t allowed to have relations with her husband or her children. Leviticus 15:25-27 declares that everything and everyone she touched would be unclean. She was cut off from God and man. She was cut off from meaningful relationship and service. She was disqualified by her issue.
Sounds like many of us. Because of our issue we feel disqualified from everything and everyone. I can’t worship because of what is happening in my life. I can’t serve, I can’t help with outreach, I can’t help with youth, I can’t pray for you, I can’t minister, I can’t sing, I can’t pray, I can’t impact anyone, I can’t do anything for God or man because of what is and has happened to me. I am unable to fulfill my destiny because of my current issue. I am cut off.
III. Drove
I believe this woman was driven by her issue. The Word says she had tried everything. I believe that she couldn’t forget about her issue. Imagine every morning for 12 years, 4380 days of her life she woke up knowing she had an issue. Her issue consumed her daily thought life. It was all she could think about. She couldn’t get it out of her mind. She couldn’t escape. While others were relaxing, laughing, joking, and playing games she had an issue. While the other women were rocking their babies she had an issue. While other women held her grandchildren she had an issue. While others talked about the weather she had an issue. While others went shopping she had an issue.
Others are dancing, shouting, glorifying God but you have an issue. Others are enjoying life but you have an issue. While others are having a breakthrough around the altar your mind is consumed with your issue. While others are fulfilling their destiny you can’t quit thinking about it. It is on your mind when you wake up and it is the last thing that goes through your mind before you go to sleep. 24/7 it invades your thinking. Thoughts of “How can I get out of this? How can I be free?” You are driven by your issue.
IV. Devastated
The Word declares that this woman’s issue had cost her everything. In fact the Word says she had spent everything she had and still only grew worse. She had tried everything. William Barclay says that there were at least 11 cures listed in the Talmud for this issue. They ranged from tonics to superstitions such as carry the ashes of an ostrich egg in a linen bag in summer and in a cotton bag in winter, another was to carry a barleycorn, which had been found in the dung of white female donkey. Barclay believes this woman had tried it all but only grew worse. She was devastated. It cost her all of her energy, her resources, and dignity. Everywhere she went she had to shout, “unclean, unclean”. Why do you think she snuck up on Jesus, trying not to be noticed? She was embarrassed about having to disclose her issue. Her life had been devastated. It cost her everything.
Many of you can relate. You have been devastated by your issue. You have tried everything. You have fasted, prayed, read, and pursued men. It has cost you energy, resources, and your dignity. You are embarrassed. You are ashamed that you are still dealing with the same issue. You can’t bear the thought of going to another altar and disclosing your issue only to walk away worse. You don’t want to be noticed any longer. Your issue has cost you everything. Friends, self esteem, faith. You are devastated and at wits’ end. You are broken, crushed and exhausted.
V. Desperate
The final thing we must notice about this woman and her issue is that her issue drove her to the point of desperation. She came to the conclusion that she was so desperate she would take whatever means and actions were necessary to resolve her issue. She pushed past shame. She pushed past man’s protocol. She pushed past the belief that nothing will ever change. She was desperate. Her desperation drove her to the divine. Her desperation positioned her for deliverance.
I implore you to take a look at your current issue right now. In your own spirit grow tired of being defined by your issue. Become tired of the thought of being disqualified and driven by your issue. Become desperate in your spirit today. Come to the place where everything within you cries, “I must touch Jesus!” So desperate that you will push through the crowd of men to get to God. So desperate that if necessary you will run to the altar to touch Him. Forget man’s protocol, man’s rules, man’s laughter, and man’s opinion and run head long into the divine. Touch Him and your current issue will be resolved. Touch him and your issue will no longer define, disqualify, drive, or devastate you. Are you willing to do whatever it takes? Are you desperate?
“Holy desperation is the door to God’s greatest blessings. Those who proved Him best in the Scripture were at the end of everything.” Vance Havner
Notice also that Jesus didn’t just speak to her health issue. He spoke to her mind and spirit issue. “Go in comfort, go in peace.” If you are desperate you can leave whole and at peace.
