“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?
A Rule OF Life that can be counted on is this:
DESPERATION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN DESPAIR. DO SOMETHING!!!
ILLUST: Used by C.M. WardI had occasion to use this guideline many years ago. I was the convention speaker for a capacity Bahamian audience in the West Indies’ Bahamas. I had begun the message when a baby with as fine a pair of lungs as was ever given cried loud and long. I was like the woman of the test, “slowly bleeding to death.” No one was listening to me. No one was looking at me. I was perishing.
Then I remembered the axiom- “Do something!” I did. I turned toward the black mother and her baby, and asked, “Has that baby been dedicated?”
The mother, in pleasant surprise, answered, “No.” I SAID, “Bring the child to me.” If I could not have a preaching service, I would have a dedication service. I determined not to die until I had given it a contest.
EVERY EYE was turned toward me. I had the sympathy of a black audience. The moment the child was in my arms it fell asleep. It was magic - more than magic
BRO WARD TESTIFIES THAT HE WAS STRENGTHENED ---BUT HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING FIRST. HAD I SURRENDERED, THE MEETING WOULD HAVE BEEN FORFEITED
E. The woman of this text seemed to be without assets.
1. She was financially bankrupt.
2. No physician extended hope.
3. But she said, “within herself’ — “If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. If! can’t crawl, I’ll wriggle. As long as a corpuscle can be commanded, I’ll head toward victory.
4. ” Jesus says it takes that “desire.”
This woman made place for neither provisional nor gradual healing. “If I may but touch his garment, I SHALL BE WHOLE.” If I go all out toward Him, He must go all out toward me. It’s always been the same. Maximum effort produces maximum results. In the day that you seek Me with your whole heart, You will find me.
THE ANSWER
Why is an all-out effort toward Him so rewarding? The woman in this text provides the answer, “I SHALL BE WHOLE.
The gospel is an instant miracle. It is not a seminar of instruction. It is not group therapy. I become an immediately changed man.
It takes the thievery out of a thief.
the lie out of a liar
The lust out of the whoremonger
the drink out of the alcoholic.
the abuse out of an abuser
the hate and turns it into love.
Takes sadness and turns it into joy
takes blues and turns them to glory
COME AS YOU ARE
Come just as you are - bankrupt, ashamed, without credit - but COME.
“ He that come to Me, I will in no wish cast out.”
Head toward Jesus if you have to wiggle—if you have spent all, if no one offers hope- head toward Jesus.
It takes that kind of effort. It will take all the strength you can summon but it’s so rewarding.
