The Faith Factor
Part 5 : Having Authority in Faith
It has always been at this point in people’s lives where faith seems to "fail" for them. For some unknown reason, they feel as if faith has "let them down" and not "done what it was suppose to do" for them.
In this next message, we are going to look at some of the reasons WHY faith looks that way to some people . . . and I repeat that word . . . LOOKS . . . that way to some people.
The scripture I wish to share with you comes from Mark 5: 24-34:
24 "And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.
25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
In my time of ministry, I have seen many people see and read these verses from GOD’S word and absolutely just not understand what it was saying.
And truthfully, I, myself take a lot of the blame, for I may have not really taught enough on this for these people to understand it. So, today, we are going to really take a closer look at this in hopes that you might be able to take hold of faith, and really use it for those circumstances of your life that trouble you.
Let’s first look at the THREE key players in this scenario . . . (1) a large crowd of people; (2) JESUS; and (3) a very sickly woman.
The large crowd of people are those that were hungry for GOD. These people wanted to know more about what GOD was all about and how to have eternity with HIM.
And what a better way to have those questions answered than hearing them from the voice of GOD, HIMSELF, in human form . . . known as none other than the one and only JESUS CHRIST!
If you want to learn about GOD, where is a good place to start? Simple enough . . . GOD’S word of the Bible. In this treasure house of knowledge, you can find answers to some of life’s most difficult situations . . .
Wait a minute, Reverend Sam . . . don’t you mean ALL of life’s situations?
YES . . . I do . . . I like to make sure someone out there has noted this to know it as well . . . for it is with NO DOUBT, that GOD’S word has answers for ALL of life!
I know it can be a bit overwhelming and hard to believe, but when is the last time you searched GOD’S word for an answer you needed?
Now, I am not talking just thumbing through the pages and glancing here and there . . . I am talking about really getting down and digging deep into GOD’S word and asking GOD to show you where you need to look.
JESUS promises you in Matthew 6:33:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
That tells me that if I have a need, a question about life, or even a major problem, all I need do is seek the Kingdom of GOD, and HIS righteousness, and HE will supply the answer for me!
THE PROBLEM STARTS WHERE THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH CHRISTIANS TAKING THE TIME TO REALLY READ AND STUDY GOD’S WORD FOR THEIR ANSWERS!
THESE SAME PEOPLE GET MAD AND UPSET BECAUSE LIFE IS NOT GOING THE WAY THEY WANT IT TO GO!
THESE SAME PEOPLE GET AGGRAVATED TO THE POINT OF NO LONGER WANTING TO GO TO CHURCH!
THESE SAME PEOPLE GET IRRITATED ENOUGH TO ACTUALLY QUIT PRAYING TO GOD WHEN THE ANSWERS DON’T COME ALL BUT INSTANTLY!
If you are one of these type people that do this all the time, or even on occasion . . .
WELL THEN CONGRATULATIONS!
YOU HAVE JUST ALLOWED THE DEVIL TO STEAL THOSE ANSWERS AND THE BLESSINGS THAT COME WITH THEM!
QUIT COMPLAINING AND WORKING ON YOUR TIME TABLE AND LET GOD WORK THINGS OUT ON HIS TIMETABLE!
I know there are going to be times that are tough and times that seem impossible. This is why GOD gave us HIS written word in the Bible, so we have something to refer back to when trouble starts!
Think of the Bible this way . . . B - I - B - L - E . . .
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.
How do you learn how to operate a new gadget or piece of machinery? How do you learn about the added extras on a car or a computer?
YOU READ THE INSTRUCTION BOOK THAT COMES WITH IT!
How are you going to learn about life and the things of life there of?
YOU READ THE INSTRUCTION BOOK THAT COMES WITH IT!
WHY ARE SO MANY OF US SO HARD HEADED TO ACCEPT THIS SOLID TRUTH?
I promise you . . . If you will take the time and seek out answers through GOD’S word and prayer to GOD . . . YOU WILL GET RESULTS!
Our second key player here is JESUS, the SON of the one true GOD. He is passing through on HIS way to Jairus’ house, a leader in the synagogue, where the daughter of Jairus was sick.
As I mentioned earlier, there are several people pressed upon JESUS. His name had become well known amongst all these people.
Here is a sad note for you . . . have you ever noticed that when a famous actor comes to town, people flood the malls where this person will be just to either get a look at them, touch them, or even get an autograph?
WHY CANT THESE PEOPLE GET THAT SAME FIRE FOR JESUS?
IF IT WERE NOT FOR JESUS . . . THAT PERSON WOULD NOT EVEN BE ALIVE FOR THEM TO SEE, TOUCH, OR EVEN GET AN AUTOGRAPH!
IF ALL OF US HERE WOULD GET THAT SAME TYPE OF PASSION FOR JESUS, AS WE HAVE FOR ACTORS AND SUCH . . .
THE CHRISTIANS WOULD BE TOTALLY UNSTOPPABLE!
Our third role player is the sickly woman. A woman that had spent every penny she had on doctors in an attempt to get well, but the medicines failed. Not only was she looking at those failures, her condition was growing worse . . .
This same woman had heard about JESUS, and the many miracles that followed HIM. She had heard many people talk about how JESUS did this and that, and how so many people were getting healed from sicknesses.
This same woman had heard that JESUS was teaching the pure word of GOD, and the way to know GOD . . . she had heard that JESUS was more than a mere prophet, as some had said.
Hearing all these things, she developed that special type of faith that comes from hearing the word of GOD . . . remember what the Book of Romans says?
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
(10:17)
This sickly woman could probably just barely get around, because she was so weak from her sickness . . .
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT WAS NOT GOING TO STOP HER!
This sickly woman was probably getting knocked around by the crowd, as she tried to get to JESUS . . .
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT WAS NOT GOING TO STOP HER!
This sickly woman was more than likely known to many of the people, and may have actually told her to go away and not bother the Master . . .
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT WAS NOT GOING TO STOP HER!
This sickly woman knew she was dying, and man had no cures, and even though the trek to JESUS was extremely hard . . . .
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? THAT WAS NOT GOING TO STOP HER!
This sickly woman had enough faith in her heart to KNOW that if she could but touch the hem of JESUS garment, she KNEW she would be healed!
SHE DID NOT THINK SHE COULD BE HEALED . . .
SHE DID NOT HOPE SHE WOULD BE HEALED . . .
SHE DID NOT EVEN WONDER IF SHE WOULD BE ACTUALLY HEALED . . .
NO . . . SHE KNEW SHE WOULD BE HEALED!!!
Look at verse 28 again:
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
THERE WAS NO THINKING!
THERE WAS NO HOPING!
THERE WAS NO WONDERING!
SHE KNEW!
She had the faith authority to get her healing! Why did she need to doubt when she had that kind of faith?
If all of us would have that kind of faith, we could have so many things about ourselves and our lives changed . . . .
But, for so many, this is a difficult task . . .it’s a hard thing to have faith when times are hard . . .
It’s real easy to have faith in GOD when things are going our way . . . but let them go bad . . . so many of us allow "all hell to break loose", and we suffer there of.
Faith is what got you to the good times . . .
USE THAT SAME FAITH TO GET YOU THROUGH THE BAD TIMES!
The sick woman had the faith for her healing . . . JESUS told her in verse 34:
"Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague."
This ONCE sick woman allowed her faith to get her healing!
This same faith can get you healed as well, IF YOU WILL HAVE THAT AUTHORITY IN FAITH!
I know . . . there are a lot of you out there that are probably thinking I am totally nuts!
And there are probably some of you out there that can not accept this as truth, simply because you have either had a sickness for a long time, or you lost someone to a sickness . . .
Some of you might be thinking that old thought . . . .
Well, Reverend Sam, I have prayed and prayed, and even had my Pastor, Preacher, or Priest pray for me . . .and I am just not getting any better.
OR perhaps your one of these that say:
Reverend Sam . . . you prayed for me, and you told me to go home and receive my healing . . . when I got home, I actually felt worse!
THEN THERE IS YOUR PROBLEM RIGHT THERE!
AS LONG AS YOU CONTINUE IN DOUBT AND DIS-BELIEF, HEALING WILL NEVER COME YOUR WAY!
YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH YOUR FAITH!
YOU HAVE TO ABIDE BY IT’S RULES!
YOU MUST ACT ON YOUR FAITH!
The Bible says straight out in James 2:26:
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
YOU MUST EXERCISE YOUR FAITH EVERY DAY!
YOU MUST BE WILLING TO STRETCH OUT AND TRUST GOD THROUGH YOUR FAITH!
FAITH IS BELIEVING YOU HAVE THE AUTHORITY GOD GAVE YOU!
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO EXERCISE THAT AUTHORITY IF YOU DON’T EVER USE IT EXCEPT WHEN YOU GRIPE AND COMPLAIN?
I will close with this thought . . . written in James 3:6 and 3:8:
James 3:6 "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
James 3:8 "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
FINAL THOUGHT:
WHAT WORDS ARE YOU SAYING?
I Love you guys!
Reverend Sam
