1 The Goshen Breakthrough
Gen 46:1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to
Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
Gen 46:2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said,
Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
Gen 46:3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go
down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
Gen 46:4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring
thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
Joseph has his brothers who sold him into slavery and wanted to kill him.
They are at his mercy. They do not know that Joseph is their brother.
There is weeping and Joseph says…
Gen 45:8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath
made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler
throughout all the land of Egypt.
Gen 45:9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith
thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me,
tarry not:
I was low, I was broken, I was alone, I was far from the father, I was hurt
but God has made me
While I was hurting I was being made, alone, broken, without hope,
stranded, looked over
Gen 45:10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, (drawing near and
overflowing) and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and
thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou
hast:
Gen 45:11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of
famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to
poverty.
You are going to be surrounded for a long while by famine hunger,
sorrow, dying scarcity need want but in the place of drawing near I am
going to nourish you.
2 The Goshen Breakthrough
“God is great, and therefore He will be sought: He is good, and therefore
He will be found.”
Mic 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the
LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk
humbly with thy God?
Enoch’s son was Methuselah (maybe you’ve heard of him --- he lived
longer than any other person recorded). Enoch’s grandson was named
Lamech. Both Lamech and Methuselah died in the Great Flood. But not
Enoch. Evidently, when he was walking along with God one day, they just
walked right up into Heaven.
Now here’s something I found interesting: it sounds like Enoch started
walking with God at age 65. He lived to be 364 years old, and the
scripture says that for 300 of those years he walked with God. What
happened at age 65? It seems that Enoch made a CHOICE at that point in
time. From age 65 onward, Enoch he walked with God.
Hebrews 11:5 says, By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did
not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him
away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased
God.
Mark 5:25-34
In the 5th chapter of Mark’s gospel we find one of the most striking
portraits of desperation in Scripture.
Read Text
-This woman, a constant bleeding that could not be stopped.
She also faced a financial issue. No insurance. Depleted financial
resources. Condition no better. No answers on solving the problem.
-She also had psychological issues. She had to sneak around (v.27) It was
an embarrassing kind of illness.
3 The Goshen Breakthrough
-She also had a spiritual and social issue. She was unclean. Note Leviticus
15:25-31.
-This woman’s total life was one big issue. She was defiled, destitute,
discouraged, and desperate. Twelve years of constantly having to endure
would be more than most of us could take.
--There’s something about getting desperate. There’s something about
that situation that brings God’s truths into focus as never before.
-In Mark 5, Jesus was in town and word had gotten out that He was good
with issues.
-The problem was that this woman was not in Jesus’ appointment book.
When she caught sight of Him, he was already being busy with someone
else. (v.22)
-Before telling us about the woman with the hemorrhage, Mark tells us
about an important man that approached Jesus. (v.22-23) Also note v.24
-In the midst of this surging throng was this bleeding, desperate woman. A
penniless, nameless, nobody in the crowd. Look at vv.27-28
-She approached Him from behind, sight unseen.
-Technically, what this woman did was against the law because of her
uncleanness. So to pull off this plan, she had skip over the law. How do
we explain that? Simple: Grace has always been greater than the law.
What she needed was grace. Note John 1:17
-The law was telling this woman to go away, but grace was calling out,
“come closer.”
-The law said she was an outcast; grace was saying, “There’s room.”
-The law said she was condemned; grace was saying, “condemnation is
cancelled.”
-Once she finally got close enough to touch Him two things happened
“immediately.”
Verse 29 The first supernatural event took place inside her physical being.
Verse 30 Second, her encounter elicited a response of full awareness from
her Healer.
4 The Goshen Breakthrough
Mar 5:30 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?
-Now why did Jesus ask such a question? The disciples were wondering
that too. v.31
-When Jesus asks a question, it isn’t because He is deficient in knowledge.
His questions aren’t for His benefit, but for ours.
-He knew someone had touched Him with a touch of faith. V.32
-He was surrounded by a multitude; why didn’t more people draw close
enough to Him in faith? Because they were there to see the show.
-This bleeding woman was not interested in the show. She was
determined to touch Him because of her desperate need. She wasn’t
satisfied merely to be part of the parade.
-They were just pressing in; she wanted Him.
-A lot of us are in the vicinity of Jesus, like the crowd, but we really don’t
understand who we are dealing with.
-We really don’t understand that when we draw close enough to touch
Him by faith, there is power that can flow out of Him into our lives.
-It’s the same power that turn a valley full of dry bones into a vast army of
living, breathing, soldiers for the Lord. Raised the dead, gave sight to the
blind, healed the diseased , cast out devils, healed lepers, restored lost
body parts
-You can be in the vicinity of Jesus, you can be in the neighborhood,
without really being someone who’s touched Jesus and received His
power. Just because you are in the crowd doesn’t mean you’re making the
connection.
-Jesus wanted to know who touched Him. He looked around the crowd
and He didn’t have to wait. V.33
-Her quick and full response shows us both the real purpose and impact of
Jesus’ question. Fix your attention on how He responded to her. V. 34
5 The Goshen Breakthrough
Mar 5:34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole;
go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Mastix something you have
come in contact with
-After she fell before Him and testified what had happened, after her
situation brought glory to Jesus, the result was personal intimacy with
Jesus.
-He actually called her “daughter.” Don’t miss that. When we started this
story, she had no name. Now she has gone from being nobody to being the
daughter of Jesus.
-Jesus told this new daughter to “go in peace.” This was shalom peace.
-It’s the kind of peace that puts life in proper perspective. It means having
all of life’s needs abundantly met.
-It’s the kind of intimacy described in Jeremiah 9:23-24.
Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in
his riches:
Jer 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and
knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight,
saith the LORD.
Psa 73:26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my
heart, and my portion for ever.
Psa 73:27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast
destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
Psa 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust
in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.
Heb 10:22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience,(understanding
awareness) and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the
profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
6 The Goshen Breakthrough
The Hebrew Christians were experiencing great persecution. They were
unpopular, even unwelcome in their communities, and ostracized by their
families. These Hebrew Christians had a religious upbringing in Judaism.
They had come into a very simple faith in Christianity from a very
complex religious system in Judaism -- a great difference! Some were not
ready to give up the old religious system. The wanted to straddle the fence
and take the best of both religions. Some had become slack in their
attendance at meeting and were falling away. This epistle was written by
Paul to encourage these Hebrew Christians emphasizing that the old
religious system was inferior and binding, that the new system was
superior to the old covenant.
In verse 22 above, the admonition was to draw near to God at a time when
many were falling away. At a time when discipleship was unpopular, the
call was to draw near in their communication to God. This was new to
them as the Old Testament believer had no direct access to God. They
were experiencing some difficulty in making the change from the Old
Covenant to the New. Under the New Covenant, believers have the
privilege of drawing near to God through the blood of Jesus. Ours is free
access to the holy-of-holies without fear of death as in Old Testament
days. The New Covenant brings the invitation for man to fellowship with
God Himself, i.e., a personal, intimate relationship. It’s a freedom that has
been given the believer, but that freedom is not without responsibility.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
[James 4:8]
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him
in truth. [Ps. 145:18]
The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as
be of a contrite spirit. [Ps. 34:18]
7 The Goshen Breakthrough
By a complete or whole dependence on God, believers are to come with a
right attitude, full assurance of faith, boldly, but not arrogantly, with a true
heart, not a hypocritical heart.
A. Draw Near through Adoration:
Believers are to draw near through their adoration, praise, worship, and
thanksgiving.
Ps. 100:2Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with
singing. 3Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and
not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter
into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be
thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Believers are to draw near to God’s Word, even when it’s not popular to
be obedient. While it’s not popular to preach against spiritual doctrine,
unity, etc., it is obedient to do so.
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my
words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and
make our abode with him.
[John 14:23]
E. Draw Near through True Humility:
Believers are to draw near to God with humble and contrite hearts. God
will not accept the haughty, the proud or the self-righteous. You will recall
that the scriptures say that Moses was the meekest man on earth. That’s
quite an attribute.
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name
is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a
8 The Goshen Breakthrough
contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive
the heart of the contrite ones. [Isa. 57:15]
When we draw near unto God we draw near to
Yahweh Jireh (Yireh): “The Lord will provide.” Stresses God’s provision
for His people (Gen. 22:14).
Yahweh Nissi:“The Lord is my Banner.” Stresses that God is our rallying
point and our means of victory; the one who fights for His people (Ex.
17:15).
Yahweh Shalom:“The Lord is Peace.” Points to the Lord as the means of
our peace and rest (Jud. 6:24).
Yahweh Sabbaoth:“The Lord of Hosts.” A military figure portraying the
Lord as the commander of the armies of heaven (1 Sam. 1:3; 17:45).
Yahweh Maccaddeshcem: “The Lord your Sanctifier.” Portrays the Lord
as our means of sanctification or as the one who sets believers apart for
His purposes (Ex. 31:13).
Yahweh Ro’i: “The Lord my Shepherd.” Portrays the Lord as the
Shepherd who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for the sheep of his
pasture (Ps. 23:1).
Yahweh Tsidkenu: “The Lord our Righteousness.” Portrays the Lord as
the means of our righteousness (Jer. 23:6).
Yahweh Shammah: “The Lord is there.” Portrays the Lord’s personal
presence in the millennial kingdom (Ezek. 48:35).
Yahweh Elohim Israel: “The Lord, the God of Israel.” Identifies Yahweh
as the God of Israel in contrast to the false gods of the nations (Jud. 5:3.;
Isa. 17:6).
Gen 47:27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of
Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied
exceedingly.
