Introduction:
A. Todd's wife bought a new line of expensive cosmetics guaranteed to make her look years younger. After a lengthy sitting before the mirror applying the "miracle" products, she asked, "Darling, honestly, what age would you say I am?" Looking over her carefully, Todd replied, "Judging from your skin, twenty; your hair, eighteen; and your figure, twenty five." "Oh, you flatterer!" she gushed. "Hey, wait a minute!" Todd interrupted. "I haven't added them up yet."
1. Lets turn to Matthew 9:18 we are going to start at verse 18 to show the context of this miracle
B. Last week we examined the healing or the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter.
1. This morning we are going to examine the healing of the woman with the issue of blood
Matthew 9:18-22 NKJV
While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live." {19} So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. {20} And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. {21} For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." {22} But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well." And the woman was made well from that hour.
a. As I said last week this story is found in the three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke
2. This woman had been suffering for 12 years
a. If we turn to Luke 8:43 we will see that she had spent all she had on doctors and nurses and yet she was still suffering
Luke 8:43 NKJV
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,
b. She was now destitute
c. And along with that she was an outcast, unclean
(1) According to Mosaic law a woman was unclean during her customary time of a woman, in other words during her period
(a) The issue of blood could only have been a 12 year period
i) Lets turn to Luke 8:43-48
II. Body
A. As we examine the woman’s courage and daring
Luke 8:43-48 (NKJV)
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ’Who touched Me?’ " 46 But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
1. Can you imagine the scene?
a. Jesus, His disciples and the crowd are beginning to go to Jairus’ house to heal Jairus’ little girl.
(1) Then it seems as though this woman sneaked up and touched Jesus clothing and she is healed
(a) Some commentators have said that they thought she was weak due to not having a healthful diet
(b) That she was also having to hold a garment over her face because she was unclean
(c) That I can’t say
(d) She did have the courage to work her way through the crowd and get close enough to Jesus to touch His clothing
i) Turn to Luke 8:43-44
b. What happened next?
Luke 8:43-44 (NKJV)
Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
(1) This woman sneaked upon Jesus and touched His clothing and that disease that had troubled her for 12 years was cured
2. Notice how Jesus responds in this passage
a. There is not a moment’s hesitation in his actions
b. That is the way he answers your prayers today
(1) He does not need to think about it or look it up in a book or consult a crystal ball
(2) Your already knows your request and He loves you
(3) He grants those prayers that are within the Father’s will and does not waste time
(a) Now we have to understand that God does not immediately cure all our ills or even put an extra penny in our pockets when we pray
i) Turn to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
ii) Paul had a problem and he prayed about it and this was God’s answer
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. {8} Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. {9} And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. {10} Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
c. Turn to Matthew 28:18
3. Every believer needs to recognize that Jesus has ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH
Matthew 28:18 NKJV
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
a. Too many believers forget that small part of a verse and feel that he does not or cannot answer their prayer
b. Nothing could be further from the truth
4. So let me ask this question: To many Christians, Christ is little more than an idea, or at best an ideal, He is not a fact. Millions of professed believers talk as if He were real and act as if He were not. Our actual position is always to be discovered by the way we act, not by the way we talk.
a. And how about you?
5. Our text this morning suggests five things that could help you in your understanding of the Lord’s power, authority and love for his followers
a. Believers wait too long to come to Jesus
(1) This woman had been bleeding for 12 years
(2) She spent all her money on doctors
(3) I do not see a mention of her going to the priests for prayer
(4) I see no spiritual activity at all until this passage
(5) We know she had faith and knowledge of God and Jesus, because she knew to try to get near him
(6) The trouble with nearly everybody who prays is that he says "Amen" and runs away before God has a chance to reply. Listening to God is far more important than giving him your ideas.
(7) Frequently believers see a situation and fail to pray, seek help, tell anyone and that list can go on forever
(8) Do you have any issues and have failed to seek help?
(9) You think they will cure themselves? Think again
(10) It is within your ability and responsibility to take care of you! Do you?
(a) We can see “Believers wait too long to come to Jesus.”
i) Lets turn to Luke 8:45
b. Believers try to keep their faith undercover
(1) When Jesus asked who touched me?
(a) He knew the answer
Luke 8:45 NKJV
And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'"
(b) Every one around Him denied touching Jesus
i) Go on down another verse to Luke 8:46
Luke 8:46 NKJV
But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me."
a) Turn to 1 John 1:9
(2) When Jesus knew the answer, why did He ask “who touched Me?”
1 John 1:9 NKJV
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(a) Does the Lord know how we sinned
(b) You know He does
(c) So why do we have to confess it?
i) We must confess it to verify that we know we messed up
ii) To renew a right relationship with Christ, the Father, and the Holy Spirit
a) Turn to Luke 8:47
(3) Why did Jesus demand to know who touched Him?
(a) First, so that Jairus would know that Jesus had the power to heal his little girl
(b) Second, to teach His disciples and verify His divinity
(c) Third, to show the crowd who He was
(4) What was it that caused the woman to come forward?
(a) She felt the difference in her body
Luke 8:47 NKJV
Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately
(b) Why are Believers so shy?
(c) John MacArthur says at the beginning of every show, “What in the world makes us so embarrassed about the gospel?”
(d) Bold is not arguing, it’s not rude; it’s not making sure you make your point
(e) Bold is being a real witness in the same manner that Jesus was
(5) He was never tired of loving his creation even those who rejected him
(6) He did get in the face of some of the Scribes and Pharisees but he was fervently trying to reaching to them
(7) These were the doctors of the law
(8) They should have known him and picked him out. They did not.
(a) When a Believer gets in the face of a person they are trying to share God’s love with that’s us being rude.
(b) There is not a real example of Jesus taking a person who was really ignorant of the love of God and Him choosing to beat them over the head with His big black Schofield
(c) The perfect example of a real honest witness activity is the Woman at the Well
(d) Nothing short of that will work
(e) He loved and did not condemn
(f) He explained and gave testimony and not brow beat or throw useless words at them that they did not understand
(g) When you share your faith remember whose ambassador you are.
(9) We see that “Believers wait too long to come to Jesus” and that “Believers try to keep their faith undercover.”
c. It’s easier for a Believer to be bold not timid
(1) The woman must have explained her circumstances and, yes she was fearful
(2) Notice no one ridiculed her
(3) Notice the Lord took the testimony and used it to bring glory to God
(4) Have you ever heard of the "Dependent Order of Really Meek and Timid Souls"?
(a) When you make an acrostic of its first letters, you have "Doormats."
(b) The Doormats have an official insignia--a yellow caution light
(c) Their official motto is: "The meek shall inherit the earth, if that’s OK with everybody!"
(d) The society was founded by Upton Diskson who wrote a pamphlet called Cower Power
i) Turn to 2 Timothy 1:7
(e) Folks I am not going to waste time explaining this one. But I will if anyone here honestly thinks that God telling us to be bold was a mistake or that it does not apply to you in every single aspect of your life
2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
i) Or turn to Hebrews 4:16, Hebrews 10:19, Hebrews 13:6
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 10:19 NKJV
Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Hebrews 13:6 NKJV
So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"
(f) Witnesses are martyrs for the cause of Christ pouring out their lives for the cause of evangelism
(g) If they are not then they are not witnesses
(5) We see that “Believers wait too long to come to Jesus” and that “Believers try to keep their faith undercover.” Now we see, “It’s easier for a Believer to be bold not timid.”
d. Believers frequently do not trust the Word of God
(1) This one is a crying shame
(2) People who want to call themselves Christians are in fact dabbling in the black arts and others activities just as damaging
(3) Many who consider themselves good Christians nonetheless have engaged in practices that seemingly are counter to the teaching of their church
(a) Turn to Deuteronomy 18:9-11
(b) There is a poll which indicates that 25 percent of people who attend church regularly, both Catholic and non-Catholic believe the movement of the stars may help govern the affairs of men and women
(c) Why and how is this possible? God’s word says do not be involved with witches, spiritualists, and mediums
i) Scripture is very clear about Astrology not being a practice that we should be involved in
Deuteronomy 18:9-11 NKJV
"When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. {10} "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, {11} "or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.
ii) Why do supposed believers dabble in this sort of thing?
iii) Why do believers read the Horoscope?
a) Oh, it’s harmless, it’s for entertainment
b) Oh really, why did God specifically say stay away from it
c) You know not to play in traffic or pick up a cobra
d) God’s word did not say don’t do that, but when he specifically said do not do this
e) Why is it done?
iv) Believers should take God’s word for what it is.
a) A loving invitation to come closer to him and learn more about his will for their lives
b) Why then do believers not read his word or pray?
v) We see that “Believers wait too long to come to Jesus,” “Believers try to keep their faith undercover” and that “It’s easier for a Believer to be bold not timid.” Sadly, “Believers frequently do not trust the Word of God.”
e. Believers find happiness when they are close to Jesus
(1) It’s not possible for a believer to grow in the Lord while sitting in a seance, or with drug dealers smoking pot, or fishing on Sunday morning
(2) I fully recognize that we all have various things to do in life and sometimes that collides with one of our worship services
(3) Well, make priorities and if you must miss one then try your best not to miss the next one
(4) Make worship a solid priority in your life
(a) Ever notice that when your cup of happiness is full, somebody always jogs your elbow?
(5) Folks a little rain will come into the lives of everyone here
(a) It is when one chooses to separate themselves from church and God that they become miserable
(b) Money and status and intelligence will not make you happy or content
(c) Being close to Jesus will in spite of life’s hills and valleys
(d) That’s where you find happiness and peace.
(6) By shear definition, a Christian is a little Christ
(a) We should think, act and sound just like him; loving, caring, sharing and looking for someone to share their faith with all the time
(7) We see that “Believers wait too long to come to Jesus,” Believers try to keep their faith undercover and that it’s easier for a Believer to be bold not timid. Sadly, Believers frequently do not trust in the Word of God. Gladly, “Believers find happiness when they are close to Jesus.”
III. Conclusion
A. We should take to heart one thing
1. The place where this suffering lady placed her faith
2. What did Jesus tell her in Luke 8:48
Luke 8:48 NKJV
And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."
3. Was her faith in Jesus clothing?
4. No! Her faith was in Jesus
