MARK 5:25-34 (v.25) “IN SPITE OF MY ISSUES” – PART 2
A) Here is a woman who was separated and alone, day after day, month
after month, year after year .......
* With no physical contact from another human being.
* Her very presence caused some who knew her condition to shun her in order
to avoid their own contamination.
B) She had invested all the little money she had in one false hope after
another to rid herself of her plague, but to no avail.
* There was not one doctor who didn’t know her and try to sell her on their remedy
for her situation ... She still got worse ... And poorer.
* PICTURE: For twelve years, life hemorrhaged from her body, leaving her weak
and unclean in the eyes of her family and community.
C) She finally realized that she could no longer live with this issue in her life.
* She had to act – She had to do something.
D) PICTURE: When we first see her in the Bible, she is weakly walking .......
* Sometimes crawling, pushing in desperation through the suffocating crowd
to get to her one last, best hope ... Jesus.
E) Look closely at this woman as she presses through the mob.
* Look at the suffering face she is trying so desperately to conceal from those
around whom would reject her and her pursuit of her own healing.
* And when you get close enough to discern her features, you’ll find that she
looks just like ME AND YOU.
F) All of us have secret issues that hinder us, secret struggles that keep us
barren and hidden.
* Issues like fear, guilt, shame, hurt, failure, marital, financial ... Drain the
abundant life from us.
* Regardless of the specific issue, all of us experience limitations in our walk
with God.
G) And just like it was with this woman’s issue, there is only one answer .......
* Only one way to deal with our issues ... We must reach out to Jesus.
WHAT EXACTLY IS AN ISSUE?
A) An issue is a condition, an attitude, or a circumstance that robs us of
the abundant life that Jesus has secured for us.
* Issues are those private, secret things of our past and present that show up .......
* To hinder, block, trouble, and even destroy our dreams, hopes and desires.
B) Issues are the challenges, problems, and crises .......
* That attach themselves to us to block our success, victory, and effectiveness
in the kingdom of God.
C) Issues show up without invitation.
* They’re like a flat tire on a car ... Frustrating, time-consuming, and costly.
* And while we point accusing fingers at someone else, we overlook the fact
that we are lugging around the heavy baggage of our own issues.
D) What do issues look like and how do they affect my life?
* I gave you three last week – Let me remind you of them .......
(1) ISSUES ARE SECRET
A) We are the kind of people who don’t want people to know our issues.
* We hide them – We keep them secret and try to overcome them ourselves, but
we all need one another in this fight.
B) Yes, it’s true that every man shall bear his own burden .......
* But the Bible also says, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law
of Christ.”
* Bear: The Greek word is “bastazo” (bas-tad’-zo); and means to lift, literally or
figuratively, carry, take up.
(2) ISSUES CAUSE SEPARATION
A) Just like this woman, our issues keep us separated from God and
from people.
* We try to keep them to ourselves and may even try to hide them under
a facade.
B) Issues make us fear relationships, ministry, and intimacy with God
and others.
* Isa. 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God,
and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”
* LET ME TRANSLATE: “Your sins are the roadblock between you and your
God – That’s why He doesn’t answer your prayers or let you see His face.”
(3) ISSUES ALWAYS FLOW FROM A SOURCE
A) The Greek word for “issues” is “rhusis” (hroo’-sis) which means
“a flowing.”
* Issues in our lives such as fear, anger, and bitterness flow from a source in
our past experience or from our beliefs.
B) Until we deal with the source of these issues .......
* They will continue to flow throughout our lives; and when this happens,
we go through the same frustrating patterns of behavior over and over.
* Remember Romans 7:21-24
C) Paul is saying, “I know exactly what’s gonna happen ... The moment
I decide to do good; sin is there to trip me up.”
* “I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all
of me joins in that delight.”
D) “Parts of me secretly rebels, and just when I least expect it, they take
charge.”
* “I’ve tried everything, and nothing helps ... I’m at the end of my rope ... Is there
no one who can do anything for me?”
* Isn’t that the real question? – v.25 gives us the answer .......
(4) ISSUES RESULT IN CHARACTER TRAITS THAT LIMIT US
A) Not everything that happens in our lives is an issue ... Nor do we have to
make an issue out of everything.
* Circumstances don’t become issues until they appear repeatedly in our lives.
* It’s the difference between a flat tire and refusing to safely maintain your vehicle.
* Rom. 14:23 “And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of
faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”
B) In other words, “But if you’re not sure – If you notice that you’re acting
in ways inconsistent with what you believe .......”
* “Some days trying to impose your opinions on others ... Other days just trying
to please them – Then you know that you’re out of line.”
* “If the way you live isn’t consistent with what you believe, then it’s wrong.”
(5) ISSUES TRIGGER STRONG EMOTIONS
A) The strongest emotion people with issues experience is _______. (Fear)
* Usually, the fear of rejection if their issue is exposed.
* This can be accompanied by shame, guilt, anger, frustration, hopelessness
and despair.
B) On the other hand, our issues can trigger the emotional issues of other
people, making honest relationships almost impossible.
* Prov. 29:25 “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust
in the LORD shall be safe.”
* “The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.”
(6) ISSUES RESULT IN BONDAGE
A) As we carry our issues with us year after year, we begin to adapt our lives
to them.
* The woman with the issue of blood had limited her entire existence to the secret
issue that plagued her.
* A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and our lives are only as effective as
the issues we have resolved.
B) Too often, we walk through life in a spiritual paranoia, allowing our issues
to direct our paths.
* 1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because
fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
* In other words, “There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes
fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life-fear of death, fear of judgment-is one
not yet fully formed in love.”
(7) ISSUES OFTEN BECOME EXCUSES
A) Many talented people headed for greatness instead find themselves detoured
onto side roads full of doubts and hurts .......
* And, because the issues are allowed to grow unchecked, these people begin to think
of themselves as victims – And this pushes them further away from their potential.
* Eph. 4:22-24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which
is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and
true holiness.”
B) Everything, and I do mean everything connected with that old way of life
has to go – It’s rotten through and through ... Get rid of it.
* And then take on an entirely new way of life .......
* A God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your
conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you.
(8) ISSUES ARE PART OF THE ENEMY’S STRATEGY
A) Frequently, our issues are used by hell to defeat us.
* Unchecked, they bind our present and our future with the ropes of the past.
* They scream sickening reminders of our defilement and unworthiness.
B) They keep us cowering in the dark, away from God.
* 2 Cor. 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant
of his devices.”
C) It’s not enough just to know that we all have issues .......
* That knowledge alone is enough to depress us and become another issue itself.
* We must understand that we can be FREE of the issues that plague us.
* John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
D) We must also understand that, until our deliverance comes, the kingdom of
God goes on IN SPITE OF OUR ISSUES.
* Even with our limitations and imperfections, we are somehow still useful to God.
* 2 Cor. 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,
that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
E) How can I find healing for my issues?
* Mark chapter five gives us three principles to follow if we are to find healing and
wholeness for our issues:
1. EXHAUST:
A) We must come to the point where our resources are exhausted and we
realize that we cannot heal ourselves.
* We often deal with the symptoms, but rarely with the roots of our issues.
* That’s because no issue has ever been settled by touching man ... We must
touch Jesus.
B) If a man went to the hospital with an arrow in his chest .......
* The doctor doesn’t just give him painkillers and send him to a seminar to learn
how to manage life with an arrow in his chest.
* The only way to bring lasting healing is to turn him over to a skilled surgeon.
* Jesus is that physician, because only He can remove the roots of our issues.
2. EXPOSE:
A) Our issues must be brought out into the light in order to be healed ... They
will never miraculously vanish on their own.
* In fact, they may be pushed aside or denied, but they will always reappear until
we bring them to Jesus.
3. EXPECT:
A) The woman with the issue of blood risked everything on her faith in the
ability of Jesus to restore her ... And this requires total trust.
* Issues that have been surrendered to the Lord will bring Him glory.
B) After all, if we could handle our own issues, who would get the credit?
* We would – This woman was desperate enough to reach out to Jesus – Are you?
C) Prior to her miracle, Jesus never talked to her or even touched her.
* He was busy with a crowd ... But her faith was so strong in Him that just the
fringe of His garment was enough.
* It wasn’t dramatic or impressive, it was quiet and simple – BUT IT WORKED.
CLOSE:
A) How much of Jesus is “enough” to heal your issue?
* REACH OUT AND TOUCH HIM
* Matt. 14:35-36 “And when the men of that place had knowledge of him,
they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that
were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his
garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.”
B) What kind of issue do you have?
* Come to Jesus and touch Him and let Him touch you.
