Intro: This morning I talked about the mental strong holds we face and tonight I will conclude with the physical limitations we may face
I. Physical Limitations
This healing is second of three that take place here in chapter 5. Many have come to call this the Mark Sandwich because of its unique positioning here in chapter 5. These three healings are combined to tell a complete story and all three are nicely placed back to back.
Jesus first comes to a demonic that contains Legion. Now when you study this story throughout the synoptic Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke we get a more detailed insight into the conversation Christ had with Legion which includes Legion saying Mt 8:29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And in Lu 8:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
Those two verses tell me they knew who Jesus was and the word deep is another meaning for hell, so they were in essence begging Christ not to send them to hell early, because they were scared of their punishment and didn’t want to go.
Christ cast the demons out they go into a herd of swine and they run the herd into the water and drown. The man is healed and restored and becomes an evangelist telling everyone the good news. After this encounter Christ is approached by Jairus whose daughter is sick. He is not but half way there when this woman with the issue of blood is added to this story.
The woman in this story has suffered 12 years with an issue of blood. Many believe that she suffered from a hemorrhage while others believe it was an ongoing menstrual cycle, (probably not the most popular woman in town; she probably had her fair share of heads she bit off.)
Here this woman is she has this issue that no one can treat she has tried it all and spent all she had and in return all she gets is an empty pocket book and a broken heart.
By Jewish law she is considered ritual unclean and is not allowed to go to temple or make any social visits. By the letter of the law she cannot come near another Jew for fear of making them unclean. So she is an outcast.
Knowing that she bears this scarlet letter she must decide how she is going to get to Jesus which is a direct violation of the law. But this woman feels that her issue is too great to bear and that He is the only one that is able to set her free and heal her body.
Knowing that her action is in violation of the law her faith tells her this is the only way. She humbles herself knowing that if He is who they say He is all she needs to do is touch the hem of his garment.
Now many believe that the woman was reaching out and touching Jesus’ prayer shawl that he was wearing which devout Jews wore to show their devotion to God and that she probably touched one of the knots at the end which served as a reminder to keep the Law of Moses.
But she is breaking the law in order to receive a breakthrough healing. Once she touches the hem she knows she is healed and Christ knows that someone was healed which causes Him to ask “who touched me” probably out of fear of breaking the law the woman doesn’t step forward knowing that she violated the law.
Yet Christ tarries until the woman confesses and instead of Christ blasting her for breaking the law He blesses her for her faith and willingness to step out; in full knowledge of the risk she was taking.
She knew how bad she needed it and showed it by the risk she took. There are those times when we must answer the question how bad do we want it?
II. Broken Vessels
We in the Church of God believe that healing is for all at the atonement; that by the strips of Christ we can be healed.
Sickness is a product of a fallen human condition, but sickness and disease are also linked to demonic forces.
In Job 2:7, Job was afflicted by Satan with sore boils from the top of his head to the sole of his feet.
Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 was buffeted with infirmities from a messenger of Satan.
In Luke 13:11-16 we find a woman who is bowed together for 18 years due to a direct assault from Satan.
Throughout the Gospels we are given other cases of infirmities and oppressions from epilepsy to paralysis. Every where Jesus went He preached and healed the sick. When the apostles went out they were commissioned to preach the Gospel and heal the sick in Jesus Name!
From Biblical times to present day Satan has not ceased from using this mode of attack upon the believers.
These days we are seeing an overwhelming increase of sickness in the Church. Cancer, diabetes, and other debilitating sicknesses are afflicting our brothers and sisters.
I believe that Satan has stepped up his production of sickness, taking that which is already there due to the fallen nature and evolving it in to more serious complications.
His assaults are weakening the body of the believers as well as their faith.
Never in history have we seen such an outbreak of sickness and diseases such as cancer, SARS virus, aids, and many other deadly diseases. Every time we turn on the news we here of new cases of sicknesses and more advanced cancers.
Satan is fighting and is playing dirty. Satan wants nothing more than for you to give up, to throw in the towel, and succumb to that infirmity.
For you to lose your faith, ministry, and your prize.
III. Arise My Love
I want to encourage those of you that are worn down due to sickness, and feel as if you can’t go another mile in this race.
You didn’t get this far to give up now, throughout scripture we are told to pray without ceasing to pray the prayer of faith and believe.
Now is not the time to say “I give up” but rather it is now time to proclaim that “NO WEAPON THAT IS FORMED AGAINST YOU SHALL PROSPER” you are more than a conquer in Christ Jesus by whose stripes you were healed by.
Let it be known to those that are sick in body that Jesus Christ the Great Physician is still taking new patients and all it will cost you is your faith in Him. One drop of Jesus’ blood is stronger and more powerful than any sickness our body or Satan can throw at us.
Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord will see you through them all!
Just like the woman with the issue of blood you got to make up your mind have a hard headed faith and push through to your healing. It may mean you got to take a risk; but it is risk that has a reward if you just believe.
Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Jesus came that you may have life and have it more abundantly, get your eyes off the things of this world and set your affections on things above. All that you need is in Him and Him alone. Ro 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.
Ro 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.
Victory is yours victory yours TODAY IN JESUS NAME! It’s time to tell ol Satan to get thee behind cause victory today is mine!
If your healing doesn’t come here on earth it will in glory, but don’t give the devil place, but resist him.
