A TOUCH OF FAITH
TEXT: Matthew 9:20-21 “And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: [21] For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”
Here is the secret hope for health by a woman. She had been hemorrhaging for twelve years She was desperately hopeless, feeling ashamed, embarrassed, and unworthy. The Physicians of the world could not heal her so she came to the Great Physician.
This lady was taking a great risk to do this because according to the law she was not to be in the crowd surrounding Jesus at all.
She was supposed to be isolated, but her desperation drove her to Jesus. She felt that Jesus would never touch her because she was unclean, but she had heard so many wonderful things about Him: if she could only touch His garment, He would never know, and she would be healed.
Imagine her great faith! By the way, Faith does not always face the facts; but I find that it never gives up. Anybody else would have let the circumstances stop them but not this lady.
I. What is Faith?
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
A. Faith is taking God at his word and asking no questions.
Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
She sought Him out and He rewarded her.
B. Faith is knowing that: Romans 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.”
You are not born with this faith. But it comes through hearing God’s Word Romans 10:17. This is why we are commanded to preach the word, so that people may hear and believe.
II. What Does Faith Bring Into Our Lives?
The following points explain the value of faith and enumerate some of the things that it brings to believers:
A. Faith Brings Freedom To Soul "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
We must recognize that which is false and then accept our freedom in Christ through faith. We are forgiven, cleansed, and promised heaven (Rom. 3:24).
B. Faith Brings Action Into Our Lives "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only ..." (James I :22).
To be effective, faith must be active. Our faith works for us only as we work our faith. Active faith requires doing, being, speaking, living, and loving God and others.
C. Faith Brings Insight "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God ...and it shall be given him" (James 1 :5).
God wants to help His people make right choices and decisions. Wisdom is given to those who "ask in faith" (James 1 :6).
D. Faith Brings Trust " And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them. ..because they trust in him" (Ps.37:40).
Faith brings trust. Trust causes one to rely or depend on, to commit to, or to have confidence in. We must trust in the Lord. He never fails (I John 5:14-15).
III. What Was Jesus’ Response To This Woman’s Faith.
1. Jesus turned to the woman.
There was no way Jesus could have felt the touch to His robe. He was being pressed and thronged by the crowd, yet when she stepped up behind Him and touched His robe, He knew. How?
a. Her faith touched Him. It is faith that touches Jesus. Faith will never go unnoticed nor be ignored by Jesus.
True Faith reaches upward into the heavens, beyond the highest star, the moon, and sun.
When it reaches up to God it transforms lives here on the earth. Real faith reaches after it reaches God turns downward to the lowest of low, no matter where it is located. It will lift the drunkard, prostitute, etc. - all those who are willing to seek after Him and turn from there sin.
Then it reaches inward, into the heart and soul to stabilize and establish. It revives
b. Virtue (power and life) went out from Jesus into her.
When a person places his faith in Jesus and His power, it touches Jesus, and Jesus infuses His virtue (His power and life) into that person. That is what life and salvation are all about: the infusion of God’s virtue, power, and life into the spirit of man.
“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?” (Mark 5:30).
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23).
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).
Jesus stopped and turned to the woman. To Jesus the most important work in all the world is meeting a person’s need. The more desperate the need, the more Jesus wants to stop and face the need. Nothing will keep Jesus from stopping and turning to a person who comes to Him in desperation.
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” (Matthew 8:17; cp. Isaiah 53:4).
2. Jesus saw the woman.
He saw her desperation, her confession of hopelessness, her need, her faith; and His heart went out to her from the depths of compassion.
The Lord cares for all, no matter how rejected, cut off, or ostracized. A person may be considered unclean, dirty, polluted, contaminated, lost forever; but that person is precious to our Lord. His heart goes out in tenderness and care to the greatest of sinners.
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities: but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16).
3. Jesus adopted the woman.
He called her “daughter” and adopted her into the family of God. He spoke to her in behalf of the Father and gave her the assurance that she was accepted by God. The fact that God would help her was conveyed to her immediately. Note also that Jesus said, “be of good cheer.” She experienced the consolation and assurance of God immediately.
When a person really comes to God in desperation, God immediately gives a knowledge of adoption and comfort. He gives such a release from pressure and desperation that the person’s spirit sighs and revels in the new found peace.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).
“And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:18).
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:4-6).
4. Jesus made her whole.
His virtue (power and life) was infused into her and she was saved and made whole. She had feared facing Jesus because she feared being rebuked. She was wrong. Jesus longed to heal the desperate among the people. No person is too dirty for Him. In fact, the more unclean a person is, the more He wants to cleanse and make him whole. Imagine such a Savior!
