TEXT: Luke 8:40-48
And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. [41] And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to entreat Him to come to his house; [42] for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the multitudes were pressing against Him.
[43] And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone, [44] came up behind Him, and touched the fringe of His cloak; and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. [45] And Jesus said, "Who is the one who touched Me?" And while they were all denying it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon You." [46] But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me." [47] And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed. [48] And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."
"You Snooze...You Lose!"
PRAYER
INTRODUCTION:
SING: "Reach Out And Touch The Lord"
Reach out and touch the Lord, as He walks by. You’ll find He’s not too busy, to hear your cry. He is passing by this moment, your needs He’ll supply. Reach out and touch the Lord, as He walks by.
Reach out!
When we think about healing and/or needing something from the Lord, there are many occasions that we tend to take a very PASSIVE role in regard to our situation.
We get to feeling like this...
We know that God is OMNISCIENT; therefore we just HOPE and TRUST that God will get around to touching us, and meeting our needs sometime.
-IE. HEALING us, delivering us, etc. etc.
-However, I believe that the Scripture teaches us otherwise!
I believe that the illustration that we read of today, here in Luke 8, gives us just the opposite example of what/how we should pursue the Lord’s help!
TRANSITIONAL SENTENCE:
The lady with the issue of blood depicts a soul that is in a DESPERATE state, and how we can respond to our own desperate situations and needs for healing.
She especially teaches us something in regard to our DETERMINATION in seeking the Lord, our healer, for help!
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There is something to be said of being in a DESPERATE state.
And something further to be said for one who will not just wait around for something good to happen to him, but will be PERSISTENT, AGGRESSIVE, and TENACIOUS!
I think the temptation for many of us is to just wait around for something to happen to us good.
-God knows our situation.
-He knows what I need.
-He will do it when He gets ready.
-And we learn how to "live" with our condition, and medicate its symptoms so that we can cope.
But, this is not always God’s best for us, is it??
I am reminded of one guy in the Bible that came to Jesus in John 5.
He was at the Pool of Bethesda, waiting for the waters to be stirred by an angel of the Lord, and to be the FIRST to get in for a healing...
-For 38 years this guy is an invalid, and had been waiting at the pool for a healing.
-Jesus asks a very appropriate question, "Do you want to get well?"
Let me ask you...
"Do you want to get well?"
We do so often learn to deal with our sickness.
Therefore, it is not necessarily a need...want...desire to be made whole.
PROBLEM, again, what I have been talking about...PASSIVITY!
Hence, "You Snooze...You Lose!"
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We can’t "snooze"
We cannot just lay back and hope for the best.
There is a need for us to be tenacious about getting a hold of God, and being desirous of His touch in our lives!
-The guy sick for 38 years in John 5 was not a good example for us about tenacity...
-But yet, God did touch him, and healed him.
*Because this is God’s desire for you!
However, I want to focus on the thought of not waiting for it to happen to you, but for you to be pursuant of God, and His touch!
There are oodles of illustrations in the Gospels of those who did not take on the mentality "You Snooze, You Lose!"
-Ka sera, sera...
-Live and let live...
-These are not phrases that move the hand of God!
FAITH, HOPE, and reaching out to God in a state of desperation captures the attention of the Lord!
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#1 - One great place in the Scripture is Mark 10, Old Blind Bartimaeus
Mark 10:46-52, And they came to Jericho. And as He was going out from Jericho with His disciples and a great multitude, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the road. [47] And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" [48] And many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" [49] And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." And they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, arise! He is calling for you." [50] And casting aside his cloak, he jumped up, and came to Jesus. [51] And answering him, Jesus said, "What do you want Me to do for you?" And the blind man said to Him, "Rabboni, I want to regain my sight!" [52] And Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well." And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.
Old people have kind of earned their right to be heard, and to say what they want to.
But, I like to think of Bartimaeus as one who was DESPERATE, and would not be denied!
-He shouts out, "Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
-People tried to quiet him down, but he continues to shout out all the more!!!
-"Son of David! Have mercy on me!"
Jesus calls the blind man to Himself and asks, "What do you want me to do?"
"I want to see?" he says.
Jesus replies, "Your faith has healed you."
There is NO, "You Snooze...You Lose" attitude here!!!!
Pure DESPERATION and reaching out to God in FAITH and HOPE!!!
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Another occasion is in Luke 8.
Jairus comes to Jesus, falling down at His feet. Begging Jesus to come with him to his house to heal his 12 year old daughter.
Again, there is no "You Snooze...You Lose" attitude here.
He was DESPERATE!
You see, a leader in the synagogue, is a person who is responsible for administration, building, maintenance, and worship supervision.
And, it would not be "appropriate" for a distinguished person like him to pursue an "itinerant preacher" like Jesus for any kind of help.
-Let alone, to fall at his feet and to beg for Jesus help!
-This is not a common thing to happen to a synagogue leader, but we have to remember, he is DESPERATE!
*His daughter is sick, and she is dying.
And, at the unusual request of Jairus, the synagogue leader is taken to heart, and Jesus begins to make His way to his house.
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BUT WAIT! He gets interrupted!!!
Some woman, who REALLY had NO RIGHT to interrupt such important people [let alone the fact that they were men] has the AUDACITY to jump in the middle of this to GET SOMETHING FOR HERSELF!
She definitely is not the "You Snooze...You Lose" type of person!
In fact, she steals the scene here, and seems to be the one that we remember the most down through the ages.
The most touching as the story is told...
After all, the central theme of the whole story shifts immediately when she comes on the scene.
Not only that, but the thought of her "touching the hem of His garment" has given millions great hope for the touch of God themselves.
And in spite of her not having a "right," she is bleeding...
*And, regardless of the reason for the bleeding, she is ceremonially unclean and should NOT have been in the crowd or touching anyone.
*People had the right to shun her, BUT Jesus didn’t!
Anyhow, this woman would not be denied, she HAD to be healed!
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And, from her one simple act of FAITH and DESPERATION...DETERMINATION and DELIVERANCE, thousands through the years have gained great hope and inspiration for their own healing!
Her own experience relates to us today, and we find hope for our own situation.
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FOUR things we will note very quickly this morning...
POINT ONE: The Woman’s DESPERATION!
Luke 8:43, "And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone."
This one verse does everything to deflate hope of healing in anyone.
-Especially her!
To have a condition for 12 years is terrible.
And, to be BLEEDING is even worse.
On top of all that, NO ONE CAN HEAL HER!
We all would agree that this is a DESPERATE situation!
She had this incurable sickness...
She had spent ALL of her money on physicians...
PLUS! She was ceremonially unclean, as I have said!
Can anyone say DESPERATE!
Like the song we often sing, "Breathe"
"And I I’m desperate for You, And I I’m lost without You!"
-We really ARE desperate with God!
-But, even worse is the situation that this woman is in...
She is DESPERATE in a NUMBER of ways...
PHYSICALLY - her health was gone.
FINANCIALLY - her money was gone.
SPIRITUALLY - her ability to go into the temple is gone, she is unclean.
Basically, she is a picture of each of us, who are in a state of BANKRUPCY when it comes to us and God.
And her condition is similar to many of us...
-We are in a desperate state.
-Physically, we too need a miracle.
-And today, we are trusting for God to hear us, and to heal us!!!
Are you DESPERATE today?!
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Another trait to note this morning is...
POINT TWO: The Woman’s DETERMINATION!
Luke 8:44, "...came up behind Him, and touched the fringe of His cloak; and immediately her hemorrhage stopped."
I think the next natural step, after DESPERATION is DETERMINATION.
You can either decide to live with it and let it have its way in you...
Or, you can DETERMINE to beat the thing, and see God break through in your life’s situation!!!
But, there were many conditions that were present here to DISCOURAGE her from coming to Jesus.
-Have you ever been discouraged?!
#1 - Jesus was already occupied with another person...helping him.
#2 - Then, there was a GREAT crowd that was surrounding Him. People were pressing in all around Him.
#3 - Plus, Jesus was on a mission and you would have to wonder...who am I to bother Jesus with my situation.
#4 - Lastly, her own condition would be discouraging. No one would want her around. Plus, she was sick, tired, poor, pitiful and just couldn’t naturally do this!
BUT, she STILL pressed through!!!!
What about the things in life you need to press through and push through?
We have to fight the things that make us want to yield to our condition as well.
-Being tired...
-Wanting to give up...
-What others might be saying, or would say...
-Shame...
-Pride...
-What ever it is that would say, leave it alone!
You have to remember, if you SNOOZE, you LOSE!!!
So, this lady decides one thing, Mark 5:28, "For she thought, ’If I just touch His garments, I shall get well.’"
That’s what being in a DESPERATE situation will do for your DETERMINATION.
-What have you got to lose in pressing in and pressing through?
-It is all gain, and no loss!
-Today, we need to be pressing in, and to gear up in our DETERMINATION!
Have you settled with your situation?
Have you rested to "live" with it?
Or have you decided it is time to get DETERMINED?
It may humble you...
-But you have to be focused!
It may force you to do something that you would not prefer to do...
-But don’t you want to be whole?
It may mean that you have to get beyond yourself, and even risk embarrassment...
-But wouldn’t it be worth it if you were healed?
"You Snooze...You Lose!"
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Because, the direct result of this woman’s DESPERATION and DETERMINATION.
We know of...
POINT THREE: The Woman’s DELIVERANCE!
Luke 8:45-46, "And Jesus said, ’Who is the one who touched Me?’ And while they were all denying it, Peter said, ’Master, the multitudes are crowding and pressing upon You.’ [46] But Jesus said, ’Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that power had gone out of Me.’"
Now, the DESPERATION and the DETERMINATION are all important.
But they are just the catalyst of healing, not the source of it.
JESUS is the SOURCE!
This woman’s DELIVERANCE came from her contact with Jesus...no one else!
And, the touch she had with Jesus, was a touch of something that DOES move God!
FAITH!
Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
You see, we can DO many things to get a hold of God, and to find our healing in Him.
But, it is our FAITH that moves the hand of God!
-FAITH is the currency of the Kingdom of God!
Do you have faith this morning?!
You will remember from last week, GOD CAN DO ANYTHING!!!
Can HE???! (Oh Yes, God Can!)
And, this woman’s touch of the hem of Christ’s garment, was a touch of FAITH!
-She exercised greater faith than any of the healthy ones around him then.
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And, her faith was recognized!
Jesus said, "Who touched me?"
-Let me tell you, Christ is sensitive to your specific touch!
-You would think that He wouldn’t have noticed such a feeble, humble touch, but He hears everyone and knows the needs of everyone!
*Because many surround Him and never touch Him!
-Plus, He knows when "virtue" has left Him to heal another.
And, now for this lady...DELIVERANCE is known!
Her healing is instantaneous!!!
How many are DESPERATE today?
Who is DETERMINED?
Who wants an INSTANTENEOUS DELIVERANCE?
"You Snooze...You Lose!"
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Lastly...
POINT FOUR: The Woman’s DECLARATION!
Luke 8:47, "And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed."
The nervous woman steps forward to make a DECLARATION that it was her who touched Him.
-Certainly nervous for all the reasons that I mentioned before.
*Unclean...no right...etc., etc.
-But she didn’t know that she was coming forward to share a TESTIMONY!
She shares with Jesus WHY she had touched Him.
Then, she declares to the crowd WHAT had happened to her!
And OH! How her words have endured down through the ages!!!
How her words have encouraged the sick, and given encouragement for many in her similar state to press in and press through!
Of all those who were in the crowd that day, who would have thought that the one crawling on the ground in a humble situation would be recorded in the Scripture and remembered for ever and ever!
In her touching Jesus, she was able to touch others!!!
-You and me today!
-Encouraging us this morning!
-Giving us hope for healing in our own situation!
Are you ready to healing today?
Are you DESPERATE and DETERMINED enough today?
I am believing for INSTANT DELIVERANCES today!
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AS WE CLOSE:
Are you willing to press through like the woman with the issue of blood?
Come to Him, in faith, with all your needs.
Pay no attention to the doubters and the critics in the crowd!!!
Just reach out to the Lord, and believe that He is willing and able!
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Not only that, but the woman received more than she anticipated too!
Maybe God has more in store for you as well!
-Yes, she was healed...
-But, she was also saved!
Luke 8:48, "And He said to her, ’Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’"
Her faith was not only a HEALING FAITH, but it was SAVING FAITH too!
Jesus always gives more, and does more!
Ephesians 3:20-21, "Now to Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, [21] to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen."
PRAISE GOD!
He is a healing God!
Jesus provides it through his work on the Cross.
Isaiah 53:5, "But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed."
As we come believing for healing today...
I want us to come in GREAT FAITH!
DESPERATE!
DETERMINED!
For DELIVERANCE!
Matthew 11:12, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force."
-Take your healing by force!
COME AND PRAY!!!
