21 Days in 2024
FAITH THAT RECEIVES
Mark 5:25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Mark 5:29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
Mark 5:31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
Mark 5:32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
When we need healing one of the hardest things we can do is to keep praying after a long silence or delay from Heaven. It begins to feel like God has no intention of healing us from our affliction. The woman in this story had suffered for 12 years. She had done all she could humanly do to find help - she saw doctors, she spent all her money and I’m sure she also prayed. All without success.
It would be easy to assume the answer from Heaven was, “No.”
She continued to ask for healing anyway. She became convinced that if she were to touch Jesus (the hem of His garment) she would be healed. Filled with this belief and conviction she pressed through the crowd and succeeded in touching Him. She was immediately healed. In spite of the obstacle of the crowd, she persevered for her healing. But, the crowd wasn’t her only obstacle.
Because of the flow of blood, she was considered to be ceremonially unclean and not permitted to be around other people according to the Law. But, she was willing to do anything to find help and considered it worth the risk to follow through with her plan. When Jesus became aware that someone in the crowd had touched Him and power had flowed from Him to heal them He immediately stopped. Even though everyone was pressing against Him, He felt the miracle happen.
The moment Jesus stopped, she felt found out. Had she made Jesus unclean by touching Him? Was He angry with her? Was it presumptuous of her to take something from Jesus without His knowledge? She stepped forward to take responsibility for her actions. Instead of facing His anger or disapproval, she was commended for her faith. The difference between that woman and everyone else in the crowd was that she had faith to receive from God. Her need and willingness to press forward went beyond desperation to bold faith.
The woman who was healed demonstrated the kind of faith that knew how to receive. First, she did all that was in her power to do. Her faith was not lazy or passive. Then, she prayed through and received a prophetic promise that she believed and acted upon. Next, she didn’t allow her limitations or the disapproval of others to stop her. Finally, she went to Jesus, not waiting for an invitation from Him to be healed. Jesus called all of these bold acts by a desperate woman: faith. That kind of faith receives what it asks.
As we pray, let’s maintain a level of faith that is undeterred by delays or obstacles. Let’s focus on hearing from Heaven about our situation and holding on for the answer to our request. Faith that receives does not give up, become discouraged or isolate from others. It perseveres.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
John 2:1-11; 2 Kings 4:8-37; 1 Samuel 1:1-20
Mark 5:29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
Mark 5:31 But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
Mark 5:32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
When we need healing one of the hardest things we can do is to keep praying after a long silence or delay from Heaven. It begins to feel like God has no intention of healing us from our affliction. The woman in this story had suffered for 12 years. She had done all she could humanly do to find help - she saw doctors, she spent all her money and I’m sure she also prayed. All without success.
It would be easy to assume the answer from Heaven was, “No.”
She continued to ask for healing anyway. She became convinced that if she were to touch Jesus (the hem of His garment) she would be healed. Filled with this belief and conviction she pressed through the crowd and succeeded in touching Him. She was immediately healed. In spite of the obstacle of the crowd, she persevered for her healing. But, the crowd wasn’t her only obstacle.
Because of the flow of blood, she was considered to be ceremonially unclean and not permitted to be around other people according to the Law. But, she was willing to do anything to find help and considered it worth the risk to follow through with her plan. When Jesus became aware that someone in the crowd had touched Him and power had flowed from Him to heal them He immediately stopped. Even though everyone was pressing against Him, He felt the miracle happen.
The moment Jesus stopped, she felt found out. Had she made Jesus unclean by touching Him? Was He angry with her? Was it presumptuous of her to take something from Jesus without His knowledge? She stepped forward to take responsibility for her actions. Instead of facing His anger or disapproval, she was commended for her faith. The difference between that woman and everyone else in the crowd was that she had faith to receive from God. Her need and willingness to press forward went beyond desperation to bold faith.
The woman who was healed demonstrated the kind of faith that knew how to receive. First, she did all that was in her power to do. Her faith was not lazy or passive. Then, she prayed through and received a prophetic promise that she believed and acted upon. Next, she didn’t allow her limitations or the disapproval of others to stop her. Finally, she went to Jesus, not waiting for an invitation from Him to be healed. Jesus called all of these bold acts by a desperate woman: faith. That kind of faith receives what it asks.
As we pray, let’s maintain a level of faith that is undeterred by delays or obstacles. Let’s focus on hearing from Heaven about our situation and holding on for the answer to our request. Faith that receives does not give up, become discouraged or isolate from others. It perseveres.
Hebrews 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
John 2:1-11; 2 Kings 4:8-37; 1 Samuel 1:1-20
Posted in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting