Faith in Action: Embracing Divine Delays and Miracles

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Humility in Faith

True faith often requires us to set aside our pride and status, embracing a posture of humility and dependence on God. Jairus, a man of high social standing, demonstrated this when he approached Jesus to heal his dying daughter. Despite the potential for societal backlash and the undermining of his position as a synagogue ruler, Jairus showed a childlike trust in Jesus' ability to heal. This act of humility is a powerful reminder that our spiritual needs can transcend social boundaries and expectations. In humbling himself, Jairus not only sought healing for his daughter but also set a profound example of faith for all who witnessed his actions. [53:48]

James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: Consider a situation where your status or pride might be preventing you from fully trusting in God's help. How can you adopt a posture of humility similar to Jairus?

Day 2: Fearless Faith in Action

The woman with the issue of blood exemplifies what it means to have fearless faith. For twelve years, she suffered, marginalized by society, yet she believed that touching even the hem of Jesus' garment could heal her. This story not only highlights her bold faith but also her action despite fear and societal judgment. Her healing is a testament to the power of faith in action, encouraging us to step out in faith, even when circumstances seem daunting or when society might judge us for our beliefs. [59:54]

Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Reflection: What fears are holding you back from taking a step of faith? How can you move forward in faith today, trusting that God will meet you in your actions?

Day 3: Divine Timing in Our Delays

The interruption during Jairus’ journey to save his daughter illustrates that our perceived delays are often perfectly timed opportunities for God to work in our lives. This divine delay was not a denial but a moment that refined Jairus' faith and prepared him for the miracle to come. Understanding that God’s timing is perfect helps us to maintain faith during periods of waiting and uncertainty. [01:01:30]

Lamentations 3:25-26 "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when a delay in your life turned out to be a blessing in disguise. How can you apply this understanding of divine timing to your current circumstances?

Day 4: Authority Over Circumstances

Facing mockery at Jairus' home, Jesus demonstrated His supreme authority by reviving the child, an act that confirmed His power over life and death. This miracle teaches us that divine reality often contradicts human wisdom and that God's power can transcend any earthly situation, including death and ridicule. [01:14:47]

Psalm 115:3 "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to recognize and submit to Jesus' authority? How can acknowledging His power help you overcome ridicule or doubt?

Day 5: Attending to Individual Needs

After performing the miracle of resurrection, Jesus did not overlook the practical needs of the girl, instructing that she be given something to eat. This act of compassion underscores that Jesus cares for all aspects of our lives, not just the spiritual or miraculous. It reminds us that our God is concerned with every detail, from our greatest trials to our daily needs. [01:17:19]

Matthew 25:35-36 "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me."

Reflection: How can you reflect Jesus' attention to individual needs in your interactions with others today? What practical needs can you meet as an expression of God's love?

Sermon Summary

In today's sermon, we explored the profound narratives of faith, divine delays, and the miraculous power of Jesus as depicted in the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5. We began by setting the scene with Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, who finds himself in a desperate situation as his daughter lies at the point of death. Despite his high social status and the cultural and religious expectations that might have hindered him, Jairus breaks all societal norms to seek Jesus’ help, demonstrating a childlike faith and humility.

As we journeyed with Jairus towards his house, we encountered the woman with the issue of blood, who had suffered for 12 years. This woman, ostracized and deemed unclean, displayed a fearless faith that pushed her to breach societal norms just to touch the hem of Jesus' garment. Her story is a powerful testament to the idea that faith can sometimes require us to act despite fear and societal judgment.

The sermon highlighted the moment when Jesus, aware of the power that had gone out from Him, turned to find the woman who had touched Him. In this interaction, Jesus calls her "daughter" and affirms her faith, which had healed her. This moment is crucial as it shows Jesus’ willingness to acknowledge and heal those whom society had rejected.

Meanwhile, Jairus experiences what I referred to as a "divine delay." While he was anxious about his dying daughter, the interruption by the woman with the blood issue served as a significant pause—a moment that tested and refined Jairus' faith. This narrative twist emphasizes that divine delays are not denials but are integral to God’s timing and purposes.

As we reached Jairus' house, the situation seemed dire. People mourned loudly, believing the child was dead. Here, Jesus’ statement that the child was not dead but sleeping was met with ridicule. Yet, in a powerful display of authority and compassion, Jesus cleared the room, took the child by the hand, and miraculously brought her back to life, instructing that she be given something to eat, highlighting His care for her immediate physical needs after the miracle.

Throughout the sermon, we explored how these stories from Mark 5 encourage us to maintain faith even when faced with delays and challenges. We are reminded that Jesus meets us at our point of need and that His timing is perfect, even when it contradicts our expectations.

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What actions did Jairus take to seek Jesus' help for his daughter? How did his social status influence his actions? [49:57]
Describe the condition and actions of the woman with the issue of blood. What was her approach to seeking healing from Jesus? [56:03]
How did Jesus respond to the woman who touched His garment? What did He call her, and what was the significance of this? [01:06:19]
What was the reaction of the people at Jairus' house when Jesus said the child was not dead but sleeping? How did Jesus handle the situation? [01:14:47]

Interpretation Questions

What does Jairus' approach to Jesus teach us about humility and faith, especially considering his social and religious standing? [49:57]
How does the story of the woman with the issue of blood illustrate the concept of "fearless faith"? What societal norms did she break, and why? [56:03]
Discuss the concept of "divine delays" as seen in Jairus' story. How did this delay serve a greater purpose in the narrative? [01:00:48]
How does Jesus' authority over death and His response to mockery at Jairus' house challenge our understanding of faith and divine power? [01:14:47]

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you had to set aside your pride or social status to seek help. How did this experience shape your understanding of humility and faith? [49:57]
The woman with the issue of blood acted despite fear and societal judgment. Is there a situation in your life where you need to act on your faith despite fear? What steps can you take this week to move forward? [56:03]
Have you ever experienced a "divine delay" in your life, where it seemed like God was not responding to your urgent need? How did you handle it, and what did you learn from that experience? [01:00:48]
Jesus called the woman "daughter" and acknowledged her faith. How can you show acceptance and affirmation to someone who feels rejected or marginalized in your community? [01:06:19]
When faced with ridicule or skepticism about your faith, how do you usually respond? How can you strengthen your faith to stand firm in such situations? [01:14:47]
Jesus attended to the practical needs of Jairus' daughter after raising her from the dead. How can you be more attentive to the practical needs of those around you, especially after significant events in their lives? [01:17:19]
Think of a dream or goal that you feel has been delayed or seems impossible. How can you renew your faith and trust in God's timing this week? [01:12:16]

Sermon Clips

### Quotes geared for outreach and evangelism:

1. "Do not be afraid, only continue to believe. Do not be afraid. Just continue to believe. He takes Jairus' little face. He says, keep your eyes on me. Forget about what you're hearing. Forget about your circumstances." [01:11:36]( | | )

2. "If I may only touch the hem of his garment, I may be healed. Beloved, it's enough to just touch the hem of his garment. And maybe today, there's some of you that will go through the throng and touch the hem of his garment and be healed." [01:23:10]( | | )

3. "The first thing he's going to say, the first thing the Father's going to call you is, you're my little child. Child, I love you. Jesus didn't begin with rebuke. Jesus didn't say, what have you done? I'm a rabbi, and you're unclean." [01:06:19]( | | )

4. "She comes before love. And she's filled with fear because religion, how religion has treated people, is rejected. They weigh, they measure, and if you don't measure up." [01:05:28]( | | )

5. "Our Jesus, he makes us whole. Bear gave just such a beautiful picture this morning. In Christ, the bloodshed. He gave his life so that we would have life." [01:23:10]( | | )

### Quotes for members covering key points:

1. "This is just a little divine delay. Keep your eyes on me, and continue to believe. Oh, beloved, that is a word for some of you. There are some of you in this room who have this, you're in the midst of a divine delay." [01:12:16](Download clip | | )

2. "The child's not dead, but she's only sleeping. And now the crowd turns on Jesus, and they begin to ridicule him. Beloved, if you have fearless faith, there is gonna be resistance." [01:13:54]( | | )

3. "Jesus said, she's only sleeping. She's, and the mockers say, are you kidding me? She's dead. And they're mocking the Christ. They ridiculed him, but when he had put them outside." [01:14:47]( | | )

4. "That it wasn't dead. It was just sleeping. That it was just a divine delay. It was just set aside. And we can give all kinds of reasons, but the delay is still there." [01:19:11]( | | )

5. "He says, do not be afraid, only continue to believe. Do not be afraid. Just continue to believe. He takes Jairus' little face. He says, keep your eyes on me. Forget about what you're hearing. Forget about your circumstances." [01:11:36]( | | )

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