Faith, Perseverance, and the Presence of Jesus
Summary
### Summary
Today, we explored the profound truth that Jesus is always with us, even in our most challenging times. Reflecting on my personal journey, I shared how the Holy Spirit comforted me by revealing that my preaching is a form of singing to God, which brought healing to my heart. We delved into Mark 5, focusing on the stories of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood. Both narratives highlight the importance of faith and perseverance. Jairus, a synagogue ruler, sought Jesus to heal his dying daughter, while the woman, suffering for twelve years, believed that merely touching Jesus' garment would heal her. Their faith and determination were rewarded, demonstrating that God’s timing and plans are perfect, even when they seem delayed.
We also discussed the significance of Jerusalem in God's plan and the spiritual battles we face, emphasizing the need to keep our eyes on Jesus. The sermon encouraged us to "trouble the Master" with our needs, just as Jairus and the woman did. This means persistently seeking Jesus, believing that He can and will intervene in our situations. We examined other biblical examples, such as the father of the demon-possessed boy and the friends who lowered their paralyzed friend through the roof to reach Jesus. These stories reinforce the message that faith, coupled with action, can lead to miraculous outcomes.
In conclusion, we are reminded that Jesus invites us to bring our troubles to Him. Whether we face physical, emotional, or spiritual challenges, we should not be afraid to seek His help. Our faith, even in seemingly impossible situations, can move mountains. Let us be persistent in our prayers and unwavering in our belief that with God, all things are possible.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith in Action: The woman with the issue of blood demonstrated that faith requires action. Her belief that touching Jesus' garment would heal her was not just a thought but a decisive action. This teaches us that faith must be accompanied by steps of obedience and trust in God's power. [13:04]
2. God’s Perfect Timing: Jairus' story shows that God's timing is impeccable. Even when Jesus was delayed by the woman’s healing, He still arrived in time to raise Jairus' daughter from the dead. This reminds us that delays in our lives are not denials but part of God's divine plan. [15:27]
3. Persistent Prayer: The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 illustrates the power of relentless prayer. Her unwavering determination moved an unjust judge to act. How much more will our just and loving God respond to our persistent prayers? [32:21]
4. Community of Faith: The story of the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof to reach Jesus highlights the importance of a supportive faith community. Sometimes, we need others to help carry us to Jesus when we are too weak to go on our own. [26:07]
5. Belief in the Impossible: Jesus' words to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe," challenge us to maintain our faith even when situations seem hopeless. Our belief in God's power can bring about miraculous changes, turning impossibilities into testimonies of His greatness. [16:18]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[02:14] - Personal Testimony and Healing
[04:42] - Reflecting on 12 Years of Ministry
[05:55] - Introduction to Mark 5
[07:01] - Trip to Branson and God's Intervention
[08:15] - Keeping Eyes on Jerusalem
[09:33] - The Importance of Perseverance
[10:20] - Story of Jairus and the Woman with the Issue of Blood
[13:04] - The Woman's Faith and Healing
[15:27] - Jesus' Delay and Jairus' Daughter
[16:18] - Encouragement to Believe
[20:20] - The Demon-Possessed Boy
[24:33] - The Paralyzed Man and His Friends
[29:38] - The Persistent Widow
[32:21] - The Unjust Judge
[38:30] - The Pool of Bethesda
[44:10] - Invitation to Trouble the Master
[49:32] - Prayer and Healing Session
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Mark 5:21-43 - The stories of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood.
2. Luke 18:1-8 - The parable of the persistent widow.
3. Mark 2:1-12 - The story of the paralyzed man and his friends.
### Observation Questions
1. What actions did the woman with the issue of blood take to demonstrate her faith? ([13:04])
2. How did Jesus respond to Jairus when he was informed that his daughter had died? ([16:18])
3. What was the reaction of the crowd when Jesus said the girl was not dead but sleeping? ([17:15])
4. How did the friends of the paralyzed man show their faith when they couldn't reach Jesus through the crowd? ([24:33])
### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the story of the woman with the issue of blood teach us about the relationship between faith and action? ([13:04])
2. How can we understand Jesus' delay in reaching Jairus' daughter in the context of God's perfect timing? ([15:27])
3. In what ways does the parable of the persistent widow illustrate the importance of relentless prayer? ([32:21])
4. How does the story of the paralyzed man and his friends highlight the role of community in our faith journey? ([24:33])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you had to take a bold step of faith. How did it impact your relationship with God? ([13:04])
2. Have you ever experienced a delay in receiving an answer to your prayers? How did you handle it, and what did you learn about God's timing? ([15:27])
3. Think about a situation in your life that seems impossible. How can you apply Jesus' words to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe," to this situation? ([16:18])
4. How can you incorporate persistent prayer into your daily routine, especially for situations that seem unchanging? ([32:21])
5. Identify a person in your life who might need support in their faith journey. What practical steps can you take to help carry them to Jesus, as the friends did for the paralyzed man? ([24:33])
6. In what ways can you "trouble the Master" with your needs this week? What specific prayers or actions will you take? ([19:14])
7. How can you keep your focus on Jesus amidst the spiritual battles and distractions in your life? ([08:15])
Devotional
Day 1: Faith in Action
Faith is not passive; it requires decisive steps.
The woman with the issue of blood exemplifies the necessity of active faith. For twelve years, she suffered and sought healing from many physicians, but her condition only worsened. Despite her prolonged suffering, she believed that touching Jesus' garment would heal her. This belief was not merely a thought but a decisive action. She pushed through the crowd, reached out, and touched His garment, and immediately, she was healed. This story teaches us that faith must be accompanied by steps of obedience and trust in God's power. It is not enough to believe in our hearts; we must also act on that belief, trusting that God will respond to our faith. [13:04]
Mark 5:27-29 (ESV): "She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, 'If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.' And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease."
Reflection: Think of a situation in your life where you need God's intervention. What specific action can you take today to demonstrate your faith in God's power to change that situation?
Day 2: God’s Perfect Timing
God's delays are not denials; they are part of His perfect plan.
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, sought Jesus to heal his dying daughter. On the way to Jairus' house, Jesus was delayed by the woman with the issue of blood. During this delay, Jairus' daughter died. Despite the seeming setback, Jesus assured Jairus to "be not afraid, only believe." When they arrived at Jairus' house, Jesus raised his daughter from the dead. This story illustrates that God's timing is impeccable. What may seem like a delay to us is part of His divine plan. We must trust that His timing is perfect, even when it doesn't align with our expectations. [15:27]
Ecclesiastes 3:11 (ESV): "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God was delaying an answer to your prayer. How can you trust in His perfect timing in your current circumstances?
Day 3: Persistent Prayer
Relentless prayer moves the heart of God.
The parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 illustrates the power of relentless prayer. The widow's unwavering determination moved an unjust judge to act on her behalf. Jesus used this parable to teach that if an unjust judge can be moved by persistence, how much more will our just and loving God respond to our persistent prayers? This encourages us to be relentless in our prayers, never giving up, and always trusting that God hears and will answer in His perfect way. [32:21]
Luke 18:1-5 (ESV): "And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, 'In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, "Give me justice against my adversary." For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, "Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming."'"
Reflection: Identify a specific prayer request you have been bringing to God. How can you renew your commitment to pray persistently for this need?
Day 4: Community of Faith
A supportive faith community can carry us to Jesus.
The story of the paralyzed man whose friends lowered him through the roof to reach Jesus highlights the importance of a supportive faith community. When the paralyzed man was too weak to reach Jesus on his own, his friends carried him and found a way to bring him to Jesus. This act of faith and friendship resulted in the man's healing. Sometimes, we need others to help carry us to Jesus when we are too weak to go on our own. A community of faith can provide the support, encouragement, and strength we need to persevere in our spiritual journey. [26:07]
Galatians 6:2 (ESV): "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Reflection: Think of someone in your faith community who may be struggling. How can you support and help carry them to Jesus this week?
Day 5: Belief in the Impossible
Faith in God's power can turn impossibilities into testimonies.
Jesus' words to Jairus, "Be not afraid, only believe," challenge us to maintain our faith even when situations seem hopeless. Jairus faced the devastating news of his daughter's death, but Jesus encouraged him to believe. This belief in God's power brought about a miraculous change, as Jesus raised Jairus' daughter from the dead. Our belief in God's power can bring about miraculous changes in our lives, turning impossibilities into testimonies of His greatness. [16:18]
Mark 5:36 (ESV): "But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, 'Do not fear, only believe.'"
Reflection: Identify an area in your life that seems impossible to change. How can you strengthen your belief in God's power to transform that situation?
Quotes
1. "And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people. All who burdens themselves with it shall be cut in pieces. Though all the people thereof can gather together against it. And so again, just keep your eyes. Not just on Jerusalem. Keep your eyes looking. I believe Jesus is coming soon. And he's coming for those that are looking for him. Amen. Hallelujah." [09:33] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I find out in this Christian walk, man, not only do you make a commitment, you've just got to persevere. And it's not easy. It's truly not easy sometimes. It's truly not easy sometimes. But with God's help, he will help us in that. Amen." [10:20] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "God writes the script. Everything was in his hands. It was in his divine plan this day. And straightway, the fount of her blood was dried up just because she said, I can just touch the hem of his garment. See, that's what we have to do in church sometimes. We have to press through. And be positive. Amen. Be a little more positive. And you can't be any more positive than sticking to the word of God." [13:37] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Let me tell you what. Jesus knows when we touch him by faith. Yes. Because it will release virtue. Amen. So it said, Had gone out of him. He turned him about in the press. And he said. He said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said, Do you see the multitude thronging you? And you say, Who touched me?" [14:37] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So again, as soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he overheard what was being said. He said unto the ruler of the city of Jairus, be not afraid. Only believe. Remember what he said to begin with. He said, if you come and pray for my little girl, she'll be healed. I think he's trying to say, remember what you said? Hang on to that. Believe that." [16:18] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Christian church, I just want you to get ready for something in these end days. We're going to be mocked and scoffed at like never before. So just get ready for it. Especially when you're Pentecostals. About the issue of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, the initial physical evidence, speaking of the tongues, we really get it." [17:46] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "And immediately he arose, took up the bed, went forth before them all, insomuch they were all amazed, and glorified God. Amen. Saying, we never saw it on this fashion. And again, I want to start seeing it on this fashion. And he went forth again by the seaside, and all the multitude said, resorted unto him, and he taught them." [28:06] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "We don't have to wait for certain seasons of troubled waters to be healed. We don't have to wait for someone to help us into the troubled waters. We are healed by being obedient to the living one's word, which is by our faith. Can I get an amen? Amen. In other words, why wait for a seasonal stern meeting when we control the master now? This morning." [43:37] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Some of you are going through some things that just absolutely seem no way out. It's impossible. I want to encourage you to believe this morning. Trust God. Amen? Whatever He instructs you. As long as it's... I want to add on that caveat. According to His word. A lot of people are saying love. Things right now. Unbelievable." [44:55] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "But we know that Jesus us to trouble Him. It's been a while since some of you have done it. So whatever it is you're going through, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, I don't know. Relationships. Whatever it might be. is your morning. This is your time. Remember He told us to redeem the time. Use it wisely." [45:34] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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