Faith's Transformative Power: Touching Jesus for Healing
Summary
Summary:
Today, we explored the profound stories of Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood from Luke chapter 8. These narratives reveal the transformative power of faith and the importance of approaching Jesus with expectation. Jairus, a religious leader, defied societal norms and sought Jesus for his dying daughter, demonstrating that desperation can lead us to the feet of Christ, regardless of our past beliefs or associations. His story reminds us that our approach to Jesus matters; when we come with expectation, we open ourselves to divine intervention.
The woman with the issue of blood exemplifies the life-altering impact of a single touch from Jesus. Despite her status as an outcast, she pressed through the crowd, believing that even the slightest contact with Jesus could heal her. Her faith was rewarded, and she was made whole. This teaches us that no matter how unclean or unworthy we feel, Jesus can cleanse and restore us. Her story challenges us to push past societal barriers and personal doubts to reach out to Jesus, trusting in His power to change our circumstances.
We also reflected on the difficult moments when others receive the miracles we long for. Jairus witnessed the healing of the woman while his daughter lay dying, yet he continued to trust Jesus. This teaches us that even when our prayers seem unanswered, God remains good and faithful. We must hold onto faith, believing that God’s timing and plans are perfect, even when they differ from our own desires.
Finally, we discussed the importance of immediate obedience to God’s call. When Jesus commanded the little girl to arise, she responded immediately, illustrating that delayed obedience is still disobedience. Today, we are encouraged to respond promptly to God’s voice, allowing Him to bring life to the dead areas of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Approaching Jesus with Expectation: Our approach to Jesus significantly impacts our experience with Him. Like Jairus, we must come with a heart full of expectation, believing that God can and will intervene in our lives. When we approach Jesus with faith, we open ourselves to His transformative power. [10:56]
2. The Power of a Single Touch: The woman with the issue of blood teaches us that one touch from Jesus can change everything. Despite feeling unworthy, she reached out in faith and was healed. This reminds us that no matter our past or present struggles, Jesus can cleanse and restore us. [20:38]
3. Trusting God Amidst Unanswered Prayers: Jairus’s story shows us the importance of trusting God even when others receive the miracles we desire. God’s goodness remains constant, and His plans are perfect, even when they differ from our own. We must hold onto faith, believing in His timing. [32:51]
4. Exposing Our Faith: Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" prompting the woman to reveal herself. This teaches us that bringing our struggles into the light is essential for transformation. When we expose our faith and vulnerabilities to Jesus, He can work powerfully in our lives. [26:44]
5. Immediate Obedience to God’s Call: The story of the little girl’s resurrection emphasizes the importance of immediate obedience. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. Today, we are encouraged to respond promptly to God’s voice, allowing Him to bring life to the dead areas of our lives. [42:09]
Youtube Chapters:
- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:36] - Introduction and Family
- [03:17] - Starting a Church
- [04:25] - Reading from Luke 8
- [07:11] - The Woman with the Issue of Blood
- [08:47] - Jairus’s Plea
- [09:43] - Approaching Jesus
- [10:56] - Expectation Matters
- [13:38] - The Life You Never Dreamed Of
- [14:23] - The Woman’s Struggle
- [16:03] - Unfulfilled Dreams
- [18:09] - Public Exposure of Problems
- [19:38] - Seeking the Right Help
- [20:38] - One Touch Changes Everything
- [23:27] - Pressing Through the Crowd
- [25:12] - No One is Too Far Gone
- [25:56] - Faith Exposes You
- [28:20] - When Others Receive Your Miracle
- [32:51] - The News You Never Wanted to Hear
- [37:03] - The Journey of Faith
- [41:09] - The Voice of Doubt
- [42:09] - Immediate Obedience
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 8:40-56
Observation Questions:
1. What actions did Jairus take when he approached Jesus, and how did his position in society influence his actions? [09:43]
2. Describe the condition and actions of the woman with the issue of blood. How did she manage to reach Jesus despite the crowd? [20:38]
3. How did Jesus respond to the woman after she touched his garment, and what was the significance of his response? [26:44]
4. What was the reaction of the people when Jesus said the little girl was not dead but sleeping, and how did Jesus handle the situation? [41:09]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jairus’s approach to Jesus demonstrate the importance of expectation in our faith journey? [10:56]
2. In what ways does the story of the woman with the issue of blood illustrate the transformative power of faith, even when societal norms are against us? [21:35]
3. How can the story of Jairus and the woman teach us about trusting God’s timing, especially when our prayers seem unanswered? [32:51]
4. What does the immediate obedience of the little girl upon Jesus’s command teach us about our response to God’s call? [42:09]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you approached God with expectation. How did that impact your experience, and how can you cultivate a heart of expectation in your daily walk with God? [10:56]
2. Consider a situation where you felt unworthy or outcast. How can the story of the woman with the issue of blood encourage you to reach out to Jesus despite those feelings? [21:35]
3. Have you ever experienced a moment when others received the miracle you were praying for? How did you handle it, and what can you learn from Jairus’s continued trust in Jesus? [32:51]
4. Identify an area in your life where you feel God is calling you to immediate obedience. What steps can you take this week to respond promptly to His call? [42:09]
5. How can you bring your struggles and vulnerabilities into the light, as the woman did when she revealed herself to Jesus? What might be holding you back from doing so? [26:44]
6. Think about a time when you faced doubt or negativity. How can you actively remove the voice of doubt from your life and surround yourself with faith-filled influences? [41:09]
7. What practical steps can you take to trust in God’s goodness and timing, even when your prayers seem unanswered or delayed? [39:40]
Devotional
Day 1: Expectation Shapes Our Encounter with Jesus
Approaching Jesus with expectation is a powerful act of faith that can transform our spiritual journey. Jairus, a respected religious leader, set aside societal norms and his own preconceived notions to seek Jesus for his dying daughter. His story illustrates that desperation can drive us to the feet of Christ, regardless of our past beliefs or associations. When we approach Jesus with a heart full of expectation, we open ourselves to divine intervention and the possibility of experiencing His transformative power. This act of faith is not just about hoping for a miracle but believing that God is both willing and able to intervene in our lives. [10:56]
Isaiah 30:18 (ESV): "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him."
Reflection: What expectations do you bring when you approach Jesus in prayer? How can you cultivate a heart of expectation in your daily walk with Him?
Day 2: The Transformative Power of a Single Touch
The story of the woman with the issue of blood is a testament to the life-changing power of a single touch from Jesus. Despite being an outcast and feeling unworthy, she pressed through the crowd, believing that even the slightest contact with Jesus could heal her. Her faith was rewarded, and she was made whole. This narrative challenges us to push past societal barriers and personal doubts to reach out to Jesus, trusting in His power to change our circumstances. It reminds us that no matter our past or present struggles, Jesus can cleanse and restore us. [20:38]
Mark 5:34 (ESV): "And he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.'"
Reflection: What barriers or doubts are preventing you from reaching out to Jesus? How can you take a step of faith today to touch His presence?
Day 3: Trusting God When Prayers Seem Unanswered
Jairus’s story teaches us the importance of trusting God even when others receive the miracles we desire. As Jairus witnessed the healing of the woman while his daughter lay dying, he continued to trust Jesus. This narrative reminds us that God’s goodness remains constant, and His plans are perfect, even when they differ from our own. We must hold onto faith, believing in His timing and trusting that He knows what is best for us. This trust is not passive but an active choice to believe in God’s faithfulness amidst uncertainty. [32:51]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: How do you respond when others receive the miracles you long for? What steps can you take to trust God’s timing and plans in your life today?
Day 4: Bringing Our Faith into the Light
When Jesus asked, "Who touched me?" the woman with the issue of blood revealed herself, bringing her faith and struggles into the light. This act of vulnerability was essential for her transformation. It teaches us that exposing our faith and vulnerabilities to Jesus allows Him to work powerfully in our lives. By bringing our struggles into the open, we invite Jesus to cleanse and restore us, leading to profound spiritual growth and healing. This openness requires courage but is a crucial step in experiencing the fullness of God’s transformative power. [26:44]
James 5:16 (ESV): "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Reflection: What areas of your life are you keeping hidden from Jesus? How can you bring these into the light and invite His transformative power today?
Day 5: The Urgency of Immediate Obedience
The story of the little girl’s resurrection emphasizes the importance of immediate obedience to God’s call. When Jesus commanded her to arise, she responded without delay, illustrating that delayed obedience is still disobedience. This narrative encourages us to respond promptly to God’s voice, allowing Him to bring life to the dead areas of our lives. Immediate obedience is a demonstration of our trust in God and our willingness to follow His lead, even when it requires stepping out of our comfort zones. [42:09]
Psalm 119:60 (ESV): "I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments."
Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are delaying obedience to God’s call? What steps can you take today to respond immediately to His voice?
Quotes
1) "When you walk through the doors of the church, your expectation matters. See, here's the thing. When you come through the doors of the church, if you come through the doors of the church, you're not going to be able to see the church and you don't expect God to do anything today. Nothing's going to happen. But if you will walk through the doors of the church and you will say, man, I'm coming to meet with the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords. I'm coming to meet with my savior and I need a word from him. I need a touch from him. Then let me tell you, you will leave changed." [10:56] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2) "One touch from Jesus changes everything. All of a sudden, this woman, the crowd is around. The crowd's pressing in so tight that the disciples, when Jesus says, who touched me? The disciples are like, Jesus, everybody's around you. Everybody's here. She has to press through that crowd. But you also know that crowd knows who she is and they know the condition. That she's in. And so in order to get to Jesus, what she's got to do is she has to make everybody else unclean in order to be able to get to Jesus. But then here's the other thing that goes along with this. In order to be able to make, be made clean, she also has to make Jesus unclean. She's fixing to touch Jesus. Who she touches becomes unclean." [20:38] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3) "Can I tell you today that some of you have been listening to the noise? Some of you have been listening to all the chatter of people. Some of you have been watching too much on social media. But what you need today is you don't need to go to another doctor. You don't need to go to another psychiatrist. And I'm not opposed to any of them, but here's what I'm telling you today. Maybe what you need to do is you just need to press through the crowd. You need to get to the feet of Jesus. You just need to reach out your hand and you just need to touch him. And you just need to let Jesus do what only Jesus can do." [23:27] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4) "There is nothing in your life that's going to make Jesus unclean. As that woman reached her hand out, Jesus didn't become unclean. Jesus made her clean. See, and some of you are afraid I'm too far gone. I've done too much. I've got too many issues. My kids have no hope. My kids will never come. My kids, they're gone. I want you to understand nobody's too far gone. I'm too far gone. I'm too far gone. I'm too far gone for God. Nobody's too unclean for God. But if you will just reach your hand out and just touch him, one touch will change your life. It'll give you a hope and a future that you never thought possible." [25:12] (44 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5) "When someone else gets the answer that you've been praying for. There's a man with a 12 -year -old daughter. He's, he's in a hurry. Have you ever had somebody in a hurry before? They're behind you. They're honking at you. They're flying past. I mean, they're just in a hurry. This dad is probably a little unsettled that Jesus stopped for somebody else. It's my daughter, Jesus. She's 12. And this man stands here. And the thing that he was desiring Jesus to do for his daughter, he watches do for somebody else." [28:20] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6) "Will you trust God in that moment right there? Will you trust him? In the moment of God, I need you. In the moment of God, I don't have the answer yet. But God, I trust you. And God, no matter what, you are still good. You are good. And so, God, I've asked. I don't have the answer. But all I know is that whenever the answer comes, no matter what it is, God, you are still good. You're not the bad guy in this. You're not the one that I'm angry with in this. God, you are still a good God. And I trust you. No matter what." [39:40] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7) "Kick out the voice of doubt. Get rid of them. Don't let them stay. Listen to me. Listen, if you allow negative into your life, you will become negative. If you allow doubt into your life, you will live a life of doubt. How can you walk in faith when you have so many negative people with doubt all around? Kick the doubters out." [41:09] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8) "Delayed obedience is still disobedience. The little girl, Jesus looked and said, little girl, arise. Arise. And she's laying on the bed, and all hope looks lost. Listen, I don't care what's dead in your life. I don't care what you think is over. One touch from Jesus changes everything. And he said, little girl, arise. And look at what it says. Immediately. Immediately. Listen, can I encourage you today? Maybe some of you today need to have immediate obedience to Jesus. To Jesus today. Stop waiting. Stop putting it off." [42:09] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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