The Relentless Love of Our Willing Father

Summary

Today, we gathered to honor the love of a willing Father—both our earthly fathers and, most importantly, our Heavenly Father, who is always present, always able, and always willing to meet us in our deepest need. We began by lifting our voices in praise, recognizing that worship is not just what we do, but who we are created to be. No matter our circumstances—good or bad, happy or sad—praise is our response because God is worthy, and we owe Him our gratitude for His faithfulness and mercy.

We took time to acknowledge the importance of holistic health, especially for men, encouraging everyone to care for their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. God desires us to be whole in every area, not just spiritually strong but also physically and mentally healthy, so that we can fully serve His purpose for our lives.

Turning to Mark 5, we reflected on the stories of Jarius, the woman with the issue of blood, and the man tormented by legions of demons. Each of these individuals encountered Jesus in their moment of desperation. Jarius, a synagogue ruler, risked his reputation and humbled himself before Jesus, pleading for his daughter’s healing. The woman, after years of suffering and disappointment, pressed through the crowd for just a touch of Jesus’ garment, believing that even the smallest contact would make her whole. The man possessed by demons found deliverance when everyone else had given up on him.

These stories reveal the heart of a willing Father—a God who is not limited by our expectations, who responds to faith whether it is public or private, and who is able to turn hopeless situations around. Jesus met each person at their point of need, sometimes immediately, sometimes after a delay, but always with compassion and power. We are reminded not to limit God by our own understanding or to settle for partial healing; God desires to make us completely whole.

No matter how long we have suffered, how hopeless our situation seems, or how unworthy we may feel, God’s love is relentless and willing. He calls us to press through the crowd, to believe beyond our fears, and to trust that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think. As we celebrate fathers today, let us remember that our Heavenly Father’s love is the model—willing to go to any length to rescue, heal, and restore us.

Key Takeaways

- The Power of Relentless Praise: Praise is not just an act but an identity. Even when circumstances are difficult, choosing to praise God shifts our focus from our problems to His greatness. Praise is what sustains us through trials and is the very thing we owe God for His faithfulness and mercy. [15:08]

- Faith That Presses Beyond Limitations: Jarius and the woman with the issue of blood both demonstrate faith that refuses to be boxed in by tradition, fear, or delay. True faith is willing to risk reputation, push through crowds, and believe for more than just survival—it believes for complete wholeness. [34:57]

- God’s Timing and Delays: Sometimes, God’s answer to our prayers seems delayed, as with Jarius when Jesus paused to heal the woman. These delays are not denials; they are opportunities for our faith to be stretched and for God’s greater glory to be revealed. Trusting God’s timing means believing that He is working even when we cannot see it. [37:24]

- The Importance of Wholeness—Body, Mind, and Spirit: God desires us to be healthy in every area of life. Spiritual vitality is essential, but so is physical and mental health. We are called to steward our whole selves, recognizing that God can use us most fully when we are whole and healthy. [55:23]

- The Love of a Willing Father: God’s love is not passive or distant; it is active, sacrificial, and willing to go to any length for our good. Whether we come to Him publicly or privately, in desperation or in hope, He meets us where we are and brings complete restoration. We are never alone or abandoned—His love is always reaching for us. [52:10]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:12] - Opening Prayer and Praise
[04:30] - Worship: Lifting Up God’s Name
[10:51] - Created for Praise
[15:08] - Praise Through Every Circumstance
[17:50] - Father’s Day and Men’s Health Focus
[21:00] - “I Need Thee” and Congregational Worship
[24:16] - Honoring God as Our Good Father
[24:51] - Mark 5: The Love of a Willing Father
[28:02] - Jesus Delivers the Demon-Possessed Man
[31:13] - Jarius’ Desperate Faith
[34:57] - Four Keys to Effective Prayer
[36:49] - The Woman with the Issue of Blood
[39:21] - Jesus Confronts Hopelessness
[41:49] - Removing Doubt and Unbelief
[43:45] - Contrasts Between Jarius and the Woman
[46:15] - God’s Willingness to Restore
[50:45] - Encouragement to Keep Believing
[52:10] - The Relentless Love of the Father
[55:23] - Seeking Complete Wholeness
[58:02] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
[01:01:12] - Announcements and Dismissal

Study Guide

Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Love of a Willing Father

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### Bible Reading

- Mark 5:1-43
(Stories of the man with the legion of demons, Jarius and his daughter, and the woman with the issue of blood)

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### Observation Questions

1. What are some of the different needs that the people in Mark 5 brought to Jesus? (Jarius, the woman, the man with demons)
2. How did Jarius approach Jesus, and what did he ask Him to do for his daughter? ([25:27])
3. What did the woman with the issue of blood believe would happen if she touched Jesus’ garment? ([35:31])
4. According to the sermon, what was the crowd’s reaction when Jesus said the girl was only sleeping? ([40:36])

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### Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jarius was willing to risk his reputation as a synagogue leader to come to Jesus for help? ([31:13])
2. The woman with the issue of blood pressed through the crowd after years of disappointment. What does her action show us about faith that keeps going even when things seem hopeless? ([35:31])
3. The sermon said that sometimes God’s answer is delayed, like when Jesus stopped to heal the woman before going to Jarius’ house. What might God be doing in us during those times of waiting? ([37:24])
4. The pastor mentioned that God wants us to be whole—spiritually, physically, and mentally. Why is it important not to settle for just “getting by” in one area, but to seek wholeness in all areas? ([55:23])

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### Application Questions

1. The sermon said, “Praise is not just what we do, but who we are created to be.” When is it hardest for you to praise God, and what helps you keep praising anyway? ([15:08])
2. Jarius and the woman both pressed through obstacles to get to Jesus. What is one obstacle in your life right now that makes it hard to come to Jesus with your needs? How can you press through it this week? ([34:57])
3. The pastor talked about not limiting God by our own expectations, like Jarius thinking Jesus had to be physically present to heal. Is there an area in your life where you’ve put God in a box? What would it look like to trust Him for more? ([32:29])
4. The woman with the issue of blood believed that even a small touch from Jesus could make her whole. Is there a “small step” of faith you feel God is asking you to take right now? ([35:31])
5. The sermon encouraged us to care for our physical, mental, and spiritual health. What is one practical thing you can do this week to take better care of yourself in one of these areas? ([55:23])
6. The pastor said, “Don’t settle for partial healing; God desires to make us completely whole.” Is there a part of your life where you’ve settled for less than God’s best? What would it look like to ask God for complete wholeness? ([55:23])
7. As we celebrate fathers, the sermon reminded us that God is a willing Father who meets us where we are. How have you experienced God’s willingness to love, rescue, or restore you? ([52:10])

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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Thank God for being a willing Father who meets us in our need. Ask Him to help each person in the group press through obstacles, trust His timing, and seek wholeness in every area of life.

Devotional

Day 1: The Love of a Willing Father
The love of a willing father is seen in the way God goes above and beyond to meet our deepest needs, just as Jarius pressed through the crowd and left his dying daughter to seek help from Jesus, believing that every moment counted and that only Jesus could make things right. This love is not passive or distant, but active and sacrificial, willing to do whatever it takes to bring healing, restoration, and hope to His children. No matter how desperate or hopeless the situation may seem, God’s love is always reaching, always pursuing, and always ready to intervene for our good. [26:09]

Mark 5:21-24 (Amplified Bible)
When Jesus had again crossed over in the boat to the other side of the sea, a large crowd gathered around Him; and He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and seeing Him, fell at His feet and begged anxiously with Him, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be healed and live.” And Jesus went with him; and a large crowd followed Him and pressed in around Him.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God’s willingness to go above and beyond for you, and how can you take a step of faith toward Him today?

Day 2: Faith That Presses Beyond Circumstances
Faith is not limited by what we see or feel; it presses through the crowd, the noise, and the obstacles, just as the woman with the issue of blood did, believing that even a touch of Jesus’ garment would make her whole. This kind of faith refuses to be defined by years of disappointment or by the opinions of others, but instead reaches out in hope, knowing that Jesus responds to persistent, desperate faith. When we press beyond our circumstances and reach for Jesus, we open ourselves to the miraculous and to the wholeness only He can provide. [36:08]

Mark 5:25-34 (Amplified Bible)
A woman [in the crowd] had [suffered from] a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much [suffering] at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but instead had become worse. She had heard reports about Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His outer robe. For she thought, “If I just touch His clothing, I will get well.” Immediately her flow of blood was dried up; and she felt in her body [and knew without any doubt] that she was healed of her suffering. Immediately Jesus, recognizing in Himself that power had gone out from Him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched My clothes?” His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in around You [from all sides], and You ask, ‘Who touched Me?’” Still He kept looking around to see the woman who had done it. And the woman, though she was afraid and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. Then He said to her, “Daughter, your faith [your personal trust and confidence in Me] has restored you to health. Go in peace and be permanently healed from your suffering.”

Reflection: What is one area where you have grown weary or discouraged, and how can you press through to reach out to Jesus in faith today?

Day 3: Only Believe—Overcoming Fear with Faith
When faced with hopelessness, Jesus calls us to “only believe,” reminding us that fear and faith cannot coexist; we must choose to trust His word even when everything around us says it’s too late. Jarius was told his daughter had died, but Jesus encouraged him not to be afraid, to put away fear, and to hold on to belief in God’s power and promise. In moments when delay or disappointment tempts us to give up, Jesus invites us to trust in a higher reality—His authority over every situation, even death itself. [38:41]

Mark 5:35-36 (Amplified Bible)
While He was still speaking, some people came from the synagogue official’s house, saying [to Jairus], “Your daughter has died; why bother the Teacher any longer?” Overhearing what was being said, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; only keep on believing [in Me and my power].”

Reflection: Where is fear holding you back from fully trusting God’s promise, and what would it look like to “only believe” in that area today?

Day 4: God’s Power to Restore and Make Whole
God’s power is not limited by our status, our past, or our pain—He restores and makes whole both the prominent and the forgotten, the public and the private, the desperate and the destitute. Whether you are like Jarius, a respected leader, or like the unnamed woman, suffering in silence, Jesus meets you where you are and brings complete healing, not just survival but wholeness. His restoration is personal, timely, and total, reminding us that He desires to heal every part of us—spiritually, physically, and emotionally. [44:20]

Romans 4:17 (ESV)
As it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

Reflection: What part of your life feels broken or overlooked, and how can you invite Jesus to bring His restoring power to that area today?

Day 5: All Things Work Together for Good
No matter what you are facing, God’s promise is that all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose; His love is steadfast, His presence is constant, and His plans are always for your ultimate good. Even when situations seem delayed, hopeless, or beyond repair, God is working behind the scenes, orchestrating every detail for your benefit and His glory. Trusting in the love of a willing Father means standing firm on His word, knowing that He will never leave you nor forsake you, and that your labor, your faith, and your praise are never in vain. [46:15]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Think of a current challenge or disappointment—how can you choose to trust that God is working it together for your good, and what step of faith can you take in response?

Quotes

The Bible says this man was sitting clothed and in his right mind these people in this city were amazed they were astonished by what they were seeing many times uh as we go forward and be who it is that God wants us to be people grow astonished in knowing that you are not what you used to be i remember when you used to say I remember when you used to go I remember all the things that you used to do but thanks be to God who has delivered us who has set us free we are now able to give him glory. [00:29:38]

Jesus tells Jarius amen these two things amen first amen to stop being afraid it sounds amen almost uh cruel amen for Jesus to say this to a man who just lost his daughter but Jesus knew that fear and faith do not go together amen four amen jarius could only amen really trust Jesus amen he had to decide to put away fear amen the second thing that Jesus tells him Amen he tells him to only believe do not Amen try to believe and be afraid at the same time do not try to believe and figure it all out at the same time do not try to believe and make sense of the delay praise the Lord but instead only believe. [00:38:28]

Everything else told him the situation was hopeless but the word of Jesus brought hope praise the Lord the child the Bible said Amen jesus tells them as he enters into this house that the child is not dead but is sleeping jesus wasn't out of touch uh with the reality amen when he said that uh he wasn't playing make believe amen he wasn't trying to twist their arm into convincing them of anything different amen he said this because he knew a higher reality a spiritual reality that was more certain and powerful than death itself praise. [00:39:27]

You got to be careful of who you take with you and who you surround yourself with i mean if they don't believe they got to go praise the Lord if they don't stand on the word and the promises of God what are they doing here the Bible says he drove them out so that Amen he would not be discouraged amen and that they wouldn't discourage the faith of Jarius and the Bible says that Jesus Amen comes to the place of the room where the daughter is laying and he says "Little girl I say to you arise." [00:41:55]

In these amen texts we understand that Jesus and we see how Jesus is working differently amen yet at the same time among the individuals Amen jesus can touch us all so personally amen he can touch our knees the same way here amen jarius's daughter Amen was 12 years old and this ray of sunshine praise the Lord it seemed to be extinguished praise God the woman that had dealt with this agony for 12 years it seemed hopeless amen and it seemed like that she would not find her healing. [00:43:32]

As we go through all of the things that we are going through and as we experience every life trial and every situation and every moment if we can just get to Jesus everything will be all right praise the Lord but it takes a certain kind of love that will push you to go beyond what you see what you feel what you are encountering to look to a God that's able to do exceeding abundantly above all we could ask or think according to the power that works on the inside of us amen. [00:45:04]

All you have to do amen is to keep the faith keep believing keep trusting God in spite of what it looks like and in spite of how it feels knowing that our God is going to amen put us in a season of turnaround where everything has to work out amen for we are reminded that the Bible tells us that all things work together for the good of them that love the Lord who are the called according to his purpose. [00:46:07]

We are reminded that our God told us that he would never leave us nor forsake us amen but he would be here and our God Amen loves us so much the Bible says that he sent his son amen to die on the cross for our sins that whosoever believed in him should not perish but have everlasting life we serve Amen a God that is willing to be our father willing Amen to make everything right willing to sacrifice. [00:46:34]

All we have to do is make up in our mind no matter what's happening and no how no matter how bad it looks no matter how bad it feels if we can get to Jesus everything is going to work out and everything is going to be all right we just have to press our way through the crowd press our way through our moments our situations and whatever it is that we're going through whatever it is that we're facing and get to Jesus knowing that he is the author and the finisher of our faith. [00:47:04]

We come to remind you that this same God that showed up for this woman this same God that dealt with this man with these legions of demons this same God that showed up for Jarius and his daughter will be the same God that gets in your situation and will make everything all right hallelujah he comes now to pick us up glory he comes now to turn us around and he comes now to place our feet on solid ground. [00:47:57]

Many of us go to God and we limit his ability and we ask him "God, please don't take them away allow them to live." But I don't want them to just live i want them to be healed don't stop at just asking him to heal don't stop at just asking him to allow them to live jarius knew the importance of both i don't want her to live and suffer but I want her to be here and I want her to be healed many of us we short change ourselves. [00:54:52]

It makes no sense for you to be healed spiritually and mentally and physically you can't do the work it makes no sense for any of these not to be working they all come together your mental your physical your spiritual they all work together and so as we're asking Jesus to perform a miracle we want him to do a complete work we want him to completely heal we want him to completely deliver we want him to completely set free not just part of me but all of me. [00:55:13]

These two these three stories come to show us it doesn't matter if you come to him privately if you come to him publicly jesus is willing to heal jesus is coming and he is willing to make you ready to make you whole again i don't know where you are everybody in your own individual walks with God but God is willing to meet you where you are whether you be one that have suffered in silence for years because there was no one willing or able to help or whether you suffered publicly because everybody knew your business jesus is here to heal and to help you. [00:56:40]

He can turn a hopeless situation around he is able to as we often state turn your misery into ministry tang your turn your pain into power make everything all right we trust that God that is able. [00:57:30]

We thank you God for encouraging us to look to the love of a willing father one that is willing to go above and beyond whatever it is to make sure that their children are all right we thank you God for loving us enough to send your son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins so that we have the ability to come boldly to the throne of grace to obtain mercy. [00:57:56]

We thank you that in spite of what we see and in spite of how we feel we stand firm on your word and on your promises that all things work together for the good of them that love him who are the called according to your purpose. [00:58:37]

Chatbot

What demonstrates the love of a willing father?

How does faith influence Jesus’s response to needs?

In what ways does Jesus personalize His work with believers?