Desire, Determination and Daring

Foundation passage Mark  5:25-34 the woman with the issue of blood, who pressed through the crowd to touch Jesus’ garment and was healed.

As we press in to Jesus, we will be changed. Initially and ongoing – we are receiving our Salvation, the bible says. This is an exciting aspect of our lives. We go from one degree of glory to another. Change for the better as evidenced so clearly in this story. Isn’t it great to know that the power of the Lord is available to us?

Big and small changes. Sometimes these changes are seemingly small steps, but these small steps can make a huge difference over weeks and months and years.

I find that very often it is the small changes that can have the most far-reaching effects.

We see here a balance between Grace and human effort. She had to work her way to Jesus, but when she touched Him, Grace was released. Although I believe Grace caused her to reach out in the first place.

3 Qualities that we see in this woman that I want to look at:

DESIRE, DETERMINATION and DARING

DESIRE

We all have desires and this is important. Proverbs 29:18 says that without a vision we perish.

Having a goal keeps us focussed and moving forward today and in the longer term.

This woman had a desire to get well. Her desire was aligned with the Lords plan for her life.

Not sure if your plans are His plans? Love God love others. Are you giving of your life in some way to help others? Then you are on the right path and God will direct and develop that.

Ps 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart

As we are close to Him, we will find ourselves wanting the same things.

Here is a key. Our lives will be enhanced and will be more fulfilling when we walk in partnership with the Lord.

1 Corinthians 6:19,20 “You are not your own, you were bought at a price…”

Watchman Nee "It is a great thing when I discover I am no longer my own but His."

I am not in charge – God is.

I can mess up – but He doesn’t!!

1 John 5:14,15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.

This woman thought, “…If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.”

It started with a thought, which was in line with the word she has heard about Jesus, and was accompanied by corresponding action.   That’s Faith working.

12 years. I don’t know why it took this long. God has not promised us a perfect life. An abundant life, but not a problem-free one. Sometimes I am frustrated at God’s timing – but He knows best and I trust Him.

We like instant answers to prayer, but it is in the crucible of the trial and test that character is forged and we grow. Like it or not, tests and trials are a vital part of our growth.

What’s in our head will determine our progress in life. In the face of a trial – do we back down or do we rise up.

We will overcome if we have thoughts in our head like this:

Psalms 34:19 “A righteous man may have many troubles, BUT THE LORD delivers him from them all…”

Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble…”

Psalms 112:7 “I will have no fear of bad news; my heart in steadfast, trusting in the Lord…”

Proverbs 23:7 “As a man thinks within himself, so he is.” Change starts with a thought. Tonight you can ignite a thought, based on the word and then apply it in our lives. Think the right stuff. It’s an open book test – we can find our victory verse. If you are new in the Lord, ask someone to help you.

Psalms 112 (above) got me through some battles this year. It’s not that we always immediately react positively – many times we have to take the initial negative thoughts captive and replace them with God’s Word.  

DETERMINATION

Knowing God’s will, we can be determined in our purpose. This woman was not going to settle for anything less that touching Jesus. He was already gong to the synagogue ruler Jairus’ house to heal his daughter who was dying.

This did not deter her. She pressed through. Sometimes I am sure that the Lord in his great love for us puts a hunger there that draws determination out of us.

Very often life is like swimming upstream. Select the right circle of friends. The world is heading the other way, following the wide road, but our path is the narrow one.

No one in that crowd was encouraging her, probably the opposite – she was being pushed aside, but wasn’t about to give up.

James 1:2-4 “…Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

NEVER GIVE UP! Don’t let go of that God-given goal. As you move to towards your goal, then God moves toward it. As Paul said in Philippians 3:12 “…I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”  There are times in life when we simply have to acknowledge that God is with us, even if we feel alone. We have to be strong even if we don’t feel it, trusting in His strength.

As we move, then God moves on our behalf.

As Paul writes in Colossians 1:29 “…To this end I labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.”

This is Grace: it takes effort on our part, but we work with His energy

We are bombarded with so many images and words that are contrary to God’s word. It takes effort to guard our minds and think positively on purpose.

Worship is such an important part of our life with God. Not just on Sunday – but every day worshipping God and telling Him we are available for Him today.

DARING

This woman was ceremonially unclean because of her bleeding under Jewish law. She was not permitted to be out in public at all, let alone rubbing shoulders in a crowd of jostling people. Possible risk of being stoned.

She took a risk, and look at the results!

As we step out, we will be changed.

Jesus said to her Mark 5:34 “…You took a risk of faith and now you are healed and whole. Live well, live blessed!” (TM)

Notice a risk of faith.  God wants us to step out in faith, not in our strength but His.

Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a good/righteous man are ordered by the Lord…”

Steps - Not intentions

God moves when we move.

I can imagine what was going through her mind, because it’s the same for all of us. She was probably battling thoughts like:

“Are you out of your mind” “This isn’t going to work” “He’s not interested in you” The devil sows thoughts of failure and defeat, but the Bible says we’ve already won!

We must step out in faith.

God said to Joshua Be strong

The bible says let the weak SAY I am strong

Proverbs 28:1 “…the wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”

Without Jesus, people retreat, but those with Him move forward boldly.

Hebrews 4:16 “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find GRACE to help us in our time of need…”

Just like this woman, we can approach Jesus and receive His power in our lives.