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Healing on the Way

Healing on the Way

Words of Faith 6-18-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Luke 8:40-48

   Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. [41] Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house [42] because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

   As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. [43] And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. [44] She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

   [45] "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.

   When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

   [46] But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."

   [47] Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. [48] Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

 

     So how do we become the Church that properly responds?

     1) JESUS AT THE CENTER. The only thing that we can really do for sure is to be certain that Jesus is at the center of the church, at the middle of the crowd. People are rightly disillusioned if they come to the throng seeking the Lord, make their way to the center and find nothing and no one there!

     Many churches have put on the outer garment of worship, praise and marketing but at their core they are institutionally protective and do not share Jesus. The only thing we should care about in this worship service is not did you feel good, were you entertained, were your perceived needs met, did we do the right style of music-- but was Jesus here? If so, then we have done much of what is necessary.

     2nd) MAKE A STRAIGHT PATH. That is where we started this study in Luke. Remember? John the Baptist defined for us what our ministry was to be about-- making a straight path to Jesus. Sometimes we are so eager for our own spiritual refreshing and enjoyment that we crowd out those who are coming. We need to make it as easy as possible for people to meet Jesus, but not easier than is possible. Look around and be sure we are not trampling people under our feet in one way or another. We cannot meet the need of people but we can introduce hemorrhaging people to someone who does.

     3) LISTEN FOR THE LORD. Jesus said in the midst of the crowd, "Someone touched me." The disciples were not interested. They wanted to get on to the next healing and they were about to miss the healing that was on the way! We will get to Jairus' house eventually. But on the way we need to listen not to the clamor of the crowd but to THE LORD and stop when he says to stop.

     When Jesus says there is power here and I am doing something, we need to stop. Jesus knew exactly who had been healed. He wanted the throng to hear, celebrate and remember. Jesus wanted this event to be a part of Scripture and the collective memory of His church to remind us that on the way to the healing there is healing. The disciples did not orchestrate or program this healing. It happened because it was what God wanted to do... on the way.

     Now how do we respond PERSONALLY? We tend to be busy people these days on the way toward a future and a vision but we need to stop here for a moment. Have you been hemorrhaging? Have you been crawling? Have you grown miserable and weak and feeling separated from God. Have you been hemorrhaging the energy of life, working too hard and never getting peace? Have you been hemorrhaging financially and you know it? Or bleeding emotionally? Crying out with a need to be needed? Hemorrhaging spiritually?

       What you need is by faith to touch Jesus. The woman knew that if she could touch Jesus and connect with Him she would be whole. It is about reaching out of the crowd in humility. My guess is that we don't see a fraction of what God does in the lives of people because it happens close to the ground as people reach out in faith and touch the hem of His garment.

 

     Father God, stop the hemorrhaging in my life. You know where I need Your healing. Bring me back to strength so that I may serve You. In Jesus' name.