July 27 2014 Faith: The Working Quality Of The Church
/Faith: The Working Quality Of Life And The Church
Mark 5:25 – 34
Does my faith remove my mountains or my mountains remove my faith?
Lessons On Faith
1. We see the determination of faith.
Verses 25-26 – A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She has suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better, she grew worse.
2. Look at the direction of faith.
Verse 27 – When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His cloak.
Why She Tried Again:
- Her faith in others had been shattered.
- Time was ebbing away.
Two Directions Faith Can Take:
- Discard our faith and give up.
- Direct our faith and grow up.
Hebrews 12:12-13 – Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for your feet.
3. We need to see the decision of her faith.
Verses 27-28 – She touched His cloak because she thought if I just touch His cloak.
The Formation Of Faith:
- Begins with knowledge.
- Grows with our inward reflection.
- A decision is made.
Verse 29 – When she touched Him, immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.
4. There must be a declaration of this faith.
Verses 30-34 – At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from Him and asked “Who touched my clothes?” “You see the people crowding against You,” His disciples answered, “and yet You can ask, ‘Who touched Me’?” But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. Then the woman came and fell at His feet and told the whole truth, and He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you.”
Two Reasons For The Question:
- She had an ignorant faith.
- Jesus wanted a public demonstration.
Faith that brings us to Jesus and causes a positive response, that is publicly declared, is sufficient faith.
