Press Your Way Through

You Are Closer Than You Think – Press Your Way Through

Main Text: Mark 5:25-34 (AMP)

GOD IS NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO WHAT HE HAS NOT EQUIPPED YOU FOR

GOD IS NOT GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING OUTSIDE OF YOUR ABILITY TO PERFORM

GOD WILL NEVER ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT HE HAS EMPOWERED YOU TO DO

GOD WILL NOT ASK YOU TO DO WHAT HE DOESN'T ALREADY KNOW THE END OF IT

• What God Has Called He Has Equipped FOR
• Remind Yourself That You're Just A Vessel Being Used by God

Let's Review who you are in Christ:

Genesis 1:26 (AMP) Then God said, "Let Us (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) make man in Our image, according to Our likeness [not physical, but a spiritual personality and moral likeness]; and let them have complete authority

Psalms 139:14 (AMP) I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 82:6 (AMP) I said, "You are gods; Indeed, all of you are sons of the Most High

John 10:34 (AMP) Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods [human judges representing God, not divine beings]'?

There will be times in your life when taking a risk is the safest thing you can do. I have learned that many people will have opinions on things that they have never been through.

Today we will be dealing with a woman, who was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I'm going to bust a move.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood

Mark 5:25 (AMP) A woman [in the crowd] had [suffered from] a hemorrhage for twelve years,

This woman had a seemingly incurable condition causing her to bleed constantly.

• Blood issues makes us weak
• There was a law on women and bleeding

Leviticus 15:25-30 (AMP) 'Now if a woman has a flow of blood for many days, not during the time of her menstruation, or if she has a discharge beyond that period, as long as the impure discharge continues she shall be as she is in the days of her [normal] menstrual impurity; she is unclean. Every bed on which she lies during the time of her discharge shall be to her like the bed of her menstrual impurity, and whatever she sits on shall be unclean, like the uncleanness of her monthly period. And whoever touches those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes and bathe in water, and be unclean until evening. When she is cleansed from her discharge, then she shall count off for herself seven days, and after that she will be clean. Then on the eighth day she shall take for herself two turtledoves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the doorway of the Tent of Meeting; and the priest shall offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering; and he shall make atonement for her before the Lord for her unclean discharge.'

• Labeled unclean
• Everywhere she slept was labeled unclean
• Everywhere she sat was labeled unclean
• Anyone who touches those things would have to wash his clothes and labeled unclean until evening
• She had to go 7 days without bleeding
• 8th day she could take an offering to a priest
• This means during her 12 years of suffering she never had a 7 days without her condition restarting the clock
• In spite of the potential exposure and embarrassment she steps out
• This meant that she would not have been permitted to enter the temple for Jewish religious ceremonies. According to the Law, anything or anyone she touched became unclean as well. The fact that she was in the crowd pressing around Jesus means that each person who bumped into her would have become unclean, too—including Jesus. But, after twelve years of suffering, she was obviously desperate for a miracle.

She Had Suffered Much

Mark 5:26 (AMP) and had endured much [suffering] at the hands of many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but instead had become worse.

• She had exhausted all her resources, and the doctors couldn't help her.
• Medical profession is called practice
• This woman was incurable, to still have faith after all this
• Man had no solution for her problem
• She didn't have a lack of money
• Faith can get you what money cannot

THERE ARE 3 LEVELS OF FAITH

• Now Faith
• Even though faith
• Even if faith

She Had Heard About Jesus

Mark 5:27 (AMP) She had heard [reports] about Jesus, and she came up behind Him in the crowd and touched His outer robe.

• This why it's critical that you have good voices in your life, because you will life on the level you listen.

Romans 10:14-17 (AMP) But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!" But they did not all pay attention to the good news [of salvation]; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.

If I Just Touch His Clothing

Mark 5:28 (AMP) For she thought, "If I just touch His clothing, I will get well."

Mark 5:28 (NKJV) For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."

• She desperately wanted Jesus to heal her, but she knew that her bleeding would cause Jesus to be unclean under Jewish law if she touched him.
• Sometimes we feel that our problems will keep us from God.
• But his love reaches through to us, no matter how impossible or terrible we think the situation is.
• We should never allow our fear to keep us from approaching him.
• Yet her faith, though imperfect, was true in its essence, and therefore was not disappointed.
• Here is an example of true faith and determination which all can follow

Job 22:28 (AMP) "You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God's favor] will shine upon your ways.

2 Corinthians 4:13 (AMP) Yet we have the same spirit of faith as he had, who wrote in Scripture, "I believed, therefore I spoke." We also believe, therefore we also speak,

Proverbs 18:21 (AMP) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.

• Remember before you can manifest you must first confess
• Remember, we create our world with our words

Isaiah 59:1 (NLT) Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.

Immediately Healed

Mark 5:29 (AMP) 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.

• Genuine faith involves action.
• Only an active faith can release God's healing power
• Reach out to Jesus in faith.
• His touch will change your life forever.

Who Touched Me?

Mark 5:30 (AMP) Immediately Jesus, recognizing in Himself that power had gone out from Him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched My clothes?"

• Jesus could feel the healing virtue go out of Him. He knew that someone had touched Him by faith
• Faith touched him
• The word "virtue" is used in the old medical sense, the power or force which brings about a certain definite result.
• Power is released when faith is applied

James 5:14-16 (AMP) Is anyone among you sick? He must call for the elders (spiritual leaders) of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].

The Woman Confesses

Mark 5:31-33 (AMP) 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.

• She seemed to herself as though without permission she had stolen a blessing from Christ; and so she could hardly venture to hope that the faith which had prompted her would be accepted.
• We thus see the gentleness of Christ in his dealings with us.
• The lesson, however, must not be forgotten, that it is not enough to believe with the heart.
• The lips must do their part, and "with the mouth confession must be made unto salvation."
• Through Jesus the penalties of the Law are reversed, and the contamination of this world had no effect on Christ. The woman did not make Jesus (God's dwelling) unclean—He made her clean!

Daughter, Your Faith Has Made You Well

Mark 5:34 (AMP) 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."

• Daughter, not woman - relationship, identity, covering
• Jesus not only healed her, but he also affirmed her faith.
• She had suffered for 12 years, but Jesus was now giving her a lifetime of peace.

Faith Questions and Answers

WHAT IS FAITH?

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT) Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.

HOW DOES FAITH COME? HEARING

Romans 10:17 (AMP) So faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FAITH? REWARDS

Hebrews 11:6 (NLT) And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

WHAT DOES FAITH GIVE ME ACCESS TO? THE PROMISES OF GOD

Romans 4:16 (NLT) So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe.

HOW CAN I GROW MY FAITH? BY WALKING IT OUT

2 Corinthians 5:7 (AMP) for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God's promises]—

HOW DO I DISPLAY FAITH? SPEAKING TO YOUR MOUNTAINS

Mark 11:22-24 (AMP) Jesus replied, "Have faith in God [constantly]. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!' and does not doubt in his heart [in God's unlimited power], but believes that what he says is going to take place, it will be done for him [in accordance with God's will]. For this reason I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God's will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you.

WHAT TO DO WHEN OUR FAITH IS BEING TESTED? COUNT IT ALL JOY

James 1:2-4 (AMP) Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing.

WHAT CAN KILL MY FAITH? NOT WALKING IN LOVE

Galatians 5:6 (AMP) For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

HOW DO WE RECEIVE OUR CROWNS? STAYING IN FAITH

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (AMP) I have fought the good and worthy and noble fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith [firmly guarding the gospel against error]. In the future there is reserved for me the [victor's] crown of righteousness [for being right with God and doing right], which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that [great] day—and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved and longed for and welcomed His appearing.

Discussion Questions

1. The woman with the issue of blood was labeled "unclean" for 12 years. What labels or limitations have you allowed others (or yourself) to place on you that might be keeping you from your breakthrough?
2. She had spent all her money on physicians and "was not helped at all, but instead had become worse." When have you exhausted human solutions and had to completely depend on God?
3. The message states, "Faith can get you what money cannot." What situation in your life requires faith more than financial resources?
4. The passage emphasizes "you will live on the level you listen." Who are the voices speaking into your life, and are they building or diminishing your faith?
5. This woman had to press through a crowd where touching anyone would make them unclean. What obstacles or embarrassment are you willing to push through to reach Jesus?
6. She spoke her faith: "If I just touch His clothing, I will get well." What declarations of faith do you need to speak over your current situation?
7. Jesus said "Daughter" instead of "woman," giving her relationship, identity, and covering. How does knowing God sees you as His child change your approach to Him?
8. The woman confessed "the whole truth" to Jesus. What truth about your struggles do you need to bring into the light before Him?
9. Looking at the three levels of faith (Now Faith, Even Though Faith, Even If Faith), which level best describes where you are currently?
10. According to the teaching, "not walking in love" can kill your faith. How might un-forgiveness or lack of love be hindering your faith right now?

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