Faith | Sun 17 Jul | 2022 Year of Abundant Harvest

Good morning Church!

Welcome to the house of God. This is the day that God has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen!

Today we will learn about one of the most important aspects of being in Christ, and that is “Faith“.

Let us begin with few references from the Gospel.

For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.”

for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who is our life. And it is high honour to the greatest rulers to attend on the Lord Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from Christ, must honour him. The variety of methods Christ took in working his miracles, perhaps was because of the different frames and tempers of mind, which those were in who came to him, and which He who searches the heart perfectly knew. A poor woman applied herself to Christ, and received mercy from him by the way. If we do but touch, as it were, the hem of Christ’s garment by living faith, our worst evils will be healed; there is no other real cure, nor need we fear his knowing things which are a grief and burden to us, but which we would not tell to any earthly friend. When Christ entered the ruler’s house, he said, Give place. Sometimes, when the sorrow of the world prevails, it is difficult for Christ and his comforts to enter. The ruler’s daughter was really dead, but not so to Christ. The death of the righteous is in a special manner to be looked on as only a sleep. The words and works of Christ may not at first be understood, yet they are not therefore to be despised. The people were put forth. Scorners who laugh at what they do not understand, are not proper witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ. Dead souls are not raised to spiritual life, unless Christ take them by the hand: it is done in the day of his power. If this single instance of Christ’s raising one newly dead so increased his fame, what will be his glory when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and those that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation!

And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

1: Physical Suffering.

As we have read, she was under terrible physical suffering. Not just the pain, but it was apparent that blood was oozing out of her body.

2: Financial Suffering.

This doesn’t mean she didn’t try. She spent all her savings to be cured but was of no use. She also went through a terrible financial suffering.

And who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

As per the OT law, she was unclean and wasn’t supposed to touch anything. She was considered holy. Imagine the trauma she was going through.

Remember what Jesus promised… “I will not leave you nor forsake you!”

Irrespective of her suffering, we should look at her persistence. She should have been discouraged by all the suffering she went through. However, she didn’t let herself to be discouraged. She didn’t tell anybody about her plan, else she wouldn’t have even come near Jesus.

She planned on her own. She didn’t share with anybody about her plan. It was in her mind and heart, that she is going to get healed as the Healer of healers has come. As Jesus arrived, she rushed and touched His garment. Jesus looked back and he said among the crowd, “Who touched me?” It was rather an irrelevant question among the crowd. However, the lady exercised a greater faith with an intent and Jesus was aware of the intent, by which he was touched.

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Many perish in these ways; but none will ever find rest to the soul by such devices; while those whom Christ heals of the disease of sin, find in themselves an entire change for the better. As secret acts of sin, so secret acts of faith, are known to the Lord Jesus. The woman told all the truth. It is the will of Christ that his people should be comforted, and he has power to command comfort to troubled spirits. The more simply we depend on Him, and expect great things from him, the more we shall find in ourselves that he is become our salvation. Those who, by faith, are healed of their spiritual diseases, have reason to go in peace.

Let us not complain of a crowd, and a throng, and a hurry, as long as we are in the way of our duty, and doing good; but otherwise, every wise man will keep himself out of it as much as he can. And many a poor soul is healed, and helped, and saved by Christ, that is hidden in a crowd, and nobody notices it. This woman came trembling, yet her faith saved her. There may be trembling, where yet there is saving faith. Observe Christ’s comfortable words to Jairus, Fear not, believe only, and thy daughter shall be made whole. No less hard was it not to grieve for the loss of an only child, than not to fear the continuance of that grief. But in perfect faith there is no fear; the more we fear, the less we believe. The hand of Christ’s grace goes with the calls of his word, to make them effectual. Christ commanded to give her meat. As babes new born, so those newly raised from sin, desire spiritual food, that they may grow thereby.

So, what is faith? The literal meaning of faith is “Steadfastness”, “Faithfulness” and “Truth”. What is truth? The word of God is the truth.

A beautiful quote in “Expository Outlines on Hebrews 16. The Faith that Prevails (Hebrews 11:20–31)” goes like this…

People of God, if you are in desperate or under helpless circumstances, be assured you will not be disappointed when you come to Jesus. Your faith will make you well. Be persistent despite of your suffering and keep looking unto God, for HE IS ABLE.

Dear Church, thank you for joining us, we look forward to see you all next Sunday. God bless!