Mark  5:25-34. Matthew 9:20-22.  Luke 8:43-48

The woman with the issue of blood.

Mark 5:25-34

King James Version (KJV)

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

A certain woman:

A person, an individual, you, me, Sally, Joe or Melvin.   God deals with us one at a time.  A multitude of people, thronging Him.  He knew a certain women.

We all are at different places in our lives, we have wildly diverse needs, desires, joys and sorrows.

Jesus, meets us where we are, whether in want or triumph.

This woman had a problem,  a big one, she was plagued with an issue of blood, for 12 years.

She suffered at the hands of (at the time), modern medicine, till her finances, insurance, all she had was gone.

She only got worse.

Some have the same problem today.  We seek man’s wisdom, spend all we have, searching for the cure to our afflictions.

Somehow she knew, she had a Word of Knowledge that, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be made whole.”

She pushed her way through,  and She Was Immediately  Healed.

Straightway,  Jesus knew, someone touched Him.

He knows today, when we push through and touch Him.  If you have a need, physical, material or spiritual,  learn how to touch Jesus.

Then, Receive Your Request.

Jesus asked her to tell her Testimony.  She fell down before Him in Worship, and told all.

” He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE.

Do we have the faith to push through to the Holy of Holies, to receive the grace and Mercy we need?

Have you ever pushed through, to the place of power, of Blessings, healings, comfort and joy.

Learning to Praise, can lead you there, Prayer, Fellowship with God, will lead you there, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you will bring you there.

Saints, push through the trouble and strife of this world, enter into the Spirit and be set free.

Go in peace, and be whole.

Amen

Matthew 9:20-22

King James Version (KJV)

20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Luke 8:43-48

King James Version (KJV)

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

 

A blind man came to Jesus and asked to be healed.

“​Believe ye that I am able to do this?” They said unto him, “Yea, Lord.”

Do we really?

Believe, with our heart, confess with our mouth…  Only believe . .. Where is our faith?

Faith is a two way street.  We all have received a measure of Faith. The Faith to believe. 

The Faith of Salvation,  we believe Jesus died for us, we are forgiven. That God loves us.

Why don’t we believe He is able?   Or maybe we do believe, but do not know if it is His will?

What have we done with our measure of Faith?  Have we increased it, or let it wither away?

We do not see signs and wonders following us. 

 So obviously, God doesn’t do that anymore!!!

Sad, the Book tells us in Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

After Jesus ascended into heaven, His followers healed the sick, rose the dead, caused the lame to walk.

Are we followers of Jesus?   

 “Believe ye that I am able to do this?“

We should be seeing signs and wonders.  If we only believed. 

Why don’t we?

We have failed to take up His Yoke.  We don’t really walk with Him.  We love Him, we try to be obedient, but we haven’t really learned to be one with Him.

This kind comes only by prayer and fasting.  

That sounds like work.  It is.

Matthew 11:12
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”

We must become violent, in our prayers:

James 5:16
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

We must learn to battle in prayer.  Fasting, helps, as it humbles us, it helps us to be focused,  it shows the Lord, we are willing to deny ourselves. 

Our prayers, petitions, desires must be for more of God in our lives.  Not for material things, not even for healing,  but to  SEEK THE SPIRITUAL. 

To Seek more of Jesus, to know God, and the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His suffering, to be conformed to His image.

 We must seek to be more like Jesus, ask the Holy Spirit to guide, direct and protect us, to lead us to Truth.

“GOD IS, AND IS A REWARDER OF THEM THAT DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.”

If we diligently seek Him, we will be rewarded with whatever Gift, Talent or Anointing that He would have us have.

Billy Graham was used mightily by God. 

 Why?  I do not know His story, but I would bet He was a man, like David, who longed for the heart of God.

I know and understand, most of us are happy to be saved… to know the Lord…  to love Him and live our lives.  It is enough. 

I am calling out the Abraham’s, Noahs, the David’s, those who want more.

I am calling those who “HUNGER AND THIRST, FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

Jesus is alive, well and still able to heal the sick, cause the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear…even to raise the dead.

He needs  willing vessels, sanctified  (set apart, for His Service), who are open and able to walk by the Power of, and Obedience to, the Holy Spirit.

This comes by time with the Lord, Reading His Word, Meditation, Praise and Prayer, and finally, walking in His Ways.

Then we will turn around and realize signs and wonders are following. 

Amen

The calling of Levi.  This story is listed twice in my Thompson Chain Reference Bibles, Harmony of the Gospels.

It is interesting, one listed the Calling of Matthew, this one the calling of Levi.  The same scriptures,  but I  find myself writing slightly different posts.

I hope you enjoy.

Mark 2:14-20. Matthew  9:9-15.  Luke 5:27-35

Mark 2:14-20

King James Version (KJV)

“And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not?
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.”

Once again, we find Jesus out among the people.  He didn’t wait in the Sanctuary for people to come to Him.

He was out looking to find those who needed Him.

We have no idea why Levi stood out, unless it again was a Word of Knowledge,  that Jesus knew that which was impossible to know.

Except it be revealed by God.   Levi, if asked, would follow Him, and immediately, he did.

He didn’t just follow,  he prepared a feast, called all his fellow tax collectors and sinners to meet the Man, Jesus. (His Disciples joined them).

It tells us many followed Him.

When we first meet the Master, we desire to share Him with everyone.  Unfortunately, our zeal cools down.

Why?  Sorry to say, sometimes it is because of the Religious, the Scribes and Pharisees.   You say we have no Scribes or Pharisees today?

Well open your eyes.  So many of our church leaders, are more concerned with the Law then the Spirit.

They really do, Pat us on the head, and say there there, you will see, God doesn’t do that anymore.

Apparently, Jesus lied, when He told us in John 14, that these things I do and more, will you do.  ONLY BELIEVE. 

Jesus goes on to tell us, He hasn’t come for the Righteous, but the sinner.  Not to bring the Law, but Liberty.

The Lord used signs and wonders in Egypt. To convince Pharaoh and the Hebrews that He was real.  Jesus, used signs and wonders for the same reason.

He told us to continue therein and build His Kingdom.  What happened?  Who changed?

They asked about fasting.  Some Denominations do not practice or teach on fasting.

I guess they reason, we have Jesus in our hearts, there is no need to fast.  What does it accomplish anyway?

We forget, to heal the young man, who was vexed by an unclean spirit, that they could not expel.

He said:  “This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.”

Fasting is a way of humbling ourselves before the Lord.  It gets His attention, when we deny ourselves, when in search for answers.

We can fast pleasant foods as Daniel, one meal a day or week, 3,7,14,21, or 40 day fasts.  They are all represented in the Bible.

I think He would even honor fasting our favorite things. TV, the Internet, secular music… ect.

The important thing is to Seek His Face.   Draw close to God and He will draw close to you.

AMEN

 

Matthew 9:9-15

King James Version (KJV)

9 And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
10 And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12 But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
Luke 5:27-35

King James Version (KJV)

27 And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28 And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29 And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32 I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33 And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34 And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

As a teenager I watched as my Mom, suffered the debilitating pain of rampant arthritis. 

Dad, had to carry Mom up the stairs to enter the house.  We could almost see her hands and feet as they became crippled,  in real time.

She soon, learned to survive, through the use of prescription pain pills.   (I don’t think it removes the pain as much as makes you not care).

I was abnormally concerned with my own problems, oblivious to her pain and suffering. 

As I got older I began to think her bad attitude, lack of faith, and snide smile, as she said something she thought, was clever,was the cause of her sickness. 

Even as my wife and daughter reminded me, that I had the same faults….    Can you believe that?   lol

I was redeemed, forgiven, blameless in the beloved.   Yet hateful,  seeking vengeance, a miserable, unforgiving son of a gun.   

Yes, then arthritis in my feet and ankles, began to open my eyes.  

Gee, maybe Mom couldn’t help being short with people, couldn’t control her attitude. 

Now, into my hands.  

I could push through, damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.  When it was just a problem, moving from here to there.

Now, it’s my hands.   One in particular,  not able to play octaves, painful to play single notes, never mind chords and melodies. 

Now, the Lord has my attention.   My livelihood is in jeopardy.  Sure I can tune pianos using my left hand, but a lot of my income, is derived from playing. 

Seek ye the Lord.  He has promised.

Deuteronomy: 28. 1. 

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:  And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.”

What is going on?  This pain is not a blessing? There are 13 verses of Blessings,  why am I experiencing the curses?

Deuteronomy: 28. 15.
“But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:”

Deuteronomy: 28. 22.
“The LORD shall smite thee with a consumption, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword, and with blasting, and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish.”

Deuteronomy: 28. 35.
“The LORD shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.”

Isn’t it strange, arthritis, seems to be part of the curse, for not obeying, seeking and serving the Lord?

I haven’t always.  There were almost as many years of rebellion as there have been serving.

Is this arthritis a punishment for my past?

No, as with Job, (and I am not saying, I am the modern day Job), but we are all,  at times tested, tried, encouraged by the devil, to abandon our faith.

Job: 1. 8. 

“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?“

When tested, do we stay true?  Do we remember the will of God?  Do we turn to or away from our salvation? 
Deuteronomy: 28. 63.
“And it shall come to pass, that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you; so the LORD will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it.”

“that as the LORD rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you;“

The Lords will is that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. 

Turn to the Lord, Harken diligently to His Word and Ways.

  He tells us, He is our Shepherd,  we SHALL NOT WANT.

We must learn to stand on His Word.   We must know His Word, We must know Him.

In the midst of trials and tribulation, turn to Jesus, the Author and finisher of our faith. 

Amen

Mark 5:1-20. Matthew 8:28-34 Luke 8:26-39

The story of the Legion.  In 3 Gospels, the only major difference is Matthew has two men instead of one.

Mark 5:1-20

5 And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

2 And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

3 Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

4 Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

6 But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

7 And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

8 For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

9 And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

The things that stand out to me:

~  Jesus, once again on the move…

Jesus would go somewhere, those in need would find Him.  Immediately…    Are folks flocking to your Church?   Is Jesus, really there?

Saints, we need to invite Jesus into our Services, we all want to grow our Church.

We need to grow His Kingdom.   Is there room for Him in our Services?

NO, for the most part.   We have a little music, Rituals, a message and bye, have a good week.

STOP…  SEEK JESUS… ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO MOVE IN OUR MIDST.

~  He was immediately met by one in need.

The man, with an unclean spirit.  This man was truly possessed.  Under the control of many unclean spirits.  Unnaturally strong, able to break chains and fetters, naked, crying, cutting himself.

Yet, when seeing Jesus, he ran to meet Him.

~  He fell to his knees, and Worshipped.

He cried out for mercy, torment me not…  The spirits sought release into the swine.

The whole world is tied up in chains and fetters, of sin, shame and torments. If they had the chance to experience the Power of the Lord, present, willing and able to set them free, they would flock to our Services.

The evil spirits, would cry out for mercy,  not parade around dressed as sex organs.

As people see the Power of God, something else happens.

When some see the Work of God, they ask the Worker to leave.  It isn’t possible in their lives, they haven’t or won’t spend the time and effort themselves.

It isn’t fair, that you have…  that the Lord answers your prayers.

So depart, go someplace else.  So the one who was healed, changed, set free… is left to tell of the great things God hath done.

If God moves in the midst of you.  People will marvel, be amazed.   Some will ask for more, others will ask Him to leave.

How do they know, unless they experience His Presence.

I pray our Churches our Hearts will invite Him to MOVE IN OUR MIDST.

Amen

Matthew 8:28-34

28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

30 And there was a good way off from them an herd of many swine feeding.

31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils.

34 And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.
Luke 8:26-39

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

I am happy to report, I have dressed myself, (buttons, socks and belt), for the last three days.

I even managed to put two hands on the keys Sunday a.m.  (Simple one note lead lines).

This morning I have a tuning scheduled.   It will be my first left handed tuning in 20+ years.

A real learning experience.   (Help?  lol..)

Thank you for your prayers, the Lords answer is  the reason for my progress thus far.   Please pray I get full (painless)  use, back to my right hand.  

Thanks once again,

Blessings, 

Bill

Proverbs: 18. 14. 

“The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?”

Thank You, Lord, Your Spirit sustains me in my infirmity.  While weak, in Spirit I am strong. 

My Faith, causes me to look up and rely on You. All my needs are met,  by my Lord and Savior.  The Shepherd of my soul.

I love and  trust You, Lord.  I thank You, for You keep, Your promises,  Your Word is truth.  I am Yours, Oh Lord.