Our Nation in Trouble, Journey #99b

Journey #99b Mark 5:25-34
Our Nation in Trouble

We have a serious problem in our nation. Our eyes are on the stock market figures, the unemployed figures, the numbers of foreclosures on homes, and the rising cost of living and gasoline.
We're thinking we are having a financial issue.
No. We are not having a finanical issue in America, we are having a spiritual issue of people who have turned their backs on God.
A people who are looking for something else to save them and to help them in their life.
It is not about that at all.
It is about turning to God in repentance and admitting that we have gone astray and walked away from God.
As you watch the news, pray with all your heart:
"Oh, God, that as a nation, we would turn back to You.
Forgive us for moving away from You. Call us back to You.
Whatever it takes for a revival to happen in this nation---let it come."

For without the spiritual life that is found in Jesus Christ, we are already dead.
Just as this woman did, we need to realize we are in a hopeless and desperate condition.
This woman of whom the Scriptures speak went to Jesus because she believed.
She said she had "heard the reports about Him" and she believed that no one could do anything about her condition except Jesus Christ.

The activity of God in our lives is not just for us.
It's for other people to hear about as we share with others the things that God has done in our lives.
God gives us great blessings---not for us to just enjoy them ourselves, but in order for us to share them with others.

That's how this woman heard and she believed with the faith that she had.
God gives faith to all of us. He gives us the ability to believe.
That's how we are different from the animal kingdom.
The animal kingdom has instinct already built in.
We are created in the image of God.
We are given faith to choose how we will respond to our environment.

This woman had faith because she was created in the image of God.
Therefore, she could decide whether she was going to believe the reports or not.
First she believed that no one could do anything about her condition except Jesus Christ.
Secondly she believed she had to get to Him at all cost. That's faith.
She even said it out loud. "If I can just touch His garment, I will be healed."
She spoke her faith in that regard---said what she believed.

It was a tight crowd. Nevertheless, at great risk she pressed her way through it.
No one was allowed to touch her----or they would be called unclean as well and would have to be separated from everybody for a time.
She risked stoning on the spot for doing this, and yet, nothing was too costly for her to get to Jesus.
I wonder if you and I are that desperate?
Do you believe that about your condition?
Have you acknowledged that Jesus Christ is your only hope in this life and the next?
If you believe----there is nothing to keep you away from Him.

This desperate woman got to Jesus and took hold of His garment.
Immediately she felt in her body that she was healed.
Likewise, immediately Jesus perceived in His body that power had gone out from Him.
From His strong body, He felt the transfer of healing power to the woman's diseased body.
He stopped and asked this question-- "Who touched me?"
The disciples thought that was funny since the whole crowd was pressing in on Him.
But only one touch Him in faith for healing!

The Lord Jesus knows who touched Him, but He is doing something with this woman that is even greater than what she thought she needed.
She thought her greatest need was to be healed of this twelve-year illness.
Jesus asked "Who touched me" because it was important for her to say something in front of everybody.
This is why "in fear and trembling," she fell down before Jesus and "told Him the whole truth."
The woman told Him what her condition had been for twelve years, the separation, pain and ridicule she had experienced because of the illness.
Jesus was giving her the opportunity to witness to the crowd about what had happened.
She answered the question and give all the details about the condition she had been in for twelve years.
Then Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole. Go in peace and be healed."
Isn't that interesting? She was already healed and yet Jesus told her to go and be healed.
How could that be?
I thought she was already healed?
Yes, she was healed in her body, but needed healing in her spirit.
She needed to be healed from the disease and saved from sin.
He was telling this lady---you have been made well, but not as well as you are going to be---there is more!

Salvation in Jesus Christ is so much more than going to heaven when you die.
Are you wondering how much more it could be than that?`
Jesus Christ gave Himself for you--- in order to give Himself to you.
You can experience heaven right now. Heaven has come to you in Jesus Christ.
And that's what it means to be saved.

It begins with a simple prayer of faith, trusting Jesus Christ to give you a personal relationship with God by removing the barrier of sin.
This is the first step in a lifetime journey in growing in Christ.
This story tells us that we are dead in sin without Christ and we are alive in Jesus Christ and in Him only.
Being alive in Jesus means its time to be obedient to Him so that we can grow in this new life that He has given to us.
We are to grow so we become more like Him while we live this life.
Why? So that others can see who He is as He lives His life as you in this world.

God gives us spiritual life in His Son, by His Son and through His Son, Jesus.
He gives us spiritual growth through obedience through faith in what He has said.
Through a simple prayer Jesus Christ will give you salvation from your sin of unbelief.
To whom are you crying out for hope?
He will give you a personal relationship with God that continues on into eternity-------everlasting life.
Step out in faith like this desperate lady did. Tell Him your story of why you need Him.
He is waiting to hear you express your need of Him.

That's it exactly. No more needs to be said.

I totally agree with you and Morris , We are in a spiritual disaster in the US and it seems to be getting worse and worse as time marches on,,
But in Revelations it says, and John saw a number that no one can number with robes washed white as snow and the Angel asked him did he know where these came from?? Well they are the Saints that came of of the Great tribulation that got saved and Jesus cleaned them.

It is going to get bad but Revival is comeing also, and many of the people are going to wake up and realize they need Christ and that they have been deceived by Satan and his followers . So bad news as things grow dimmer and then the light shines through

Don't look around at the circumstances--- look to Him. It's alright to hope, because we have biblical hope in what Jesus Christ has said and it's written in the Book of all hope.
One of the ways of God is ---first He says it and then He does it. As we read His Word, from Genesis to Revelation, we see He is trustworthy and that He keeps His Word.