A Touch of Faith

Scripture Text Mark 5:25-34

The bible says in Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:1 (NewCenturyVersion) Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it.

1.  By faith we activate the presence of God. Mark 5:25-26 (NKJV)  Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26  and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. The woman had been hemorrhaging for twelve years; it was uncontrollable. No one could touch her or anything she had touched. By law she was considered unclean, so unclean that she was to be divorced by her husband (Leviticus 15:25-27). This particular woman had tried all she knew. She had seen "many physicians" and "spent all that she had," and yet she "grew worse." She was to be totally cut off from society and religious worship. Her last resort was to turn to Jesus! Even though she couldn’t go to God’s house, by her faith she activated the very presence of God in her life and situation.

2.  By faith we activate the power of God.

Mark 5:27 (NKJV)  When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. There is the shy, embarrassed, unworthy attitude. Note the woman made her way through the crowd and came up behind Jesus. She wanted to touch Jesus without being seen or noticed because she was embarrassed and felt unworthy. Her hemorrhaging was a personal, intimate matter for her, something she did not want to be known and discussed. She was considered unclean; therefore, she felt unworthy to approach Jesus but she had an expectant, believing attitude. The poor woman believed what "she had heard of Jesus." (V:27) She believed the gospel that Jesus loved and cared and would make her whole.

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

Note the thoughts of her mind, "If I may touch but His clothes, I shall be whole".

She believed in her mind, in her heart, in her soul, with her whole being. She cast off all doubts!

 She believed two things: the gospel (what she had heard about Jesus) and the power of Jesus to make her whole.  By her faith she activated the power of God in her life.  Mark 5:29 (NKJV)  Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.  

1.  Jesus turned to see who touched Him.Mark 5:30 (NKJV)  And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"There was no way Jesus could have felt the touch to His robe. He was being pressed and thronged by the crowd, yet when she stepped up behind Him and touched His robe, He knew. How?

a. Her faith touched Him. It is faith that touches Jesus. Faith will never go unnoticed nor be ignored by Jesus.

3.  BY faith we activate the purposes of God.

a. There is the confessing attitude.  Mark 5:33 (NKJV)  But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

 Jesus had made the way easy for her. He had allowed her to be healed without embarrassment, but it was not enough to believe in secret. The secret disciple had to be brought to the point of confessing her faith so that everyone could know God’s purpose for mankind.

b. The healing had cost Jesus. Mark 5:30 (NKJV) And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?"

Spiritual power had flowed out from Him into the woman. That’s when He turned and asked the pressing throng surrounding Him, "Who touched my clothes?"

 When a person places his faith in Jesus and His power, it touches Jesus, and Jesus infuses His power and life) into that person. Thus the purpose of God was activated by this woman who was an outcast by society.

God’s purpose for mankind is what life and salvation are all about: the infusion of His power, and abundant life into the spirit, soul, and body of man.

c.  Mark 5:34 (NKJV)  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."

 Conclusion: She was given comfort, joyfulness, courage, confidence, and boldness in her faith and healing. She was assured that she was whole permanently. Her deliverance would last. She became a daughter of God.  She was given physical healing, soul salvation and peace with God.

Invitation: We all need something from God!  It’s crisis time for your faith. (Hebrews 11:6)
Do you have faith in what the word of God says about Jesus and His omnipotent power?  Will you be the one to touch Jesus by faith and activate His presence, power, and purpose in your life?

You can activate the power of God in your life, in your situation right now, whatever you may be facing.

If you need salvation from the penalty of your sins, confess your sins to Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and invite Him into your heart to take charge of your life.