March 2008

 

The Woman With The Issue Of Blood.....

This story from the bible is found in

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

*The story tells of a woman who is at the end of the road, filled with misery and despair. She is alone, an outcast from her own people through her illness. She has been suffering from haemorrhaging in her body for twelve years. The Bible also tells us she had spent all her money on Physicians and cures. Where can she turn? In her culture it was not possible to mix freely with the others or to be able to go to worship God in the temple. She was Unclean, not wanted by a cruel society. As a woman she was already less important than the men and then this handicap of illness. Physically she was bankrupt having spent all her money on cures and the Physicians of the day. Spiritually she was bankrupt convinced that even God had deserted her. What hope then? She heard about the miracle working Prophet Jesus.
He claimed to be the Son Of God, but who-ever He was it could be worth one last try of Restoration. How could she get close to Him with so many people pressing in around Him. When we are desperate we will either do one of two things.
*One is to give up completely accept death and not try to gain life. The other of course is to push through the difficulties and if we are desperate enough maybe just maybe we will find favour with God and be restored, forgiven and healed.
*Of course we can pretend God does not exist and that is our excuse to die. To live forever on benefits and have the world give us the living we think we deserve. Is it really living? This woman did not have that luxury. If she was ill she could not work. If she did not work she lost her home, her hope and ultimately her life. There was no benefit system to support her. She saw a chance, if I could just touch the hem of His cloak.
As she forced her way through the crowd she managed to touch his cloak. he immediately felt power go from Him. Where there is faith even desperate faith Jesus responds with His love and mercy. As she reached out and touched Jesus, she knew in her body she was healed. Restoration was about to follow but first the words of hope. 'Daughter your Faith has healed you'
*Easter is soon here it is a time of resurrection, a time of reaching out to God and letting the benefits of what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary effect our lives forever. Our sins have been forgiven, sickness and death have been defeated. We need to recognise who Jesus is and rush to meet Him as the woman did in the Bible. Humble ourselves and touch the Hem of His cloak. His promise is that if we ask Him, He will accept us.
Thats where new life at Easter is found. In Jesus.

Not in the Easter Bunny or Chocolate Eggs!

If you do not already know Jesus and you have realised that you need to be released from the power of death and enter into life. Then to invite Jesus into your heart this would be your first step.

Jesus says in John 14:6 'I am the way and the truth and the life, No-one comes to the Father except through Me'

Peter said of Jesus
'You have the words of eternal life' John 6:68

The Lord Jesus is ready to help you as soon as you ask to know Him as Lord. Jesus Christ has paid for your sin, my sin and every ones sin by living a life free from sin and dying in our place so that we might know forgiveness of sin, and freedom eternally from the power of death and fear.

The bible says in Romans 10:9-10 'If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.'

Remember you can only deal with your own sin. Everyone has to answer to God for what they have done, but God is merciful and will forgive them too, when they are ready to come to Him. He will always accept you, and makes you the offer now of real, genuine love and resurrection life.

You need to say sorry to God for having offended Him by your sinful actions, and choose to walk in His ways instead. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins, repent of your sins and tell God you need His help to stop living in a way that pleases you, and tell him you want to live to please Him.

Invite Jesus Christ to come and be Lord of your life. Thank Him that He has bought you back from the road of darkness and destruction by giving His life for you, and releasing you from the burdens of rejection, guilt and shame. Bringing you fully into His wonderful light. Thank Jesus for this, and acknowledge His death and resurrection and ask His Holy Spirit to come into you right now and give you the power to change and you will find real acceptance in Him and He himself will show you the way forward.

Next step is to tell someone you have received Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and find a church that really loves Jesus and lives for Him.

It will not be easy but will be the greatest and most joyful decision you have ever made.

If you have made this decision today E.Mail us and we will send you a Gospel of John and some helps to get you started in your new and exciting walk with Jesus.