As we draw closer to the Elevation Conference, it is vital for us to keep brushing up on the issue of faith so that we can access all that God has prepared for us. We start by looking at Mark 5:24-34, a story that takes us through the story of the woman with an issue of blood.

Firstly, we see that this woman was among a throng of people who were following Jesus, all wanting something from Him (vs. 24-25), reminding us of the fact that even born again believers can face challenges that require the intervention of God; and our help starts with us acknowledging this infirmity and coming to the Father without pretense or shame. In this passage, we see that this woman had been experiencing a cycle of hope deferred, having attempted all means to cure herself of this sickness which had now spilled over to affecting many other areas of her life. Mark 5:26 shows us that she was not only faced with the issue of blood, but that she has also “…suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse”.

At this point, it is also important to remember that according to the law, a woman was considered unclean when she had a discharge of blood (Leviticus 15:19-27). This law was specifically applicable to the regular 7-day flow, after which the woman would then be incorporated back into the community after the  sacrificial offering to the priest (vs.28-30). So by religious law, this woman was unclean for those 12 years of infirmity – she made unclean anything she touched, meaning she could not be part of a family or community. According to the law, she had done wrong/taboo by being in the midst of this throng of people. She would have been stoned to death had someone identified her, but she knowingly took that risk because she was desperate to get to the object of her focus, Jesus Christ.

In her desperation, Mark 5:27 says that “When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment”. Through the law she was previously subjected to, she had come to understand the law of transfer, she knew that just as all became unclean at her touch, she too could become clean at the touch of Jesus! This woman not only seeked healing, but wholeness, ”For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole” (vs.28). The Greek term for whole is sōzō, which means to save, deliver, rescue, protect, heal, preserve, restore – it refers to a wholeness in spirit, soul, and body. As she approached Jesus, this woman had contemplated, pondered, and meditated to herself about what she wanted to get from Him. She had an expected outcome, so she placed a demand on the anointing based on what she had purposed in her heart – this is the same mindset we need to have! Mark 5:29 tells us that the fountain of her blood immediately dried up after she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. This is what made her contact different from everyone else’s, she carried an active faith that possessed what was available in Christ Jesus for her taking; she was not passive or anxious – but daring, and confident! Further down the passage, we see Jesus commending her, saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction” (vs. 34).

Turning our attention to Matthew 8:5-10 we see another account of faith, this time demonstrated by a Roman centurion. This centurion approached Jesus on behalf of his sick servant as the scriptures say: “Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented” (vs.5-6). In coming to Jesus, the centurion stood in place of his servant, fulfilling the requirement of a cooperative party in the workings of God. Responding to his plea, Jesus said “I will come and heal him” (vs.7). This is most interesting to note because it is in the same city, in the case of the nobleman and his son, that Jesus had simply healed the boy by sending His word (John 4:46-53); yet we see Him take another approach in this instance.

This should serve as a reminder for us not to become familiar with the workings of God, but to allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit, who can issue varying grace instructions for the same cases at different times according to His wisdom. Going back to Matthew 8:8, we see the humility of the centurion when he acknowledges the authority Jesus had over sickness. Being a soldier and leader in the army himself, the centurion understood rank, and being under authority himself, he knew the obligation and duty that came with it – knowing that the Head’s word of command is enough to see results.

He said to Jesus, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed”. For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it” (Matthew 8: 8-9). When Jesus heard what the centurion said, He marveled and commended him for his faith: “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” (vs.10). 

This type of great faith that Jesus speaks of can only be exercised once we accept the authority of the Word, because those who humbly accept what the Word says are the same who are clothed with humility and will receive more grace from God (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).

In his call for humility before God and patience, the Apostle Paul also exhorts believers: ‘Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.’ (1 Peter 5:8), telling us that we ought to make every effort to identify the devil, knowing his tricks – so that we are able to call him out when he shows his head and not fall for his same old tricks! Upon identifying him, we resist him firmly – finding comfort in the fact that all our brethren have been tempted in like manner, and that these are not afflictions exclusive only to ourselves. Therein is our victory.

Prayer

Father, we thank You for victory, we thank You for strength and for discernment. Through Your word, we are able to quickly expose the enemy, we are able to find him out in his tracks, and abort all plans of evil he had intended for us.

We thank You for wisdom, and that Your word continues to breed faith in all of us, we will all taste of Your goodness and dwell in Your promise. All glory and honor and dominion are Yours, now and forever more. In the name of Jesus, amen!