| Do you have big dreams in your heart? Are there | | | | Make your aim sure. |
| things you are wanting to do for God? Do you | | | | 2. Have faith in God. The woman had great faith |
| have a great need in your life? Are there | | | | in Jesus. She had heard about Him, and she |
| obstacles in your way that keep you from | | | | believed that He would heal her. She even thought |
| achieving what you desire? Then persevere! | | | | she only needed to touch the edge of His |
| This week I attended Dave Ramsey's national | | | | garments to be healed. |
| webinar on America's financial crisis, the Townhall | | | | In Jewish culture, males and especially a rabbi |
| Meeting for Hope. It was excellent, and one of | | | | (teacher) wore a garment that had fringes or |
| the things that Dave said which was so | | | | tassels, made with blue thread called tzitzit. The |
| encouraging is that the number one quality of | | | | fringes were on the edge of the rabbi's garment. |
| people who are successful is perseverance. | | | | The blue color was symbolic of God in heaven |
| A story in Mark 5:21-34 demonstrates one | | | | and His eternal word. The woman wanted to |
| woman's perseverance in the face of all obstacles | | | | touch the edge of Jesus' garment so she would |
| to get what she wanted. This story is a great | | | | be healed. |
| lesson on the power of perseverance:o Know | | | | It is God and His word which heals us. We must |
| what you want.o Have faith in God.o Push past all | | | | come to God in faith. The Bible says in Hebrews |
| obstacles.o Persevere until you obtain your | | | | 11:16, "But without faith it is impossible to please |
| desired goals. | | | | Him, for he who comes to God must believe that |
| In Mark 5:21, Jesus had just crossed the sea by | | | | He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who |
| boat, and one of the rulers of the synagogue, | | | | diligently seek Him." |
| Jairus, came to him in the crowd an fell at his | | | | 3. Push past every obstacle. In Jewish culture, a |
| feet, begging him to help him because his | | | | woman who was bleeding was considered ritually |
| daughter was almost dead. He told Jesus that he | | | | unclean. She was not even allowed to touch or |
| knew if Jesus would just come lay hands on her, | | | | prepare food, to be in public, or to enter the |
| that she would be healed and live. So Jesus | | | | synagogue. She was considered contaminated. For |
| started going with the man to his house, and the | | | | this woman to be out in public took great |
| crowd followed him. Everywhere that Jesus went, | | | | courage, for she risked public humiliation and |
| people wanted to follow him and be near Him. | | | | ridicule. Jesus or the ruler Jairus could have sternly |
| Mark 5:25 says, "Now a certain woman had a | | | | rebuked her. |
| flow of blood for twelve years; and had suffered | | | | Jesus was also surrounded by a throng of people, |
| many things from many physicians. She had spent | | | | whom she had to get through to reach Him. He |
| all that she had and was no better, but rather | | | | was on his way to do something important, |
| grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she | | | | healing Jairus' daughter who was dying. Jesus' |
| came behind Him in the crowd and touched His | | | | disciples could have told her the Master was too |
| garment. For she said, "If only I make touch His | | | | busy for her. This woman pushed past all fears, all |
| clothes, I shall be made well." | | | | risk of public embarrassment, all the crowd to get |
| So this woman had been bleeding heavily for 12 | | | | what she needed. What obstacles do you face to |
| years! The Bible says that she had been to | | | | get what you need or want? |
| doctor after doctor, spending all the money she | | | | 4. Persevere until you achieve your desired goal. |
| had, and she was even sicker now. But she was | | | | None of the doctors this woman had been to had |
| determined to be healed. She didn't just sit around | | | | been able to help her, and she was even worse |
| in a little, dark corner of her house, having a pity | | | | than when she first started ~ and worse, she |
| party, whining about her life that was not the | | | | was totally broke now! But she did not give up |
| way she wanted. She made a strategic plan to | | | | hope, and accept failure. When she reached Jesus, |
| reach her goal! | | | | she touched the edge of His garment behind Him. |
| This woman had heard about Jesus. She had | | | | The Bible says in Mark 5:29-30 that immediately |
| great faith. This woman was determined. She had | | | | the fountain of blood dried up, and the woman |
| the power of perseverance. | | | | knew she was healed. Jesus immediately knew |
| Webster's dictionary defines persevere as: to | | | | that power had flowed out of His body. God |
| persist in a state, enterprise, or undertaking in | | | | wants to do immediate things in your life; all you |
| spite of counter influences, opposition, or | | | | need to do is ask Him. |
| discouragement. | | | | Jesus wants to touch you with His power and His |
| Persevere comes from the Latin root word, | | | | virtue, and to change your life! Don't stop. Don't |
| perseverare, with per meaning "through" and | | | | quit. Keep going until you have what you want! |
| severus meaning "severe." So perseverance | | | | God wants to help us. Jesus commended the |
| means that you are going THROUGH something | | | | woman for her faith and said, "Woman, your faith |
| SEVERE. You are pushing through something | | | | has made you well. Go in peace." |
| troubling, distressing, or painful ~ some kind of | | | | This woman would now live a normal, healthy, |
| hardship. | | | | happy life! No more physical pain and weakness |
| This woman was definitely troubled and in pain. | | | | from the constant bleeding. No more shame. No |
| She wanted it to stop. Twelve years of bleeding | | | | more public ridicule. And now she could testify of |
| was long enough! Tap into the power of | | | | God's miracle to others, and be used by Him for |
| perseverance by these four steps: | | | | Jesus' glory! |
| 1. Know what you want. The woman knew what | | | | What is that you are needing or wanting to do |
| she wanted - her healing. Identify what it is that | | | | that you need a break-through for in your life? |
| you are wanting or needing. Healing in your body, | | | | What is your prayer, your dream? Jesus is able |
| restoration in your marriage, forgiveness in your | | | | to give us the desires of our heart. Proverbs 13:4 |
| relationships with others? A better-paying job or a | | | | says, "The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but |
| promotion? Five new articles or your book | | | | the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied." Take |
| published? More speaking opportunities? Going to | | | | a lesson from this woman with the flow of blood, |
| Africa on a short-term mission trip? Write it down. | | | | and tap into the power of perseverance and the |
| If you aim your arrow at nothing, you hit nothing. | | | | power of God! |