Do you have a Secret Request?
January 22, 2012
What do you do when you have an ailment, stronghold, or a situation that you prefer NOT to make public? It is okay to choose to keep the specifics of such issues private; but what matters most is that you do not allow your wish for these issues to remain private to negate the fact that you need healing and relief.
Our lesson today will focus on a woman in biblical history who also dealt with a very private ailment. My hope is that by studying this scripture text together, we will learn that regardless of the issue or the many obstacles, we must make every attempt to press to reach the Master in order to receive our healing.
Let’s get started:
Our supporting scripture can be found in Luke 8:43-44 so let’s review together.
Observation:
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. Luke 8:43-44
Background:
Inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, this Gospel was written by St Luke. In our particular scripture text Christ’s is healing, helping, and saving a many lost souls; those that are lost in a crowd, and that nobody takes notice of.
Interpretation:
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve year –
Our being told the length of time of this woman’s ailment points out the deficit this illness caused in her life. What do I mean? Well, I am glad that you have asked because often times we do not take the necessary time to investigate the significance all scripture when we study.
Based on the Levitical Law when a woman experienced a monthly cycle (both those that were regular and healthful, according to the normal course of nature (v. 19–24), and those that were unseasonable, excessive, and considered a disease of the body), she was shunned as a menstruating woman, she was considered ceremonial unclean, and everything which a woman touched during that time was also considered unclean. Please take a moment and read for yourself Leviticus 15:19-29
Now before anyone jumps on a soap box of women rights, please know that the reason these laws were given, were to separate the children of Israel from other nations. With these laws the children of Israel were taught their privilege and honor, as they were purified unto God as His peculiar people.
Now on with our lesson!
Since you have taken the time to read the 10 verses in Leviticus I am certain that you now understand the full impact of this woman’s condition based on the law. Now I want you to think about being unable to participate in the normal course of everyday living because you were considered unclean for 12 years… even if no one else knew, she knew; therefore she was bound by the law to live righteous before God.
Which had spent all her living upon physicians –
The mention of this woman spending all of her living allows us to see so many things: her desperation in seeking to be healed through the expending of ALL of her living, her willingness to seek relief, and her determination to be set free from her condition.
neither could be healed of any, –
Imagine getting your initial diagnosis, and deciding to get a second opinion, and a third, and fourth, etc… and all physicians declared the same… well this is exactly what was experienced by this woman, she was told by the medical physicians of her day that her cause was deemed hopeless…
Oh BUT God! How many of you know that our God specializes in matters, which man deems impossible?
Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. –
Possibly imagining that no one would notice, we are told that this woman came behind Jesus to quietly steal a cure, thinking he would not miss it, by simply touching the border (the hem) of his garment. Now there should be NO doubt whether this woman had faith, for clearly her faith was very, very STRONG for it is seen by her belief that Jesus was a overflowing fountain of POWER! Notice how she was determined to touch NOT him, NOT even his full robe, but ONLY THE HEM (the folded edge of fabric) on the Master’s garment! Based on her faith, we can conclude that clearly she had gotten word that Jesus was passing her way and clearly she had already accepted in her heart that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah! She understood by faith that by touching his garment mercy would be administer to her cause!
and immediately her issue of blood stanched –
Mercy was what she sought, and indeed Mercy was what she received! Her disease was cured!
Application:
Oh what magnificent power is flowing from our Savior! Power to heal the sick, power to raise the dead, power to restore, reconcile, save, redeem, invigorate, and power to SAVE our souls! Yes it is time to shout Hallelujah! For truly we should rejoice in the fact that this list can go on, & on, & on, and it is still being extended to us today.
I say to you today “Whatever your issue maybe that you chose NOT to share with another soul; for fear of judgment, and ridicule; Just as the woman with the issue of blood pressed her way to simply touch the hem of our Savior’s garment, we should make every attempt to get to Jesus because He makes Himself available unto us, even for those uncomfortable incognito—secret requests!”
Can you hear the Lord saying come?
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
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4 Responses to Do you have a Secret Request?
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Wemu says:
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Kalauli says:
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Kamagra says:
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Helpful knowledge! I have been searching for everything like that for a time now. Many thanks!