WHAT'S YOUR "ISSUE"? July 2009

"Hey, get out of here you bleeding woman you!" The voices in the street that day were no different than any other day. "Unclean"! "Unclean"! She had heard the same thing over and over again for twelve long years. She tried everything she knew. Went to all the doctors. Spent all her money. Nothing helped at all. Now she knew in her head she would soon die if she couldn't get healed. Today however, she was thinking with her heart.

On the same street that day a crowd gathered around a man. They pushed and shoved him as he walked. Maybe this would be the day they would see one of those miracles they had heard about. Maybe this would be the day of another multiplication of bread and fishes. There was always room for more food for their families. Jesus was on his way to pray for a dead girl. One of the men in the crowd quietly thought outloud, "This should be quite a thing to see!" "I'm sticking close to make sure I get a front row seat, but I better watch out for that "bleeder" she seems pretty determined to get close to Jesus too."

For she kept saying in her heart..... While the others in the crowd had their various motives for being up close and personal with Jesus that day, she was the only one saying in her heart, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well." Mt.9:20 You see she had an "issue" - a flow of blood. She was bleeding to death, physically AND emotionally.

What about you? Do you have an "issue" or two or three ? Are you bleeding emotionally, spiritually, physically? Have you tried the latest diet, read the latest self-help books, joined support groups and still feel trapped even "unclean" in some ways? Not that diets, books, and groups are bad but there is a "way that seems right to man but in the end it leads to death." Pr. 14:12 When is the last time you REALLY took your "issue" to Jesus? He's not too busy even if He is in the middle of raising someone from the dead!

The woman in our story had heard about Jesus AND she added her faith to what she had heard. She pressed in past the spitting, the cursing, the shoving and got what she wanted; a chance to touch the tassel on the edge of Jesus's garment. When she did "the flow of her blood ceased." Luke 8:44 Done, Finis, No More!

"And Jesus, recognizing in Himself that power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around immediately in the crowd, and said, who touched my clothes?" Mark 5:30 "Who touched your clothes, Jesus? Are you kidding? Who hasn't touched you in this crowd?" More than one voice chided the master.

Jesus wouldn't be put off. "He KEPT looking around to see her who had done it." vs32. His gaze fell on the woman. She had been found out. Trembling, she explained her whole story. The Gospel doesn't say this, but I picture Jesus grabbing her in His arms; so excited was he over the ONE person in the whole crowd whose simple but powerful faith put a draw on His healing love. Oh, Jarius was expecting a miracle for his little girl too, but what about the other sick people in the crowd?

In just a few minutes this woman was cleansed of her bleeding body and heart. Validated. Restored. Sent her way - "Daughter your faith (that is, your trust and confidence in Me springing from faith in God) has restored you to health. Go in (to) peace and be continually healed and free from your (distressing bodily) disease."
vs. 34 Amplified.

A peace and joy and a sense of worth flooded her soul like she had never known in her life. It is my opinion that she began "The First Church of the Tassel Touchers", or started "The Tassel Touching Ministry." At the very least she must have spread the news of her testimony far and wide for in Matthew 14:35-36 we read: "And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent around all the surrounding country and brought to Him all that were sick, and begged Him to let them merely touch the fringe (tassel) of His garment; and as many as touched it were perfectly restored!"

Simple, childlike faith flowing from honest desperation, coupled with knowing that Jesus is THE answer to all that we need will ALWAYS bless and move the heart of God. Don't fool around. Don't kid yourself. Jesus still is quite discerning and knows our heart motives more than we do. He can tell when our reaching out and pressing in is loaded with faith, or not! As the resurrected Lord of Glory, the omnipresent One, Jesus is here this moment....as you read this I believe you can feel His presence. Lay down your pride and don't give a whit about what anyone says about you and reach out your hand of faith today and "Touch the Hem of His Garment".


Let's Pray:
Father, I am asking that you put me in touch with my "issues" and reveal the needs of my heart. I come with them to you Jesus and choose to come in faith for my healing, saying in MY heart I KNOW I WILL BE HEALED! May the "bleeding" cease and may I be strengthened to go and tell the world of your great love and power. In Jesus' Name I pray.


The above reflection was an excerpt from a teaching I gave on July 11, 2009 at the first "All day" women's gathering here in Florida. To read more on the "hem" of the garment - the fringes and tassels - please click here

One last thought: The woman kept saying and then Jesus kept looking....


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Below is a song I learned over 25 in my early years with the Assembly of God Churches. It came floating out of the past as I stood to minister the word at the gathering, for the Holy Spirit wanted it sung to the ladies. Today I sing it to you:


Reach out and touch the Lord
As He passes by
You know He's not to busy
To hear your heart's cry
He's passing by this moment
Your need to supply
Reach out and touch the Lord
As He passes by.