WHAT IS YOUR ISSUE?

Mark 5:25-34 “And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole. And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague. And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes? And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

This woman had an “issue of blood” for twelve years. TWELVE years! I can’t even imagine that. Twelve years of going from doctor to doctor, with a problem of bleeding out, and NO ONE being able to help. The Bible says that she had “suffered many things of many physicians.” She was so desperate for relief that she was willing to try ANYTHING! She had spent all she had and was none the better for it. In fact, she grew worse everyday. Then, she heard about a man who had healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and possessed with devils. How he freed a maniac of the unclean spirit that controlled him. There was even a leper that ran about telling of how this man, Jesus, had healed him of his leprosy! She figured, “I have nothing to lose. Why not see what this man can do for me?” No, quite the contrary was her attitude. This woman was weary of her sickness, and desired greatly to be healed. She was desperate for relief. She was tired of searching for answers, only to walk away the same as when she came. There wasn’t ANYTHING she wanted more than to be rid of her “issue.” She sought Jesus out with a heart that said, “This HAS to work! I’ve heard the stories. He has healed others, please let him heal me!” Determined to find the One who could save her, she made her way through the crowd. At last! There he was! With a beggars heart she reached out to him but was able only to touch the hem of his garment. Relief was IMMEDIATE! As if a burdensome weight had been lifted from off her shoulders, her tired and weary body was…. healed. Not just healed, but whole. She had gone to her only hope for life, --- Jesus, and he had given her his strength, his very virtue! As his eyes met hers, she fell at his feet. With fear and in reverence of his miraculous power, she gave him her heart. No longer just another face in the crowd but “Daughter,” Jesus had called her, “thy faith hath made the whole; go in peace, and be whole of the plague.”

How often have we had an “issue” in our life that seemed never ending? Perhaps you’ve been wounded without cause and yet you cannot seem to release the resentment. Maybe you were injured without provocation and yet you cannot find relief. You’re hurt and heartbroken and the pain is just relentless. Or maybe you have an illness for which there seems to be no remedy. Your life is plagued with turmoil, and sorrow as you search for answers. You’ve tried everything, yet your condition remains the same. Search no further, my friend. Take your “issue” to Jesus. Reach out in faith and let him make you whole. Fall at his feet and find sweet relief. You don’t have to be just another face in the crowd. He will make you His own. 

Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

Let There Be Light!

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:1-3)

We have officially begun a new year, 2009. It's here! Many people have spent the last few days making "new year's resolutions." It is a common thing that people do. In fact it is a common question that people ask you when the new year begins to draw close, "So what is your new year's resolution?" There is nothing wrong with making them. I have made a few of them myself over the years. Some folks vow to exercise more, and to eat less. Some vow to quit things like drinking, smoking, or abusing drugs. Others vow to watch less television and read more books. Some vow to mend broken relationships, and some vow do more for others.  A child of God might vow to win more souls to Christ, or read through their Bible in a year. The problem is not in the making of the resolution, it's in the keeping of it.  The most common phrase I hear toward the end of a year is, "I'm gonna turn over a new leaf." The problem with that is, a leaf turns over and over with every little breeze that passes by. The thing that keeps most of us from doing what we vow to do, is trying to do it in our own strength. 

My Daddy, Pastor Charles Savage, always says that he loves the beginning of a new year. He says that the new calendar is like a new slate, or one that has been wiped clean so that you can start over. The "new" year does not have to be like the one before it, unless you so choose.  If you are a drunkard, you can stop drinking. If you are a smoker, you can stop smoking. If you are a drug addict, you can stop taking drugs. If you have a problem with bitterness or holding a grudge, you CAN get over it. All you have to do with any problem, as well as any resolution, is turn it over to God. 

Perhaps you feel like your life is like the verse written above. Is your life without form and void? Have you tried everything, and everyone, but found nothing that can fill this void? Maybe you feel as though you are stumbling in the darkness, all alone, and no help can be found. Give yourself a REAL, new beginning this year. Let God shine His Light upon your heart. It is yours for the asking. John 8:12 says, " Then spake Jesus unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." Jesus doesn't want your life to be without form and void. Why not come to the Saviour today, and confess your sins, and receive his Light into your life? Make the best decision you'll ever make in your life, on the first day of 2009.  Let there be light!