Warriors Arise: September 7, 2021
Luke 8:42-47 (NKJV) But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” 46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
When you have more than two children this statement can bring up some issues between children. All but one child is minding their business, keeping to themselves occupied during the car ride. But the one child who isn't, reaches around another child and pulls the hair, or flicks the ears or jabs the ribs of the unsuspecting child on the other side. The child who was poked, prodded, or pinched didn't know where is came from so they elbowed or hit the child beside them. They say, "What did you do that for? I didn't do anything to you!" and proceeds to hit back. Generally a parent has to get involved because neither is going to back down now. The first child may respond in a huff, "Well, if you didn't do it then who did? Who touched me?" How many of you can identify as the child or the parent who has to sort through the disruption? The things an only child and the parents of an only child never have to deal with.
Remember this passage started with the multitude waiting for Jesus. He arrives and they throng around Him. Everyone wanted to get to Him. Everyone wanted Jesus' attention. But Jesus was set on going with Jairus' that very minutes to heal his daughter. Jesus will not be deterred even when word came from Jairus' home that his daughter had died. Jesus told him to have faith. Jesus was focused.
In John 5:19, Jesus shared that He only does what He sees the Father doing. He must have felt the presence of His Father to go with Jairus and help his daughter. He must have known the urgency and already knew what God's will was for his little girl. But in His going, something happened. He knows power has gone out of Him. Yes, there are people around Him pushing to get close to Him and someone did. He looks at His disciples, "Who touched me?" They are trying to get to Him through the crowd and to Jairus' home. But they are being pushed by the throng as well. They might have thought Jesus was asking which one of them touched Him. They might have thought, "All of us have touched You? We are getting pushed up against You. We are trying to keep You moving forward but the crowd pushes upon us." They all denied that they had touched Jesus when in fact they probably all had touched him. They had been pushed and bumped into Him. They didn't mean too but because of the intensity of the crowd, they had touched Him.
Why did Jesus want to know? What was Jesus really asking? When Jesus said, "Who touched me?" He felt power being released. This was something more than being bumped but the crowd or Jairus' arm pulling Jesus along. This was a different touch and Jesus knew it.
I believe this is a kind of touch that Jesus taught His disciples when He taught them to pray.
Matthew 6:9-13 9 In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
When we pray on earth as it is in heaven, with the faith of this woman, the woman with the issue of blood, we are touching heaven and power to heal, restore, redeem, rescue, mend, and sets the captives free, flows into each of us. When God's people pray with this understanding I believe the same power released to the woman with the issue of blood is released to God's people. We touch heaven with our prayers of faith the lives of the people we are praying for, receive God's touch.
Yesterday, I was riding my bike with a friend. We had made two stops already and were really close to being done. I had asked my friend, "Can we stop at the bridge with the wooden slats to take a picture? It is a really cool bridge." She had said it wasn't on our route but as we got closer. I think we will cross that bridge. She was thinking I was talking about another bridge we were on the last time I rode with her. Then I saw it. That's the one. I guess I didn't explain it well enough. As we approached the turn to get onto the bridge there was a teenage boy walking our same direction. We passed him and stopped to take the picture.
As we got off the bikes, he was about to pass our turn. "Will you take our picture?"
He turned and said, "Sure." I could tell he was not doing well. His eyes were rimmed with red. You could tell his heart was breaking. We got into position and he took the pictures, "I took three for you so you can choose."
"Thank you. I really appreciate it." I looked into his eyes. "Is there anything I can pray for you about?" I inquired.
He paused a moment and said, "My dad. Could you pray for my dad?"
Long story short. I got some details. He had lost his grandpa and they were not coping well. I asked if my friend and I could pray with him. He agreed. I asked if we could put our hand on his shoulders. I wanted him to feel the love of Christ flow from us and we began to pray. God was so incredible. When we were done, we stepped back and he stood with tears running down his cheeks. Then he took a chance, "Could I get a hug?"
"Absolutely," I swallowed him up in my arms. I had no idea if his mother was in his life or not. He never mentioned her. Maybe his dad was so broken that he couldn't see the pain his son was in. Doesn't matter. This was a divine appointment. He was bigger than me, but so is my son. I held him and prayed in my mind. Then I stepped back and put my hand on his heart and spoke life into him. I stepped back again to say goodbye. He stood waiting for something else. I am not God but what we released to this teenage boy was the love of God.
2 Peter 1:5-7 (NKJV) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
In some translations, it says virtue came out of Jesus when the woman touched Him. As believers, when we touch someone, virtue is to come out of us. This is how they receive God's touch. We are to add to our faith virtue. This teenage boy needed more of God's touch. I stepped toward him and gave him another hug releasing virtue, God's touch. This time when we parted, he was strengthened. I knew God had touched him again.
Father, You give each of us a measure of faith. I put my faith in You and ask for virtue to be added to my faith. I want to have what people need. You are amazing in all of Your ways. I do not understand how this works, but I do know I need to have more than enough for people who need a touch from You. Come and fill me up to overflowing. Come and replenish what I have used. I do not know who needs a touch of Your love, grace, and strength. I want to be ready when they cross my path. Come and fill me in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
Join together as Believers in Jesus Christ to pray and to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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